Staying healthy on vacation
I hear a lot of you saying “whhhhaattt!”. I get you, for many a holiday or vacation means a break from everything. However, if you are on a good health programme you often don’t want to have this completely disrupted by going on vacation. But, I hear you, it is also important to recognise you are on vacay so how do you find that balance of trying the area’s delicacies and treats while eating healthy as well as keeping active while trying to relax. I think with a little forward thought finding a balance on vacation it is not that difficult.
Here are my top tips for staying healthy on vacay:
Stay active
This might differ depending on the type of vacation you're on, if you're off to Orlando for example and will be walking around the theme parks all day it is probably not something you even need to consider. If however, you're going on a beach vacation consider how you want to fit in your exercise. I would always suggest trying to do this first thing. If you are somewhere hot temperatures are only going to rise as the day goes on and after lunch or lounging through the day your motivation to workout is likely going to be much lower. Everywhere you might want to workout such as the pool and gym is also likely to be quieter too. Plus, once you have worked out you can enjoy the day in the knowledge you don’t need to think about that for the rest of the day.
So what are the best ways to workout. As with everything this is going to be personal to you, if you are someone that likes the regiment and focus of a gym and your hotel has one hit it up first thing. If that’s not your style make the most of your location, do yoga on your balcony or terrace and enjoy the views or go explore the grounds of the hotel, neighbouring villages or one of my personal favourites try out the local hiking spots. This way you get to appreciate your vacation spot while also getting in your daily workout.
Be prepared
Take your workout gear, shoes and walking boots if you think you may need them. Consider investing in a travel exercise mat if you plan on working out outside of a gym, amazon have quite a few to choose from such as this yoga mat from Gaiam. If you use online programmes remember to download a few workouts to your phone, this way any dodgy internet connections won’t get in your way and you won’t need to waste anytime planning your workouts during your vacation.
Consider your food choices
Not every meal needs to be super healthy and don’t feel like you shouldn’t try those local delicacies. Just keep it balanced, and if there is a local fish dish this maybe a great choice as it will contain protein, healthy fats and just ensure you get that side of veggies or salad and you have yourself a balanced meal. Reaching for those fruit cups at breakfast cannot only help to keep your plant intake high but can also be a great opportunity to try the local fruits. Remember it is all about the balance not deprivation.
Remember to take time to relax
As well as exercise and nutrition, downtime is also important to health. We all live in a world that is so demanding on our time and attention where thanks to mobile phones and cellular data we are constantly available. So why not consider booking a hotel with some wellness facilities. Then make sure you plan in time to check out the facilities such as saunas and the spa the hotel has to offer. Additionally why not prebook a few treatments before you go.
Take your supplements
I think is something a lot of people forget when they are packing for a holiday, as we all know there can be so much to think about. Plus the struggle with the thought of taking extra bottles, who needs even more space taking up in their suitcase am I right? Honestly, the space thing is easy to get over with a weekly pill box. Here is a link to the one I use, but there are many options out there and they are not very expensive, just ensure you go for one that is dark in colour to stop light affecting any of your supplements . If you going for two weeks and have a weekly one just put double the about in each of the days, you will still be able to see if you remember to take them or not.
Why is this so important. We all get accustomed to the supplements we take regularly and more often than not we are normally taking them for a reason, therefore missing them for a period of time could make us feel a little less than ourselves. Which is really the opposite of why we go on vacation in the first place. Additionally, a vacation is a time we are out of our usual environment and exposed to different people, foods, water and infections etc. taking vitamins, minerals and probiotics that support our immune system can therefore also help stop us getting sick.
Don’t let the pendulum swing too far
It is fine to reach for those delicious beignets it would be rude not too right? Your on vacay after all, but try not to let these food choices dominate throughout your whole holiday. This balance is important not just on vacay but also in everyday life, it allows to you to stay healthy without feeling you're missing out or depriving yourself of the occasional treats or dishes you enjoy. You have to keep both the mind and body happy to be truly happy and healthy.
Finally, if you have over indulged
Don’t beat yourself up, don’t over compensate when you're back home, just get back on track and find your balance once again. Eating balanced and moving your body are the keys to good health but they mean nothing if your unhappy and stressed.