Comments on: Portable gym?

Question: Portable gym?

ttrendel — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:17:24 -0800

My job requires me to travel roughly 1 week out of 4. While I enjoy this, it seriously interferes with my workout schedule. What exercises can I do with equipment that will fit in a large suitcase and won't disturb the neighbors?

By: bibbit

bibbit — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:27:39 -0800

Resistance bands. You can do a whole slew of stuff with a set of those, or even just one. I have a whole regimen just for my shoulders, but I've also seen exercises for lower body and such. Google something like "resistance bands" exercise.

If you really had the time and energy, or if you were staying in one place for several days, bring a yoga ball. It'll require pumping it up, but a deflated ball and a small pump will take up hardly any room.

Jump rope for cardio - you can also find entire programs focused on that.

Also, a lot of hotels these days have fitness rooms and/or gear you can check out. Call the hotel before you get there and find out.

By: RikiTikiTavi

RikiTikiTavi — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:27:57 -0800

A popular option is elastic bands, which are quite versatile and portable. Also consider running, hotel gyms.

By: SoftSummerBreeze

SoftSummerBreeze — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:28:58 -0800

Stretch bands and light hand weights can be transported easlily and don't take up a lot of room in your luggage.

Otherwise, don't most mid-range and above hotels offer some sort of gym these days?

By: boomchicka

boomchicka — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:34:35 -0800

Running (weather permitting), pushups, situps, crunches, as well as many yoga and pilates exercises, can be done with no equipment at all. And yes, definitely look into hotel gyms.

Also, if you belong to a chain gym (e.g. Bally's), you might be able to use their facilities in other cities. I know my YMCA membership offers use of other Y's, although that's not always a good option, depending on the city.

By: selfmedicating

selfmedicating — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:38:48 -0800

Don't forget the stairs. I've gotten decent workouts at the cheapest hotels imaginable just by trotting up and down the fire exits.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:40:44 -0800

You can get hand weights that can be filled up with water and then emptied for easy transportation.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:44:52 -0800

When I was one the road I made a point of staying in hotels with fitness centers. Are you staying in a Korman Suite or some similar place that doesn't have a gym?

By: phearlez

phearlez — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:49:21 -0800

Why not the weights you carry on you? Learn 10 good yoga poses and use your own weight to keep the muscles toned. Some sun salutations to warm up, plank and downward dog poses for your upper body, tree and warrior poses for your legs. Yoga journal has a very extensive encyclopedia of poses here.

By: jwadhams

jwadhams — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:53:31 -0800

The exercise regimen in "The Hacker's Diet" is entirely based on things you can do without equipment. (I think the author in turn adapted it from some special-forces fitness regimen.)

The book (free online) also goes into a lot of depth on progress tracking and maintaining personal discipline, usually through Excel.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/hackdietf.html

By: ejaned8

ejaned8 — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:55:11 -0800

If you have a mat, Portable Pilates by Alycea Ungero (isbn 0970583109) is a good book/cd set that I use. It works best if you've taken a few sessions in person to get down the basics. Similiar to the yoga suggestion.

By: ambrosia

ambrosia — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:10:59 -0800

Following up up on what phearlez said: try Burpees (more here and here) and the Plank.

By: ewkpates

ewkpates — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:25:14 -0800

Push-ups, Squats, and core muscle work should do you.

There is also high intesity train sets of these exercises that will keep you puking in your hotel room.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:27:05 -0800

What Bibbit said. I've used hotel treadmills while vacationing, and never had any trouble jogging in parks during clear weather. Calisthenics and bicycle rentals are other options to consider.

By: phearlez

phearlez — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:36:21 -0800

If you choose to do Burpees rather than some flavor of yoga I would ask you to please not stay in the room above me. Seriously - don't be the dude the rest of us have to call the front desk to bitch about.

By: nevers

nevers — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:43:15 -0800

bodyweight conditioning exercises can be a lot of fun, and they don't take long since you'll hold each one for only about a minute. if you can do a handstand against a wall, hold it for a minute or work on handstand pushups. or work up to a planche (see a progression if you scroll down here). L seats can be done with your hands flat on the floor, anywhere. depending on how coordinated you are, press handstands are quite a feat of strength.

By: mr_roboto

mr_roboto — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 11:02:37 -0800

Nike makes a super-lightweight running shoe called the Free. They take up a tiny amount of space in your luggage, and add almost no weight. If you need a lot of support when you're running, they might not be a great choice. They're worth giving a try, through.

By: jasondigitized

jasondigitized — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 12:14:01 -0800

Jump rope is a great way to get cardio while on the road.

By: joshgray

joshgray — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:17:26 -0800

Most hotels i've stayed in for work have decent workout rooms. Some gyms like the YMCA have deals for nationwide visiting if it only costs a little in out of town locations.

By: specialk420

specialk420 — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 17:48:43 -0800

after i checked out some improvement in nike's worker rights record... i popped for some trail free's ... damn nice running shoe.

pushups, abs, lunges - and another skiing excercise: side to side jumps over a small cone - all great non-weight related exercise - good to mix it up and cross train anyway.

im always blasted after doing 45min of yoga - a good mat is nice.

By: Mozai

Mozai — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 12:01:42 -0800

I've taken to using the Royal Canadian Air Force's 5BX program (what the Hacker's Diet exercises are based on), and they require no equipment at all.