As the weather heats up and summer approaches we find ourselves traveling more often. Whether it’s for business or pleasure, the changes in our day-to-day routine can throw off our fitness plans. The warm weather, smell of bbq in the air, and a chill drink doesn’t help either! We are left saying “It’s the summer and I’m on vacation!” Leaving you with an extra 5-10 pounds by summer’s end. To avoid this from happening, follow my 5 easy tips to staying in shape during your next vacation.
Pack your own food
Pack a few healthy, non-perishable snacks like nuts, healthy bars and oatmeal. Use the hot water from the coffee maker in the room to heat up oatmeal in the morning. This way you avoid all the sugary goodness the continental breakfast serves up. The healthy snacks will keep you full during meetings and avoid the unnecessary trips to the vending machines. If you do eat the continental breakfast opt for eggs, toast, greek yogurt, oatmeal and fruit.
Pack workout clothes and tennis shoes
Whether you make it to the gym or not is irrelevant. What’s important is if you do want to workout, you have the right gear. The last thing you want is avoiding a workout because you don’t have the right shoes or a sports bra. Most people find it’s easier to stay active on vacation because they walk or bike to places rather than drive. They want to explore the city, and it’s much easier to do this when you have the right shoes.
Pack exercise equipment
Trust me on this, you’ll want to pack a few items like a jump rope and resistance bands. They’re small, light, and you can use them anywhere. Plus, if you have the equipment on hand you are more likely to get in a quick workout. When I travel I always remember to pack my jump rope. It’s a great cardio workout and I can do it anywhere, anytime. For travel workouts to do on your next vacation, check out my instagram @trufitnesswithnidaa where I share hotel and bodyweight workouts!
Walk everywhere!
Walking is the easiest way to burn calories while experiencing a new city. Try to stay at a hotel that is walking distance to restaurants, shopping, and cool neighborhoods. You get to sightsee and be active at the same time! This spring break, my family and I decided to walk to ice cream after dinner. It was a great way to connect, enjoy the town, and walk off calories from dinner. It also helped settle our food, so we didn’t feel stuffed and gave us energy to do more!
Follow the 2 out of 3 rule
When traveling it’s easy to indulge on local cuisine but remember, those calories add up. To keep from expanding your waistline, I recommend eating 2 ‘cleaner’ meals and 1 ‘indulge’ meal. Pack in as much lean protein and veggies for 2 out of the 3 meals, so you can indulge a bit more on the 3rd meal. Trust me, following this rule will allow you to enjoy your vacation while maintaining a healthy balance.
An example of this rule would look something like this:
Meal 1: Egg white omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and a side of berries.
Meal 2: Arugula salad dressed with lemon juice and topped with pine nuts, green apples and grilled shrimp.
Meal 3: This is your ‘fun’ meal. Pick what you want to eat and enjoy it without feeling guilty!
All things in moderation is the key to a healthy balanced life, not just on vacation but every day. Try to relax and don’t be so hard on yourself. You don’t have to be 100% committed to your diet and fitness goals when on vacation, you just have to be balanced. If you follow my 5 simple tips you’ll end the vacation feeling even better than when you started!
Nidaa Hossenlopp is a Personal Trainer and creator of Trufitness with Nidaa. She is a wife, mother of 2, and dedicated to educating women and men about the benefits of exercise for the mind, body and soul. For more health and fitness ideas or questions about your fitness journey, contact her at trufitnesswithnidaa@gmail.com or visit her website at trufitnesswithnidaa.com. You can also follow Nidaa on Instagram @trufitnesswithnidaa and Facebook @Trufitness with Nidaa.
