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Exercise to go.

Article Excerpt
Exercise to go

Away from home? You can still get a good workout, even in your hotel room.

Women take about 40% of all long-distance trips each year, whether for business, pleasure, or personal reasons. That often means overnight stays that can upset daily routines, including fitness activities. A jog or brisk walk around the neighborhood that's simple enough at home may be more complicated at a travel destination. A gym or swimming pool may not be handy. And packing free weights, even just hand or ankle weights, is likely to be inconvenient.

But even without access to a gym or outdoor recreation, you can still get a good daily workout. For the full-body exercise routine illustrated here, all you need is a sturdy chair, a towel, and a comfortable spot for floor exercises.

The instructions for the exercises in this workout indicate the number of repetitions, or "reps" (a rep is one complete movement), and "sets" (a given number of reps). In most cases, there are eight to 12 repetitions per set, and you're asked to perform one to three sets, resting 30 to 90 seconds between sets.

Before starting, warm up for several minutes (see "Simple warm-up"). After your workout, cool down with some slow stretches. (For a cool-down routine, go to www.health.harvard.edu/womenextra.)

Sustained aerobic activity such as brisk walking for...