We travel to experience newness, and we vacation to relax. Unfortunately, escaping to different environs for many people also means eating everything that exists and moving at a pace reminiscent of a sloth. Possibly, just possibly, this is a tiny part of the reason why so many people gain weight while on vacation. Possibly. I am not sure. But I do know that when I travel, I always lose weight. And if I’m gone for a period of a month or more, I’m down at least a size when I return. This is not even intentional. I just keep moving and don’t eat the world.
Whether you’re a regular exerciser or not, if you want to prevent your clothes from bursting apart the next time you travel, follow at least two of the following seven travel tips, and your pants will start bagging off of you before you return home.
1. Feast on Breakfast and Downplay Dinner – No matter where you’re staying while traveling, breakfast is likely included. So sit down, enjoy the free food and go back for thirds. The day’s first meal really can carry you a long, long way. Lunch doesn’t play too heavily into weight gain as you’ll likely be eating it on the run, just like at home. But dinner – oh, my. Too many people place their evening meal into the foreground of their travel bliss. Eat well and have a blast, but don’t fuel up like you’re a Mack truck hitting the highway for a cross-country trip.
2. Walk Everywhere – Almost everywhere. If you’re in a safe location with well-marked paths and Point A is 10 kilometers or less from Point B, you really should walk it. You’ll be exercising without even trying. Of course, you will get lost, but the people you get directions from can be an experience in and of themselves. I walk virtually everywhere when I travel, which is such a massive difference from walking virtually nowhere while at home, the weight just melts.
3. Take the Stairs Always – Always. I cannot remember the last time I took an elevator when traveling. Since it’s more difficult to get my exercise when I’m away from my stuff – namely my bike, my beach and my gym – I get it every other way I can. And that means getting to know the stairwell in each building in which I must ascend higher than the ground. If you’re staying on the tenth floor of your hotel, that is just great. You’ll look better lying at the pool after you’ve been back and forth to your room a few times.
4. Go For Adventure – Not the type to snorkel or scuba dive, rock climb or hike, but you don’t want to sit at home playing bingo and missing out on life? A different part of the world can be an excellent place to start, or at least to give it a try. You’ll undoubtedly have a blast. And for the rest of your life you’ll be able to say When I went rappelling in Israel or When I jumped off a waterfall in Peru. Now, how many of your friends can say the same?
5. Splurge on a Gym – If you’re staying in accommodations that are gym-less, shell out the bucks once a week to get your workout in. Hotel gyms can be really expensive for non-guests, so get your money’s worth and stay for a couple of hours or so. Really. It’s only once a week. A local gym will likely cost less but could be a little more difficult to navigate because you’ll be surrounded by locals who may actully think that you will understand them when they speak to you in their native tongue, as oppposed to the mono-lingual tourists back at the hotel. Whichever you choose, get your gym time in.
6. Bring Along Your At-Home Exercise Regimen – Rent a bike. Set out on a morning jog. The paths which you will follow to get your normal, daily dose of exercise will likely lead you places you never would see while reclining in an automobile. Sometimes, of course, you are deep inside a culture where there is just no way you can exercise publicly. It is either not safe enough or it is just not done, so you would look far too odd. In these cases…
7. …Work Out in Your Room – It’s better than allowing inactivity to morph you into a dollop. Do yoga, bring along an exercise DVD to stick in your computer, or go retro by doing old-fashioned calisthenics like jogging in place, jumping jacks and push-ups. Move about in your room for even a half an hour a day, and you’ll keep yourself nicely toned rather than relaxing yourself into a state of flab.
Have any staying-in-shape secrets that you use while traveling? Don’t be shy.
Thumbnail waist measurement photo by lululemon athletica, climbing stairs photo by indi.ca, rappelling waterfall photo by Scarleth White
I often lose a couple pounds when travelling. At home I drive most everywhere (I live in a sprawled out community). When I travel I’m usually walking, maybe taking the bus/subway, but even in those cases there’s always stairs to go up and down. I find I don’t get very hungry when I travel. Maybe it’s the excitement of being somewhere new and doing different things that distracts me from hunger. Usually all I need to eat is a good breakfast, a small snack in the afternoon (like a granola bar – always easy to stick in your purse) and then a light supper.
A couple other tips. Try not to drink to much alcohol because they are just empty (albeit often delicious calories). And don’t over over indulge. Anytime I’m anywhere near decent seafood I have the urge to gorge myself on lobster and crab because I can’t get good seafood at home. I have remind myself it’s important to eat something other than delicious lobster in delicious butter. mmmmm
.-= Alouise´s last blog ..List #4 – What I Love About Spring =-.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 18:33
Thanks for the tips, Alouise. And I think you’re right. It’s often the excitement.
