Breakfast at a diner, lunch at the airport, snack at the gas station, dinner at (gasp!) McDonald’s. You finally reach your hotel, drift into a jet-lag induced coma and sleep in well past your normal workout time. It seems so inevitable: Spring Break is around the corner and we all know the health challenges that come with traveling. I’m not judging, I’ve been there! Anything goes when you’re on vacation, but the trick is to stay in control. You don’t want to find yourself coming home with the “Spring break is over, man, I blew my diet, now I’m home exhausted and bloated” blues.
Don’t abandon your old routines Allow yourself to sleep in a little, but don’t skip your morning workout altogether. You’ll get a nice energy boost from it and it will help anchor you in something familiar for all the adventures of the day! That doesn’t mean you can’t take it down a notch. After all, it’s Spring Break!
Engage yourself in new activities Depending on where you’re vacationing, there’s bound to be countless opportunities to try something new and active. Some fun examples are: surfing, hiking, yoga, swimming and beach volleyball.
Pace yourself Sip slowly and space out each sugary or alcoholic drink with a glass of water. Decide beforehand how many drinks you will allow yourself and then switch to water. Try ordering it with mint, lemon or cucumbers for a refreshing change.
Practice moderation Resist grasping desperately for every all-you-can-eat-buffet and fish-bowl-margarita. It’s regrettably easy to overindulge while you’re traveling, so keep track of your calories. One drink turns to four and before you know it, you’ve downed three days worth of calories in a two hour time-frame. A small notebook tucked neatly in your pocket or handbag will hardly weigh you down, but all the excess food and potables will! Most good bartenders will be able to steer you in the right direction. Just ask if they can make a light version of your favorite drink. You would be surprised how many are eager to show of their mad-mixology skills! Some of our favorite low (or at least lower) calorie drinks include:
- SkinnyGirl Margarita
- The Low-Carb and Weight Watchers Margaritas
- Blackberry Thyme Margarita
- Watermelon Citrus Cooler
Here is a great guide to help you track your calories in your drinks:
