Believe it or not, it is possible to stay on your diet and fitness plan while traveling. I do believe this because as I write this blog I am doing just that. Currently, I am on a business trip and before I return home, I will visit family over the weekend. While traveling for either business or pleasure, we are out of our routine that we have set up at home. Being away from that routine and what we are familiar with at home can destroy our weight loss plan if we allow it. But, hey, I'm not going let that happen!
Before leaving home, plan everything out in your mind. First, take a look at your goals for dieting while traveling and make decisions based on what you want to do regarding your diet. Secondly, walk through the scenarios of where you are going, how you are getting there, where you are staying and what you are going to do at your destination. Do this in order to determine what you need while traveling before you leave home.
Let's take this one point at a time:
Your diet goals while traveling:
-Do you intend to stay exclusively on plan? To me this would be the option that needs the most planning and see below for ideas about that. I will focus on this, as my goal is to stay on plan during my trip.
-Do you have plans to mostly stay on plan; yet cheat once in awhile? Again this choice would need planning and perhaps you could put in your mindset to moderately cheat. Then get back on plan.
-Do you desire to just go off your diet while away? This seems to be the easiest of all options while away. It would be imperative, however, to get right back on your weight loss plan when you do return home.
Where are you going? If you're in the USA, you know the kind of foods in restaurants you can order to stay on plan. It's easy to go to a grocery store and find the foods you need and to be able to read the nutrition labels if that is part of your program. Outside of the USA, that would take more planning for me. Understanding labels, cultural foods and the regulations of what I could take on an airplane would need a great deal of consideration.
How are you getting to your destination? I'll take a look at travel by car and airplane. By car, I feel it's easier to travel with your food supplies. Pack what you need to stay on plan. Pack a cooler to keep cold provisions cold and have everything on hand. Pack healthy snacks that will help you stay on track as you may not be eating according to your home routine or, so you won’t overdo it when you’re either dining out or eating meals at someone else’s home.
Flying, on the other hand takes more thought. Food wise, TSA security rules prohibit passengers from taking liquids (drinks) and gels (puddings, applesauce, peanut butter) in excess of 3.4 ounces through airport security checkpoints, but solid snacks like bananas, apples, nuts, celery sticks and healthy snack bars are OK. Pack those things in your carry-on and skip the airline's less than healthy limited snack choices. After you've passed through security, anything you buy at the airport may be brought onto your flight, take this time to stock up on bottled water and buy a salad or something to eat on the plane. I've noticed many airports have begun adding more healthy dining options to the standard fast food variety. While in flight, avoid alcohol and soft drinks, as both these choices can dehydrate you. Water is always the best for staying hydrated and on plan.
Where are you staying? Hotel? Condo/Apt.? House? Cruise Ship?
There are many kinds of hotels. Some include fancy business class with full service restaurants and bars, business travel hotels with refrigerators and microwaves and plain family style hotels. The last two usually have a free breakfast and it is nice to have a refrigerator/micro in the room. At this time, I am staying in a fancy business class hotel. No refrigerator/micro. (I think the idea is for the restaurants here to make $ and be of service to the business traveler). I knew this because I stayed here before, so I brought my cooler and my diet supplies. I simply planned ahead. I do use the restaurants here, but I am able to stay on plan in any restaurant.
When staying at a Condo/Apt/ House, it is easy to have all diet foods on hand and be able to cook them as you wish. You have the best control over your diet with this option.
On a cruise, food temptation is as abundant as the Midnight buffet, right? Whoa!! There are loads of bad, bad eats on these cruises, but the good news is that most cruise lines now offer lighter and healthier food choices with reduced fat, sodium and/or carbs. Carnival has a fleetwide "spa menu," while Princess offers "spa options" in its main dining rooms for cruisers who want to cruise; yet, stay on plan and make healthy eating choices.
What are you going to do at your destination? What kind of trip are you taking? Is it a hang around and do nothing vacation? Then to stay on plan you would need to get some exercise in. (more on that later). Going to Disney, an outdoor adventure, the beach are more active vacations, so that could be your exercise right there, built into your travel.
Lastly, trying to find the time and place to exercise while traveling is important. On long car trips or flights, you can take time to walk around a bit at stop overs or when you reach your final destination. Most hotels nowadays have gym equipment or you can take a walk or exercise in your room. These in room ideas may be helpful. Pack a resistance band or download an exercise program onto your MP3 player so that you can work out in your room If you are more low-tech, you can run or march in place in front of the TV for half an hour, make up your own exercises of jumping jacks, or do some stretches or crunches right there in your room. Be sure to know your surroundings if venturing outside your complex. It is always important to be safe and aware.
As far as sticking to your exercise regime on a cruise, cruises have excellent gyms, jogging/walking tracks. Really, there is no reason not to exercise if you have the motivation. Most cruises offer fitness classes (yoga, aerobics, etc.) that passengers can take on the cruise.
As you can see here it is quite possible to stay on plan and not sabotage your diet and weight loss goals when traveling. In my case, just because I'm traveling for business, then pleasure, I don't feel the need to go off plan. With planning, determination and organization, we all can travel and stay healthy.
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