With it being summer time, lots of people are planning vacations. If you are trying to lose weight the idea of going away can seem daunting and counterintuitive with your weight loss goals. As a full-time traveler, I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks for losing weight while abroad.

  1. Figure out what you are going on vacation FROM. Most people go on holiday to treat themselves. Maybe you have a stressful job and just want to relax. Maybe you pinch pennies and work overtime all year so you can have a week of luxury where price is no object. Maybe you live in the city and want to spend a little time away from it all, or vice versa. Whatever the reason, make sure you have it and that you figure out ways to get hte most out of your holiday before it starts. Remember that holidays and dieting have something in common: they are both about self care. Bingeing and drinking and not being active are not going to make you feel like you love yourself. Instead, plan out ways to splurge each day that don't always revolve around food: go to a spa, charter a boat to a private beach, take a dance class or see a popular show. Once you have a PLAN, it will be easier to stay focused while you're away.
  2. Ditch the hotel. We live in 2017 and it's a great time to be alive! AirBnb and Hostels offer a great alternative to your standard hotel package vacation. And before you say, "Ew, gross a HOSTEL?!" keep in mind that things have changed and hostels are sometimes as nice (if not nicer) than many hotels. Also (and here's the big bonus) you can stay at one with a kitchen and be in control of your food! Most hostels have private rooms that are cheaper than hotels but with access to cooking and storing facilities. This means you can prepare healthy meals before you go out for the day AND you have somewhere to store those delicious leftovers from a nice dinner out. Diet-friendly AND economical.
  3. Sightseeing is NOT exercise! Don't get me wrong, it's gonna burn a ton of calories, but it shouldn't REPLACE your daily walk/run/yoga/whatever routine you have at home. I typically get up first thing and do a walk/run/hike in exercise mode (workout clothes, hair up, no makeup, NOT CUTE). I bang out my exercise and then I come home and get photo ready for sightseeing. This is usually more leisurely, with stops of photos, coffee or just sitting in the park. Getting the exercise out of the way takes the pressure off of your day out. If you get tired and want a nap- DO IT! You've already crushed your workout!
  4. Quality over Quantity. It might be tempting to get those $1 beers in Vietnam, or .25 cent donuts in Poland, but after your first taste you'll probably realize they aren't very GOOD. Vacation is supposed to be about enjoying the BEST life has to offer, so if you're going to treat yourself, make sure it's actually a treat, and don't feel bad to ditch something that dosn't taste worth it. I always like to sample whatever the local delicacy is, and I try to do a little research to find otu where I can get a great representation of that thing. After I've had it, I'm good to go. If there's extra, I can store it at my hostel! :)
  5. Savour the memories! Let's say all this sounds good but you wake up on day 3 of your vacation hungover, covered in cookie crumbs and pizza sauce: don't despair! 1) This doesn't mean to say "screw it " and become a human garbage disposal for the rest of the trip. Reset, and move on. 2) Vacations should be treated as treasured memories, not analysed as success or failures. If you do decide to overindulge, try to look back fondly on that wonderful wine with friends or that delicious pizza eaten overlooking the canal. Humans have strong memories connected to food for good reason. Don't see your holiday consumption as a failure, it's just a souvenir that you'll leave at the gym when you get home!

Hope this is helpful in some way! If you have any specific questions about traveling to a certain place, feel free to leave a comment. I haven't been EVERYWHERE, but I have lots of tips for how to manage the temptations of travel with a desire to stay healthy.

Have a great summer!