Road Trip!

[Shortsbysummer]

In one week I leave on a 5-day, 4550 km, family road trip where I am the sole driver with 2 kids.  It's not a sightseeing trip, we have to get from point A to point B in 5 days because I'm taking courses for my Masters.  We are tenting or sleeping the car (ugh), tuition fees broke me.    As I plan our daily mileage I'm stressing about getting my 25,000 steps a day.  Currently I walk to work and am lightly active there to the tune of 10,000 steps by 4:00pm.  I get the rest of my 15,000+ slogging away on the track and treadmill at the gym for 2-3 hrs, walking, slow jogging and sometimes doing the stairs.  I'm thinking I could give myself 1-hr in the morning and 1-hr in the evening to walk/jog depending on where we end up each night.  Maybe I should buy a foldable mini-tramp to take with me or a jumprope?  Or maybe plan B, longer drive days and try to make the trip in 3 long 12-14 hr days.  When we drive out west to see my family I can make that trip in 18-hrs with meal breaks but it's a hard day.  What do other people do to maintain exercise routines while road tripping/camping.  Once we get there we are staying in university dorms with a gym in the basement and a great gym on campus. I've worked too hard to get this weight off and have much more to go.  x I plan to fill the car with healthy foods and minimal eating out.  I don't want to get derailed by 5 days sitting on my butt driving for 8-10 hrs a day.  

I think my Fitbit is making me a little obsessive. =/

[Raviv]

How is the weather where you're travelling?

Where I am, it's already over 110F, so going for a walk outside is miserable, but in some spots, this is peak "hanging around outside" weather.

I would think, after a long day in the car with the whole family, it would be heaven to just get away from everyone and wander for an hour or two.

Also, I wouldn't worry about a little weight gain when you reach your destination.  My boyfriend and I went on vacation last month.  I ate right and pretty much doubled my usual mileage for walking.  Lots of hills too.  He told me something about travel and temporary weight gain unrelated to food or exercise (I'll have to look it up - could be total BS), and when I got on the scale, sure enough.  I was actually a couple of pounds heavier than when I left four days prior.  Within two days, that extra weight was gone.

[Odyssey13 · Accepted solution]

You are certainly not obsessive! It's perfectly normal to want to make your Fitbit happy by reaching your goal. They tend to pout when we don't.

You're facing a lot while on the road and camping out, plus taking care of two kids. Depends entirely on the weather and how things are going for everyone as to how you can get those steps in daily.

When I was recently on vacation, we had two drive days. The best I could do was walk whenever we stopped, but I wasn't the one driving. Since you're driving, you probably will be reducing your caloric intake, too. So I wouldn't worry too much if you can't make the whole of your goal those days.

Kids don't like being stuck in a car all day either, so you can get them to walk along with you. You probably will get more steps in just stretching your legs when you take a stop at a rest area than you realize.

I like the idea of the jumprope and taking healthy foods. You're probably not going to eat too much either while you're on the road, so you won't be gaining back the weight you've worked hard to lose.

Sounds like you've got a lot going on, but have planned it brilliantly. Just try to keep stress levels down and exercise when you're not resting or driving and it should be fine.

Congrats on the Masters courses and keep your Fitbit charged up!

[Heybales]

Time for what you realize are the more important things to take priority.

Forget the steps for now, do what you can with the circumstance you are in now.

Always have goals realistic for the circumstances you are in.

As well as always eat appropriately for the amount of activity you do - that's the bummer, though it should save some money - having to eat less.

Also, at every rest stop, or some other pre-selected distance or time - everyone jump out of the car, run around it waving your arms and yelling for several laps, and then jump back in and go.

Nothing like breaking the monotony with some fun, and watching peoples faces and talking about it later.

And you'll get some extra steps.