How to Travel and Stay on Track

We all want to enjoy traveling, especially if its for vacation but many of us, like myself, want to stay on track as much as possible. When you are home you are comfortable- you have more control over your environment. What you'll eat, when you will eat, when you will get your workouts in, etc. but when you are on the road or away from home this can be a bit... different.

Can you stay on track while you travel? Absolutely! Today I am going to give you some tips that I have learned along the way.

1. Know where you are going and what will be there.

If you are staying in a hotel, will you have a microwave or fridge available? Make sure you call ahead and find out. Some hotels will be happy to put them in your room per request but some may charge a daily rate. But it is so important to be aware. What happens if you show up with 5 days of meal prep and you have no place to keep it cold?

If you are not staying in a hotel or would like another option, Airbnb has become super popular. You can stay in a house! That way you have access to a kitchen where you can cook all your own meals.

2. Know how you are traveling.

If you are driving it will be a bit easier to bring what you would like but if you are flying you need to be aware of TSA regulations. (Note: that if you plan to bring a cooler with you, your ice packs have to be completely frozen solid)

If you do a lot of traveling or are always on the go, now might be the time to invest in a meal cooler. There are so many options and colors now. You can stick with a simple cooler or you can even get a bag that looks like a purse or a backpack!

3. Know if you plan to prep, take a trip to the grocery store when you get there, or...

If you are planning to bring your meals with you keep it simple! This is not the time to try to make your most fancy dishes. Now is the time to stick with "bro meals" or things that you know will travel well. Avoid the sauces or things that get messy. Take advantage of things that are non-perishable like rice cakes, dry oats, protein powders, protein bars, individual peanut butter pouches like Justin's Peanut butter, nuts, tuna (in the packages), or jerky. You might also want to bring Stevia as most places don't offer it. Also, don't forget any of your supplements... especially if you plan to work out!

If you plan to make a trip to the grocery store how will you get there? Is it close enough to walk? Will you have a rental car? Or, will you take advantage of Uber?

To my third sub-point, here is another new and creative idea- have your meals delivered to you. What? I can do that? Yes, you can! With companies like Icon Meals you call pick and choose macro friendly options and they will over-night ship it to your destination, like the hotel you will be staying at.

4. Tips for staying in a hotel:

Yes, room service is available but it is expensive! $50 for egg whites and oats? No thanks, I can think of a lot of other things I could spend $50 on. In times of desperation, I have heard of people picking up to-go orders from steak houses. As we know, steak houses are a very safe option when trying to keep on track with your macros. Order a bunch of chicken breasts and/or steaks with no oil or butter and lots of veggies. Done. However, this can get pretty pricey too.

So what are your other options? If you can get to a grocery store you are in luck.

Let's make oatmeal! Simple. Use the coffee pot to heat your water and pour into your oats.

Hard-boiled eggs? You can pack a miniature egg cooker and make them although grocery stores often carry already-made hard-boiled eggs.

Grilled chicken. Pack a baby George Foreman Grill... but don't forget your non-stick spray. You can even throw your veggies on the grill.

Rice? Take advantage of the microwavable rice. Same goes for veggies. Steam broccoli in the microwave.

5. Tips for working out:

If you are staying in a hotel, look up pictures of what their hotel gym looks like. It may be enough where you can get creative or it may not. If it is not, look into what gyms are near by and if you can get a day pass. Or, do a hotel-room workout.

But also don't be afraid to get outside! Go for a run. Make use of stairs. Go for a swim. Go for a hike. You can do this.