Cheat days on vacations are inevitable, and should be embraced and enjoyed.
However, when everything you eat is crap and you drink your body weight in frozen margaritas, embracing coming back to life and diet is nearly impossible. It's enough to have to readjust to reality after a vacation without the stomach gurgles and "fun pounds" we've packed on throughout the trip.
Worrying about getting EVERY workout in, and maintaining your carbs to protein ratio while traveling, defeats the whole purpose of a vacation. You go away to detach and relax, so do that. Adding stress or missing fun activities due to your health/fitness plan isn't necessary if you're just trying to keep yourself in check. If you are on vacation and the day you get back you are running a marathon, thats a different story. But for me, and most people I know that are traveling/vacationing, that isn't the case.
While it's easy to let everything go while traveling, work outs and diet alike, it is not that difficult to keep it reeled in a bit. It does take some effort to find the balance between indulgence and binge but not THAT much, and the perks are worth it, especially if your vacation involves being in a bathing suit.
- You can still have your cheese fries and corona (Fl'12).
- You can even have those 3, or 4 hot dogs after leaving the bar, cause the hot dog man takes credit so why not (Fl'13).
- And you can even drink a bunch of beer, and do as many shots as it takes to turn yourself into a "Woo Girl", or boy (Every girls trip ever).
In the mix of those indulgences though, maybe throw in a quick workout during a lower key part of the day. When I say quick, I mean quick, just a little something to remind your body of it's fitness. Basically just telling it, "Hey so, about last night. I usually don't do that. Let's just move on, ok?" Snap back into your fitness self for a minute and do something, anything to reset. Sure, finding a nearby class would be ideal, but even a few quick circuit's or a light jog will do the trick. You don't even need a gym either, so don't even try that one.
As far as eating goes, enjoy. If you already eat clean and fairly healthy regularly, you probably won't want to "cheat" every meal. After a big chow-down (examples mentioned above), try to reel it in with your next meal and eat something "good". Give your chance to relax from your diet but don't forget about it.
Also, DRINK TONS OF WATER.
Lets face it, this is something we know we should do, and have good intentions for. I'm guilty of not following through and being annoyed when it takes my body a few days to reset after vacation. Over these next couple weeks, I am going to be the little jet-setter and going to try to keep the balance throughout my travels!
I will keep you posted :)
