How to LOSE weight on vacation
It’s that time of year again! Vacation season! If you are anything like me, you have been dreaming of all the restaurants you “must” go to when you get to your destination. Maybe you are looking forward to not doing anything.
No matter what, vacation usually means multiple meals out every day of your trip, but vacations don’t have to throw you off track.
Think about it: this time should lead to an increased quality of life even after you return home. It can help you to recharge, strengthen family ties, reduce stress, and raise your spirits. Returning home refreshed allows you to give all areas of your life—from your job to home life—the attention and focus they deserve.
With that goal in mind, I’ve put together some tips to turn this summer into one of the best, and healthiest you ever had!
1. Get Moving:
Don’t sit around and do nothing! Go hiking or explore a new city by foot or bike. Navigate the ocean waters by kayak or try paddle-boarding. Physical activity doesn’t have to be scheduled or take place in a gym to be beneficial. The more fun you make exercise the more likely you are to do it regularly!
2. You can’t do it all:
Give yourself a treat by going to the restaurants and places you love. Make it count. But if you just can’t picture the trip without visiting every single, favorite restaurant, choose your meals wisely. Maybe you love the steak AND they make the best sangria you ever had. Go for it. Just make sure to make allowances during your other courses. Have a salad as your appetizer and forgo dessert. The next night, have a grilled piece of fish for dinner in order to earn that chocolate mousse.
3. Have a game plan:
You are much more likely to stay on track if you plan ahead. Pack a few Our Skinny Mini Meals, for instance. They are super-easy to transport and will remind you that you still have goals back in the real world. Commit to having one breakfast or throw one in your bag for the bike ride! You will feel MUCH better about that chocolate mousse later, and you’ll be saving money, too.
4. Catch some shut eye:
The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School tells us that “Sleep provides an opportunity for the body to repair and rejuvenate itself.”
In fact, sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions. So, hit that snooze button a few times. Soooo…. don’t feel bad about sleeping in or dozing by the pool. (But don’t forget sunscreen!)
5. Journal:
Don’t spend a ton of time on this, but write down what you ate, when you ate it, and what you did that day. When you step back on the scale at home, you’ll be able to look back and see exactly what you did, not what you thought you did (and maybe the memories will sustain you for a little while).
Don’t forget that a small speed bump doesn’t have to turn into a brick wall. You can get back on track just as quickly as you fell off, I promise, but it sure is a lot easier to do when you plan your trip with your weight loss goals in mind.
By: Katie R.