You hit the gym daily, skipped scrumptious desserts and splurged on a few new outfits to look your best for vacation. Now that you’ve arrived at your destination, should you relax and let loose or stick with the routine that helped turn you into the beach bombshell you’ve become? The answer is: a little of both.
If you’ve been working your body to the max, your body and mind are most likely in need of a good rest. It will be good for you! But doing absolutely nothing for a week can be hard for some of us to do, plus you don’t want feelings of guilt or laziness to get in your way of having a good time. The solution is to stay somewhat active while allowing yourself to let go a little. Here’s how:
Brisk walks on the beach
Soak up the sun and sounds of the shore, but try to take a few nice, long walks on the beach. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the sun isn’t at its peak, are the best times to get in a good stroll. (Don’t forget that natural sunscreen!)
Get busy with the kids
If you have little ones, enjoy some time playing with them in the sand, in the pool or on a playground. If your destination has bike rentals, take the kids for a spin for good times and a good low-key workout.
Hit the hotel gym
If you’re up for it, many hotels have gyms where you can do cardio or even lift weights. Try to squeeze in at least two full-body workouts if your trip will last a week. If you’re worried you need more, bring along a Valeo Resistance Tube for mini workouts right in your room. The best time to exercise is in the morning, before you head out for the day’s activities.
Walk when you can
Resort-style vacations usually require a lot of walking””so consider this your daily workout! Wear your sneakers and pick up the pace every time you travel from one end of the property to the other. Did you know that walking and climbing stairs over the course of seven hours at a resort can burn over 1,000 calories? Take along a small pedometer and see for yourself!
Eat well, but splurge a little
One of the biggest challenges for a health-conscious person on vacation is eating. A large part of the fun of being away from home is not having to cook and enjoying foods you don’t t normally eat. But why blow all your hard work going overboard? Plus, if you stray too far from the habit of eating well, it’ll be hard to get back on track when you return from your trip.
Make sensible, healthy choices and plan one “fun meal” for each day. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and indulge in moderation: have a scoop of ice cream (not a sundae), choose grilled food over fried, don’t oversnack. I always pack a few healthy snacks, such as Peanut Butter Balance Bars, Extreme Superfruit Raw Mix or Pure Protein Vanilla Cream Protein Shake, just in case nutritious options are limited.
Enjoy your vacation!