Credit: lululemon athletica

You might think that the first of the year is the best time for motivation to get fit and get healthy, but we’re here to let you in on a little secret. Although January 1 is a good time to commit, when it comes to getting in shape almost effortlessly, September is better than January because of one simple thing—warm weather! Unlike winter when it’s dark and cold outside, summer and fall are full of fresh fruits and veggies, long days filled with light and numerous opportunities to get moving whether you’re on the road or not.

So how can you make the most of summer and fall to feel good and stay motivated while you’re traveling for work or for pleasure? Follow these five tips to feel your best!

—Jenn

When you’re traveling for business, you’ve got a lot on your mind—whether you’re a first-time traveler or a seasoned pro. From remembering the memory stick that is storing your important presentation to remembering to pack your lucky suit, fitness can definitely take a backseat on the priority list. But once you’ve arrived at your destination and gone over your PowerPoint slides for the millionth time, you’re ready to go. You’ve got an evening ahead of you to kill, so you might as well de-stress. Whether you’re hitting the town for drinks, going to the fitness center for a workout or just grabbing a bite to eat, avoid these rookie mistakes when you’re traveling. Your health will thank you!

From losing your keys to getting lost, avoid these rookie mistakes to stay your fittest when traveling!

—Erin

Credit: lululemon athletica

If you manage to fit workouts into your business travels, you’re one step ahead of most road warriors. It always feels good to be able to go into your morning meeting and let your coworkers know about your awesome morning run. But I’m willing to bet that you don’t want to hobble in on crutches after hurting yourself while running on unfamiliar terrain or in foreign neighborhoods. And you definitely don’t want to have to hit a hospital when you’re far from home—who wants his or her boss to see him or her in a hospital gown? With a little safety know-how, you can successfully stay active on the road while avoiding broken bones.

Continue reading to sweat safely during your travels…

—Erin

Credit: stevendepolo

Ever wonder how a coworker stays in such great shape when she travels for work more than half the year? How does she eat donuts at the morning meeting and still fit into that power suit? Staying fit is hard enough at home, when you don’t have layovers, work dinners and the other perils of business travel to contend with.

So how do others do it? Do they have ridiculously high metabolisms? Do they not eat? Are they freaks of fitness nature? Nope, they just know seven things that you don’t. Make that seven not-so-secret secrets…because now you know them, too! Read on for seven business travel tips that fit people follow (but may not talk about).

—Jenn

Credit: danperry.com

Business travel is often a necessary evil. Those first few business trips can be fun and exhilarating. After all, they’re often full of new and exciting destinations, room service and hey, you’re not in the office! But by your 20th or so sales call—and after numerous flight delays and missed connections—it can be hard to see the appeal of business travel at all. But as I sit here at the airport about to embark on a week-long trip for a work event , I’ve decided to look on the bright side and remember everything I love about business travel. After all, if you spend as much time on the road as I do, you’ll know that making the most of your business trips is the only way to go.

Continue reading for on-the-go fitness tips…

—Erin

Credit: lululemon athletica

It’s challenging enough to work out and eat right while on the road for business; but when you throw obstacles in the mix, like travel restrictions like baggage weight and size limits, layovers and tight quarters, it can get even tougher. So just how do you avoid the fitness and healthy-living pitfalls that travel can throw your way? You plan for success, that’s how!

Read on for how to carry on, survive a layover and make the most of your space!

—Jenn

You may remember that Jenn and I wrote for Embassy Suites’ BusinessBalance.com website last year. We covered all sorts of workout travel topics, from working out on the cheap to how to make the most of less-than-ideal travel situations. We are thrilled to be able to announce today that we will be continuing our affiliation with BusinessBalance.com and will be contributing our fitness expertise to the site for 2010! We’ve already got several articles in the hopper, and they’re sure to help you guys stay active while you’re traveling. And even if you’re not a frequent flier, we are sure you’ll be able to find these tips helpful anyway! Read on for our first Business Balance article of 2010! —Erin

Myth-Busting: You Can Stay Healthy on the Road

Credit: Kossy@FINEDAYS

If you travel frequently for business, you know it can be tough to maintain a healthy routine on the road. You’re often out for business dinners, which probably means you’re not loading up on fresh produce at the grocery store or cooking your own meals. You’re also likely enjoying a glass of wine (or three) with colleagues when you typically don’t imbibe on weeknights. Add in jetlag, and you’re probably too tired for your morning jog or yoga session. Although this sounds like a recipe for diet disaster, it doesn’t have to be! With a little planning, you can stay healthy on every business trip, whether you’re away from home for one day or one month.

Continue reading…

Credit: kweezy mcG

More often than not, travel plans go off without a hitch. Your flight arrives on time, your luggage is waiting for you at baggage claim, and your business meetings all commence on schedule. But as any seasoned traveler knows, sometimes there are kinks in the travel chain of events. Flights get stuck on the tarmac, luggage is lost, or that all-important meeting is postponed a day because of the boss’s canceled flight. Here are some of those losing situations—and ways to turn them into a winning fitness scenario!

The Long Delay

The delayed or canceled flight is arguably one of the worst travel scenarios. It’s never fun when bad weather hits, and you see your flight getting pushed back in one-hour increments. Even if you’ve got a good book on hand to occupy your mind, you’re bound to get restless sitting in the airport.

Continue reading…

—Erin

Credit: basykes

Fall is my favorite time of the year. Back-to-school season always feels like the start of a new year—the time to turn over a new leaf as the leaves fall from the trees. I love the colors of the season, the reds and oranges as the trees change. I love the crisp feel in the air as I go out for my morning walk or run—that one day when you just know autumn is in the air. My birthday and wedding anniversary are both on glorious fall days, and I love the fun of Halloween and the indulgence of Thanksgiving.

But even with all the wonder of the fall season, it’s not all fun and games. Business travel carries on even as the leaves fall from the trees. So how can you take full advantage of fall and all it has to offer—and fit in business and fitness? I’ve got some active ways to enjoy fall both at home and on the road. Here’s the scoop on fall business travel, tips and tricks for fall, and ways to work fitness into my favorite season.

Continue reading…

Credit: dichohecho

Traveling for business always sounds so exotic. A week in Paris! An overnight layover in New York City! A trade show in San Francisco! But after just a few business trips during your career, the allure starts to wear off. Your business trip to Paris goes from seeing the Eiffel Tower and drinking good wine to being crammed on a plane for 8+ hours and being jet-lagged. Your plans to check out a trendy new fitness studio in NYC are foiled by flight delays. The picturesque view of the Golden Gate that you’ve always wanted to see is shrouded in darkness by the time you get off the trade show floor.

It happens. Business trips can be crazy-busy and despite your best attempts at getting some leisurely sightseeing in, fitting in any kind of non-work time is tough, let alone working out or relaxing. However, combining business and leisure during a trip is possible. And it doesn’t have to be exhausting to have your business trip and enjoy it, too.

Read on for the business-leisure-fitness Holy Grail!

—Jenn