10 Portable & Useful Accessories To Stay Fit & Healthy While Traveling

Traveling is incredible to say the least- so much to do and see, encapsulated in the mystique of being in a new environment. There has definitely been a stigma built around traveling and the ability to stay on track with your health goals however it doesn't need to be that way! There are small tweaks and choices you can incorporate into your day while on the go to facilitate a positive step for your mental and physical well-being without needing to sacrifice your happiness while traveling. The key is balance and never feeling guilty for a decision that made you happy in the moment-whether its eating a couple more slices of pizza or choosing not to do a workout the entire duration of your trip! 

These 10 items have been amazing staples for me when I am on the go-they help encourage healthy habits and consistency even when on vacation time. Whether I bring one or all of them along with me, I know I have the option to incorporate it into my life while i'm away from home.

 This post is all about 10 travel friendly health & fitness items to keep you feeling good while out exploring the world. 

Booty Bands 

These are magic both at home and when you’re traveling! The perfect addition to add a little intensity to both a body weight workout or a full weight lifting session. These super compact workout enhancers make it easy when it comes to traveling light while still holding a lot of value. Whether you are in your hotel room and want to do a few squats, donkey kicks and crab walks or you’re hitting the hotel gym, this will give you that extra booty burn you’re craving. To follow along on full hotel room workouts, click here.

Water Bottle

My water bottle is my best friend, you won’t ever find me without it strapped to my side. Literally-I put my hydroflask in a little carrier and throw it over my should like a purse, it has made my water intake skyrocket and I HIGHLY recommend. Water is everything! In fact, most of the time humans are walking around dehydrated and don’t even realize it-which brings me to the point of focusing on water while you travel. Bring a water bottle you love and fill it throughout your day at water fountains, with big gallons from the grocery store, even gym water stations or dump a glass of water inside from a restaurant. By replenishing your body with the water it needs, you are helping it flush toxins and function optimally. Plus studies have found increasing water intake can assist with weight loss (coupled with other healthy routines, of course)

Vitamins

I could guess that when traveling, your diet is not operating at the highest level of hitting all the food groups and nutrient goals. That’s okay-mine never is either, which is where vitamins heavily come into the picture. Our immune systems face a lot while adventuring in new areas, which means we need to provide them with optimal care to stay functioning at their best. Vitamins are a great way to supplement your body with the nutrients it needs. I always bring along my little canister of vitamins, every person is different but my vitamin stack includes: Multi-vitamin, Vitamin D, B-12, Activated Charcoal, Probiotic and Biotin, sometimes I will add more but those are the main staples. To read more about how each vitamin can help the body, click here

Ankle or Hand Weights

This fitness accessory is definitely situational-if on the road it may be easy to throw in the car, if flying it may be a little more difficult but still do-able. I would recommend anywhere from 2-5lbs, with ankle weight being slim enough to slide in a suitcase or personal item. These are great for adding an extra layer of intensity to your workouts. You can do a quick hotel room pilates or yoga sculpt class with weights or throw them on your ankles and go for a 3 mile walk. Their great for a little extra something!

Running/Walking Shoes

Piggy backing off the last one and my personal favorite form of exercise-walking! We all do it anyway (especially when out sightseeing) so why not make it into your daily workout too? The average human is recommended to walk about 10k steps a day which equates to about 5 miles, now i don’t know about you but it is tricky to hit that quota sometimes when I have a busy day of work. However, when traveling, for the most part you are going out and seeing/doing thing, use that as an opportunity to get some steps in! Bring a comfy pair of walking/running shoes so that you are always ready for a hot girl walk any time of the day. This is an easy and excellent way to stay in shape.

Journal

A journal is amazing to have with you on your travels for many reasons: brain dumps, gratitude lists, nutrition logging and fitness tracking. I highly encourage everyone to have a journal and bringing it with you while traveling. It is a great opportunity for you to reflect and get in tune with your inner self. I am all about physical health but the importance of mental health can't be stressed enough. Use your journal in the mornings to write out what you are grateful for, your goals, your daily plan, use it in the evenings to reflect, talk about your travels (so fun reading later on in life) and to track the foods and exercises you do, great way to keep you accountable as well.

Books

Staying on the theme of fueling your mind and mental health-bring an empowering, self-development book along for the ride. This is a great way to utilize your downtime in a healthy and uplifting way. You can still use your past-time for social media scrolling but having a good read on hand makes it easy to learn, grow and maybe even give you new insight as you go about your day-plus it is a great conversation starter. I love reading personal development books, here are a few staples I happily re-read.

Jump Rope

Cardio is great for fat burning and weight loss, which is where jump roping comes into the picture. If you are looking to get a quick sweat on without taking up much room, this fitness must-have is great for travel. It is also super light-weight and easy to travel with making it very suitable for any type of adventure. You can easily go outside and do a few rounds of jumping for a quick sweat circuit.

Hydration and Greens Powder Supplements

These supplements are amazing to have on hand when traveling! These two powders help with gut health and overall body function, plus with so many new ones on the market they even taste pretty good too! If you know you will be drinking alcohol, the hydration packets are great for hangovers as well as replenishing electrolytes after long days walking around or being in the sun. Greens are fabulous for your gut, especially if your normal eating does not consist of a lot of vegetables. These two powders give you body that extra boost it may be craving while on your travels.

Watch/Fitness Tracker

Another great tool to have while traveling the world is a watch or fitness tracker. This is a great way to hold yourself accountable while out and about in a positive and motivating way. With all the natural walking that comes along with sight-seeing and exploring cities, getting your 10k steps (5 miles) in will be very easy! I love having a step counter for this reason, it’s always rewarding to see when you hit the daily step goal by doing things you love.

Creating a sustainable fitness and wellness routine is so rewarding! The key to sticking to routines is consistency and discipline, which is where travel can seem daunting. I am a huge advocate for balance: indulge in the dessert, have a day of absolutely just relaxing, skip the workout...just make sure not to guilt yourself, especially if you are on vacation, don't sacrifice your happiness!

However, these tools are great accessories to facilitate healthy choices while you travel if you so choose. Whether you choose one, none or all..the important thing is making the choices that serve you best. Cheers to healthy, balanced travel! #fittravel