Poll: Do You Actually Work Out on Vacation Like You Plan To?


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Before my vacations ever even begin, I have these grand plans: of waking up early, every day, for a nice run. Of checking out a new yoga studio in a place I’ve never been. Of renting a bike and riding it everywhere.

So I pack accordingly: my sneakers, four pairs of socks, sports bras, shorts, shirts, yoga pants. I usually have to find someone to sit on my suitcase while I use the jaws of life to close it.

By the time I get to wherever I’m headed, my plans haven’t waned one bit. I will get up at 6 a.m. tomorrow! I will enjoy a nice bike ride on the boardwalk! I will take that sunset yoga class on the beach!

And then … well, then the alarm goes off for that 6 a.m. run and I fall into my old snooze-button habits, and before I know it, it’s 10 a.m., and all I’ve successfully done so far is very slowly sip a cup of coffee. Y’all, I can sip coffee like a freakin’ champ.

Truth be told, I usually do end up working out once or twice on vacation, but it’s no where near the professional-athlete-level training I imagined for myself.

During my last getaway, when, yet again, most of my gym clothes went untouched, I decided not to beat myself up about it. For one thing, a week off isn’t going to kill the strides I’ve made in my normal training. And for another thing, I’m usually pretty bad at giving myself a break; I’m one of those people who doesn’t really sit back and say, “I earned this! I deserve it!” even though, well, I totally do deserve it.

So I’ve decided to give myself a pass and lay off on the vacation-workout pressure this summer. I’m going to pack two days worth of fitness stuff, max, for my upcoming trips, and I’m going to work hard on giving myself a big ol’ pat on the back for all the sweat time I put in before going away.

But how about you? Do you talk a big workout game before vacations, like I do, only to skip your sweat sessions once you’re R&Ring? Or do you actually follow through on your workout-vacation plans? Or maybe you’re one of those people who says, “Eh, screw it! I deserve a break—even from exercising,” and don’t even plan to work out while you’re away. Take the poll below, and share in the comments.

POLL: Do You Work Out on Vacation?

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