Vacation Goals

Since there is a good chance many of you are going to be away this week, I’m saving my Loaded Veggie Omelet Cup recipe for next week’s post – one you won’t want to miss!  

Ok, vacation goals!!!  Whether you’re headed north to hit the slopes or south for some fun in the sun, holding on to some of your healthy habits will help your mental state when you come home.  For me, I used to approach vacation the same way I approached my first semester at college – ate and drank whatever the hell I wanted!  Problem was, when the “party” was over, my belly was round, my skin was gray and I was frustrated because all the hard work that I put in before vacation was undone in less than 7 days!  As it was, I was already sad that vacation was over.  I certainly didn’t need any more reason to not want to go to work the next day! 

Over the years, I accumulated some “Rules of the Road” that I follow when I am away that I wanted to share with you.  These guidelines not only help me enjoy my time away, they also help me find my way back to reality more easily when I get home.  Here it goes…. 

1. Make your health a priority – setting your intentions before you leave, will help keep you focused while you are away.  A couple of things I have found myself saying aloud as I pack my sneakers in my suitcase “Ok, if I drink every night, the least I can do is do a 20 minute Beachbody on Demand workout during the day” or “I don’t want to be a complete sloth all week, I’m going to walk to the beach instead of taking the shuttle,” or if I’m really in the zone “I have gotten my butt out of bed 6 days a week for the last 6 weeks, I’m not interested in my ass dropping back down to the top of my thighs for a couple of margaritas!” 
2. Drink your water! For some, remembering to drink water throughout the day is easy, for others (like me), they rely on an app to tell them to drink every 45 minutes. Either way, it’s important to do it to keep all systems going, especially when we’re sitting on the beach shriveling up in the sun! Drinking water will increase your energy (which you’ll need to get down to the pool before 8am to reserve your chairs for the day), relieves fatigue, maintains regularity 💩 and flushes out the toxins (read tequila). I even went so far as to buy myself a designated S’well bottle in a fun vacation pattern that I refill throughout the day. Seeing the bottle reminds me I need to drink, refills are free (no more $7 bottles of water at Disney) and because it was for “health” reasons, I could justify my purchase! Win! Win! Win!
3. Pack snacks! I know when my kids were younger, I would always make sure I had snacks and water packed for them, but never really planned for me. I didn’t think much about it, or if I did, I was usually like “oh, I’ll be fine.” Either way, the outcome was often the same – the kids would be left crying after I wrestled their snack away from them. Followed up by them watching in horror as their mother devoured their tiny goldfish crackers in a single handful. I admit, these were not my finest moments, but as a parent, I have matured. I now know enough to pack some food for myself! Some of my easy, grab-and-go snacks are Lightly Salted Blue Diamond almonds, BIGS Homestyle roasted pumpkin seeds and baby carrots with hummus.
4. Pack a blender – If you start your morning at home with a smoothie, why does that need to stop just because you’re sleeping in a different bed? It doesn’t! I have a cheap travel size blender (found here) that goes where I go. I pack individual sized protein powder packets and whirl it up with water and ice, compliments of the hotel. It’s really that easy!
5. In the mood for an egg breakfast? Make it an omelet! Adding vegetables to your morning will give your metabolism a nice boost, keep your energy up, and will keep you fuller, longer. Especially helpful when you’re sitting in those long lines at Disney.
6. Stock the fridge! Whether you’ve rented a house, or staying in a hotel, chances are there is a refrigerator. Find a nearby grocery store or convenient store and stock up on Greek yogurts, hummus, fruit (even 7-11 sells apples and oranges), baby carrots and pre-made hardboiled eggs. When the food is within reach, you’re more likely to make better choices, and less likely to splurge.
7. Get the salad! Don’t go into every meal like it’s your last! Pick one meal a day to indulge, try the local cuisine, have a few drinks, enjoy! For the others, eat enough nutrients to get you to the next meal – think protein loaded smoothies, omelets or go with the big salad, loaded with vegetables topped with grilled chicken, or grilled salmon for something different. The point is, have no fear, you will eat again!
8. Get Moving! Whether that means using the hotel gym while streaming a 20 minute workout on your Beachbody on Demand app before you park your butt on a chaise, go out on the town and explore, or walk the Disney parks, make sure to do something to get your heartrate up. Doing regular physical activity will actually give you more energy throughout the day, it will relieve stress, keep you in a good mood, increase your sex drive and help you sleep like a rock…all the things we all wish for on a good vacation!!

So there you have it – 8 simply strategies that anyone can follow to achieve their vacation goals. 

Be Healthy, Travel Safe and Enjoy!

Coach Flawesome ❤️💪🏼🌞