The Science Behind Why Travel Feels Different Than It Used to – Q&A

Travel can make your joints feel stiff.

Starting in your 20s, your body gradually produces less collagen, the proteins that give your joints and connective tissues the strength and elasticity they need to handle stress. This decline becomes more noticeable in your 30s and beyond. Add in long periods of sitting during travel, which also reduces joint lubrication, and you may notice your joints feel a lot stiffer.

Workouts may feel harder at first.

Changes in sleep, hydration, nutrition, and your exercise routine can leave you feeling more fatigued than usual. These changes can temporarily affect your energy levels and ATP production, the energy your cells use to fuel your muscles, making your normal workout feel more challenging.

Most people “bounce back” within a week.

After a trip, it’s completely normal for your first few workouts to feel harder than usual. Your body is simply readjusting to your regular routine. For most people, it takes about 3–7 days of consistent movement to start feeling like themselves again.

You haven’t lost your progress.

If you don’t feel as strong after vacation, it usually isn’t because you’ve lost muscle. Some time away from training mainly reduces glycogen (fuel) stores, muscle fluid content, and the efficiency of your brain-to-muscle connection. Once you resume exercising, these adaptations return quickly, so it doesn’t take long to get back to where you left off.