Christian Eilers is a twenty-something who started the Dauntless Jaunter Travel Site three years ago; originally, it was a travel blog simply for him to document his travels, but since then it has evolved into more of an all-encompassing travel site, with destination guides, reviews, news, and educational material.
1. Honestly, do you find it hard to stay fit when traveling? If so, what is the biggest challenge for you?
It depends on where I go; for instance, if I travel to the Caribbean, the warm air and proximity to green-colored sea seem to invigorate me and give me energy, so I want to hike all day outside and see the sites. When I go to Warsaw in February, when it is -30 C, I want to take a taxi just to cross the street. That’s a challenge enough, I’d say, since the cold makes me not want to be so active, but then it is compounded when the foods I crave when it is cold are heavier, fattier foods.
2. What do you think about vegetarian/vegan/raw food diets? Do you follow any of them?
I have many friends that do, but I need some kind of meat/fish almost daily 🙂
3. What sports do you practice on the road?
Hmm.. not so many sports of the organized variety. Like I mentioned before, I get my exercise from walking until my shoes have holes in them.
4. Do you think mental or spiritual side is also important when staying fit? Is meditation close to you?
I’m not such a spiritual person, and I wish I could meditate, but your mental state is definitely most important when staying fit, especially when abroad. When you are in a foreign city, you might tend to justify letting go of your diet or exercise regime. “I’m on vacation,” you may say, “I’ll work out and go back to my diet when I get home.” This is dangerous thinking, because we all know how hard it is to get back into the daily life routine once the trip is over.
5. Your top 3 tips for other travelers to stay fit when traveling?
1. Use everything at your disposal; use your imagination to locate a pull-up bar on a tree limb or curling a gallon of milk at the supermarket for a few sets.
2. Be overly conscious of what you eat while abroad; not only are you probably going to relax your normal diet rules, but you also may not be sure of the ingredients and how heavy they are on your body.
3. Sleep well. It’s often not associated with fitness, but good sleep sets the pace for the following day. You may already start off at a disadvantage if you are experiencing jet lag. A good night’s sleep allows you to feel more energy the next day, helping you to stay active; metabolism is also not affected when you get your normal sleep, therefore helping to burn all those extra calories you might consume while on your trip.
