Travel All The Time - Can't Stop Losing Weight

[xanderzuk]

Hey guys, I’ve had a recent lifestyle change that’s created a fitness/health issue, and I’d love to hear your opinions/contributions.

I’ll briefly give you my fitness background before I present the question. I have been involved in and excelled at athletics my entire life. Wrestling, swimming, running, lacrosse, rugby. Some of these I continued into college. In 2009 I thru-hiked the Appalachain Trail 2200 miles from Georgia to Maine. I have a cousin on the teams and was training and planning on doing the same until I had a severe ankle injury/surgery. I’ve recently been involved in crossfit, though I have mixed feelings about some it’s applications, and I no longer have time to attend (more on that in a sec). I only mention these things to show that I’m not totally foreign to high intensity activity and fitness.

I’m 28, a bit over 5’ 9," and usually (normally) around 175ish. 41" chest 31-32" waist.

The problem: At the end of January I took a new job as a sales rep. It’s extremely high stress, I have a massive territory that doesn’t always provide me with the opportunity to bring things from home (weights, food) as I’m typically flying. With the exception of one week I’ve been gone Mon-Fri every week since January 19. The company essentially reneged on me and I’m gone way more than I should be. They expect me to continue this lifestyle at least 10 months a year. I’ll be leaving as soon as another opportunity comes along, but until that happens this is the way life is.

In that time I’ve lost close to 15 lbs. I’ve certainly burned some fat, but I’ve lost a considerable amount of muscle at the same time. I’ve seen a ton of people in this line of work become alcoholics, get fat, cheat on their wives, die of heart attacks. I promised myself I wouldn’t become one of those guys. In addition to the travel, I have a considerable amount of stress. My boss rides my fucking ass, and I’m about to get engaged. So there’s a variety of factors that I think are contributing.

I do need to do more strength training while on the road, but I think I also need to supplement my nutrition. I’m thinking of things I can pack in ziplocks that travel well. I’m considering getting on creatine again (I read Will’s discussion on the topic, and will probably purchase Vitacost creapure), as well as getting back on some various proteins.

I also need to find some good workout plans for when I don’t have access to a decent gym (which is often).

So I guess my question is how do I start getting the weight back on? How do I stop the downward trend with my lifestyle? What supplements should I be utilizing?

My clothes don’t fit, I’m getting puny dudes. Please help.

Thanks!

[Striker]

First, is finding a gym the problem or finding the time a problem?

I’m assuming as a salesperson you have a set territory, correct? Within that territory, is there a fitness company that has facilities in most or all of the places in your territory, like 24 hr fitness or Gold’s? If so, join because that will give you access to gyms. Or you could go to any gym and pay the daily fee. Almost everyplace, even the smallest towns usually have a fitness facility somewhere.

Second, what about the hotels you stay in, do those have weight training facilities? Hotel gyms, with few exceptions, are usually not great, but they have the attraction of being right there. You can start your day with a workout and not even have to leave the hotel. If you have the choice of hotels, and you’re not considering it now, maybe consider staying in hotels with fitness facilities. It ranks as better than nothing.

If none of that works; 50-100 pullups, 500-1000 pushups, 50-100 dips, 1000 crunches, 200+ oblique v-ups, a run or a swim will keep you in decent shape. It does require you find a park with pull up bars and dip bars though. Or if you do BJJ or kickboxing, you can walk into a gym and take a class just about anywhere. Adding mass is a different conversation. Not sure how you would do that without weights of some type, so I would go back to find a gym and pay the daily fee.

If it’s a time issue, I suggest breaking up your workout into two parts like cardio in the morning and weights in the evening or whatever works for you.

Whenever I travel, and I do a lot less of that now than I use to, I find I can get a workout in everyday that I want to, but sometimes I have to be flexible about the workout. I don’t always get to do what I want to do, so I do what is available. For me, planning is key. Knowing the where’s and what’s of the place I’m going to be in. What does the hotel offer, is there a fitness facility close to me, how much time will I have etc.

Hope something in there helps you. Good luck.

[brickboy240]

Wish I had that “problem.” wait until you get in your late 40s…that “problem” will go away all on its own.

The “fix” would probably be much of my old diet!

LOL

-brickboy240