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3 Ways to Lose Weight While Vacationing

March Spring Break is this week for many families, so some traveling may be in the plans.

Whether it’s an all-inclusive beach vacation or a road trip to visit the grandparents, vacations can test your willpower.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on vacations where I’ve acted like I’ve never seen food before :).

I remember one all-inclusive trip to Jamaica about 10 years ago when I gained 12 pounds in one week!!! What a disaster.

Although the issue of vacation overeating is a lot deeper issue that will require more time, this post will share 3 tips to help you lose weight while vacationing.

Vacations can bring about certain mindsets that may not otherwise come to the surface.

We give ourselves justifications such as:

  • “I’m on vacation, so why not.”
  • “I’ll get back on track when I get back home.”
  • “I don’t want to ruin my vacation by starving myself.”
  • “It’s only once a year.”
  • “I deserve to enjoy my vacation.”

Unfortunately, have you ever heard anyone return from vacation and say, “That vacation was worth gaining the extra 5 pounds, I can’t wait to do it again?” … probably not.

So, here are 3 strategies that you can use to help you return from your vacation feeling great and maybe even lose some weight.

CREATE EATING WINDOWS. Although you may indulge on foods you don’t normally have, set firm boundaries around what times you will eat. For example, eat between 11 am-7 pm only. This allows you to still maintain boundaries but not feel deprived. This strategy is known as intermittent fasting and can be a successful strategy to help you release weight while not feeling deprived. This essentially means that you will be having a later breakfast (or maybe skipping it altogether) and avoid all after dinner snacks.

ADD ACTIVITY TO YOUR VACATION. Although you may be eating a bit more, set firm boundaries around your activity. Commit to doing more activity than you normally would. Vacations can be a great time to increase your current activity level since you don’t have your usual work commitments. Maybe set a goal to double your current activity level while on vacation.

SET REMINDERS. It’s too easy to lose sight of your goals while you’re away from your usual routine. That’s the beauty of vacations—it’s a break from routine. However, some habits you want to take with you on vacation.

A number of our members take along reminders with them when they travel. They take their vision (it’s like a goal but a lot more powerful) with them and read it daily. They write down their ‘why’s’ on cue cards to remind themselves of why this journey is so important to them.

They take along scripture and declarations that they’ve learned and use them when they’re tempted.

And some of them even reach out to the support group for accountability and support. It’s like having a life-line to rely on when you’re not able to be objective or rational (food can do that to you).

Remember, this is a short-term solution. Until you make the commitment to focus on your faulty mindsets, you will continue to struggle with situations like vacations, birthday’s, Christmas, and maybe even weekends.

Do you have any vacation ‘trick’ that you use to help you manage your weight while you’re vacationing? If so, please share yours in the comment section below.

Love and Blessings,

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P.S. if you are tired of circling the same mountain over and over and want a Christ-centered approach to lasting weight loss without feeling guilty, deprived, or overwhelmed, be sure to sign up for our video course program right away at cathymorenzie.com

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Eva Jordan-Johnson
6 years ago

Great tips. I plan to share this encouragement on my http://facebook.com/travelwitheva page. It’s often a concern when you travel. You want to enjoy yourself but not return home with more weight than you left with. 🙂

Julie H
Julie H
6 years ago

Sometimes, like on a cruise, or all inclusive resort, a person can look at a menu in the morning and can pre-log the anticipated meals and snacks for the day. If I am really wanting to make room for something, I can adjust the other foods accordingly. It also encourages me to exercise so I can fit that dessert in! I like the idea of taking my vision along with me, and to keep in contact with accountability partners.