Exercise while on vacation?

  • I guess it's all relative to how much one enjoys exercise. I can take it or leave it for a few days. I mean heck, after all I'm on VACATION.. but there's that little voice of reason giving me a guilt trip. For the insane amount we're paying I want to be enjoying every moment of the island and not spending any time in the resort gym. It's only a week. To pack gym clothes, or not to pack? Hmmm...

    I suppose I could bring it just in case but it's only more crap I'm adding to my bag and I'm trying to keep it light.
  • I like walking/running/hiking/impromptu working out in a park while on vacation. Much more fun than going to the gym. Go swimming if you're on an island, or do some fun body weight stuff on the beach, something fun and out of your routine that takes advantage of your locale.

    I do occasionally like to get a quick treadmill run in a hotel gym, but I find that fun too. I wouldn't do it if I didn't -- it's VACATION!
  • Personally, I've found when I'm on vacation that I tend to move around a lot more naturally than when I'm at home. I'll also swim (when available). Depends on where you go, of course... We went to the beach at one point and walking up and down the beach was enjoyable, but also a work out! We'll be going to Disney World in a few years and I'm sure walking around the parks will be enough exercise while we're there. Heck, even at my sister's wedding in September we did a lot of walking around/swimming, and then of course dancing the day of the wedding.

    I think it's all in how you look at exercise. If you don't want to, then don't do it.. it shouldn't ruin your vacation. On that same note if you find yourself feeling guilty, and that guilt is ruining your vacation, then by all means just do a bit of exercise and get it out of the way so you can actually enjoy things.
  • I never pack workout clothing or plan to go to hotel gyms when I'm on vacation. At the same time, walking across town is something fun that I like to do during a vacation and that in itself is a workout. Do what feels right for you, if you're tired and the vacation is all about relaxing then relax! You need rest just like you need exercise. If you feel guilty or antsy go on a stroll or work out for a short time in between enjoying your vacation.

    If you're worried about packing workout clothes I would pack one outfit and shoes. It's only a week. Most places you stay at offer laundromats so if you end up working out multiple days you can wash your outfit and if you don't at all, then you only packed one extra outfit!

    Either way, enjoy your vacation!
  • Bring it.

    Run and use the gym.

    I'd feel better for it

    Wake up early.

    Exercise hard.

    Enjoy a BIG breakfast.
  • You're going to an island. Do you need the gym? Aren't you a runner? Wouldn't it be fun to run on the beach or in new surroundings? Heck no I wouldn't go to the gym if I was on vacation. Paying good money to enjoy myself outdoors means no way am I sticking myself in some hotel gym... unless it was a spa of course and I could chill out in the sauna.

    During vacation I'm way too busy swimming, hiking, walking around the town, feasting and napping. I'm not wasting a single moment of my vacation doing something I don't wish to do.
  • I work out on vacation, absolutely. However, I don't kill myself in the gym. I wake up early and do a 30 minute light workout just to stay in the habit of going to the gym. If I didn't do this, when I came home from vacation, I'd be struggling to get back into the groove.
  • You're going to an island resort? Skip the running shoes and the gym. Join one of the fun, hilarious but exhausting exercise classes they will most likely have in the pool You'll make a fool of yourself, but you'll also make some friends and have a ton of fun while getting a workout. I've been to a few resorts, and they have always had this option, usually every day around 9 or 10 and they tend to have the most entertaining staff people run the class. And then, play some pool volleyball. Also fun and exhausting. You don't need to bring anything extra, just stay in your bathing suit all day, as you should do when on an island resort!

    There's no way you could make me step foot in a gym at a resort! Too many other fun ways to be active while on vacation.
  • I would bring them. An hour or two in the morning and you'll feel better all day. No guilty feeling plus you'll be less likely to eat badly if you've put in your gym time and appreciate you'll appreciate your beach time more.
  • I agree, take your workout clothes but run outside, swim, walks along the beach, do the aqua aerobis classes and just enjoy being in such a beautiful place to work out!
  • Being active is now apart of my life so I always plan to get a workout in on vacation.

    Depending on the trip and my plans I prefer to get out and hike or power walk in a nice park. However, I have no problems waking up early to get in a good 30 minutes in on the treadmill and 20 minutes of weights (if available).

    Sometimes I would pack a resistance band and my laptop and do Youtube or Leslie Sansone videos from my room.

    Then I look forward to having a big protein/fatty breakfast afterwards!