The Mommy Post: Vacation Can Be a WIN-WIN!
Posted by Julie Kinney on Wed, Jul 14, 2010 @ 08:08 PM
Happy Heat Wave!
I am sitting here on vacation in Cary, North Carolina working on my mother's sun porch sweating to death! As I sit here with my feet propped up on a chair, trying to keep my eyes open as I listen to the frogs, crickets, neighbors' air conditioning units, and subtle snores of my 3 children in the background, I am filled with excitement about writing about my vacation topic!
So often, we mistake family vacation as vacation from all aspects of life, including our diets. While we try to relax as much as possible on vacation, myself included (although I think vacations are much harder for me than real life), we can't forget and deny the importance of our diets and our weight management. Why work so hard every day to throw it all away in a week. I have seen with my clients more damage done in one week than I ever thought possible. Lose 15 pounds in 3 weeks, only to gain it back in ONE WEEK ON VACATION? Doesn't seem logical to me!
My food for thought for you for this week as some of you are on summer vacation with your family, or summer itself may be a vacation, is to pick your battle. What is important to you on vacation? Is it spending time with your loved ones? Riding the rides at an amusement park? Sitting on a beach with a good book? Or eating yourself into oblivion and picking up the pieces next week when you get back to "real life".
I recently came across an article about vacation weight gain on MedicineNet.com. It describes just this situation. Going on vacation and abandoning everything only to not be able to button your pants when you get back! It gives some great tips on how to manage your weight on vacation while still having a great time. The following are the tips suggested. Click on the link above to read more in detail.
1. Plan ahead to fit in fitness: how many times have you heard us as personal coaches say it isn't enough to "want" to do your PA, but you have to plan it in. Same goes for vacation, and maybe even more so since you are out of your normal routine.
2. Be prepared: This could mean a slew of things, but most importantly expect the unexpected. Pack your snacks, eat your breakfast that you normally do, like a double HMR 120 shake with fruit!
3. Avoid dining out disasters: While you don't have a lot of control of the calories in the meals you AREN'T preparing, stay away from fried, fatty foods in restaurants. Go for the "safe" choices in lean protein and vegetables.
4. Indulge in moderation: Yes, you are on vacation, and I am not saying you can't have something, but instead of eating the whole thing, split a dessert with a family member or eat half of it and not the whole thing. It's important to learn you don't have to finish everything put in front of you, especially with serving sizes we are seeing these days.
5. Pare down the portions: I can't tell you how many clients tell me they could have done better on vacation had they eaten smaller portions. Unless you are at your own house in the woods or at the beach where you are controlling 100% of your foods like you would at home, chances are the portions are going to be large and in charge!! Do yourself a favor and cut them in half. You will be glad you did.
I hope you enjoy your vacations this summer and in the months to come and you come back victorious and even a few pounds lighter!