Guest Blogger - Cole Millen

Check out Cole's article on Staying Healthy on Vacation and pop on over to his blog for more great articles!


Staying Healthy on a Vacation

Your vacation is something you have likely been looking forward to for months. In fact, in preparation for the fun and excitement, you may have dieted and worked out more than normal to make sure you could shed that extra weight and look fabulous for your trip. However, it is often a bit more challenging to continue with the good eating habits and lifestyle changes while vacationing. There are a few ways for you to keep the weight off while having a good time.

Remain Healthy While Flying

The foods offered on a plane are not necessarily the healthiest selections. If at all possible, avoid eating food while on the plane. You can do this by eating a nutritious and filling meal before you board your flight. You may also consider carrying some healthy snacks for your flight so that you do not have to eat junk food on the plane.

After getting off of the plane, you can carry your luggage down the flights of stairs instead of relying on the airport elevator to get you from one place to another. This will allow you to burn off a few calories even if you spent most of the day sitting down while on the plane.

Keep Active at the Hotel

Your vacation is a time to relax. It does not mean that you have to completely forget about your healthy lifestyle habits. Prior to even booking a hotel room, check to see that the hotel has important features that promote healthy lifestyle. For example, try booking a hotel that features a fitness center and a swimming pool. You can get plenty of exercise swimming in the pool and working out in the fitness center. Often time’s hotels can be misleading when looking for information. For this reason I have found reviews from other travelers to be extremely helpful. I recently took a trip out west and found a great site that listed reviews for hotels in Las Vegas regarding not only their amenities and services but also the restaurants in the surrounding area. This made is easier than ever to maintain my healthy lifestyle both in the hotel and out.

If your hotel room comes with an optional mini bar, save yourself from temptation and simply say no. The mini bar costs more money and is loaded with empty calories and snacks that are most likely no good for you anyway. Stop at a grocery store within the area to find prepared meals that will be easy to make from your hotel room that will also be healthy, such as instant oatmeal, healthy soups, and fresh fruits.

Healthy Restaurant Options

Most people do not want to cook while they are on their vacation, which is completely acceptable. If you are planning to try different restaurants in the area, you should find out more about them before you even enter through their front doors. Restaurants will often have their own website with a list of food items on their menu. You can decide which restaurant you will go to for your meals based upon what is available on the menu. Check for healthy selections and low-calorie meal made with fresh and flavorful ingredients. Avoid the need to stuff yourself and simply take your extras to go if need be. Try to stay away from foods that are obviously deep-fried or double battered because they have tons of calories and lack nutrition.These are just some of the ways to stay healthy when vacationing. You can still eat healthy and properly while exercising regularly while you are on an enjoyable vacation.