Vacation time!!

It is almost vacation time!  Are you planning your family vacation or some get-away time?  Do you feel anxious about staying on track with your healthy regime of food choices and exercise?  If so, now is the time to start planning for your trip or vacation.  Planning in advance can make the difference in staying on track or throwing caution to the wind and your healthy habits going on vacation too.

In planning a trip or vacation, many might experience some anxiety or worry about what and how they are going to eat while away from their usual day to day routine. Vacation sometimes equates to more free time.  Unstructured time can be dangerous for some of us.  Routine is usually a comforting component to a person’s weight loss efforts.  Vacations have unplanned meals, more eating out and maybe more desire or pressure from others to splurge. Here are a couple ideas to keep in mind:

1. You may chose to follow the same plan and routine as you would if you were at home. This means you might stock up on foods at the grocery store once you’ve reached the destination and therefor have the appropriate food choices on hand. Plan to have a breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal versus snacking and grazing throughout the day.  If you believe you’ll want to incorporate a planned snack throughout the day, make it a healthy one.  Bring some familiar, favorite snacks of protein bars, beef or turkey jerky, or any other regular snacks.  By bringing some of your healthy staple food choices, it will also remind you of your healthy habits of snacking and eating.

2. Consider keeping a food diary while on your trip to help keep you on track.  If you have a food journal program on your computer, bring it with you.  Keep a written food and exercise journal.  Write down every bite you put in your mouth.  If you have to write it and see it in black/white, you may think twice before going off track.

3. If you know you’ll be eating out more or splurging then try to get more exercise in during the day. Plan active days with a lot of walking, biking, or sightseeing.  You can incorporate activity into your vacation.  New places to see and new things to do can easily incorporate exercise and high levels of activity.  Look for ways to stay active.  You’ll enjoy your vacation more.

4. Most importantly, do not let those cheating or splurging habits come home with you! If you have allowed yourself to “get off track” and make sure to get right back on track when you get home. Make a firm promise to yourself that when you’re home, you return to your normal healthy habits.  Don’t allow yourself to continue your vacation by eating off track and exercising less.

5.  Even though you are on vacation, your body and weight are not.  Calories count whether you are at home or on vacation.  Your body doesn’t know the difference.  Will you return home maintaining or even losing a couple of pounds or undo your weight loss efforts of weeks?  You can go on vacation but your nutrition and exercise don’t have to.  Your new healthy habits are a lifestyle and not a temporary diet program.

Going on vacation isn’t about the food.  Going on vacation is all about having fun, spending time with family and friends, seeing new places or revising old favorite places.  Keep your focus on fun and your vacation will be a time to remember and cherish in reaffirming your new healthy lifestyle.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator