Euro Fitness Journey: 9 Cities in 28 Days
Fitness or Travel? Why Not Both!
In the summer of 2018, I faced a unique challenge: maintaining my fitness routine while exploring nine European cities in 28 days.
Here's how I balanced deadlifts with sightseeing and protein with adventure.
Embarking on this month-long European adventure with my close friend, we were both budget-conscious students passionate about travel.
The journey was meticulously planned: Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Madrid, Nice, Monaco, Rome, Hvar, and finally back to London. It was a dream trip we had eagerly anticipated for months.
However, amid the excitement lurked a challenge. I had been building significant momentum in my health and fitness journey, and the thought of a month without workouts was unthinkable.
Yet, how could I maintain my fitness routine while hopping through nine cities in just 28 days without letting the stress of exercise overshadow the joy of travel?
Facing this unique challenge for the first time, I devised a strategy.
For each Airbnb we booked, I scoured Google for nearby gyms, inquiring about affordable guest passes and planning to squeeze in full-body workouts whenever possible.
Something along the lines of:
Coupled with aiming to get a protein source in whenever possible, this approach turned out to be a success.
I soaked in sights like Porto's picturesque Dom Luis Bridge, Madrid's mighty Santiago Bernabeu, marvelled at Monaco's myriad of majestic yachts, and Rome's remarkable Colosseum, all whilst maintaining my fitness routine in Lisbon, Madrid, and Rome, complemented by resistance band and bodyweight workouts in Nice and Hvar.
This journey was more than just a travel adventure; it was a life-changing experience.
Through shared experiences and adventures, my travel companion transformed from a close friend to my girlfriend. Moreover, this trip taught me a valuable lesson in flexibility and resourcefulness in fitness. I learned the art of adapting my workout routine to fit the constraints of time and resources, a skill that's now an integral part of my coaching philosophy.
Today, I guide my 1-2-1 online fitness members through similar challenges, helping them navigate busy periods without sacrificing their fitness goals.
Suppose you're currently overwhelmed by balancing a hectic schedule and your health. In that case, click here to sign up for my email list.
I send out an email once or twice a week in which I discuss various nutrition and training tips, tricks, and tactics.
Speak soon,
Leo