Image Credit: Sunrise Jogger
Hello everyone. This is a guest post from Kayleigh Crispin.
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Preparing for your holiday can mean a lot of stress when it comes to health and fitness. Magazines are plastered with fad diets you must follow in order to achieve the perfect beach body, and we’re constantly looking at pictures of celebrities who make us feel inferior about our bellies or cellulite. And it’s not just women who feel the pressure of looking great on holiday; increasing numbers of men experience the same anxieties.
But don’t we all just want to eat ice-cream, relax by the pool and forget about the pressures of home when we’re away? Keeping healthy and fit on holiday doesn’t mean you have to be a size 0 or a muscle maniac, but you don’t have to gain a stone in a fortnight either. Here, we look at five tips that will help you avoid holiday weight gain and still enjoy yourself.
1. Be Active
Holidays are the perfect time for new activities. Why not try kayaking or abseiling if you’re in a mountainous area, or head to the sea for surfing or snorkelling? If you’re not a wild adventurer, swimming in the pool, yoga on the beach and long walks will still keep you fit and cost you nothing. Use an exercise calculator, like this one, to see how many calories you can burn with each new activity. The challenge is on!
2. Eat The Local Diet
Quite often, we find that tourist resorts are filled with restaurants offering greasy fried breakfasts, pizzas and carbonaras. These are okay for a treat but, in places like Spain, Italy and Greece, the local diet is rich in nutritious foods. Bargain holidays do not have to mean compromising your healthy lifestyle, and the Mediterranean diet is one of the best—and least expensive—in the world.
3. Beat The Heat
It can be easy to dismiss exercise on holiday due to the weather being too hot. Choosing to maintain your exercise programme doesn’t have to mean running in the baking heat at midday. Choose early mornings or evenings to go for a jog, or try water sports—they are the perfect option for staying fit and cool if you’re in a hot destination.
4. Reach For The Fruit
Fruit is a cheap, sweet treat that won’t see you pile on the pounds during your holiday. Yes, we all want to dig into ice cream sundaes and cakes, but you don’t have to reach for the dessert menu every evening. The high water content in fruit is also great for hydration and lowering your calorie intake. If you can’t resist the lure of the gelaterias, choose sorbets or ice lollies rather than ice creams.
5. Beware The Booze
We all know the dangers of alcohol and its high calorie content. Add to that the sugar, creams and syrups used in cocktails and you have a healthy living nightmare. One pina colada alone can contain over 500 calories! We all love having a drink on holiday but stick to clear spirits and low-fat or slimline mixers for the healthiest options.
Sticking to these tips should see you avoid holiday weight gain without spending a fortune. Getting away is about treating yourself but you can do that without destroying the health and fitness goals that you were working towards before you departed. Remember, you can have any holiday treat as long as it’s in moderation.
About The Author:
Kayleigh Crispin is a travel writer who specialises in creative website content, compelling articles and magical stories. She writes from whichever country she finds herself in but can always be contacted via email or LinkedIn.
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