We all do it, but we all regret it afterwards. We tend to overindulge just because we are on vacation.
However, I want to show YOU how to stay healthy on a vacation.
In this step-by-step guide I will be talking about the secrets that I use when I don’t want to put on another 1-2 Kilograms just because I decided to splurge on a week-long camping trip.
And that’s what you should be trying to avoid too!
Read on to find out the best ways to stay healthy while you’re camping outdoors, ultimately avoiding the hefty weight gain that usually comes with it.
1. Still eat your favorite foods, just don’t consume a hefty amount of calories
Stop feasting on calorie-packed meals or snacks. The secret is to eat the foods you like in MODERATION.
See that, the key here is moderation.
You do not need to consume a big bag of potato chips.
You can actually put them in Ziploc bags before you go on your camping trip, then take one only when you’re craving form them, then eat its contents.
Rule of thumb: Focus on eating in proportional amounts, rather than entire servings.
2. Continue to exercise, don’t stop just because you’re on holiday
You should not stop your exercise routine just because you’re out camping.
Even a 10-20 minute cardio session or hike as soon as you wake up works incredibly well.
A 30 minute walk after your heaviest meal will work great too, while a swim in the river/ocean works just as good.
A moderate walk after a meal will not mess with the digestion, since walking is classed as a low-moderate exercise.
You should be walking and exploring in the great outdoors anyway!
3. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself every other day
Even the healthiest men/women on the planet treat themselves every now and then, and you know why?
Because IT DOES NOT MATTER.
Seriously, if you are eating in moderation 80% of the time while exercising daily, it will not matter if you decide to treat yourself every other day.
Because your metabolism will be fast enough that it will just burn those extra calories off quickly anyway.
However, that does not mean you should be doing it everyday, because you will more than likely put on weight.
4. Take your water bottle with you and don’t forget to drink it often
Many of us forget to stay hydrated when we are outdoors and having fun, but what happens when we don’t consume water often?
Our body doesn’t function at is best, it can’t burn calories as easily, we get sluggish, our joints aren’t lubricated, we are just all-round not functioning the way we were created to.
When we don’t give our body the water it needs to perform at its best, our body holds the water that it has, making us look puffier/fatter.
To get rid of this additional water weight that our bodies are holding, just consume water throughout the day.
Your body will realize its getting a good amount of H20 and it will release the water it’s currently retaining.
Drinking water makes you feel fuller when you eat your meals too, this will make it easier for you to consume less calories.
5. Live by the rule – eat 5 fruits per day
Not only will you give your body a good amount of healthy calories, but you will actually be replacing the bad foods with the good foods.
How?
It does this by making your meals more filling and satisfying, resulting in you eating less calories while giving your body proper nutrition.
Rule of thumb: Make it a rule to eat 5 fruit servings a day, you will then stop craving for the bad, calorie-packed snacks.
6. Eat when you’re hungry! This exception is only when you’re camping
With so many choices for us at our fingertips, we tend to get in the ‘vacation’ mindset, thinking we are allowed to overindulge.
Don’t get me wrong though, you can treat yourself every other day, just don’t think it is okay to stuff your mouth every couple of hours just because you are on vacation.
Because the result = You consuming WAY too many calories than you should be, causing your weight to sky rocket!
And when you do eat your meals, stop when you are satisfied and not when you’re bloated or stuffed.
7. Opt for small snacks rather than a large bag of chips or blocks of chocolates, things like that
When you’re out camping and exploring, you need to keep your energy levels up.
So instead of stuffing your face with calorie-filled snacks and chocolates, opt for an energy bar, sandwich or fruit.
These days, a common choice is the healthy trail mix.
8. Be adventurous, do something you can’t do back at home
The greatest thing about being in the outdoors is that there are no boundaries.
Hike through the wilderness and appreciate the scenery that’s in front of you, try to find caves, do yoga on the beach or near a river, go running and enjoy the view – as long as it’s safe of course.
Just make sure you’re having fun while you’re doing it.
Mother Nature is a wondrous place, appreciate it and do something you can’t do in the city, THAT’S what you should be focusing on.
9. Do bodyweight exercises, there’s no need for weights or dumbbells here, so stop making excuses
Bodyweight exercises work incredibly, and the best part about them (for obvious reasons), you can do them anywhere!
Here’s a comprehensive list I found on Travelstrong.net.
I recommend you mix and match your favorite ones.
And here’s how you should layout your workout routine:
- Choose 5-10 different exercises (if you choose 5, completing 5 exercises is 1 set)
- 20 seconds for each exercise
- 20 seconds rest time
- 2 minute rest after each set
- Roughly 20-30 minutes per day (that equals 5 sets, give or take)
10. Stay away from sugar as much as possible
If there’s one tip I want you to start using asap, this is the one.
So do this as much as you can, not just while you’re on a vacation/camp out.
Sugar is incredibly high in calories and currently the leading cause in different diseases (it really is).
Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, even cancer.
A high intake of sugar is one of the main reasons for these diseases, but big pharma companies don’t want you to know.
However, I want you to know 😀
Staying away from foods that are high in sugar will automatically stop you from consuming an excessive amount of calories.
Try to avoid these foods:
- Soda
- Candy
- Chocolate
- BBQ sauce
- Low-fat yogurt
- Ketchup
- Sports drinks
- Canned fruit
- Cereal
List source: Authority Nutrition
Conclusion
Staying healthy while you are on vacation is really not that difficult.
You just need to avoid foods that are high in sugar and stop overindulging in your meals.
You need to realize that the secret to staying at your current weight and keeping healthy at the same time is simply by eating in moderation.
So stay hydrated (drink water constantly throughout the day) and exercise every day too.
IF you follow the steps outlined above, I have no doubts that you’ll be able to stay healthy without putting any additional weight on, while you’re out having fun with friends and family in the great outdoors.
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