How a hockey mom stays fit while travelling
FITNESS SOLUTIONS
This past weekend, I spent three days in Cobourg, Ontario, at a hockey tournament with teams from around the province. As always, the games were exciting and the socializing was fun. On the other hand, “away” tournaments like this happen several times a year and make it challenging to stick to a healthy eating and exercise regimen. As I was doing an early morning workout on the weekend, however, I met someone who appears to have it all figured out!
Veronique Ayotte is a single mother from Ottawa who is raising three boys that play hockey at various levels while she maintains a full-time career. It’s clear that she is different from the others who might wander into a hotel gym to walk on the treadmill while staring at the morning news on TV. Upon arrival in the fitness room, she looked to be on a mission. She was a whirlwind of activity; performing a series of strength, endurance and cardiovascular exercises set to a timer, while playing a great workout soundtrack from her smartphone. After years of working out in hotel gyms, I have never seen someone so focused. She was inspiring and made me want to get to know what drives her.
Veronique was kind enough to share her story with me, along with some great tips. At 45, she is the oldest of the hockey moms from her son’s team. She also happens to be the fittest. Her background includes recreational sports as well as a brief career as a Circus performer with Club Med. As a young mother, she ran an in-home daycare business to allow for more time with her boys. During that time, she established her daily workout routine to “keep her sanity.” It’s a habit that has stuck with her even now that the boys are older and the daycare no longer exists.
Although Veronique has great muscle tone and low body fat, she returns often to the idea that her workouts are for establishing balance in her life and for keeping the daily stressors at bay. This means that things change very little for her when travelling; it just takes some planning and creativity to keep things going. Here are some great tips that she provided me with:
1. Just as you would pack your toothbrush and deodorant for a trip, pack your workout gear. Her overnight essentials include a smartphone loaded with apps for performing high intensity and Tabata workouts, a skipping rope and resistance band, a Bluetooth speaker for music and she sometimes even brings a small kettle bell to use for strength training.
2. Plan for one treat meal per day with the team in a restaurant, but, bring your own food for breakfast, snacks and lunch. Veronique’s hotel room is stocked with foods like whey protein powder, fruit, nuts, vegetables, sliced meats, hard boiled eggs, instant oatmeal and cheese. Most hotel rooms have fridges to store your essentials.
3. Always have an alternate workout ready to go if your circumstances change. If the gym isn’t available, use the pool or go for a walk or run. In Veronique’s case, she will make a workout briefer, but, more intense if time is short. This type of workout could even take place in your hotel room, using only body weight exercises.
4. Enjoy the camaraderie with your friends and even enjoy some wine, but, have a glass of water in between each drink to slow things down.
5. Don’t be shy or embarrassed about your efforts. Be confident knowing that you are doing good for yourself and your family.
In speaking with her, it became apparent that Veronique doesn’t view her weekend getaways as an excuse to go wild, but, as a challenge to continue with what she would be doing during a normal week at home. She makes it clear that she does not diet; she eats healthfully as much as possible and then if she wants a piece of cheesecake on the road, she eats one guilt-free.
Next week, I’ll be bringing you the third part in the series on mindset and will be writing about “perspective.”
Medical Exercise Specialist Ernie Schramayr helps his clients manage medical conditions with exercise. You can follow him at erniesfitnessworld.com; 905-741-7532 or erniesfitnessworld@gmail.com.