How to maintain your healthy lifestyle while on holiday
When we go on holiday we tend to let go of our disciplined and structured lives and allow ourselves to indulge. This happens to all of us including me as I lose my strict control over my diet and waive my standard physical activities. We spend a lot of time and energy on our wellness before holidays and then we waste all of that effort while on holiday only to start from scratch after coming back.
There are a number of simple things you could do to stay healthy while on holiday.
Here are some travel tips that have worked for me. I hope you will find them useful:
1. Drink plenty of water
When I travel I try to drink water at every opportunity to keep my body hydrated. This hydration campaign can take many shapes. In addition to hot water, I also make myself Matcha Green and Herbal teas. I also flavour my water with pieces of fresh fruit like strawberries, cucumbers, oranges and lemon.
2. Don’t plan your day with food as the main attraction
When travelling, do not make having a meal the main attraction then plan your day around it. Focus on why you decided to take time off and go on holiday. If it is to relax, then ensure that you plan your day around a relaxation session at the spa, on the beach or by the swimming pool. If your destination has parks or mountains then plan to spend time there to relax.
3. Plan your healthy snacks
Make sure that you have a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon healthy snack prepared and packed. Such planning and preparation should protect you from make the wrong choices when you are hungry and vulnerable.
4. Choose your main meals wisely
When you eventually sit down for a main meal at a restaurant, make sure that you make the right choices. Order steamed vegetables with fish or white meat. Order all sauces on the side and try to avoid them altogether! Also try ordering two starters instead of ordering a main meal. If you order a main meal, try to share it. If none of that works and you have ordered a main meal, do not feel that because you have to eat it all. You can always take some of it in a take-away bag for you to enjoy later in the day or even next day. The same goes if friends or family you happen to be with offer you either a big portion or the wrong type of food. You can save most food items to enjoy later in the day. Vegetables are a great way to replace unhealthy foods in any dish. When you find that you are running out of healthy options or you feel that your resistance is weakening then add more vegetables to your plate. They are full of goodness and they will fill you up. This works for me every time!
5. Take time out to relax and stay positive
Holidays can be really stressful so make sure you take 20-25 min per day to completely relax and release all stresses. Meditation is a powerful de-stress technique. There is nothing worse than keeping yourself occupied with negatives thoughts concerning missed opportunities in the past or planning for things in the future. It is far better to live the moment and enjoy it in all of its dimensions (This is the Power of Now).
6. Make an effort to stay fit while on holiday
Here are a few ideas to preserve our fitness:
• Pack trainers and sport gear
• For motivation and time keeping, make sure that you have a 30-minute playlist of your favourite audio, energy music or songs
Ensure that you do a no-equipment High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program or go for a 30-minute run. Alternatively, go for a 30-minute swim. Keeping this daily routine of 30 minutes per day adds up to a respectable 3 hours and 30 minutes per week which should help keep your endurance and performance ticking while on holiday.
By using the holiday travel tips above, you will ensure that all of the investment already made into your health is not wasted. Have a healthy, fun and a safe holiday.