Want To Stop Gaining Weight On Vacation? Here’s How
Written by Brooke Tucker-Reid
After returning home from vacation in the past, I’d step on the scale and notice I’d brought home an unwanted 5-10 pound souvenir. Consuming copious amounts of delicious food and bevvies was often fun and satisfying, but it would take me weeks to get back down to my fighting weight. Not ideal.
While on my last couple vacations, I started doing things a little differently. I still came home reenergized with plenty of awesome memories, but I maintained my weight and felt better for it. Your routine is your friend During a regular week at home, I generally stick the same daily meal routine. Part of that routine includes a smoothie and an iced coffee for breakfast each morning (basic, I know). Sure I could opt for eggs benedict or pain au chocolat every morning while on vacation, but I noticed I felt better when I stuck to my tried and true. Do you cook often at home? Try to do the same when you’re on vacation, or at least eat a similar amount of food. All-inclusive buffets can be tempting so think about choosing a smaller plate, or only going up for one round. Shopping = exercise Retail therapy is probably my favourite pastime, especially on vacation. I’ve been using a wearable fitness tracker lately and I’ve noticed my daily step count increased significantly when I went shopping. My wallet often got a little more exercise than it needed to, but it’s for the greater good, right? Most mobile devices offer fitness tracking apps so you don’t necessarily need to splurge on the wearable device if you want to track your steps too. There are plenty of other cheap ways to stay active while you’re on holidays. I’ve been training for a 5km in Boston so I’ve been packing my sneakers to continue running twice per week. I recently tried my hand at yoga on the beach in Florida. While the view is beautiful and the sounds of the waves are serene, it’s definitely more of a challenge than you might think. The wind and uneven sand make it difficult to hold your balance, and sand sticking to your body while you sweat isn’t the most comfortable feeling. It was a positive experience overall, but I think I’ll stick to the studio next time. I still give myself points for taking on a new challenge. Live. Indulge. Dive head first into the culture you’re exploring. But if you plan to successfully button your pants when you get home, try to enjoy in moderation.
