Away in a manger - avoid holiday weight gain
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While holidays are a great time to get away and spend time with friends and family, it can also be one of the most challenging times of the year if your goal is to lose weight.
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- Away in a manger - avoid holiday weight gain
While holidays are a great time to get away and spend time with friends and family, it can also be one of the most challenging times of the year if your goal is to lose weight. Keeping to normal patterns of exercise and healthy eating isn’t easy when you’re away from normal surroundings. There may be a tendency to rely on fast food, take-out and restaurant meals, not to mention the breakfast banquets. It’s not unusual for food and alcohol to be the central focus of social celebrations, while the portions and types of food on offer are unlikely to be found at a health farm. If you eat and drink and laze around a pool, you could return home with a little excess baggage. But with a small shift in attitude, and in your lifestyle, you can still enjoy yourself without the holiday weight gain. Here are some practical tips on how to do just that.
- Pack your exercise shoes, and make it a priority to schedule some planned walking or running into your day. You can also walk around instead of drive as you discover your new holiday destination.
- Take the attitude that any exercise is better than none. It’s much better to reduce your exercise time than to eliminate it.
- Plan an active holiday where trekking, skiing, backpacking or sporting activities are an integral part of your getaway.
- Visit the local gym or fitness centre and ask for a free visitors pass, or book into accommodation that has its own tennis courts or gymnasium.
- Focus your entertainment and time with friends and family around non-food related activities, such as golf, tennis, volleyball, or swimming at the local beach, pool or river.
- Make it fun. Be creative and explore your new surroundings by hiring some bikes or canoes, go bush walking, or have an active picnic with a kite or Frisbee.
- For breakfasts, stick to fruit, toast and cereal with skim milk to pour on your cereal. Avoid cooked breakfasts with bacon, eggs, and sausages.
- Drink plenty of water instead of fruit juice and soft drink, and drink a glass of water between alcoholic beverages.
Are holidays a difficult time to keep up with your health and fitness goals? Do you have any tips to stay active and eat well while you’re on holidays and away from home?
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