How To Stay Fit On Vacation - Training

I'm currently on vacation with my family in Mexico and trust me, the very LAST thing I want to be doing is 5 sets of heavy squats to stay in shape!

I'd much rather be sipping margaritas by the pool, wouldn't you?

But vacation doesn't have obliterate your fitness program. Here are 3 "training" tips to help you survive vacation with your waistline intact:

1. Work your ass off BEFORE vacation!

Your body builds muscle while you're recovering, right?

So 1-2 weeks BEFORE you head out on vacation, train really intensely in the gym. Focus on a "muscle building workout routine" because this is what's going to stimulate your metabolism the best.

Also, that week or so that you take off for vacation will actually help your body recover from your training and you may find that you've actually made PROGRESS while you were gone!

(I had one guy on my Optimum Anabolics program who went away for two weeks on vacation following a "Progressive Load" cycle and gained a half an inch of muscle on his arms without working out!)

2. Stay ACTIVE on vacation!

Plan activities with your friends or family that involve MOVEMENT!

Don't just sit around watching movies...plan a hike

...do some laps in the pool before getting out and ordering a pina colada

...walk up and down the beach

...do SOMETHING!

Remember, our bodies were designed to burn fat all day long because we used to be ACTIVE all day long.

Work with your body's design and you won't have to worry about getting fat on vacation.

3. For the truly dedicated (crazy?)...WORKOUT!

If you absolutely can't see yourself taking time away from your workout routine (you need help! ;-), then just do a

short training session first thing in the morning.

I like to do 5 minute cycles of jumping rope while I listen to audio books on my ipod.

5 minutes of jumping rope...drop down and do pushups...5 more minutes of jumping rope...Bodylastics side laterals...etc.

Jumpstarts my metabolism without taking a huge chunk out of my day!