It’s summertime and the livin is easy! Summer is the best time of year to get real quality time in with family and friends. The kids are out of school, it gets darker later, the grill is your bff, and the warm weather makes you want to be outside 24/7. So if you are planning a summer vacation or vacation of any kind, here are a few tips to help you maintain, and dare I say, even lose weight on your vacation.
The past couple of years Cory and I have been able to travel to a few different countries and cannot wait for another Eurotrip before we begin ‘Operation Baby’ sometime in the near future. On a side note, if you want to go on vacay, but think a trip across the Atlantic is way out of your price range, sign up for credit cards that offer airline miles and of course for your favorite hotel rewards program and get movin’ and shakin’! Thankfully hubby is in management and travels a lot, and you all know I live on an airplane, we rack up points very quickly, and before we know it we are off and running to another part of the world, and you can too.
Now for the business at hand…Here are my tips for making your next vacation an active one!
Pack workout clothes: This may seem obvious, but on our honeymoon I was too interested in being fashion forward that I ended up having to pay for cleaning services at our hotel in Tuscany, and after all that pasta, boy did I need the cardio! I was popping digestive chews left and right when all I needed was a darn HITT workout. If you are backpacking I understand you will not be able to pack extra gym clothes, but if you do have the room, and spandex doesn’t take up that much, I suggest you pack your gym clothes. Don’t give yourself the excuse of being unprepared.
Have a Pre-Buffet Snack: If you are hitting up a cruise or an all-inclusive resort try ordering coffee/tea and a fruit cup to your room in the morning. Once you and your family hit the buffet you won’t be famished and grab unhealthier carb-filled options like waffles or pancakes that will cause an insulin spike, and won’t give you the energy you need for those awesome excursions in the summer heat.
Get Up Early: I know I know…’It’s Your Vacation’, but here is the catch…If you get up and get your workout in first thing you will be ready to take on the day with tons of energy. When Cory and I were in Paris we had two days to tackle all the big sights the city had to offer. We got up around 7 AM almost everyday, and were ready to take on the cold weather and the crepes. It was magical to say the least, but the best part of day was our afternoon nap. Boom…THERE IT IS. Well there it is if you are on vacay with your hubby, grown-up friends or you have kids ten or older.
Walk Anywhere and Everywhere: Cory and I love to get lost in new cities. You obviously have to be careful when traveling, but in most European cities I would strap on a cross-over bag, and we would just get lost in the sights and sounds of a new city, and have a new adventure. We would stop at a cafe for a cappuccino or a hearty glass of red before we would continue our journey. We never felt bogged down by food because although we ate 2-3 large meals a day we were constantly in motion.
Take The Road Less Traveled: I love adventure, and although it can be scary in a new place. Step outside your comfort zone people! In Costa Rica we went zip lining and went down a natural waterslide in leather diapers. This past May we went to Brazil with two of our good friends, and we wanted to meet Mr Christ the Redeemer (as pictured above). We could have taken the tram to the top…pshhhh…that would have been too easy. We wanted to hike five miles up in the air to the top. Against the better judgement of our concierge, we did it anyway, and it was without a doubt the highlight of our trip. We saw monkeys in the wild, and just when we were ready to give up, there he was in all of his glory. We tackled the Corcovado, and it made the view that much better! So take the road or trail less traveled and make your vacation an adventure.
Find A Market: Many of my friends have been foregoing the pricey hotel rooms for Air BnB. It is nice to stay in an apartment because you have access to a kitchen, but either way, go and explore your local markets. In Barcelona we went to La Boqueria. I have never seen a place so beautiful. Produce so fresh people go there every single day to shop for dinner. I could have spent hours there if it was not so crowded. It was a foodies play land, and was the perfect place to pick up a healthy snack of fresh coconut, juice and some cured ham to go.
Skip The Fruit…Fruity Drinks That Is: Be careful what you order at the bar. That Strawberry Daiquiri or Pina Colada can run you almost 700 calories…Yup! That’s right 700 between the alcohol and the sugar. Now don’t get me wrong, Cory and I love our wine. We have been known to put down a bottle at lunch, take our afternoon nap, and do the same at dinner. I am not proud of it, but ‘when in Rome’ like literally…or Firenze or Venezia or Tuscano you do as the Italians do, and drink some damn red wine. Moral of the story…stick to wine, beer or clear liquor, and always in moderation. That is unless you are in Rome, Firenze, Venezia or Tuscano. LOL
Be Prepared For Travel: Packing is key, and over the holidays I posted about my ‘Travel Essentials’. The worst feeling is getting sick on a vacation. You are around a ton of people in airports or on trains. Make sure to wash your hands constantly and be prepared for anything and everything. The night we left Brazil I said I was going to buy cold meds after we go through security. Well guess what…pharmaceuticals are banned from sale after security. I ended up flying with a minor cold, and got back to Miami with a full-blown respiratory infection. So be prepared for it all…especially stomach meds!
Exercise Your Mind: Shut down your phone, take out a book, do some yoga. Have some you time. I know I said active, but at times we really need to just relax our bodies, but exercise our souls. So do something for you that you may not get to do at home.
DISCLAIMER: MOM, DAD AND ANYONE ELSE RELATED TO ME STOP READING HERE…YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Get Sexy: Throw that schedule out the window and get down wherever and whenever the mood strikes. Vacation is your time to let loose, reconnect, fall in love with your spouse all over again, and hey, the calorie burn is an added bonus! I promise ladies, your husbands will have zero complaints.
These are my top ten tips for an active vacation, and I would love to hear how you stay active on yours!
