How To Enjoy Yourself & Stay Healthy On Vacation

Who doesn't love going on vacation? It is so nice to get away and relax without a worry in the world. My ultimate vacation is anywhere with a beach! Nothing makes me happier than feeling the sand between my toes and going for a refreshing dip! If you have been following a healthy lifestyle plan, you may find yourself completely thrown off track while on vacation.

How to Stay Healthy on Vacation

Although I completely agree that vacation is a time to unwind, let your hair down and indulge a little, you could risk throwing away months of hard work in a matter of a few days. For those of you who are worried about going on vacation and staying healthy, I have put together a few tips to help you stay on track while also still having fun!

Eat Healthy Portion Sizes

Most of us dine out in restaurants when we are on vacation, which can sometimes be a welcome relief from cooking everyday! However as nice as it is to be waited on, eating out is one of the areas where most people will slip up on their healthy lifestyle without even realising it.
One reason why it can be so damaging to eat out is many restaurants serve large portions and we tend to eat more when there is more food in front of us without even thinking about it. This often causes us to overeat and push ourselves past the point of feeling full. Don't feel bad for leaving food on your plate if you are well and truly done, either take it away for later or ask the waiter to take your plate away so you aren't tempted to pick at it.

All Good Things in Moderation

Depending on your choice of restaurant, you may also find yourself staring at a menu that is full of saturated fats, cholesterol, high sodium and low in lean meats and vegetables. The secret is to find the balance, and stick to everything in moderation!
An easy way to do this is to share with a friend or family member! By sharing a side of fries, you'll still be leaving plenty of room for your nutritious salad and protein. The same goes with dessert! By going halves with someone means your less likely to leave the restaurant feeling like your belly is about to explode!
So many people think "indulging" means going all out and eating what you want, as much as you want for your entire trip. A great thing to do is to try and make sure you order as many fruits or veggies with each meal as you can, as these will be higher in fibre and nutrients.

Watch Out for Drinks & Sides

Be careful with your drinks. Splurging on a cocktail or soda can be a real treat when you’re on holiday, but it’s important that you make water your beverage of choice with most meals. Drinking sodas and sweet drinks just for the sake of it will add so many unnecessary calories to your daily intake and half the time you don't even feel like more than one, you just drink it because it is there.

Added refined sugar is something you definitely don't want to overdo on your holiday, especially if you are not regularly working out. Take care when ordering sides, instead of ranch dipping sauces aim for fresh salsas or hummus and tzatziki dips. Always choose a side salad or steamed veggies over deep fried choices. If you are craving those onion rings, set aside a certain day where you will order them and keep the rest of your meals light.

Although it can be very tempting to go all out and eat like there is no tomorrow, remember it will catch up to you if you aren't a little careful. Being on vacation just means modifying your food choices to fit in with your lifestyle. Do some research before you leave and find cafes and restaurants that have a variety of food you can choose, particularly foods that that are not fatty and fried.

Stay Active

I know that the last thing some of you want to do while on vacation is hit the gym, but listen up! You can still be active in other ways! You should use your environment to your advantage, depending on where you are. If you are on a beach holiday try going for 45 minute beach walks every morning or exploring some water sports, such a surfing or paddle boarding. If you are vacationing in the snow there is nothing better for your fitness than winter sports or walking through knee deep snow. Even if you are just away in a different city, walk to your destinations where possible or simply walk to the train station rather than catching a taxi. Always look for reasons to be outside and active. If you think about it, the options are endless - you just need to get creative!

If you are like me and actually love going to the gym even when on vacation, wake up early and get a quick session in before anyone gets up. You will feel so much better for it and your body will love you. When researching hotels try to pick one with a gym, this will make it so much easier for you to jump out of bed and fit a workout in straight away.

My biggest tip would be to walk everywhere and anywhere you can! Don't always jump straight for the taxi, bus or tram. Walk to and from your meals if you can and if you have to take a bus or train walk to the station or stop that is slightly further away from your destination. Walking is also a great way to see all the sights and immerse yourself in the culture. The best bit is half the time you don't realise how far you have actually walked because you have been too busy taking the sights in!

I hope these tips have helped you, the top two things you should remember is to indulge in moderation and be as active as possible. 

Happy Vacay!

Kayla xx