Does your upcoming vacation have you worried about your waistline? You should
be.

The average person gains almost a pound a day while on vacation.

But that doesn’t have to be you. Most of the time extra pounds sneak up
on you when you least expect it, so decide right here and now that your vacation
will leave you slimmer than when you left.

All you have to do is have a
plan.

As you embark on your next vacation adventure, use these 7 tips to
come home fitter than when you left.

Trick #1: Be
Active
If your travels keep you too busy for a workout, or if your
hotel does not have an exercise room, make a conscious effort to be active
everyday. Go on a brisk walk after your day’s activities. This is a great way to
see a new city, and also a great way to burn off extra calories. Take the stairs
instead of elevator in your hotel and any other buildings you visit. Go on a
short jog in the mornings or evenings of your stay. If your hotel has a pool,
swim a few laps each morning or evening.

Trick #2: Indulge with
Control
Eating out is a must while on vacation. Whether you’re
visiting 5 star restaurants or fast food diners, you are faced with the same
problem: large portions. While the easiest thing to do with a large portioned
meal is to simply eat it all - you are on vacation after all...right? - that
isn’t the best for your waist.

When you order your meal ask the waiter
or waitress to bring you a to-go box. Take half of your meal and place it safely
into the box before you even begin to eat. This gives you no choice but to eat a
healthy portion. If you would rather not carry around a to-go box then ask that
your entrée be made into a smaller portion. If it is dinnertime ask for the
lunch-sized entrée.

Trick #3: Don’t Eat Late
One of
the easiest tricks for preventing weight loss is to simply stop eating 3 hours
before you go to bed. This is especially effective while on vacation. So skip
that late night indulgence and wake up looking and feeling great.

Trick #4: Snack Healthy
Have you ever noticed how
travel days create the perfect opportunity for snacking? A coffee and muffin
before your flight, a snack on the plane and then before you know it - it’s
lunch time! Taking a road trip? This opens up even more opportunities for
regrettable snacking...rest stop vending machines, gas station quickie marts and
of course the never ending string of fast food restaurants along the highway.

This summer cut unhealthy snacking off at the pass by brining along your
own healthy options. Dried or fresh fruit, unsalted nuts, health bars, cut
veggies and low fat crackers are a good start. By filling up on these healthy
snacks between meals you will end up eating less when presented with a
less-than-healthy meal.

Trick #5: Avoid Fried
Foods
While fast food restaurants are definitely convenient, with
their low prices and quick service, this convenience is not worth the additional
pounds brought on by chips and fries. As you enjoy your vacation keep this in
mind: avoid fried foods. While this is always good advice to follow, it is even
more important to abide by while traveling.

While vacationing you will
likely burn fewer calories each day than you would burn at home, and you are
consuming more calories due to your schedule of eating out. You are walking a
fine line, and eating fried foods would throw you right over the edge. A gram of
fat contains 9 calories as compared to the 4 calories that proteins and
carbohydrates carry - so you can see that consuming fried foods will drastically
increase your caloric intake.

If I still haven’t convinced you to pass
on the curly fries, keep in mind that heartburn and indigestion are never
fun...especially while on vacation!

If you feel you need help preparing
yourself time away from home, I'm here for you.  Together we will come up with a
fitness plan that is uniquely yours, one that fits your lifestyle and brings you
promptly to your goals - something that you will appreciate while on vacation
and at home.

Call or email today to get started.