How To Avoid Weight Gain This Holiday

When it's vacation time, most of us become complacent about pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Vacation are taken as a period to indulge in all the excess after working hard on the job for almost a year. However, you can still have a wonderful vacation without coming home with extra weight. 

So the major question is how do you avoid gaining weight during vacation without denying yourself? The worry is that if you’re unable to sample the local cuisine, your trip wouldn't be nearly as fun. It's okay to indulge a bit after all, you'll probably be more active, thanks to all the touring and running around. Still, you don't want to overdo it. For instance one or two big meals at the local hot spots and you'll soon eat back all the calories you worked off. But you can still manage to keep your weight under control. Here are six ways to make your holiday calories count, so that you don’t add unnecessary bulk to your waist and hips. 

1. Start healthy eating at the airport

It doesn’t matter where your take off point is; airports are known for loads of fast foods and sugary drinks. Apart from the fact that they can be terribly expensive. If let’s say you’re departing from Lagos en route to London or the US, which are the favourite holiday destination for many, shun the greasy pastries, toasted sandwiches, meat pies, and burgers before your flight. Pack your own, or pick up, whole wheat sandwich, some nuts, a piece of banana or apple, or pure fruit juice. Better to save your splurges for the good stuff, like a big Mac at the MacDonald or a juicy, delicious carrot cake at the Prêt a Manger. And when on the plane, go easy on  alcohol. Stick as much as possible to water.

2. Eat the bad food in moderation

Once you get to your destination, go on and have that Maltesers ice cream with Smarties toppings you’ve been reserving for your vacation, or any other forbidden food you really love, but in moderation. Don’t throw caution to the wind. For instance, when I order something decadent, I eat just half of it and then swap with my son, who agrees to order the healthier yet still tasty yoghurt mousse. 

3. Take a bite of everyone’s dessert

Nothing tastes as good as the first bite of any food, so approach vacation fare as though you are on a tasting mission. Instead of ordering your own dessert, try a tiny piece of your husband’s cheesecake or a lick of your kid's ice cream cone and then stop. But if you still can’t resist eating the whole lot, don’t be guilty, enjoy.  However, go healthy eating the next day, by picking fruits for your dessert.

4. Avoid the binge danger zones

Shun places where indulgence is a main attraction, for example cruises and all-you-can eat restaurants – Chinese, Italian, Indian, and Mexican are super good at this.  Going to an all-you-can-eat buffet is a guaranteed diet buster. There may be healthy choices, but you’re always tempted to take your money-fill. How can you pay, for instance $18.95 or £15 and ignore the bacon, sausages, beef teriyaki, eggs Benedict, chicken cordon bleu, sauté potatoes, and chocolate gateau for a plate of mixed vegetables and grilled fish? Are you kidding me?

5. Go for a self-catering apartment

Eating out frequently, not only cost you more money, but also likely to gain weight, because restaurants load you up with hidden calories. If possible, get a self-catering accommodation with a kitchen and save money by cooking. Your goal should be to prepare all your breakfasts, plus either lunch or dinner each day. With that in mind, make a grocery list on the plane. Tear off a section for each family member so that you can stop at as supermarket  on the way to your accommodation, or you can arrange what suits you.  The point here is to plan to avoid eating disasters. 

6. Don’t spend all day at the beach

If you are in the planning phase, consider a walking or cycling tour of the wine country or any beautiful tourist attraction. Even if you decide to chill at the pool, try not to spend the whole day lounging. Get active, and swim a few laps and burn about 200 calories an hour. In the evening continue the burn by dancing the night away. The more active you are, the less you will have to worry about the calories in your cocktail drinks.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons.