“How do I maintain food & workouts during travel?”
pro hack: let go of perfectionism; focus on not losing progress
HEY HEY!
My rule of thumb with travel: don’t expect physical progress. I don’t aim to add muscle or lose fat on the road (I’m talking about short trips). Instead, I hold myself accountable for maintaining what I’ve already built.
And, in a way, that is making progress, because I’m strengthening the mental muscles of acceptance and flexibility. (I am convinced bodybuilding is a mental game, with everything else being supplemental.)
‘TO GYM OR NOT TO GYM, THAT IS THE QUESTION’
Whenever I have a trip coming up, I look online to see what gyms I’ll be near. I call and inquire about day passes. Most places offer them; if you can’t find one, don’t worry, a gym-free alternative is included, below. I think that in the last 10+ years, with virtually every trip longer than 24 hours, I have found a gym and worked out at least once or twice. Like everything in life, success here relies on planning ahead.
I identify in advance if I need to bring resistance bands with me. I ask myself: how realistic is it that I’ll take time to get to the gym? I ask myself: if I know I won’t realistically go to the gym as frequently on this trip, will I at least go once or twice, and do gym-free workouts the other days? Or, is it most realistic for me to cut my entire workout frequency in half on this trip? (Half is so much better than nothing!)
There’s no right or wrong answer here, as long as we understand: missing many workouts will impede or depreciate physique gains.
If you really wanna make the gym, but just can’t access a gym (example: you need — but don’t have — a car), then go for gym-free workouts (below). Look at this as a chance to strengthen your mental muscle of acceptance and flexibility. (Remember, that is literally the most important muscle in bodybuilding!)
DIET?
Planning is also going to be crucial for food, of course. For more on that, check out my travel guide, below. It is very detailed; if you’re pressed for time, I suggest starting at the end of the guide, on the final step, #7.
IN SUMMARY
When I travel, I plan ahead. If I have no choice but to compromise my workouts, I look at it as a chance to strengthen my mental muscle of flexibility. “Can I succeed in accepting these imperfect conditions?” Truly, this is the most important muscle you can be working.
Slow and steady wins the race. No one has perfect conditions 100% of the time.
Please let me know if you have questions. It will be my pleasure to help.
LINK TO TRAVEL NUTRITION GUIDE
Me, Too,
Branden
