If you spent months before your vacation preparing and working out to have a beach body of your dreams, it’s natural that you don’t want to destroy your progress. It can be hard to resist all the temptations of the summer vacation and stick to your diet, but with these few easy and realistic tips, you will stay on track with your diet and come back home looking even better than when you left.
Be determined to succeed
If you start your vacation with the right mindset, you have a much better chance of succeeding in achieving your goals. Even before you arrive, in the packing stage, consider what goes in your suitcase and for what purpose. For instance, if you want to stay in shape during your vacation, don’t forget to pack your workout clothes and runners. You’re much more likely to have a workout at the hotel gym or go for a run outside when you have all your gear ready.
Skip breakfast
This might be a bit controversial, but if you want to cut your calories a bit yet still enjoy a bunch of tasty foods and drinks during the day, you can skip breakfast. This is easy to do on vacation, especially if you tend to sleep a bit later than usual. Start eating a bit later in the day, around noon, and have a light brunch. If you have to get up earlier to go on a tour or vacation adventure, a great idea is to grab your tasty protein powder and whip up a shake. These are very nutritious and energizing, yet you won’t feel too full or sluggish to have a fun morning adventure. This is also a great supplement before or after your workouts that will ensure your muscles stay in place.
Enjoy fresh salads
No matter where you go, you will probably have plenty of access to fresh salads on your summer vacation. Salads are very refreshing and tasty, and they will make it easy and pleasant to stay active in the summer heat. Plus, they are highly satiating without all the calories that come with a full stomach. And if you don’t have time to prepare a salad, you can just grab some fresh veggies and whip up a Greek yoghurt dip.
Replace candy with fruit
If you have a sweet tooth, your summer vacation will allow you to sweeten up your life yet still stay a healthy and fit traveler. Instead of sugary desserts, opt for fresh fruit like apples, pineapples, watermelon, peaches, cherries and pears. Enjoy your fruit whole and soak up natural sweetness and plenty of vitamins and minerals.
Prepare beach snacks
If you always succumb to beach temptations like boardwalk fries, donuts, corn or ice cream, make sure to pack your beach bag properly. If you pack things like fresh fruits, homemade sandwiches and nuts, you will satisfy your desire to snack with healthy ingredients. If you don’t want to drink too much beer or too many cocktails, you can limit your consumption to two and quench your thirst with water.
Bring water wherever you go
When you’re on your summer vacation, it’s necessary to stay properly hydrated for many reasons. Firstly, water is necessary for your health and mood. It’s also crucial for your diet. Water fills up your stomach and kills appetite, so you can stay happy and healthy without being constantly hungry. In general, try to drink at least a cup of water every hour when exposed to the sun, even more if you’re sweating. And before a meal, have a tall glass of water to fill you up and allow you to avoid cravings.
Opt for sugar-free drinks
It’s impossible to avoid having a few drinks on your summer vacation—after all, you’re there to relax and have fun. However, most cocktails, sodas and juices have hundreds of calories you don’t need. Luckily, there are low-calorie, zero-calorie or zero-sugar options that taste just as great but have much fewer calories. For a low-cal summer cocktail, try lemon ginger vodka or gin&tonic.
This way, all your hard work won’t be ruined on your summer vacation, and you’ll look and feel like a million dollars all through your holiday.
