Vacation is a time when you’re not supposed to worry about anything but having a great time, right? Well, that’s mostly true, except when you return home, routinely step on your bathroom scale after showering and let out a bloodcurdling scream when you see you’ve gained 10 pounds in just one week! Don’t feel bad, though — that’s the average vacation weight gain amount most people contend with when they take a five- to seven-day vacation.
To avoid vacation weight gain, try including these tips in your itinerary. They’re easy, quick and can make coming home as enjoyable as leaving.
- If you’re flying to your destination, eat a healthy meal before boarding the plane so you won’t be tempted to snack on high-caloric airplane food. Take an apple and a banana along to munch on while you’re gazing out your airplane window or reading a book on your Kindle.
- As glamorous and exciting cruises are, stay away from them if you really want to avoid vacation weight gain. Cruises are notorious for their all-day, endless buffets. We’re talking tables and tables of food and bars open from the break of dawn until midnight.
- Try to remain as active as possible. Physical activity is just as relaxing as — and healthier than — laying around your hotel room and watching cable TV all day. Also, book a room providing a kitchenette so you can prepare most of your meals, especially low-calorie, high-protein breakfasts.
- If you’re spending several hours a day sightseeing on foot or by bus, bring healthy snacks and a couple bottles of water to help avoid bloating on vacation. Protein and fiber bars make great in-between meal fillers that will keep you energized and satisfied throughout the day.
- Eat fibrous foods while vacationing. Soluble fiber foods suppress your appetite by remaining in your intestines longer to absorb fluids and “swell” in the intestines. Examples of soluble fiber foods include beans, oatmeal, vegetables, and fruit.
- Make sure you get a good eight hours of sleep every night to help avoid vacation weight gain. Lack of sleep interferes with your normal metabolism because it makes your body crave more energy. When your body craves energy, you’ll likely reach for high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods and overeat.
- If your dream vacation consists of spending days relaxing at the beach, pack a cooler full of healthy food so you aren’t tempted to eat “beach” food — hot dogs, ice cream, hamburgers and soda. Fruit salad, trail mix, low-fat cheese, carrot sticks and unprocessed chicken or turkey sandwiches will help prevent your vacation from turning into a weight gain nightmare.
Medical Weight Loss Programs at Synergy Wellness Center
When you overindulge on a vacation and find it difficult to lose the weight you gained, Synergy Wellness Center has the kind of science-based weight-loss programs that can be personalized to address your unique needs. Call us — after you come back from vacation, of course — and learn more about our effective weight loss programs.
