Maintaining Consistency While on Vacation

I recently got back from a week-long vacation at the lake and thought this would be a great time to talk about maintaining some consistency with physical activity and food while on vacation. 

If you’re like me, you have a hard time straying from your routine but at the same time want to enjoy your vacay time to the fullest. How can you achieve both? 

Here are a few simple tips I’ve leveraged over the years to help me maintain a bit of consistency and routine while on vacation.

Keep workouts simple. 

You don’t need a lot of equipment to get a good sweat going. Bringing just a yoga mat and a set of light free weights is all you really need to get a successful workout in. Trust me, you don’t want to be the person showing up with twelve bags when everyone else has two.

I like to use workout videos so I bring my iPad with me to view the videos. Programs like Beachbody on Demand or even just YouTube videos are a great way to get quick workouts in. If you’re looking for some good (and quick) YouTube workouts, check out Pamela Reif - some killer ab videos in 10 mins or less! Your workouts don’t need to be long - I’ll often do a walk plus 20 minutes of a weights/abs workout and that’s enough to help me feel active and more like myself.

Workout in the morning.

Start the day with movement then no matter what happens later in the day you don’t need to be stressing about trying to fit in physical activity. If you’re an early riser like me, you’ll probably be awake before the rest of your vacation crew so make use of the time by getting some activity in. Also, if other people in your vacay group are up for a sweat too, pick a workout to do together, the more the merrier!

Listen to your body.

It is a vacation after all and your body deserves a break too. If you’re tired and want to sleep in or your body is sore from tubing and skiing on the lake (this one hits home!), maybe opt for something low impact like yoga, stretching or a quick ab workout.

All activity is good activity.

Every vacation is different, but chances are, you’ll probably end up doing some sort of physical activity during the day even if you don’t consider it a “workout”. For me this was golfing, water skiing, kayaking, some walking around, etc. All of that is good activity that burns calories even though you may not be deeming it as a workout. If you’re touring a new city on vacay chances are you’re doing a ton of walking around, and those steps are great and are keeping your body in constant motion. All of that activity is good for you, so don’t stress if you can’t fit a “regular” workout in every day.

Bring some healthier food options.

Creating more balanced meals/snacks can be really tough. Vacation food is typically more on the convenient side, and a lot less healthy than what I eat at home. This likely includes some combination of restaurant food, barbecue food, and some unhealthy but convenient snacks. To combat this, I try and bring some healthier options to at least combine with the other unhealthy options, and always aim to eat the healthier ones first to mostly fill me up. For example, I always pack snacks like veggies and hummus instead of only having chips available, and I make sure to have fresh fruit and homemade energy bites at breakfast just like I would at home. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE all these great vacation foods, but I also know what my body needs to feel “normal” and fueled, so I try and create more of a balanced diet if I can.

MOST IMPORTANTLY- Enjoy what you love most and be kind to yourself.

It’s YOUR VACATION! You deserve some special food treats and to give your body a rest. For me, enjoying what I love most means not skimping out on dessert. I have such a sweet tooth and love a good ice cream, cheesecake, cake, etc. on vacation, or anytime really. Remember to enjoy the different activities and food you’re having on vacation, and be kind to yourself rather than being upset for not having the “willpower” to resist having a s’more (I know I sure can’t resist!) Let your body relax and enjoy, there’s no way to stick to your routine 100% while on vacation, and for good reason - you’re not supposed to!