How To Travel And Stay On Track
During my time at University, which seems like a long time ago! I was lucky enough to spend a placement year at Black & Decker as a Buyer. I absolutely loved it. The fast paced manufacturing environment and bustling office suited me down to the ground. It helped me to focus my career aspirations and in my final year I specialised in Supply Chain and Logistics.
My professional career has continued from there and I’ve been lucky enough to work for large corporations such as Electrolux and Nissan along the way. As a Strategic Buyer I have dealt with suppliers all over the world and have been privileged enough to travel to some amazing places along the way.
Travelling with work is a great opportunity to see the world and sample different cuisines but it can also be a nightmare when it comes to healthy eating and sticking to any sort of exercise regime.
I see it quite frequently with my work. People who travel a lot, especially men, gradually put the weight on because they are quite likely drinking alcohol with customers or colleagues on their nights away and almost definitely eating out in restaurants for every meal. We all know how hard it is to make the right choice when faced with a menu full of delight! However, if you’re a regular traveller, you should consider your health and the negative impact the travel could be having on you. Take a little longer to browse the menu before making your choice, consider a side salad rather than a side of chips. Have a light breakfast instead of a full English. These small changes can have a big impact.
Stay hydrated. Sometimes with a string of meetings and being constantly on the go, it’s easy to spend your day jumping from one coffee to the next. You’ll feel so much better with an increased water intake. Switch out some of those hot drinks for a bottle of water instead.
When you tell people you travel with work I’m sure they imagine that you’re going to stay in some luxury hotel. The reality is with tight budgets, this is rarely the case. Therefore the hotels don’t often have gym facilities or swimming pools to be utilised.
So how are you expected to stick to any sort of exercise regime if you like to keep yourself fit but frequently travel with work?
Well the guys at Gym Nomad might just have the answer! They have developed a fantastic concept which recently launched in Amsterdam. The platform will help visitors to a city find an appropriate fitness facility to meet their needs as well as a flexible length membership to suit. The best thing, it’s also at a reasonable cost so no more crazy day pass prices. The site allows you to select particular fitness classes or facilities that you’re looking for and will pin point the right location for you to suit your stay. I’d love to see the Gym Nomad concept spread further and help travellers stay fit and healthy.
Many corporations nowadays are aware of the benefits in promoting employee wellbeing and healthy lifestyles. Gym memberships are often encouraged through corporate schemes, free flu jabs given and even fresh fruit available to all employees. So if those who travel in business can claim their food and drink on expenses, maybe flexible gym passes could be too. Check with your HR team, you might be pleasantly surprised and your Gym Nomad pass could be covered by your employer.
So my top tips for staying fit and healthy while managing a career on the road…
- Take your time to read the menu before making your choice. Baked, roasted and grilled options are usually healthier than pan fried, deep fried and sautéed options. Learn the terms to avoid and make the healthy choice
- Stay hydrated. Sure, have your morning coffee but then try to opt for water throughout your day. You’ll feel much better for it
- Find somewhere to workout – check Gym Nomad for new cities being added to their platform
- Remember, if you travel regularly, it’s not a holiday and your waistline will suffer if you treat every trip it like an all-inclusive week in Spain!
Do you have any other tips for staying fit and healthy whilst having a job that takes you away from home?
