Do you have yourself on a good routine and are afraid to ruin it by going on vacation? It takes the motivation to create a habit to with some planning you can keep yourself moving and feeling good no matter what destination you choose.
Utilizing the following tips will help keep your weight loss goals while traveling.
Make Whoever’s With You An Accountability Partner
We’ve all been there- you have the best intentions of getting up in the morning and exercising at your hotel’s fitness center, but your bed just feels all warm and cozy and you hit the snooze button instead. To help you follow through with your diet and exercise regimen, make whoever’s with you your accountability partner. Ask them to walk with you in the morning or hit the gym at your hotel. If they don’t want to exercise with you, ask them to make sure you wake up to exercise early or that they encourage you to make healthy choices. You will probably be more likely to eat right and exercise if you have someone asking you about it.
If you don’t want to think of it as exercise, schedule sightseeing and activities throughout the day that require much walking rather than taking cabs, buses, or subways. Use the stairs instead of elevators when you can. Shoot for 10,000 steps (5 miles per day.) Staying this active will help if you do have a drink or some dessert that you are burning plenty of calories and should not gain weight. Get some exercise every day by walking, swimming, biking, or playing a sport.
Pack Healthy Snacks
This will help you avoid overeating and give you something to eat when you’re hungry between meals. Some healthy snacks to pack include Nuts and Seeds, Beek Jerky, Protein Powder, Electrolyte power, and Trail Mix. I travel with my Blendjet (small USB-charged portable blander) and Protein powder so that after my intermittent fasting I can have my protein shake like I would at home.
Eat Bigger Meals Early in the Day
Before you go, research the local cuisine and find healthy options that you’re interested in trying. This will help you avoid making impulsive decisions that could derail your weight loss goals. If you are going to have carbs, eat them earlier in the day while you are still active. Make sure to incorporate fruits and vegetables. Stick to lean meats and avoid having too much meat. Bring healthy snacks with you. If you are on a cruise we suggest avoiding the buffets and opting for sit-down meals in the dining rooms or cook-to-order items to avoid overeating. Choose restaurants that have healthy options on the menu. Many restaurants now offer healthy choices, such as grilled chicken, fish, and vegetables.
Bring A Reusable Water Bottle With You So You Drink Enough Water
Drink plenty of water. Water will help you feel full and prevent you from overeating. Water is a valuable tool in weight loss, and many undermine what it can do. Not drinking enough water can slow your metabolism, making it almost impossible to lose weight. A low water intake can make you dehydrated, feel sluggish, and not want to do anything. That’s the last thing you want to do while traveling! For most people, they should strive to drink at least 64 ounces of water per day. However, if you have an intense exercise routine or will be doing a lot of walking while exploring a new city, you should up that amount to at least 80 ounces of water daily. Also, remember that not every fluid is equal to water. Soda and fruit juices are packed with a lot of calories. So if you are drinking fluids, but not much water, that may be the reason why you aren’t losing weight. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, there probably is access to a water fountain. Fill up your reusable bottle every chance you get that way you have no excuse not to be drinking enough water.
Consider staying somewhere you can Cook.
Cook at home when possible look into an AirBnB or an apartment-style hotel room. This will give you more control over your meals’ ingredients and portion sizes. If you’re staying in a hotel with a kitchenette, you can easily cook simple meals like pasta, stir-fries, and grilled chicken.
Try Something New That The Locals Like
Make exercise fun no matter where you are. While traveling, try a class that the locals like. If you want to do something unique, take part in an excursion that will have you moving like climbing, rafting or just doing some intense walking. Doing something that will get you moving and bump your heart rate is key.
Other useful posts for Keeping Weight Loss Goals While Traveling:
Staying Healthy on a Cruise
Fitness Options on a Cruise
Maintaining health goals while traveling is a real challenge, especially for solo travelers. Our Solo Female Travel Safety Tips guide addresses wellbeing on the road from an experienced travel advisor’s perspective.
