Staying Slim While Traveling

Location: Harrisburg, PA

Two weeks ago: Location: Vancouver, WA

I'm on the Building and Construction Trades Council circuit trying to peddle healthcare software to unions. The goal is to get their members to utilize the benefits that the unions invest in.  

This involves, traveling 5 and a half hours coast to coast via airplane or 6 and a half hours in the car.  Long days, cocktail receptions and a lot of sitting around with questionable diet choices.  What do to keep fit?

First thing is, I use the hotel gym EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I know 90% of hotel gyms are underwhelming.  But, to get the workout in daily gives you a step up.  Sure the equipment is below par most of the time.  Some dumbbells, a cable machine, one Peloton, a couple of ellipticals and if you're really lucky 4 treadmills.  

Here's how I attack it. Whenever I'm working out at home. I always lift weights first.  BUT, when I'm on the road the supply of treadmills is limited. So grab it first thing.  A half hour run. The downside is, you're shirt's soaked and clammy, but better than not fitting the run in. Thankfully the hotel provide LOTS of towels.

I never go heavy in a hotel gym, it's just a check the box workout.

A sample workout done today:

50 lb dumbbells. Bench Press 3 x 10 alternated w/

75 lb. dumbbell, One Arm Row L, R 3 x 10

Calf raises 3 x 20

Stomach Vacuum 12 x 10 second hold

35 lb dumbbell Goblet Squat 2 x 10, 1 x 20

40 lb dumbbells Stiff Leg Deadlift 3 x 10

Cable Machine, One Arm Reverse Tricep pushdown 3 x 10 L, 10 R

35 lb. Standing Dumbbell Curls 3 x 10

Second. I never eat breakfast.  The Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Buffet?  Nope, I'll stick to black coffee.  Don't eat until noon.

Third. No liquor.  We've all been there.  The stay up late, knock back a few too many and sitting in ballroom hell while hungover.  Those days are done.  Diet Coke or Guinness Zero for me thanks. I can talk a dog off of a meat wagon so I don't need the liquid courage.

Fourth Fast one whole day while traveling.  This is key, because there are going to be bad food decisions. So on a travel day, it is really easy to not eat.  Microwaved food at the airport? Pass. The pathetic plantain chips or biscotti for a flight snack?  Pass.  Driving to your destination?  Don't bring food. 

Sunday, I went to a catered graduation party.  Had pasta, meatballs, sausage, 2 pieces of cake.  I had enough. Drove out here yesterday 380 miles.  Didn't eat.  Set up my booth, ironed my clothes and then WENT TO THE GYM.  Ran and then walked on the treadmill for an hour.  Showered and just stayed in and watched soccer. Went to bed at 10 woke up at 6:30

Broke my 42 hour fast at 1PM today.  

When we have corporate meetings internally, sales kickoff, quarterly business reviews, they're LONG days. Everyone is SUPER EXCITED!   My ears and eyes bleed listening to presentations about product roadmaps and fake pipelines for things that have no chance of closing.  Knowing burned off some excess energy makes sitting through these purgatories easier.