Holidays are the perfect time to relax and de-stress but try not to get carried away and over-indulge. Here are some tips on how to stay fit and healthy while out of your normal routine.
Pack healthy snacks for long flights. It’s best to bring your own healthy snacks on flight rather than purchasing sweets, crisps and processed foods at the airport or in flight. Good ideas for snacks include almonds or bananas.
Whilst you’re on holiday, you still want to treat yourself, but you don’t need to do so every meal. Still try to get your 5 servings of fruit and veg every day; have a salad with your burger or steak instead of fries, snack on fruit, or enjoy a fruit salad for dessert.
Pack your gym clothes at the top of your suitcase; it can be a great reminder to hold yourself accountable for a workout.
Try renting a bike. Most major cities around the world have easy rent a bike programmes. This way you can tour the city and get a great workout.
Summer traveling should involve some fun in the sun and if you’re really lucky, the beach! Challenge yourself with working out in the sand. It provides an excellent training environment and in certain aspects actually works the body a lot harder than using a hard, flat surface.
Use the pool or sea and swim to your heart’s content, but do some laps instead of just floating around on a Lilo.
Drink tons of water. Anywhere, everywhere, any time. Drinking water and staying hydrated can help fight jet lag, it can ramp up your energy and can also prevent heat exposure and heat exhaustion if you are in a hot environment. It’s particularly important to drink lots of water on the plane to avoid dehydration.
If budget allows then book a hotel with a nice gym. Holidays can be a great way of indulging yourself with nicer facilities and / or fitness classes or activities that you wouldn’t spend time or money on at home.
Try to maintain your usual sleeping pattern whilst on holiday so that come Monday morning when you return back to work, the early start isn’t such a battle.
Get straight back into your usual healthy eating and exercise habits as soon as you return from holiday to maintain that holiday glow – the longer you put off getting back into that routine the harder it will get.