Many of us eat right and exercise rigorously all year round. We make our health one of our top priorities and give it time and thought. However, some of us tend to let ourselves go whenever we take a vacation, even if it's a family reunion or a trip of the folks over the holidays. Some people end up 10 pounds heavier than they were before the vacation began, and they have no idea why and how it happened to them. This can be a motivation killer since losing those 10 pounds can mean a lot of work and effort later on.
The average weight gain on a week long cruise is 8 pounds, though most of us have experienced vacations on dry land which have yielded the same or greater results. Anytime your daily routine is interrupted and you are confronted with the allure of foods you don't normally eat, doled out in larger portions than you are used to, the weight you lost the first part of the year will find its way back. So here are some tips to eat to your hearts content without gaining weight:
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On the first 2 days of your vacation eat to your hearts content because you do not want to feel deprived.
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From the next day onwards, since the very first day most people would have eaten to the point of feeling too heavy and a little ill, it is easier to get choosy. So choose those foods which you thoroughly enjoy and leave out those which were average.
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Now, two techniques can be employed. If you are a person who likes to eat a big meal and can not control portion sizes then it is best to eat a big satisfying meal once a day and skip the rest of the day, plus avoid snacking the whole day. But if you are the person who can not eat a big meal or miss a meal then cut down on portion sizes and eat smaller portions of everything you desire.
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For sweet addicts, it is a must to walk or exercise as much as you can.
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Avoid drinking juices/aerated drinks instead of water as they contribute to a HUGE amount of calories. Also, avoid popping unnecessary chewing gums, chocolates etc.
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Some foods are exceptionally high on calories so go a little easy on them like ice-cream sodas, chocolate shakes and pizza. So do create variety and do not live on just one type of food. Many vegetarians going abroad stick obsessively to pizza and fizzy drinks. The choices for vegetarians can be salads, potato products, sandwiches, pasta, lasagne, rice, fruit salads and in certain areas lots of green vegetables too.
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Vacation is a time to enjoy the place and see the new surroundings so depending on how adventurous you are, trying the local cuisine adds to the flavor of the place.
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Depending on which place you are traveling, it is always better to check the water safety from the local guide and in case of doubt use bottled water (especially for the kids in the group).
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For people fond of their drinks, try to avoid too many sweets during the day as alcohol has the same affect as sweets when ingested so cutting down on any one does help.
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Do not eat so much that you fall ill and do not enjoy the vacation, so do have mercy on your stomach.
Finally just Relax! Isn't that what a vacation is all about, to relax and rejuvenate? Don't go crazy worrying about how many calories something has or get uptight because you ate too much at one meal. Just remember, it's all about checks and balances and by following the steps above you just might come home to find the scale hasn't moved.
Bon voyage!
A nice informative article. Even you can stay active by playing outdoor games like volleyball, basket ball ,badminton, etc. This would keep burning calories gained by eating out.