The choices in other portable exercise tools are impressive:

  The Ankle Tough Rehab System is a set of straps made of heavy-duty elastic, and are cut and stitched to make 2 straps that fit over shoes or bare feet. Set comes with 4 different resistance straps for light, medium, strong and tough resistance levels. Comes also with exercise manual.

  Flex Bars - a portable exercise gadget that is lightweight. The bars improve grip strength and upper body strength, and allow oscillation movements for neuromuscular and balance training.

  Weighted Vest – a gadget to help you add resistance to your workout. Vest is weight-adjustable with each weight packet weighing approximately 0.75 lbs, and its one size fits all feature makes it deal for both men and women.

Steel shot packets conform to the body, and weight adjustments range from 0.75 lbs. to 20 lbs.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Buyer Beware!

There are some exercise aids that have been specifically marketed to walkers – things like weighted shoes to add resistance while jogging or brisk-walking.

Before you dole out your cash to buy exercise accessories, speak to a fitness trainer or orthopedist first. Some products can be just commercial hype.

This article on www.walking.about.com can shed some light on the subject. If you’re going cross-country driving and the trip will take about 12-15 hours, schedule hourly stops so you can perform some stretching exercises, or go for a 15-minute walk in the neighborhood. Exercising will energize you, diminishing your need for frequent cups of coffee and relieve eye strain.

Hotels -Back to the hotel scene: some nice hotels have spa facilities that you can enjoy while on a business trip. Reward yourself with a facial or a massage AFTER a session on the treadmill or 10 laps in the pool. This is a great way to unwind for the evening, and an added bonus for the individual on the go. The old saying, “You have to enjoy your exercise, otherwise you’ll give up in no time” has never been truer.

Here’s a tip.

  If you can’t incorporate a tennis game or a trip to the gym, how about signing up for dance classes (e.g. ballet, jazz, tap, belly dancing). If you’ve always loved dancing as a child, wouldn’t this be a great way to fit exercise into a busy schedule?

If you don’t particularly look forward to being with the gym crowd, a dance class will help you stick to the program.

A good motivator – or exercise aid – is to invest in good dance music tapes. Or listen to selected dance tunes on your iPod while traveling, so when you get to your hotel room, you’re pumped up and ready to shake that booty!

Using a Pedometer

This is a beeper-sized device that you clip to your waistband. It measures walking and running distance in steps and miles. Some models are more sophisticated and equipped with measuring
features for pace, total exercise time and calories burned.

A pedometer could motivate you to walk during airport or train layovers because you’ll know how much ground you’ve covered and will encourage you to aim for a longer distance on your next trip. Joe Decker says he tested 6 models for accuracy and 4 out of the 6 were accurate. He recommends two specifically:

Bodytronics Q25 Electronic Pedometer and the Part Ultrak 275 Electronic Calorie Pedometer.

Always Carry…

Always have the following items with you as you travel:
• comfortable shoes
• padlock
• foldable, light gym bag
• quick dry clothing

Keep these in your suitcase at all times so you don’t waste time looking for them and re-packing them. A busy individual like you need not be unencumbered by exercise paraphernalia that you’re hunting for just before taking a flight!

Keep a Record!

A workout log would be nice – just to monitor your progress. When you become pleased with yourself, liking yourself for the small efforts you’ve invested into improving your physical self, you may want to get into a full-fledged workout program with a trainer.

Show him/her your workout log so he knows exactly how fit you are.

Eating Fit!

Let’s not forget your fuel! Don’t run low on gas; otherwise your body cannot achieve optimum fitness performance. Nuts, sesame snacks, protein bars, low-fat muffins, a generous helping of dried and fresh fruit, baby carrots, cereal flakes, oatmeal bars should keep you on the go while exercising.

If you’re pressed for time to sit down for a proper meal, these portable foods will tide you over, in a healthy and nutritious way.