Change Your Holiday Travel Habits with a Heart Rate Monitor
The Holidays and the New Year are a perfect time to start an exercise program or a great opportunity to maintain the good exercise habits you’ve been doing. Look forward to traveling and unique opportunities to exercise in a different environment. Discover new ways to fit in your exercise while you are visiting family and friends. Wear a heart rate monitor so you can see how a little activity benefits your health.
Here are a few tips to liven the trip:
While traveling:
- If driving a long distance, take advantage of rest stops to walk, stretch, run in place or run up and down a few steps. * Stopping to get a breath of fresh air can ward off drowsiness and cranky kids. Try a new exit located close to a state park or interesting site where you can take a quick walk. Get out of the car (remember your keys); investigate the area for 10 minutes; find a little hill and run up and down. Get your circulation going!
- Make a game of how many jumping jacks you can do in 30 seconds or how many times your children can run around the car in 1 minute. Be creative. Careful: this may start a competition or new travel habit.
- Stopping to eat or shop? Choose the farthest parking space from the restaurant or store. Activity keeps you physically and mentally fresh.
- If you are flying this holiday, get out of your seat, walk the aisle. Move your legs while in the seat. Open and close your hands. Think of ways to keep your blood flowing.
- While in the terminals, walk the halls in the airport. Trade the escalators for the steps.
- Catch up on your fitness reading time. Read the fitness book or magazine that you haven’t had time to read. Read it aloud to your significant other. This is a greak opportunity to share new thoughts and break the silence for long hours. Use this time to learn and build a better relationship.
- Consider your car snacks. Healthier snacks are always good choices. Be aware of high salt content on many snacks. Salt enhances fluid retention- not good for long hours of travel.
Once you arrive:
- Explore new territory. If you don’t know the area, take a brisk walk or run “out and back” so you can retrace your path without getting lost. Run for 15 minutes, then turn around and run back.
- Keep looking for steps or a hill. Find a school with a track and bleachers. Try a workout in a local park. Take the opportunity to enjoy new scenery and make fitness fun.
- Rent a bicycle. Explore the area’s bike and hike trails. Winter riding is a different experience. You are usually warmer than you expected.
- If you changed climates, look at your heart rate during the exercise and note how your heart rate may respond in different temperatures.
- If possible, take a buddy with you and exchange workouts and ideas. Introduce them to a heart rate monitor. (May be the perfect gift.)
Make the most of your journey. Adopt this slogan: The joy is in the journey. Trying new ideas for traveling can add fun and enjoyment to the total holiday experience. Include the holidays as an active recovery portion in your total training plan. You may find inserting active recovery in your plan, prepares your body for improvements when you return to your routine. Although holidays often break our normal training routine, you can use this time to make your trip memorable and physically active. Enjoy the holiday and remember: The Joy is in the Journey.
Happy Holidays,
Coach Alinda
For the most comfortable and accurate heart rate monitoring try NuMetrex. NuMetrex heart monitoring apparel provides a comfortable alternative to the traditional heart monitoring strap. The seamless NuMetrex heart sensing garments have sensors knit directly into the fabric. A small transmitter snaps into the front of the garment, captures your data and sends it to your watch or cardio equipment. Heart rate is a great motivator that enables you to monitor your fitness goals and calories burnt.
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Dr. Alinda, I am 47 and my heart rate is usually higher than charts after exercising for about 30 min. My comfort HR is about 153-155. After about 45 minutes it shoots to 160 and continues a gradual upward topping at about 168 when I run 5 or more miles
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