The average person piles on a whopping 7lb over the course of a two-week vacation but who wants to spend their precious time in the gym when they could be exploring new destinations or relaxing poolside? Avoiding vacation weight gain needn’t mean 6am workouts and meals consisting of various local versions of a salad. Here are five easy ways to avoid vacation and holiday weight gain without sacrificing on fun!
Take The Stairs
Winding through the floors of museums, snaking through shopping centers, soaring above cobbled city streets and sitting majestically between the lifts on cruise ships and in hotels; you will find stairs everywhere, so use them!
Saying goodbye to the lift for the length of your holiday can be one of the easiest ways to keep your weight in check and make up for all those extra indulgences that you couldn’t (and shouldn’t!) turn down. Take 6 flights of stairs three times a day and you’ll burn an average of 90 calories each day; that’s 1260 over the course of a 14-night vacation!
Set A One Plate Limit
Food glorious food! You’re never too old to go weak at the knees at the thought of a buffet but the wonders of all-inclusive can soon send the scales soaring. Mediterranean, Mexican, Oriental, pastas, salads, cheeses, countless deserts in deceiving ‘mini’ portions (that just make it even easier to try one of each!); the vacation and holiday weight gain hazards are in abundance at the buffet, so set yourself a one plate limit. We would never ask for seconds in a proper dining room so don’t do it at the buffet, just because the option is there. Eat until you’re comfortably full and then put the knife and fork down.
Get Clever With Your Cocktails
Nothing beats relaxing round the pool, sun beating down and cocktail in hand. But did you know the average Pina Colada contains around 450 calories? That’s the equivalent of a Big Mac! Warm weather and cool drinks make it easy to sink 2,000 calories in just a few hours and without a single morsel of food passing your lips!
Get clever with your cocktails and you will reap the rewards. Trade your creamy Pina Colada for a refreshing Mojito (150 calories) or a Sea Breeze (180 calories). Gin and Tonic is the dieter’s tipple of choice at just over 100 calories, while at 90 calories a glass Champagne is a great option for those who are feeling flush.
Begin With A Better Breakfast
The average Full English fried breakfast equates to a whopping 850 calories according to the British Heart Foundation and that isn’t taking into account the second helping of toast and the oodles of ketchup! Making better breakfast choices is one of the easiest ways to cut calories and starting the day well will influence you to make better choices for the rest of the day too.
Cruise ships and all-inclusive hotels offer extensive buffets and it is easy to pile on the bacon, sausage and hash browns. While you can opt for fruit and yoghurt if you’re feeling particularly saintly, you can also save calories by going for a freshly prepared omelet too. Eggs are full of protein and will keep you satisfied until lunch. Load your omelet with peppers, mushrooms and lean meat; just hold the cheese!
Have Fun!
The most important part of holidaying is throwing caution to the wind for one or two precious weeks, indulging in what you fancy and relaxing with your nearest and dearest. The best way to keep your weight in check without missing out is to throw yourself into the activities available, most cruise lines feature state-of-the-art fitness centers and classes on board their ships. Alternatively, walk a few laps of the ship’s promenade; where else can you exercise with such amazing views?
If you’re on a beach holiday, leave the towel on the sand for a while and join in whatever activities are around you; beach volleyball is a great workout, as is kayaking and surfing. City breaks are the perfect opportunity for days spent walking miles and seeing the sights along the way.
Guest Blogger:
Michael Wilson is the Managing Director of Bolsover Cruise Club, an independent cruise only specialist based in Derbyshire, UK.
