How to: Vacation!
Tis the season for traveling... and lots of fun, it's summer time! Are you headed somewhere fun this summer?
I recently finished school, which means 1 year down, and 1 year to go until I can officially say I have my Bachelors of Science in Nutrition, from Bastyr University! A whole 3 months out of school, and I am stoked! While I have absolutely loved my experience at school, it feels good to give my brain a rest! Trev and I decided to take full advantage of our free time, (him not beginning his job yet, and me being out of school), so we are currently on a 2 week vacation in California! 1 week in Malibu (southern Cali), and then 1 week in Carmel/Monterey (northern Cali), and a whole lot of family time. SO excited.
2 weeks away from home... 2 weeks away from my every day routine! How do I do it being the health freak that I am? Do I feel guilt? Do I feel stress? The answer is NO! (Not anymore anyways..) I have to let you in on a little secret though.... it hasn't always been this way. I used to feel the stress of going away on vacation, leaving the norm, and having to let go of my workout/healthy eating routine. I used to do whatever I could to stay on track. This meant exercising when I really didn't want to, and restricting myself from eating/ drinking certain items... all while I was supposed to be enjoying myself and those around me!
So I am here writing this post now, to provide you with the "how to" vacation, and simply give you tips based off of what I have found works, and allows me to have the best vacation! Which I am now sharing with you, and if it can help you in any way shape or form, even in a small way, then that will make me happy!
My tips:
Let go
Be okay with leaving your everyday routine. Vacation is vacation for a reason! Switch up your workout routine, take a break from eating how you do on the daily. Use it as a time to take part in activities you love, that make you feel good. Try to forget those moments in your everyday life stressing you out, and just be happy and care free! Unplug, and be present with those you love!
I have been focusing on sleeping in as late as I want, working out if I feel like it, indulging in foods I don't eat normally, and having a couple cocktails if I want to!
Move your body
Don't stress about "working out", getting a hard core sweat sesh in, or continuing your workout routine you usually do at home. (UNLESS, this is what you want to do.) Instead, set your focus on moving your body, whether that be a nice walk with family, a jog, swimming, or doing a quick 15 minute workout routine just to make you feel good! What's most important, is you do what you want to do!
I have been going on jogs along the beach, walks with my boyfriend, nephew and sister, and doing some core work, and resistance band moves when I feel like it. Not my normal hour long workouts I do 5-6 days a week, BUT I feel good just doing something physical. Even if it means walking to dinner or chasing my nephew around the park.
Make smart choices
Try to incorporate fruits and veggies, whole foods, and lots of water into your days on vacation. Try fruits and veggies that are in season where you're vacationing. Buy celery, cucumber, and carrots to snack on with hummus. Add fruit to your meals. Have salad once in a while. Choose grilled meat, or sautéed veggies when out to eat. Have a burger, but make it lettuce wrapped!
I am thankful to be staying with family and have access to a kitchen. The first day of vacation I love to go the grocery store to get all the foods I enjoy eating. This ensures I have my fruits and veggies, and meat for lunches or dinner if needed. Also prevents "hangry Kelsey" from coming out, and this is a bonus (especially for my family and boyfriend). I also love to stay in, and cook a yummy dinner as a family!
Indulge
While making the choice to eat your veggies is definitely going to help you feel good... ONLY eating these foods and truly enjoying your vacation may be a difficult task for some! Therefore, eat those French fries, calamari, ice cream sundae, or have a margarita! While trying your best to LEAVE the guilt behind. I can ensure you, that if you stick to a regularly healthy diet 80% of your life, this 20% while on vacation is NOT going to have a huge effect on your health. This isn't me saying GO CRAZY AND EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT, but please, eat the foods that sound good, when you want them, and don't restrict.
I LOVE my whole food meals on the daily, but while on vacation I have also happily enjoyed a Moscow mule and margarita. As well as French fries, and bites of calamari, and that's just thus far... there are most definitely more guilt free indulgences to come :)
Make peace with your body
Realize that while taking a break from your everyday routine, your body may not be at what you consider its "prime". You may feel a little softer, and perhaps a little weaker than normal but guess what?! That is A OK. Live in the moment! Love your body for all that it does for you, and the fact it will keep on keeping on even after taking a little break from your everyday! And while it may take some time... you may be surprised by how your body bounces back after you do return to your normal routine. ALSO, there is so much more to life than looking "perfect"... what is "perfect" anyways!?
I used to be overly obsessed with looking in the mirror, seeing how my stomach looked....to only be disappointed by what I saw. "I look too fluffy", "I look fat". I felt insecure and this only made me want to eat healthier, exercise more, and restrict all the "unhealthy" foods... ON VACATION. I was so focused on my appearance, that I forgot what it was like to truly enjoy the time with my loved ones, eat great tasting foods I wanted to eat, and just be HAPPY. Now I go off of how I feel, over how I look. If I wake up one morning on vacation, and all I feel like doing is sitting around, and sleeping... I know that perhaps I should incorporate a little more veggies and exercise, and a few less indulgences before doing it all again!
After saying "screw it" and finally letting go on vacation a while back, where my eating was not perfect, and I wasn't exercising 24/7, I realized that OH MY GOSH.... All my progress was not LOST! After a week or two back at home, back to my normal routine, my body was back to what I felt was it's best! I felt strong, I felt good, even after completely enjoying myself on vacation! And what's even better is that after some time away from my day to day routine, I have a bigger appreciation for it!
So what would I like you to take away from this? I would LOVE if you could take some of my tips, and try them out for yourself, and it would make me so happy to hear that my advice made your time on vacation a little less stressful! There is so much more to life than stressing out!
HAVE A LOVELY SUMMER, STAYING HOME, OR TRAVELING THE WORLD.
