You don’t have to come back from a trip with 10 extra pounds and a bunch of gifts. You can lose a few pounds when you go on vacation. Here’s how to travel and not feel bad about the food you ate.
Vacations don’t all happen at the same time every year. People take trips all the time, if you think about it. Even when things are going well, it’s hard to eat to lose weight. Add a vacation to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for weight loss problems. Here’s how to make sure you don’t feel bad about the food you ate on vacation.
I used to see holidays as a break from everything, even from trying to lose weight. A lot of the people I’ve taught and talked to felt the same way. Someone told me, “I went off my diet completely when I went to the beach because I wanted a break from being good.”
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This is a popular way to think about vacations and dieting, and it’s fine if that’s how you want to treat your trip. You can always lose the weight you gained on vacation.
But if you are tired of going on holiday, gaining back weight you had lost, and then finding it hard to get back on track, I want you to know that you can make a change.
It’s all about being mentally and physically ready.
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Getting your mind ready to lose weight while on vacation
You should start getting ready for your trip with the idea that you will probably lose weight while you are away. Now, you don’t have to try to lose 5 or 10 pounds in a week’s holiday, but losing half a pound to a pound is very doable and will really get you motivated.
Tell yourself you can still lose weight while you’re away. Remind yourself of all the work you’ve done to lose weight before your trip. The last thing you want to do is gain back weight you’ve already lost.
Weight Loss in Preparation for Vacation
I was worried I would gain weight the first time I went on a short family trip while I was still losing weight. Before the vacation started, I chose to be proactive and make plans for a healthy trip.
Here is what I think you should do:
1) Bring with you some healthy food
I bring hard fruits like apples, pears, and oranges, trail mix, homemade granola bars, and small boxes of dried fruit when I travel by plane. I also bring a cooler with yoghurt, cheese sticks, hard-boiled eggs, or sandwiches when I’m driving.
2) If you are staying with friends or family, talk to your host or hostess
Take the initiative and have a heart-to-heart talk with the people you are living with on vacation. Tell them that you really want to stay on your diet and that you would like to help cook and plan.
3) Make room for your workout clothes in your suitcase
This one is pretty easy to understand. I always bring the clothes I wear to work out. Having them in your suitcase is a sign that you are still trying to live a healthy life, even though you are on vacation.
4) Look into gyms or places to walk
When I get to where I’m going, I look for the hotel’s fitness centre or ask my hostess for ideas on walking routes. You don’t have to be crazy about working out, but knowing where you can work out is a good way to start.
5) Think about your daily plan, including when and what you will eat
Before you leave on holiday, think about what you might do. Try to decide ahead of time what you’ll eat at places, when you’ll work out, and when you won’t snack.
