Getting fit for a big trip

It’s almost time for your big trip… How exciting! You’ve got everything booked, you’ve informed those who need to know, and you’re starting to organise everything you’ll need along the way.

Suddenly, you realise, you have a whole list of things that you want to do, but are not entirely sure if you’ll be healthy enough by that time. What do you do?

Read more: Planning for the great big trip – 10 things you need to think about

Don’t worry!

When you know you’re travelling by a certain date, there is that much time to improve your fitness level. Use your travel date as your deadline, which helps you set a realistic goal —  for losing weight, losing inches or just being able to hike up the hill near your house without being out of breath or in pain.

Create a strong, emotional reason as to why you’re setting your goal. When trying to lose weight or get fit the majority of people go in half-heartedly and don’t have a strong grasp on why they are even trying to achieve their goal in the first place. It might be because you know by losing that weight you will be able to go hiking, climb the Eiffel Tower, feel more comfortable sight-seeing and get around easier, or feel more confident in your favourite outfit.

Read more: Five big trips people chase in retirement

Another thing to keep in mind while trying to get fit for a big trip is that you need to be realistic with your plan for success. Most people will embark on a crazy six or seven days a week exercise schedule and drastically cut calories, carbs, and other food groups in an attempt to lose weight or get fit. Others won’t even try to lose weight or get fit because they think the aforementioned measures are what it takes to get into shape.

You can see how both scenarios are rather extreme.

Start small. By making and achieving small changes, you will feel good about yourself and every time you make another small change you will feel even better about yourself. Each small change will add up into larger changes, which is better for you.

Read more: Seven ways retirees can travel the world for free

For example, you might already know your whole diet can do with a change, but instead of trying to change everything at once, you just focus on eating a better breakfast for a whole week. The following week, you might turn your attention to your mid-morning snack. Then lunch the week after, so on and so forth. It will take less time to achieve those small changes and you will have created a massive change to your entire diet.

The same can be applied to exercise. Week one you might only complete one 15-minute workout, week two you might do two. As the weeks go by you turn your focus to increasing the length of time you spend working out or the intensity of the workout, and before you know it you have yourself another well-formed habit of regularly exercising.

The truth is most people will achieve remarkable changes in body shape, energy levels, and health by employing a moderate approach.

How do you get fit before you set out travelling? What sort of travel do you do that requires a good level of health and wellbeing?