Meet Mr. Joe Travelalot. He is a road warrior. Works for a
company in the Travel Transportation domain. Mr. Travelalot’s job takes him
places far and wide. Sometimes within the domestic US and sometimes to
destinations as exotic as Malta, Cape Town, Argentina. The benefits of travelling to such places is
not lost to Joe. It is one of the best parts about his job. However, along with
the benefits of seeing new places, come the challenges of maintaining a healthy
lifestyle while away from home turf.
In the past few years, there has been an increase in the
importance of exercise and nutrition. Due to the rising percentage of chronic
diseases such as diabetes, heart attack to name a couple, people all over the
world are making an effort to gear towards working out on a regular basis and
home cooked meals or raw fruits and vegetables. The significance of a
well-conditioned lifestyle is not lost to a constant traveler.
The road warrior, more than most people, has to discipline
himself even in Argentina (or wherever his work takes him) to find a way to
mirror at least to some extent his exercise and food habits. So what are some
of the effective exercises that one can implement on the go? And what can one
eat so that the waistline stays intact (pun intended!)
Here are two exercises that are simple but 10-15 minutes of
these are sure to pack a punch. The quintessential push-up. This is a very effective exercise that works
the upper body and the abs like no other. The form is simple. Space required
very little. Best part, can be done anywhere, anytime. If you are in great
shape, try a burpee. I specially love this exercise for the challenge it poses
even in its simple design. It works the entire body and gets a sweat going
within the first few reps.
Steps to do a Burpee: 1) Keep feet shoulder-width apart. Now, lower body
into a squatting position, placing hands on the floor in front of you. 2) Kick your feet
back so that you are in push-up position. Keep your hands firmly on the ground to support your body. 3)
Lower
your chest to do a push-up. Bring your chest back
up. 4) Kick your feet back to their original
position. Stand up, and then jump into the air while clapping
your arms overhead. 5) Repeat.
Chew on this: Regardless of your exercise routine at home or away, it’s
what you eat that makes or breaks the deal. Aim for the less processed
foods on the menu when with a client for dinner or lunch. Try to eat fewer
processed carbohydrates, look for steamed or sautéed vegetables, stick to
leaner meats. And voila! You can be rest assured that your body will thank you
for it later.
RTS’s own road warriors share their tips on what works for them: Raja
Kasilingam suggests: Avoid alcohol; eat protein bar and vitamins;
stick to meals that are vegetarian and/or include fish to the extent possible. Mukundh
Parthasarathy agrees with the minimal or no alcohol policy. In addition,
Mukundh hits the hotel gym at the first chance he gets and adds an extra 30
minutes to help him sleep better the first night.
There are many ways that a road warrior can attempt to
maintain his health. The key point is consistency and discipline. One can find
several valuable tools and tips on the internet and there are blogs dedicated
to fitness and nutrition for consistent travelers. Here are a few (please note
that RTS does not endorse these):
Travelandfitnessblog.com
Nerdfitness.com
Fittraveler.com
Are you a road warrior with tips on health and nutrition?
What has been one of your favorite cities that has been conducive to a healthy
lifestyle? We would love to hear your thoughts. Leave us a comment!
Charmi Ramchandani
Account Manager
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