Many people gain some weight after they return home. Even though you may be walking a lot more during a vacation, it doesn’t make up for the food and drink you’ll consume. Then, after you return home, it takes a bit to go back to your normal routine.
“THERE IS A LOT OF DEBATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD GO ALL OUT AND FORGET THE DIET WHEN YOU SPEND A WEEK VACATIONING, OR IF YOU SHOULD TRY TO STICK TO BEING HEALTHY. WE SAY THAT BALANCE IS KEY, AND WHILE YOU MAY NOT COME OUT OF THE VACATION UNSCATHED, THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN HAVE FUN AND NOT GAIN TOO MUCH.”
WHEN THE PROBLEM IS SOMETHING MORE
Sometimes, you may need help with your weight loss journey, or you might need help limiting the amount of food you eat. If you are suffering from severe depression, or anxiety, or just need motivation when you’re working out, talking to a counsellor or a therapist might help. Sites such as Regain give you online therapy on your own terms, which is always good if you’re on a vacation.
DON’T EAT SO MUCH
Okay, we know you’re going to break this rule on a vacation. With so many unique restaurants, buffets, and other places to eat at, you are going to eat a lot more, and that is okay. But know your limits. There are ratios you can try in order to lessen the damage. You can spend 20 percent of your vacationing diet eating indulgent food, or up to 30 percent if you want to risk it. Otherwise, eat some proteins, lean foods, and other goodies.
DON’T FOLLOW A STRICT DIET
Another challenge people face is going on vacations with a strict diet. Many people are going to fail their diet on a vacation. Eating keto? You may have to eat a few carbs. That’s okay. On a vacation, just use common sense when eating and don’t eat too much.
PACK SNACKS
Whenever you are vacationing, pack some snacks with you like trail mix, beef jerky, and various other foods. As you travel, it can be a challenge for you to avoid food stops when your stomach is growling. A healthy snack back can satiate you for the time being.
USE SMALLER PLATES
The buffet is a temptation that many people succumb to. When eating at a buffet, you want to get your money’s worth, and the buffet rarely is good for you. Avoid buffets except for small occasions. If you are there, have a smaller plate so you eat less, and try to avoid foods that are just filler.
GO EASY ON THE ALCOHOL
Again, we know you’re going to have some nice booze whenever you go on vacation. However, don’t indulge too much. The challenge with booze is that a nice drink can have lots of calories and isn’t advertised. Have a nice margarita on occasion, but otherwise, you may want to consume other drinks like lighter beers and whatnot.
DRINK MORE WATER
If you want success when it comes to keeping up your weight, stay hydrated. Plenty of people do not drink enough water when on vacation. All that walking around makes you forget to drink, and usually, you may be vacationing in a nice, sunny place that can dehydrate you. This leads to weight gain if you’re not careful. Be hydrated whenever possible. It can also help you digest your food, which is always a good thing as well.
TAKE THE STAIRS
Another way you can get a little exercise in is to take the stairs while in a building. If you’re on the 20th floor of your hotel, we don’t expect you to go up and down 20 flights of stairs, but if it’s a reasonable stair climb, do that instead of waiting for the elevator.
GET PLENTY OF REST
Initially, it’s hard to get sleep when on a vacation. Sometimes, you have to get up early to go to the airport, and you may not get any sleep at all because of the anticipation. Then, many find it hard to sleep on the plane. You may be in a place with a new time zone, and it can be hard to fall asleep initially. Melatonin helps, though. However, when everything settles out, get some rest. Not enough sleep can lead to weight gain. We get making the most out of your vacation, but it’s hard to do so when you aren’t getting enough sleep.
DON’T SKIP OUT ON WORKING OUT
We don’t expect you to do your full workout when on vacation, but at the same time, you should try to still work out whenever you are on the go. Chances are, your hotel has a gym you can use to stay fit. However, if this is not the case, home workouts work well too. Do a little routine before bedtime, or after you wake up. Get the basics are done and the blood pumping. It can help you both wake up and lull you to sleep after a long day. You can even do a workout with your children as well. For more information on fun workouts, you can do with your kids, click here or look here.
FINALLY, DON’T WORRY SO MUCH
There are many ways you can reduce the impact of weight gain on your vacation, but chances are, your weight is going to be a little bit up after you return home. Take steps to reduce it, but don’t worry so much and ruin our vacation. As long as you can return to your normal diet and exercise regimen, you can recover from a vacation. In fact, wait a little bit to weigh yourself after a vacation. Trust us on that one, because you may not like what you see otherwise.
Vacations are fun, and you can have them while still maintaining a healthy weight, and here we explained how.