Avoid Gaining Weight on Vacation
When lounging around your favorite family-friendly resort or your ideal adults only resort. Or, if you are enjoying the scenic sights of a new city, it’s tempting to throw your diet and exercise routine to the wind. After all, you’re on vacation; why shouldn’t you enjoy yourself and ease up on your strict practices?
The problem is, you will have to return to your everyday life eventually, and you don’t want to regret ultimately giving up on your healthy habits while you were away. Instead, balance treating yourself and sticking to your regular routines.
Your body will thank you when you don’t return with an extra five pounds clinging to your midsection. Here are seven easy ways to ensure you don’t go overboard when it comes to your diet while on vacation.
Use the Hotel Gym
Pretty much every resort, hotel, and even some motels have a fitness facility you can utilize. Apparently working out isn’t the most exciting thing you can do on while you’re vacationing, but by just hitting the gym for thirty minutes or so, you can help combat the extra pounds you’ve been packing on at the buffets and bars. Throw your trusty running shoes in your suitcase, hit the treadmill for a while, and lift a few weights.
Find Vacation Activities That Get You Moving
The easiest way to make sure you’re not gaining weight? Don’t just veg out by the pool. Try to find local activities that will get your heart pumping. Go snorkeling, find a cool hiking trail, or walk around the area instead of calling an Uber. Not only will you ensure your physical fitness doesn’t take a slide, but you’ll also speed up your metabolism to deal with all those naughty treats you’ve been chowing down on.
Maintain Your Regular Sleep Schedule
It’s no secret that getting the proper amount of sleep can help you maintain a healthy weight, and this concept doesn’t disappear just because you’re on vacation. Late nights and low-quality sleep will make it even harder for your body to recover after eating out on vacation.
Stick to your regular bedtime and make sure that your body is well-rested. If you struggle to sleep in unfamiliar places, bring along some helpful sleep accessories like a mask, sound machine, and perhaps even your pillowcase.
Cook on Your Own Instead of Constantly Eating Out
Although you might be dying to try all of the trendiest restaurants in the area, try to cook at least one meal a day in your accommodations. Most vacation homes and hotels can provide you with a small kitchen so you can at least whip up a healthy breakfast or lunch, which will probably be much less caloric than any meal you’d buy at a local tourist trap.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t check out any of the local restaurants, but do try to limit your eating out to once a day if you can help it.
Bring Your Own Snacks
When your stomach starts growling in the airport or on the road, chances are you’ll stop by a fast food joint to satisfy your cravings. Avoid making this costly mistake by preparing a handful of nutritious snacks in advance. Sure, you might want some salty McDonald’s fries more than you want the peanut butter and crackers you packed, but it’s a small sacrifice to make to maintain a healthier weight.
Indulge, But Monitor the Portion Sizes
A vacation is a vacation, so you should get to give in to your temptations once in a while. Have that sweet piece of cake or that mouthwatering plate of nachos, but remember not to go too crazy.
A little goes a long way, so split the dish with someone or save a little for later instead of gobbling it all down at once. By keeping your portion sizes relatively small, you’ll be able to indulge more frequently without feeling too guilty about your vacation diet. Now you know how to avoid gaining weight on vacation.
Watch How Much Alcohol You Consume
An occasional glass of wine or light beer isn’t going to pose a huge setback in your fitness plans, but increased consumption of alcohol can make you feel like eating more than you usually would and make your body store the extra calories as fat.
Plus, those sugary cocktails at the pool bar are worse than the average beverage you select at home, so pay attention to how many times you refill your glass. Remember, it’s all about moderation, so keep yourself in check.
In Summary: How to Avoid Gaining Weight on Vacation
Believe it or not, it is possible to have fun on vacation without totally wrecking your diet. By monitoring what you eat and how much you eat, preparing in advance, and getting active both in and outside the hotel, you can combat even the unhealthiest meals you come across. Life is short, so indulge while you’re on vacation, but remember that the extra pounds you add will follow you back home.
