Even novices know that fitness is about routine more than anything else. A heavy workout “once in a while” will never help you reach your fitness goals in the same way that sticking to regularly scheduled workouts (even if they aren’t max-intensity every time) will. Sticking to simple, nutritious meals planned each day is more effective than switching to a new hardcore diet each month. But what happens when your routine is broken?

Traveling is almost by definition a break in routine–whether you’re intentionally taking a break by going on vacation, find yourself unexpectedly out of your usual home, or you’re a business traveler in an unfamiliar city each week, it can be incredibly hard to maintain your health and fitness routines when you aren’t staying in just one place. Here are a few tips to help you keep working towards your best self, no matter where you are:

Find Nutrition Wherever You Go

Eating nutritious and fulfilling meals can be one of the hardest parts about traveling. When you’re at your house, it’s simple to meal plan and meal prep for a week at a time, but that’s so much harder away from home where local treats or highway fast food can be so tempting.

Fortunately, there are some ways to keep your eating nutritious and beneficial when you’re on the road. For one, the proliferation of vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO mean that it’s more likely than ever to stay in a place with a kitchen compared to the old days of dealing with nothing but a hotel minifridge and microwave. If you do stay in a place with a kitchen, find a local grocery store and stock up with what you’ll need to make your meals as close to those at home as possible. If you have to eat out for convenience, new quick-service options focusing on salads, poke bowls, and more make for compelling alternatives to traditional burger chains.

Of course, don’t forget that food is meant to be enjoyed–treat yourself to that local specialty or that nice business dinner, have fun on your travels, and fill the rest of your meals with plans in-line with your health goals!

Make Time and Space for Fitness

Traveling doesn’t just put you into an unfamiliar location, it also often tosses your schedule totally out of whack. If your fitness routine involves going for the same run on the same path at the same time every morning, it’s impossible for that plan to not fall into shambles away from home. With the excitement and chaos of a new place with lots of stuff to do, you need to consciously make the time for fitness. Whether it’s setting alarms so you don’t sleep in every day on vacation, making the most of the hotel room downtime between meetings, or finding the best local gym to support your training, there are ways to maintain your fitness routine even when you’re totally out of your element–you just have to be intentional and commit!

Apex Anywhere Maintains Your Training

Of course, once you find the time and the place to work out wherever you are, you may not have all the space, equipment, or energy to do your usual daily fitness routine. That’s why we created the Apex Anywhere program; a personalized daily individual workout tailored to the complexities of your schedule and availability. Whether you’re stuck in an airport, only have access to a hotel gym, or can only find a spare 10 minutes, you’ll receive a check-in text from your personal Apex trainer each day to fill out what you have at your disposal–from time to fitness goals to available equipment–and receive a personalized routine to make the most of whatever your situation.

Nobody should have to give up on fitness just because they’re away from home or don’t have the time or space for a standardized routine. That’s why Apex Anywhere was created, so you can keep working towards your fitness goals no matter where you are. Sign up now to start your journey with the help of one of the most flexible app-based fitness programs on the planet. And when you’re finally home? Consider making The Gym MPLS’ training-first fitness center your home base for health and exercise. For more info on our Apex Anywhere program or to explore The Gym MPLS, email info@thegymmpls.com  or give us a call at (612) 405-3002. And while you’re at it, give us a follow on Instagram (@trainwithapex/@thegymmpls) for daily motivation, tips for trainers, and more.