In a few short weeks, my dad is going to be marrying his
lovely fiancé of five years in the Bahamas.
Of course, I’m super excited for them…not only because they’re finally
tying the knot, but also because this means I get to go to the Caribbean and
soak up some sun for a few days! You
know me, any time someone tells me I get the chance to go on a little getaway I
get “kid-in-a-candy-store syndrome” (okay, so I just made that up…but it could
be a real thing). Naturally I’ve been
working on my bikini-ready body since I got the details of their nuptials. I mean, hitting the snooze button 3 extra
times in the morning counts as a workout, right? No, it doesn’t? Okay then…moving on. I got to
thinking - and I’m sure the ladies out there will back me up on this - it’s
hard to go on vacation and not gain a
little weight. If you’re a total foodie
like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. So, how do I solve my little dilemma? I want to be able to enjoy the best cuisine
the Bahamas has to offer, but I don’t want to come back looking like a beached
wale. Well, wouldn’t you know it, I came
across an article on Glamour Magazine’s
website entitled “6 Ways Not To Gain Weight On Your Vacation”. Cheryl Forberg is a nutritionist and chef,
and she gave Glamour some of her tips
for staying fit while you travel. Let’s check out the list and discuss, shall
we?
6 Ways Not To Gain
Weight On Your Vacation:
1. Skip the airport
food: Forberg says that instead of going for that piece of pizza or that
giant soft pretzel, opt for bringing your own healthy snacks (low-fat string
cheese, trail mix, granola bars, etc.) or even a sandwich on whole grain
bread. I think this is a really good
tip. Not only is it economical (food at
the airport is always more expensive then what you can pick up at your local
grocery store), but it’s a healthier option as well. I would like to add something to this,
though. If you don’t want to bring your
own goodies, most airport food courts do have places where you can get salads,
soups, whole grain muffins, fruit, etc. Those
are things you can choose to eat instead of that Big Mac. And if you’re in a smaller airport where all
they have are little convenience stands, do what Forberg suggests and go for
the mixed nuts or dried fruit instead of the chocolate covered pretzels or bag
of Doritos.
2. Forgot your
running shoes? Ask the hotel: Now,
this one I ‘m not so sure on. While it’s
a good suggestion, I don’t know how feasible it is. I mean, does anyone actually work out while
they’re traveling? I thought that was
kind of the whole point of being on vacation. But, I will say that if you do want to get in
a little exercise before you start your day, most hotels/resorts do have
fitness centers for their guests to use.
You can always call the hotel ahead of time or check their website to
see what kind of gym facility (if any) that they have.
3. Plan out your
meals ahead of time: Forberg suggests going online and researching some of
the local restaurants close to where you’ll be staying. Many times you can view their menus on their
website and check out their healthier dining options. Also, take your time perusing menus (whether
it’s at a restaurant or room service) and see if they can substitute higher-calorie
side dishes for something healthier, yet still yummy. I think this is another good suggestion. I know some of you are probably thinking that
this is a lot of extra work to put into planning a vacation, but just hear me
out. If you have an idea about what you
want to eat, then you’re less likely to grab the menu and immediately gravitate
towards the unhealthy and fattening dishes.
4. Apps, apps, apps:
There are apps that you can download to help you locate “healthy eating”
restaurants. Also, there are a ton of
free apps that help you track how many calories you’re eating. Okay, okay, so I get that it’s sometimes a
little bit scary to see how many carbs you’re taking in. I mean, how many times have we all cringed
when we look at the food label on our favorite snacks? But, if you’re serious about fighting the
bulge on vacation, this is a good tool to know about.
5. Walk: Exploring while you’re on vacation isn’t just
fun, but it can also help you burn off that piece of cheesecake you had at dinner
the night before. If you can, choose to
walk around the area you’re in instead of hopping in that cab. One of my favorite things to do when I travel
is to walk around. It’s a great way to
really take in your surroundings and you can find the coolest places when
you’re sightseeing on foot.
6. Remember to
indulge: Now, this is a suggestion I can totally get behind! Forberg says that it’s okay to have one or
two indulgent meals – just make sure you balance them out with healthier
choices during the rest of your trip. I fully believe that vacations are meant
to be ENJOYED. What fun is a vacation if
you’re restricting yourself too much? If
you want that piece of chocolate cake for dessert, then go for it. A good idea is to maybe split that piece of
cake with someone, so you’re still satisfying your craving, but not overindulging. The most important thing about traveling is
that you’re having a good time and getting the most out of the experience…and part
of that experience is trying out the local cuisine. So eat, enjoy, and always remember that the
gym will still be there when you get home.
So there you go…some tips to help you fight the bulging
belly while you travel. If you want to
check out the article for yourself, here’s the link:
