Fit on the road: Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin has to stay in shape to continue his daring adventures. Here are his tips for staying fit while traveling

Men's Fitness, Sept, 2002 by Tom Weede

In nature, the fittest survive. So it's no surprise that Jeff Corwin--who makes his living tracking down rattlesnakes, great white sharks and Tasmanian devils--considers his own fitness paramount to doing his job well. "I try to be very conscious of it, and try to exercise daily," he says.

As host of The Jeff Corwin Experience on Animal Planet, Corwin travels the globe to bring wildlife adventure to those of us who can't tell an armadillo from an anteater. How important to his job is being in good shape? Just ask him about the time an elephant charged. "I can't outrun an elephant," he admits. "But I sure can outrun the cameraman."

Corwin, 35, has been working from a young age for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems. Toting an expertise in biology and anthropology, he has traveled to more than 40 countries, and is on the road 10 months out of the year. Despite his busy schedule, Corwin follows a rigorous training and nutrition routine--"You have to incorporate fitness into your life," he says. Although you may not log Corwin's miles, it's still a challenge to keep up your conditioning whenever you leave home. To discover his secrets to fit travel, we caught up with the globe-trotter just before he set off on a trip to India and Nepal.

MF: What's your nutrition like on the road?

JC: I have a pretty strict diet when I travel. I eat very lean, keeping fats to a minimum. I eat mostly skinless chicken breast or fish, steamed vegetables, and fruit. Basically, while I'm traveling, I look at food as fuel and energy to keep me going. And then if we get a night on the town or a day off, I'll just let go and eat what I want.

MF: How do you eat well while traveling?

JC: I've actually cooked my own meals [in a restaurant]. You have to be insistent, and realize it's your body. It's one thing to be polite, but it's another to be shrugged off and told, "This is all we have." You don't want to push to the point where they'll spit in your food or anything like that, but it's all right to stand firm and say: "This is the way I want it prepared. I'm very happy to experience the food culture of this place, but I want to experience it in a healthy manner. Can you help me do that?" I follow this approach all the time, and very rarely do I have a problem.

But if I'm invited over to someone's house for dinner or as a guest at a special occasion, or if it's a place where simply getting food is an issue, then I just go with it. In Nepal, if all there is is yak, you eat yak and you drink yak milk.

MF: What do you look for in a restaurant in other countries?

JC: I like to see how the kitchen looks. Actually, in a lot of countries, like Greece, that's acceptable. I check out the bathroom for running water and soap. If you can't wash your hands, how about the guy who's gonna be there for 12 hours cooking your food? You have to examine the bottled water, too. A number of times, seals have been broken.

You also have to worry about dairy overseas. There are a lot of diseases you can get from dairy that's been inappropriately pasteurized.

MF: What kind of food do you bring with you?

JC: I always take along a supply of decent meal-supplement bars. I pack enough to have one available if I need to skip a meal during the day. And I'll often take turkey jerky and a mixture of dried fruit.

You have to be careful in a lot of places you're unfamiliar with, because there's nothing worse than being sick on the road. I'd rather miss a meal and eat a protein bar than be sick for a week and a half.

MF: Is being fit important for travel?

JC: I think so. It makes a big difference, because I can avoid being sick. If I'm in shape--if I eat right, drink lots of water, and take care of myself and exercise--then if I do get hit with something, my body has a better chance of recovering. When you physically exert yourself When you're traveling, fitness makes a huge difference in the quality of your experience.

MF: What if you do get sick?

JC: In tropical countries, you need to think hydration when you get sick. And whenever I travel overseas, I bring a basic multipurpose antibiotic with me, along with my vitamins. Also, you have to look into diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and typhoid. Talk to your doctor about vaccinations well before you leave. If you're traveling to a Third World country, you need to do research on what medical treatment is available. And in some places, if you get sick, your insurance won't cover it. You might want to purchase a supplemental insurance plan.

MF: What's your workout routine?

JC: I jog between 35 and 40 miles a week, and I try to get in at least two solid workouts with weights at a gym when I'm home. In the field, I reduce that to once a week.

MF: What about running in foreign countries?

JC: You have to really think about the heat and traffic, and the air quality in certain places. But the first thing I ask is: Is there anything that's going to eat me? And then: Do I have to worry about dogs or bandits? If everyone says, "No problem," then I just go!