Helping Kristina's cause is the fact that she enjoys running with her dog Maggie, a definite motivator in her quest for cardiovascular supremacy. Many people don't realize how easy it is to get exercise with their dogs, and how the benefits are twofold. While solo jogging can get dull, a run or fast hike with a canine companion can be a lot of fun.
Take care to build up your pet's endurance levels before attempting frequent workouts together, and make sure not to have your dog run on pavement over long periods of time as it is potentially devastating to their paws (remember, they dont wear Nikes). Not only will you stay fit, but you'll have a dog worthy of a Best in Show prize.
Kristina is no stranger to organized workouts, and she is a member of the well-known Dynamo Masters swim program in Atlanta. Unfortunately, because she travels so much, she never knows how often she can get to the pool. And while hotels usually have pools, they are not the kind conducive to swimming laps.
There are, however, drills one can do in a hotel pool that have been covered in a previous article and they are a great way to keep in swimming shape.
One alternative to conventional fitness training for travelers is fitness DVDs. Long thought to be relics of the Jane Fonda-fueled '80s aerobics craze, exercise tapes have exploded in recent years as new forms of conditioning have come into vogue.
At the forefront of this renaissance is yoga, and many video stores have entire sections dedicated to this popular exercise, ranging from introductory instructional videos to super-advanced courses.
Warner Home Video has a line of yoga DVDs by famed yogi-to-the-stars Ganga White called the Flow Series. A three-part set, (beginner, intermediate, advanced), the compilation is a great foray into the world of yoga and its benefits.
If yoga is too New Age-y for you, there are other options available in the exercise-video marketplace. Kickboxing, Tae-Bo, karate, aerobics, Pilates, abdominal training, it's quite convenient if you're a frequent traveler and laptop-compatible fitness DVDs are now available. You also can teach yourself what's on the tapes and then do the workouts in your hotel room, from memory.
To combat those potentially flabby arms, Kristina should try and incorporate some strength training into her weekly schedule. While she doesn't much care for weights, she should be open-minded about doing light dumbbell and Nautilus-type exercises once or twice a week for toning.
Besides, most hotels have small gyms equipped with weights, so Kristina would be wise to take advantage of them. Doing just three or four different upper-body exercises (three sets of each, 10 reps) will help Kristina maintain the toned arms that she would like.
Kristina should definitely invest in a set of "bands." Also known as surgical tubing, bands are an easy and convenient way to maintain muscle tone. Lightweight and easily rolled up into a shaving kit or cosmetics bag, bands provide resistance training that can be done just about anywhere!
The exercises one can do are too numerous to mention here, but a trainer or physical therapist can inform you of the benefits and proper techniques to band training.
Granted, some of the ideas above may require more discipline than Kristina is ready to commit to. But my suggestions are meant to stimulate her into a varied routine that can change each and every day according to her moods, what she feels like doing, and of course, where she happens to be in the world.
Unlike training for a triathlon (which requires discipline in three specific sports and unwavering commitment), the suggestions above are meant to inspire those of us who can't devote a huge part of lives to heavy-duty training, as much as we may want to.
For those looking to stay fit and maintain their ideal body weight and muscle tone, there are multiple ways to do so without being repetitious. It just takes a few creative ideas and the willingness to think and train outside of the box.