If you have read any of my previous articles, you know that I am all about a good balance in life. I do not deprive myself of anything. So far, this approach has worked out for me. Clearly, I am a firm believer that living by strict rules and restrictions will eventually lead to splurging. Ever since the Garden of Eden, humans have tended to want things, even more, when considered a “forbidden fruit.” Thus, I do not ever restrict myself and do everything in moderation. When it comes to diets and nutrition, I do not believe in “cheat days.” When I feel like eating something sweet, I eat a bit of it to curb the craving. I do not deprive myself all week to pig out on one day. It makes zero sense to me. Evidently, this method has worked for me as I have maintained my weight despite having given birth and being a big-time foodie (my Yelp account is the living proof of that). I am not a huge fitness fanatic and clean eater. Hence, this way of life makes it easy for me to do moderate, shorter exercises every day and eating fairly balance.
Now that summer has arrived, we love going on weekend road trips in our home state Florida. While I thoroughly enjoy this quality time with my family, it also means getting my normal routine out of whack. While I normally try to get on 7-8 hours of zzz’s per night, there is usually no chance of that happening when sharing a hotel room with my toddler who decides to crowd surf on top of us in the middle of the night. Also, I simply cannot say no to the amazing Pina Coladas and coconut fried fish from Florida. I do believe that a family vacation is a designated time to enjoy life so going to the gym or missing out on scrumptious food is just not on my agenda during that time. However, I sincerely enjoy how balanced my life is. Therefore, I try to not fall too much off the wagon during vacations. If you share that sentiment, here are some tips on how to stay on track during your vacation while still having fun.
1) Eat what you want but implement nutrients
As I said, there is no way I am going to say no to my favorite fried foods and frozen drinks on my vacation. However, there is a way to enjoy them in moderation. During my last vacation, I would usually order a small salad upfront (I actually like salads). The veggies would not only nourish my body, but they also prevented me from eating too much of the “fun” food. Try to eat the rainbow by implementing fruits and veggies when you can. Your body and your overall well-being will thank you later. You will see that you will transition a lot easier into reality once the vacation is over when you maintain a balance.
2) Drink plenty of H2O
I know you have heard this a million times: you have to drink more water! Water can be a bit boring especially when you can have drinks instead. But, ESPECIALLY when you consume alcohol, it is the time to make sure you stay hydrated. Alcohol combined with the sun is no Bueno. People tend to drink more without noticing while having fun in the sun. But that can lead to serious dehydration and a nasty hangover later. So try to drink plenty of H2O during the day. You’ll be happy you did!
3) Bring healthy snacks
In order to control your hunger, you should never go too long without eating. By the same token, overly hungry people tend to lose all self-control and eat whatever is in front of them and too much of it. I like to bring healthier snacks such as nuts, protein or granola bars, and fruits to snack on in the morning or during the day. Also, I do not really like to start the day with a heavy breakfast that will have me sluggish for the rest of the day. Hence, I like to bring individual oatmeal packages. I usually heat up the water in the coffee maker provided by the hotel and use disposable cups! Voila, A healthy breakfast that will you keep you full until lunchtime!
4) Implement exercises into your activities
Obviously, vacations are meant to be fun! Most people do not consider going to the gym fun. However, if you are one of those who cannot live without the gym, you can take advantage of the hotel gym to mix it up a little bit. Or you can go for a run in the surrounding area for a change of scenery. I usually like to soak up every minute of my precious vacation time. But I sneak in some exercise-like activities every here and then. My go-to is going for long walks at the beach right in the water. The resistance from the water is one of the best calf and booty firmer for me hands down! And as a bonus, I always come back from my beach power walks with a nice tan. Not only that, it gives me a much-needed break and some me-time that mommy needs! Speaking of being a mom, when my son was still a baby and wanted to be carried a lot, I used to do squats while holding him in my arms on the beach. Now, he is WAY too heavy for that but now, I have to run after him all day which is a workout in itself.
Thank you for reading, mis amores! Hope you are all having a fabulous summer with lots of vacation time!
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