From finding suitable workout facilities to locating nutritious food near the hotel, many frequent travelers have a hard time staying healthy when they’re away from home. Serious workout enthusiasts may find pared-down hotel gyms inadequate, and this may cause them to forgo their workouts altogether. Finding gyms and healthy food are not the only difficulties associated with travel—it’s also true that frequent traveling can take a mental toll. A recent study reported that business travelers—like those who fly more than once a month—age faster due to repeated jet lag and greater exposure to radiation at high altitudes. Even leisure travelers run into similar problems, thanks to the stress that accompanies waiting in long security lines at the airport, and the general frustration that can sometimes accompany travel. Fortunately, there are ways to combat this stress. From mobile apps to fitness wearables, we’ll explore some of the best technology tools for staying fit and healthy while traveling. Tom Tom Adventurer WatchFitness trackers are extremely popular nowadays, and it seems that nearly everyone has one. From the basic to the super high-tech, there are plenty of options out there, no matter your fitness goals or what features you find important. For frequent travelers who enjoy outdoor sports, the Tom Tom Adventurer Watch may be the fitness tracker of choice. This watch is perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and other adventurous pursuits, as well as everyday use at the gym. The Adventurer Watch takes what people have come to love about Tom Tom—its GPS technology—and combines it with an easy-to-use setup. Unlike more complicated fitness trackers and watches, the Tom Tom Adventurer Watch is user-friendly. It comes complete with a built-in music player that holds up to 500 songs, a heart rate monitor, and a set of Bluetooth ear buds. The GPS features of the Tom Tom Adventurer Watch are especially helpful for travelers looking to stay fit, since pre-determined running routes can be loaded onto the watch ahead of time. This is great for travelers who’d like to work out in unfamiliar surroundings without the fear of getting lost. The watch holds a charge for up to 6 hours straight when playing music, and up to 20 hours in everyday mode. Users can also download the Tom Tom MySport app, which keeps track of stats and workouts. The Tom Tom Adventurer Watch retails for $350 and can be purchased on the Tom Tom website and at select retailers. Gymsurfing For travelers who are tired of tiny hotel gyms with ancient equipment, finding a good local gym in an unfamiliar city can be a challenge. The Gymsurfing iPhone and Android app is designed to make this process easier by allowing users to locate nearby gyms. The app displays information about each gym, such as the pricing for day passes, as well as the types of equipment and other amenities available, such as pools and saunas. Users of Gymsurfing can book a day pass to nearby gyms right in the app, and passes range from$5 to $20. Currently, Gymsurfing allows users to find gyms in Toronto, Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, to name a few cities, and there are plans to expand to other locations in the future. HealthyOutFinding healthy food is one of the biggest hurdles to staying fit and feeling good while traveling, but the HealthyOut iPhone app changes that. HealthyOut helps find healthy meals nearby. The app offers a variety of search filter options, which is great for those on special diets. Users can sort results by dietary restrictions and choices such as low sodium, low calorie, low carb, diabetic friendly, and vegan or vegetarian options. There’s even a search filter that omits salads from the results, which is good for those who like to watch what they eat, but are tired of eating salad all the time. HealthyOut is available for the iPhone as a free download in Apple’s App Store for US users only. FitGuideFor those following a dedicated health and fitness regimen, frequent travel can disrupt the process. FitGuide is a web and mobile platform that provides exercise and meal plans that are customized to fit anyone’s schedule—including people who are always on the go. The platform is unique because it uses real fitness professionals to design customized workouts and meal plans based on the user’s lifestyle.
FitGuide offers its services for free for the first 30 days in order to give participants a chance to see if it works for them. After filling out the initial FitGuide application, participants are connected with a consultant who will assess their needs and abilities as well as scheduling constraints. After this initial assessment, the consultant creates a customized exercise plan and the participant is paired with a nutritional coach to provide accompanying food and meal recommendations. The FitGuide professionals also make sure to include questions about work-life balance, sleep patterns, and other factors that may affect performance. While traveling can disrupt anyone’s best-laid plans for health and fitness, technology is making it easier than ever to stay on track and in shape while away from home. With a little web research, you can find the tech tools that will keep you healthy no matter how much you travel. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorBruce Eaton is the president and chief executive officer of i2 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a hit discovery and lead optimization technology provider serving clients in the pharmaceutical industry. Categories
All
|