Staying Healthy on Vacation
You spend time learning how to plan and pack for a vacation, but what about how to stay healthy on vacation? Vacations are the perfect time to relax and enjoy yourself, but does that mean your diet has to go out the window? Having a healthy vacation isn’t very difficult to do, and will definitely make your time with your personal trainer and registered dietitian a lot easier when you return from your getaway!
Staying Healthy While Traveling
Planning a beach trip or getaway this summer? Use these summer vacation tips to enjoy your trip and stay healthy without sacrificing any fun!
1. Have a plan! One of the top tips for vacation goers is to plan ahead! Check to see if your hotel has a gym, or check out local trails nearby where you could get a workout in. Make a plan to get up an hour before everyone else and commit to it. Once you make the plan, and maybe even write it out, it will be easier to stick with it!
2. Fill up on fruits and veggies! Eating can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your trip, but it is all about balance. Staying healthy on vacation begins with making smart food choices. Begin every meal with some sort of fruit or vegetable in order to get your vitamins and fill up on the healthy stuff. Try to fill your plates mostly with these fresh, healthy foods and splurge sparingly on the treats like filet mignon or an ice cream cone.
3. Be adventurous! Nobody wants to exercise on vacation, so you have to disguise the exercise as fun! Go on a hike, a bike ride, a swim or even canoeing. Whatever you choose to do, get the entire gang involved and get moving! Find an activity that gets your blood and heart pumping and plan your trip around those body-healthy activities. Of course, feel free to indulge in the occasional lounge around the pool, but be sure to get out there and move your body before or after!
4. Sneak in the exercise! Learning how to stay healthy on vacation comes from finding what works for you and still allows you to fully enjoy your vacation. If you can sneak in exercise by taking the stairs, walking to local sights instead of driving, etc., you will not even notice you’re doing your body a favor because you’ll be too busy having fun. Always take the stairs, park your car in the furthest parking spot, walk to dinner, or even take a nice, long walk on the beach instead of just laying on it and you’ll be doing your part to keep your body fit on vacation!
5. Be portioned-minded! One of the easy ways to stay healthy is to be mindful of your portion sizes. If you want to order the fettuccine alfredo, then order it! However, split it in half, or more, and put the rest in a to-go container right away, or simply share the dish with a loved one. If you go to get ice cream, get a single scoop instead of two and you’ll still be able to enjoy the special treat without the guilt! Staying healthy on vacation doesn’t mean you’ll be miserable, just content and satisfied with a little bit less! As we all know, portion control, choosing healthy foods and exercise are the best ways to stay healthy, and it’s no different when you’re on vacation!
