Staying Fit While on Vacation

Vacations are obviously meant for relaxation—a break from work, an escape from the everyday routine, and a chance to indulge in atypical activities. Many people, however, also use vacation as a break from their healthy lifestyle, and now that we're coming up on the holiday season, there will be sugary treats galore. Here are some simple ways to defy the temptation of overindulgence:

1. Eat and drink in moderation. There's nothing wrong with enjoying mini-snickers bar, so long as that mini one doesn't turn into a few regular sized candy bars. Cut yourself off after a few mixed drinks or calorie-laden lattes. Choose grilled instead of fried. It's all about making intelligent decisions.

2. Drink lots of water. This one is a given that will most likely be found on any “be healthy” list that you read. Besides all of its obvious health benefits, water also fills you up so that there is less of a chance of overeating. (It may be more of a challenge to drink cold water during the chillier months, so try out some healthier hot drink options like sugar-free tea and apple cider.)

3. Go for a walk or a hike. Depending on where you are vacationing, there should be an abundance of trails, sidewalks, shopping centers, etc. In other words, just keep yourself moving. No, the cold is not an excuse since you more than likely own several coats, sweaters, scarves, pairs of gloves, etc.

4. Bring your workout with you. Grab some weights and/or a couple workout DVDs, and you can become your own fitness coach. Most bed and breakfasts will have DVD players that you can use, but if not, laptops work fine too! If you don't have any workout DVDs, there are a multitude of youtube videos or articles online that can aid you in your exercise. Bed and breakfast rooms contain plenty of space to at least do a few push-ups and sit-ups, so there goes your complaint of "no space to workout."

5. Download an audio workout for your iPod or mp3 player. From upbeat music to narrated workout sessions, the list of what you can download is endless.

[caption id="attachment_473" align="aligncenter" width="253"] © Health Sanctuary[/caption] By Tara Stoll