This is a guest post by Michael Manning. Michael Manning is a fitness and healthy living aficionado. You can find his writing at his new blog located at http://mikemanningmusings.
Summer is on its way, and for many people, that means it's time
for vacation. Unfortunately, it also means that you could ruin the physique
you've worked so hard to attain. It's easy to slack off on your diet and
fitness routines while you're traveling. There are plenty of fun things to do
and ready access to any junk food your heart desires. Furthermore, it's
tempting to ditch your healthy habits using the vacation as an excuse. To avoid
re-packing on the pounds, it's
important to maintain your fitness routine away from home.
Plan for Fitness
When you're arranging your accommodations, try to choose a hotel
that has a fitness center. On a recent trip to San Francisco I was able to book
great accommodations because I did some research beforehand. I checked a travel
review site where I could see all of the hotels in San Francisco
and check what amenities they offered and see great reviews from people who
previously stayed there. When you get up in the mornings, head straight to the
fitness room and get your workout out of the way. Studies have shown that this
gives you more energy and makes you more likely to make healthy food choices
throughout the day. If the fitness room should get full, however, it's
important to have backup. Just in case, it's recommended that you pack some
minor fitness gear such as a pulse monitor and some resistance bands. With
these things, you can easily work out in the comfort and privacy of your hotel
room.
Many hotels serve a continental breakfast. Depending on how you
make your choices, this can be either a benefit or a burden. Without a doubt,
there will be junk foods like pastries, kids' cereals, french toast and
waffles. However, there will also be healthy foods that will help you maintain
your fitness goals. Aim for the healthy foods so you can keep up with your
diet, which will also help your energy levels for the day. For snacks and other
meals, a trip to the local grocery can be helpful. Stock up on ready-made
salads, nuts or fresh and dried fruit. It is important to indulge every once in
a while when you are on vacation, but keeping an overall healthy diet will help
you with your sleep, energy levels, and stress which will in turn make your
trip much more pleasant.
It's easy to become dehydrated during your travels. For starters,
the air inside of a plane's cabin is very dry, causing you to lose water
rapidly. While flying, make an effort to drink a glass of water at least every
hour. It's also best to avoid dehydrating beverages like alcohol, sugar and
caffeine. Once you arrive at your destination, if you spend a lot of time
outside in the sun, always bring some water with you. Your metabolism and
energy levels suffer when you're under-hydrated, leaving you vulnerable to
weight gain and fatigue.