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This space intentionally
BLANK
Guys don’t worry about loosing weight while travelling
Unless, they’re looking at girls
In bikinis.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 18:34
I guess that’s true. I hadn’t thought of it. You can still lose weight while traveling, though, whether you want to or not.
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Good advice! I don’t think I’ve ever lost or gained weight while traveling. Probably because of all the walking. I also try to eat the same on the road as I do at home–no indulging in high-fat foods for every meal.
.-= Gray´s last blog ..Burlington Street Art =-.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 18:35
Thanks a lot, Gray. I’m glad to hear you’re not one to return home bursting out of your clothes, either.
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Really good reminder – these are all things we *should* do all the time, but I know I get quite lazy about them…..I do walk much more when I’m traveling than when I’m at home, because I really don’t like dealing with taxis or shuttles.
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..Write as if Your Life Depends On It =-.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 18:37
That’s a good excuse for walking. Maybe if we stop liking our cars at home, we’ll do more walking here too.
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I always struggle with this for long-term travel! Typically though, I’m always so much on the move that I don’t have to worry. But the strength training thing is a problem…I like the gym idea.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..The Junos, Newfoundland Hospitality, and Celebrating Come-From-Aways =-.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 18:38
Yeah, strength training is the one you really have to make happen. All the rest just sort of do, if you let them.
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One way to stay thin on a trip is to never stay in the same city for more than 2 days because then you always have somewhere new to walk. The only exception to this rule is on road trips / bus tours; number one way to get fat during travel!
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 18:40
That’s a good tip, Anny. Thank you. To help out on road trips I guess you can try to make the road short and the trip long.
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My husband and I are late risers, so many times we combined lunch and breakfast into a brunch. We usually also walk everywhere. Unfortunately for months, we ate more than we burned, and we gain weight. Now we reduce the amount of our food (sharing a portion is a good idea), and we started loosing weight, even though not going back to what it was before we left. I love traveling light and be cheap, don’t want to have to buy new pair of pants!
I guess sharing a portion of food for two is not very easy for a solo traveler? Or can you find a friend to share the food with?
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 18:41
I think brunch is a great idea. Thank you, Dina. And for solo travelers instead of portion sharing, portion throwing away would probably work.
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Dina VagabondQuest Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 21:38
Hahaha
.-= Dina VagabondQuest´s last blog ..Cockatoo and flying fox paradise =-.
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These are great tips! I find that I’m on the go so much that I don’t gain too much weight on the road. I walk everywhere at home but probably eat more when I’m travelling. Hopefully it will all balance out!
Andrea´s last [type] ..What Lies Ahead- Our Nomadic Plans for 2011 and Beyond
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
December 10th, 2010 at 10:55
Hi Andrea – thank you! Definitely being on the go is a huge help. I hope it balances out for you too
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These are some good tips. I always seem to do a lot of walking when I am on vacation. I know when I went to NYC i didnt’t realize i had been walking for about 12hrs straight going all over the city. Thanks for the breakfast & dinner tip, thats gonna be good to remember.
jaime´s last [type] ..STATE OF MY BREAKAWAY
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
December 10th, 2010 at 10:57
Hi, Jamie – 12 hours walking around NYC?! I hoped you stopped to eat or drink at some point. Well, at any rate, you’re alive and well and better for the experience, I’m sure
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Hi Jamie – thanks for your useful tips. I am getting off to travel around Europe in just over 2 weeks, and i am really concerned about gaining weight whilst away. But your tips have been really helpful! I am a big gym go-er, and feel like walking whilst sight seeing will not be sufficient to keep the kilos at bay. But I think loading up at breakfast and having less food throughout the day, coupled with walking will hopefully do the trick
I will keep you posted!
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Sabina Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 03:52
Hi Carol – that’s great
It is amazing how day after day of walking makes weight just fall off, really.
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I suggest to bring healthy snacks and bottled water with you while traveling. This will prevent you from stopping for fast food when you’re traveling in a car. It will help you resist temptation if you are traveling in a plane on which calorie-laden snacks like cookies and soda are being served.
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Sabina Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 03:21
Thanks for commenting. Water and healthy snacks are a great idea. I aways find some fruit to snack on when I’m traveling. If you eat only the food that is set before you in restaurants and on planes, you’ll soon be fat and possibly not so healthy, either.
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