It’s already March! As the spring and summer seasons are fast approaching, many of us will be jet setting to warm, tropical locations to unwind and get away from it all. Vacations are a chance for us to put the demands of life on hold for a brief period of time while we enjoy ourselves and relax in a beautiful location.
So, I’m sure, like me, the last thing you want to be thinking about while you’re away is whether or not you’re eating the right amount of calories, hitting your macros, or burning enough calories. This, at times, can be a stressful process, and didn’t we plan that vacation to get away from the stress in the first place?!
Don’t stress! You’re on vacation to enjoy yourself!
After just recently going on vacation, I took a little bit of time to reflect on how I was able to enjoy myself without stressing over my fitness progress. I want to share with you some tips on how to have fun in the sun while still holding on to those hard earned fitness gains.
Plan when and where you’re going to workout.
Before actually going on vacation, most of us take the time to plan out our flights, where we’re going to stay, and the activities we’re going to do. Take a few moments to plan your vacation workouts as well, even if it’s just a few quick ten minute workouts in your hotel room. Being realistic with how often you are going to workout is important as well. Strive for a number that you know you can hit.
Plan out your vacation workouts.
On my vacation to California for example, I gave myself the realistic plan of working out at least two days out the six I was going to be there. I looked up a Crossfit gym close to my hotel and walked there to workout in the morning before getting the day started. Two workouts were realistic for me because I had a lot of activities planned on the trip. Figure out what is realistic for you.
Plan active activities.
I like to enjoy the food while I’m in a new and exciting place, and I have no shame in saying that I like to eat! A great way to counteract some of the indulging that will be done on vacation is to plan activities that require a lot of movement. Activities such as swimming, hiking, walking, and dancing are all fun examples. Plan a few throughout your trip so that even if you don’t get the chance to workout, you are still getting in a lot of physical activity.
My boyfriend and I planned active activities like rock climbing, hiking, and sightseeing (a lot of walking!). Because I planned to be moving a lot, I enjoyed eating out at several great restaurants without stressing about how it would impact my progress. I relied on physical activity to help counteract some of the delicious eating I knew I was going to be doing. You can do the same! Getting out to explore is so much fun!
Rock Climbing in Joshua Tree!
Practice mindfulness when eating.
Did I mention that I like to eat?! It is very easy for me to overdo it when I eat, but recently practicing mindfulness while eating has helped me a lot.
So, while you are enjoying that delicious food on vacation, pay attention to how you feel. Slow down your eating and enjoy it. This will improve digestion and help you feel more satisfied while eating less food. When you feel satisfied, stop eating.
Grocery shop as soon as you return.
After returning from a trip, it is more than likely that there will be close to nothing in your fridge upon your return. This has gotten me in trouble in the past because I would hold off on grocery shopping and end up continuing the habit of eating out like I did on vacation.
This time, I stopped the madness and got myself to the grocery store the same day we got back. I stocked up on lean meats, fruits and veggies to push myself right back into my healthy eating. I took away the opportunity to continue the indulging because I already spent money on groceries.
I’m not saying to rush to the grocery store as soon as you land, but the sooner the better. It will help tremendously in helping you get back to working on your fitness goals.
Give yourself the week or two after vacation to allow your body to normalize.
Your activities, your eating, and maybe even your sleep habits are most likely not the same on vacation, and that’s okay! You took the vacation to enjoy yourself and that is what you’re doing. So, it is very possible that you may experience bloating and a little bit of weight gain. If you give yourself the week or two following vacation to get back into your home routine of great workouts and healthy eating, your body will undoubtedly return to the state it was in before you went on vacation. Just give it a little bit of time. I hopped right back into my routine the day after I returned, and I already feel pretty much back to normal.
Give your body time to normalize.
Putting plans in place, moving, and giving yourself time to get back into your fitness routine will allow you to enjoy yourself and the beautiful place you choose to spend your vacation. So, the next time you go on vacation, take these tips with you and have fun!
I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at brie@ogletreeformandfunction.com. If you are looking for a supportive community to help you reach your health and fitness goals, join the Form and Function Tribe on Facebook!
WORK FOR YOUR GOALS!!!
Brie Ogletree
Owner, Ogletree Form and Function
B.S. Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Certified Personal Trainer