I was thinking about how as hard as it can be to get in shape before a vacation, it's even harder to stay in shape while on vacation. And that reason, at least for me, is because I believe a vacation is what it is- a true v a c a t i o n. You shouldn't have to worry about what you eat or do on your trip. Wherever you go, you want to enjoy it full on; you want to enjoy the food, the drinks, the lifestyle of being lazy (or adventurous) but not having to worry about what you normally do at home.
I have vacationed many times with my family to the Mediterranean, and those trips are great for my so called "diet." Not only do we walk all over historical sites, but the food there is so much healthier. So I never feel like I've gained too much weight while on those trips. Where my main problem lies, is when I go on a vacation to the beach. Because when I am wearing a bathing suit every day, it's hard for me not to get a little bit of a tummy, mainly because I'm stuffing my mouth with anything but wholesome foods. Carbs are my hardest thing to fight when it comes to keeping my belly pretty flat, but they are also my hardest thing to resist. Bread. Love it.
So that got me thinking about ways to stay in shape while on vacation WITHOUT ruining the fun. Because honestly, some of us are not the kind of people that will get up at 7am every morning to work out, or resist all the good food and desserts on a vacation. If you are one of those people, hey, good for you! But not all of us are. So this is dedicated to those of us that want to truly vacation but might need a little bit of help keeping our bodies in check.
Note: This is based on a beach vacation, because that is what I'll be doing end of June. (And because it's one of the more lazy types of vacation. Ya know, not like a trip to hike the Great Wall of China.) But it can obviously be applied towards whatever type of trip you take.
Number 1: Portion control.
You definitely want to eat the breaded shrimp or cheesy biscuits at the seafood restaurant,plus the desserts or the Mojito's on the beach. But if you control your portions, it will be easier to not feel overloaded and bulk up. I mean yes, you are indulging, but you don't want to miss out on the fun. Just control yourself. Don't eat the whole basket. In fact, take some home in a doggy bag, and then you can have it for lunch tomorrow. (Saving you money!)
Number 2: Disguised work outs.
Now, doing a hundred sit ups on your condo floor every day is probably not going to happen. If you're a runner, take a run on the beach. But if you're not a runner, like me, then find other ways to exercise your body while still enjoying the scenery. When you head out into the water, take the first few minutes to swim around, kicking your legs and using your arms to give your body a good boost of cardio. (Then you have my permission to sit back in your floaty with a cold one and enjoy those waves.) When you're standing in the kitchen waiting on the popcorn, do some jumping jacks or lunges while you countdown to that buttery delishesness. Little bits of random exercise throughout the day will be better than nothing!
Number 3: Activities.
Break a sweat playing games on the beach or wherever you are, like beach volleyball, football, frisbee or whatever else you and your companions like to do! Even going out dancing after dinner one night would be a perfect way to burn some calories. I know I'll most likely be playing chase with my nieces and nephews come my beach week.
Number 4:
Take the steps, walk or bike to your destination whenever possible! Hopefully, if the weather is good, you'll want to spend most of your time outside anyway! So if the restaurant is near by, skip the car and enjoy the scenery with a walk. If your condo or house have stairs, skip the elevator. Rent some bikes and take an afternoon to bike to the towns near by or through a national forest.
Number 5, just for good measure..:
Drink plenty of water! Make it something you are consistently doing through out your trip! Take a bottle with you to the beach or pool, order a water with every drink or meal and tell yourself to always finish it before you leave.
I hope these are helpful to y'all. I am going to work hard to keep them myself here in about three weeks when I'm heading to the beach with my family, and on any other adventures I take this summer.
If any of you have good tips for keeping up with your important health and fitness without feeling like you're not embracing a true vacation, I'd love to hear them so let me know!
Oh and don't forget to use sunscreen! Protect your skin!
xo,
t.
P.S.
Let me finish by saying I am NO expert in health and fitness. I am one of the worst people for that. I can say some great things to people I'm chatting with about it, but do I consistanly follow my own rules? Hardly! But at least I try, right? I also want to point out that the above paragraphs are not saying every girl has to have a perfectly flat stomach. The reason I am writing this is for those of you that want to keep one. 😘
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