By eating smart, everyone can eat some of your favorite foods while staying fit. Just keep your caloric intake to a maintenance level.
Use the 80/20 calorie rule:
Spend 80% of your calories per day on healthy foods like you would eat back home and 20% on the things you like, but never eat or don’t have available at home. For instance, if you like cheesecake, order a slice and eat half of it.
Your staple should still be fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats which are readily available in most resort areas. Watch the drinks. The calories in sugary ones like Pina Coladas and others with the little umbrellas can really add up.
Instead opt for a light beer, red wine or something straight on the rocks like tequila.
While you are most likely eating the number of calories, you need to lose weight while at home, bump up the number of calories to maintenance; that is normally a 500 calorie per day increase.
If you keep your exercise level about the same, you won’t gain weight and you can start up where you left off after vacation. Staying fit isn’t really hard at all.
Tips for staying fit while on a vacation:
Do morning workouts:
Exercising before breakfast is one of the best ways to get your metabolism revved up, and can last for most of the day.
Most resorts have an exercise room that guests can use. If you like being outside, sign-up for Zumba on the beach, yoga or water aerobics. Nobody says working out has to be boring. Or just swim laps in their pool. It is all fun!
Engage in fun calorie-burning family activities:
Family activities are a great way to burn calories and still have quality family time. If at an ocean-side resort, check out some snorkel gear and see what is under the surface of the sea. Snorkeling is a great calorie burner. Pack a Frisbee in your luggage. It doesn’t take up much room and weighs next to nothing, yet it can provide hours of good exercise.
Another great calorie burner is walking along the beach:
The soft sand makes you work harder than walking on a smooth surface, plus it works different muscles in your feet and legs making them stronger.
By exercising about the same while on vacation and eating at the maintenance level, you can have a good time and not blow your diet while on vacation. Eat smart, exercise safely and have fun.
How about you? What are the things you enjoy doing during a vacation with your family or friends while staying fit at the same time?
