| Good news, it's summer vacation time! We all look | | | | dinner out in a restaurant while on vacation is not only |
| forward to these well-deserved times of relaxation, | | | | expensive in terms of money, but also in terms of |
| and we're entitled to let loose and enjoy ourselves | | | | calories! During the day, consider continuing your habit |
| after working so hard all year long. But what happens | | | | of eating small, frequent meals, just like you do at |
| to our new, healthy eating and daily exercise routines | | | | home. Many hotels now have small refrigerators. |
| when we're removed from our usual environment? | | | | Ignore any tempting fattening foods found in them and |
| Large quantities of exotic foods, fruity drinks, and | | | | place a few healthy food snacks of your own inside. If |
| delicious desserts run rampant through the days and | | | | you'd like to go one step further, bring along a few |
| nights of a vacation get away. Cruises, for example, | | | | kitchen items from home that will make it possible to |
| may be the ultimate example of temptation. After | | | | more easily follow your usual eating plan. |
| you've paid good money to have wonderful food | | | | 4. Bring along comfortable shoes and clothing that will |
| available non-stop, you've certainly got to do your best | | | | allow you to continue your exercise program, or at |
| to get your money's worth, right? But what you may | | | | least to keep active. Make every attempt to continue |
| not realize is that it's entirely possible to gain five | | | | your healthy habit of performing LIFB exercise by |
| pounds on a 10-day vacation, if you're not careful. | | | | trying to walk as much as you can each day. Perhaps |
| Figuring out how to avoid gaining weight on a vacation | | | | this would be the time to plan on an evening of |
| is a challenge, but with a little planning you'll sail right | | | | dancing or a walk on the beach? Many hotels provide |
| through without blowing all your efforts, while still being | | | | a gym with exercise equipment and weights or a |
| able to enjoy yourself. Here are my suggestions to | | | | swimming pool, which you could utilize to keep up your |
| help with your weight loss goals while on your | | | | usual exercise routine for 40-60 minutes each day. |
| well-deserved vacation. | | | | The more exercise you can fit in each day, the more |
| 1. First, don't panic and try to starve yourself into a | | | | you'll be able to add some calories and splurge a little. |
| bathing suit before you leave. Placing time-pressure on | | | | 5. Use this vacation time to recharge, regroup, and |
| yourself to hurry up and lose weight only sets up a | | | | reconsider your goals. Relaxation is an important |
| deprivation mind-set that always leads to failure. | | | | component of a healthy life. Bring along some |
| Instead, find the most flattering and comfortable outfits | | | | self-indulgent items ... some new bath salts, a mud |
| for the person you are, and concentrate on planning | | | | masque, a juicy novel, a journal that you never seem |
| for an enjoyable vacation. | | | | to have time to write your short stories in, or a digital |
| 2. To make sure you are as ready as possible for a | | | | camera you've always wanted to learn how to use. |
| vacation, try to follow your personalized Weight Loss | | | | Be sure to spend some quiet and reflective time during |
| Calorie Plan TO THE LETTER for a three-week | | | | your vacation, pausing to breathe, to smell the air, to |
| period prior to the date you are scheduled to leave. | | | | give and receive long foot-rubs, and to take long and |
| Make sure to do your strength-training exercises with | | | | relaxing walks. Allowing yourself to focus on things |
| your full effort. Also, increase your LIFB minutes as | | | | outside of your usual daily responsibilities is what a |
| much as you can. Exercising for as long as you have | | | | vacation is all about. Recharge those batteries. You've |
| the energy and time for is always a way you can | | | | been working hard! Use the time away to get some |
| speed up the loss of fat weight. Just don't go | | | | perspective on your life and your achievements. |
| overboard and injure yourself, risking being unable to | | | | Spend a lot of time laughing and paying attention to |
| enjoy your vacation. Another thing, make sure your | | | | your loved ones. Dream a little bit and plan an exciting |
| TGIW meals absolutely do not exceed your calorie | | | | goal for yourself when you get home. Last, but not |
| allotment. No cheating allowed! | | | | least, do a little bit more snoozin' than you're used to. |
| 3. Maintaining many of your new Tortoise Diet good | | | | The key to limiting weight gain on vacations is |
| health habits on your vacation will actually be possible | | | | continuing as best you can to practice your new |
| with some prior planning and some vigilance. Advance | | | | healthy habits. If you're going to visit family and friends |
| planning and some simple preparation will help you | | | | on vacation, know that family gatherings are notorious |
| avoid the pitfalls of poor-food-choice snacking. Many | | | | for encouraging that HARA HACHI BOO BOO |
| of the snacks you rely on every day at home can be | | | | tendency in all of us. To counteract this, remember to |
| tucked into your car or your luggage. Most anywhere | | | | sample the wonderful, traditional, homemade treats |
| you go, there will be a grocery store and you'll be able | | | | first, savoring each bite, and try to stop eating before |
| to stock up on these and other nutritious and filling | | | | you've gone overboard. Always keep in mind while on |
| foods. | | | | vacations that pounds go on a lot easier than they |
| Use some of these foods to replace a restaurant | | | | come off. |
| meal whenever possible. Eating breakfast, lunch and | | | | |