Resources

When you're home, you've got a pretty solid fitness routine; you make time to hit the gym or you have a workout you do at home, and you maintain healthy eating habits. But all of that hard work goes out the window when you're called away for a long business trip.

How can you keep up with your workouts when you're far from the comfort of your home routine? Is it possible to eat in a healthy manner when you're at the mercy of the person picking up food for everyone at the meeting? We've got the lowdown on maintaining your healthy lifestyle when you're on the road. 

Staying in Washington, DC for 30 days or more? Browse our furnished temporary apartments to find the perfect place in the neighborhood of your choice.

1. Plan Ahead

As you're deciding where you'll stay for your business trip, make sure to see whether or not the place has a gym. Whether you're looking to stay in a temporary apartment or an extended stay hotel, check for the amenities; most premium spots will have a full-service gym, where you can work out without having to leave your building. Some placed might even have swimming pool access if you're a fan of a watery workout. 

2. Pack Accordingly

As you're packing for your trip, don't forget to include your workout clothes. Don't let your failure to bring sneakers give you an excuse to skip your workout. Invest in a set of light-weight sneakers that won't bog down your luggage. If you're planning a longer trip, bring several sets of workout gear, so that dirty laundry won't stop you from exercising. Another good tip is to pack yourself snacks for the airport and the plane ride. It's easier to avoid hitting up the Cinnabon while you're waiting at the gate if you've got something healthy and delicious tucked away in your bag. You will thank yourself later. 

3. Check Your Schedule

One of the ways you stay on the fitness track at home is by making space for workouts in your daily schedule. The same principle applies when you're traveling—you must schedule your workouts on the road, preferably before you even begin your trip, if that's possible. If you put it on your schedule before it starts to fill up with meetings and events, you're more likely to stick to it. 

4. Kitchen Access

The best way to be sure you're getting a healthy meal is to cook it yourself. Of course, you'll have to have meals in restaurants, but if you can be sure that you'll have access to a fully equipped kitchen, you can make yourself fresh, healthy meals that taste great and won't crash your diet. If you're adhering to a good eating plan most days, you can really splurge on something decadent when you're out for a business dinner at one of DC's fantastic restaurants. Bonus—you'll be saving some cash by cooking your own meals, too. 

5. Take the Long Way Home

Fortunately, DC is a city tailor-made for walkers. Whenever possible, walk to your destination—on the days when you just can't squeeze in a workout, at least you'll get in your 10,000 steps. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, if you're up for it, explore Capital Bikeshare, DC's bike-rental program. They've got spots where you can pick up or drop off a bike all over the city, so you can use the station map on their website to find a spot that's convenient to your home base. DC has so much to see, don't forget to schedule a sightseeing trip to take in the capital's fantastic museums and monuments. Or, if you've got the time, check out some of the sights off the beaten path. 

6. Get Your Sleep

 Sure, in an ideal world, you would get a good night's rest, but it's tough for most adults to get the seven or eight hours of sleep that their bodies crave. It's particularly difficult when you're away from home and your entire routine has been thrown into chaos. But what happens when you don't get enough sleep? Of course, you might be crabby, and you might feel a little foggier than usual, but did you know that your hunger hormone, aka Ghrelin, spikes when you're tired? Yep.  Not getting a reasonable amount of sleep will cause your hunger hormones to go into overdrive, leading to you overindulging on bagels and danishes at your catered meeting the next day. 

Just because you're not working from your familiar location, it doesn't mean that you have to completely forget about your fitness goals. Follow these tips, and you'll maintain your healthy lifestyle even as you take care of business away from home. 

If you're planning a trip to the DC Metro area for 30 days or more, check out our furnished temporary apartments to find a location that supports your healthy lifestyle –  including fitness centers, walkability, commuter bike stations. We have you covered.