Stay Slim And Healthy When You Travel. Traveling is great fun, but it can also make it difficult to stick to your weight loss or fitness regimen. If you’re traveling by car, fast food restaurants full of greasy, calorie laden goodies beckon at every corner. Planes aren’t safe either since most of the pre-packaged meals served on-board are packed with sodium and calories. Plus, when all you’re doing is sitting it’s difficult to burn off the excess calories you’ve consumed. Fortunately, you don’t have to give up your health goals when you travel; you just have to do a little preparation and make some smart choices.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to prepare your own nutritious foods before you leave home. If you’re traveling by car, you can even bring along a cooler packed full of healthy treats. For smaller spaces or airplane trips, just pack a simple lunch bag and choose foods that don’t need to be kept cold to still be enjoyable. Fruit, healthy snack bars, veggie and protein packed sandwiches, tuna, and more can all be enjoyed. Not only will they taste better than fatty fast food, but they’ll also be better for you too!
If eating out can’t be helped, for whatever reason, then look for healthier restaurant options. If you have a GPS in your car, you can use it to get suggestions for healthy restaurants. No matter where you go, look for options that contain lean protein, like fish or grilled skinless chicken. Opt for a salad or steamed vegetables on the side, and skip the soda in favor of water or unsweetened tea. You can also choose black coffee for a calorie-free pick me up. Keep in mind as well that restaurant portions tend to be larger than
necessary, so you can easily half your plate and save the rest for later.
Food isn’t the only thing to consider when trying to live a healthy lifestyle. Exercise and being active plays a role as well. Car travelers are encouraged to get out and stretch their legs at each bathroom stop. This can also be a good time to get in a quick walk. Once you’re actually on your trip, be sure to plan lots of active outings. Go hiking, swimming, or just take a tour (on foot!) of the town or city you’re visiting. You’ll get to see more of your vacation destination and stay fit as well!
Finally, remember that you are on a vacation, so it’s okay to deviate slightly from your regular fitness regimen. If you deprive yourself of the treats and goodies you want, you’re likely to end up overeating to make up for it. So, if there’s a snack you’re just dying to have, indulge yourself, but do so in moderation. Having a couple of bites of pie is okay, but eating the entire pie is not! And if you overindulge in one area, remember you can make up for it by upping your exercise level.