Dieting is really tough at the best of times, but we tend to slip most easily when it’s a special occasion. At Christmas, on a big birthday, on an anniversary – these days challenge us to stick to our plans. I had been struggling to stick to eating healthy for years until something clicked, and I started controlling my diet so much better. My biggest challenge was going on holiday to Australia, where the temptation was to screw the diet and eat what I liked. Here’s how I resisted it and stayed strong.

 

I cooked my own food

One of the most important things that I did was to rent an apartment with a kitchen through Gumtree. That meant I could cook my own food, instead of having to go out for every single meal of the day. If you stay at a hotel, normally you might get breakfast included – but you don’t get to choose what they serve. This way, I was able to go out to a supermarket and pick up some food when we arrived, then cater for myself for most of the holiday. I was in control, which meant that I didn’t have to look at a restaurant menu every night and try to resist the desserts or the big unhealthy dishes.

 

I rejected sauces and extras

When we did go out to restaurants, I stuck to a motto of keeping it simple. When I ordered from the menu, I chose something as lean as possible. I avoided salads because the dressings can actually make these very high-calorie choices. I didn’t add any sauces to my food as these always pile on the calories too, and I refused any extras that I was offered. Do you want fries with that? Actually, no, I don’t. It’s very easy to turn down extras when you remember that you’re adding extra to your bill as well as your waistline!

 

I packed snacks

When we went out on long day trips and excursions, I made sure to plan ahead. Rather than waiting to see what we would find on the way, or relying on a restaurant for lunch, I made sure we had healthy snacks in our bags. That way, we were never too tempted to pick up something unhealthy. I did slip up a few times, but thanks to the next point, it wasn’t a big deal.

 

I stayed active

What’s the best way to compensate when you eat more than you should? Exercise! There are so many opportunities to exercise in Australia. Just walking anywhere can be a great way to burn the calories as the hot sun makes you sweat more. I also went swimming almost every day because we were either by the pool or going into the sea. It’s so much easier to get enough exercise in when you have an excuse like going to see the Great Barrier Reef!

 

I shopped local

One of the delights of visiting a new place is heading out to the markets, to see fresh produce and local crafts. There are plenty of markets in the big cities of Australia and you can find fresh fruit and vegetables on sale every morning. I made a few trips during our stay to pick up the best, freshest, and most juicy examples. Not only was this a great way to explore the local culture, but it helped keep me healthy too.

 

It’s definitely possible to stick to a diet when you are on holiday if you follow my example. You will feel so much better for it when you get home, too!