Our Secret Tips For A Healthy Vacation!
Welcome to part two of my tips on how to stay healthy while traveling. In part one, I talked about how to look after your body while in the air. Here, I reveal how to practice wellness while on vacation.
As I mentioned in the first installment of this guide, a vacation is actually a time when your body needs a little bit more care, NOT less.
It’s also a time of rest and rejuvenation.
Fueling your body with the right nutrients and taking care of your mind with wholesome holiday habits can turn a GOOD vacation into a SENSATIONAL one.
It can also mean the difference between returning home from your holiday feeling energized, alive and ready for action, and being bloated, guilt-ridden and lethargic.
Honestly, it’s easier than you think to be good! Here are my secrets to feeling fantastic while on vacation.
ON VACATION
1. Love That H2O – Drink, Drink, Drink
I cannot say enough about water’s miracle-like qualities. Keeping your body and mind lubricated, water is a quick fix to feeling good. Did you know one of the first signs of dehydration is fatigue/headache? And due to the way the body adapts, thirst does not always kick in when dehydrated, so you can’t always rely on this mechanism to indicate when you need to take a gulp of the good stuff. So grab a funky water-bottle and keep it filled up. You should be aiming to drink two liters a day. Trust me, your body will thank you for it.
2. Pack Your Snacks – Have A Treasure Trove Of Energy Ready
When you get hungry, it is very tempting to reach for the nearest snack you can find. This usually involves processed junk food high in saturated fat/sugar, not to mention artificial additives and flavors. Far from providing your body with the nutrients it needs, your fast food snack will instead place you on the yoyo blood sugar roller-coaster that comes with eating rubbish. Cue a vicious circle. So what to do? Pack your own healthy snacks. Bananas for one, are one of the best and easiest bites around. With your own stash of natural goodness on tap, you will find it much easier not to fall off the healthy wagon.
3. Locate Your Closest Juice Bar – Get Your Five A Day With Ease
Anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE fan of natural juices and the green smoothie. What’s not to love? Full of high net worth vitamins and minerals, these cups of love keep the body functioning like a super hero (Popeye anyone?!). And all in a single drink! So when you find yourself traveling, make a note of your nearest juice bar to ensure your five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Too easy!
4. Catch The ZZZs – Get Extra Sleep
Ever wondered why you sleep a lot on holiday? It’s because your body is playing catch up. Realizing the routine has gone out the window and work is not a factor, you slow down, you relax, you chillax. You fall asleep. So take your cues from your body and go with the ZZZs. The opportunity to put right your sleep debt is one not to be missed.
5. Respect Your Body – Move, Love And Cherish The Skin You Are In
It’s easy to feel like there are no rules when traveling, which there aren’t. That’s the point, right? But at the same time, if you don’t look after yourself, you are not going to be able to enjoy how amazing it all is. Even if you don’t work out at home, take the time to move your body when on vacation. Go for a walk, have a swim, saunter through the streets, take some exercise and reawaken every muscle, every bone, every fibre of your being. It’s great to be alive!
6. Make Better Choices - Eat Clean
When eating out, you don’t have to resign yourself to an unhealthy meal. Be careful about the restaurant you choose and look at the menu first before committing. Immediately discount anything in your mind which you know won’t leave you feeling your best. Instead, hone in on the fresh and healthy choices. And if you are not sure, ask the waiter. And don’t be scared to request that an unhealthy sauce/topping/accompaniment be left in the kitchen.
These simple secrets, along with the tips in part one, have truly changed the way I feel when I travel. I hope they help you too.
