For many people their summer holiday is a huge motivator to get in the
gym and work on their beach body (note, I said for many, not all, so please not
another social media hate campaign against the fitness industry). They’ll have
spent many months partaking in gut busting routines to shape their legs, firm
their bottoms and pump up their pecs.
They would’ve counted carbs, sunk alkalising green juices that look and
smell like pond water and deprived themselves of so many treats they would make
a nineteenth century puritan look like a party animal, all so they can put on
that designer bikini or pair of funky board shorts and feel a sense of achievement
and pride (and lap up the compliments) that they are in the best shape of their
life.
So there is absolutely no point going through all this pain to ruin it
all within 48 hours of hard drinking and filling up on junk food to end up a
bloated mess. Here are my top tips for damage limitation whilst on holiday.
Beware the all-inclusive buffet
It may offer fantastic value but there is no need to try every single
dish on offer every night. The sheer amount of food that is piled onto plates
in the all-inclusive buffet is staggering and the bizarre combinations are
slightly stomach turning. I would estimate (purely based on observation) that
the average person eats 2-3 times more food every day than they would normally
consume if they go all-inclusive, guaranteeing they will be going home with
some unwanted poundage. My advice if you are going to an all-inclusive resort
is just to pace yourself and have a good look round the options before you
choose your meals, that way you won’t get food envy and want to try everything
and anything.
Explore by foot and potter about
One of my favourite things about being on holiday is not needing a car.
I really enjoy exploring the area by foot and depending on where you are this
may include; coastal walks, exploring capital cities, long walks along the
beach or just getting from your resort to the local town and back. It may not
be a huge calorie burner, but cutting back on taxi’s or ditching the hire car
will allow you to stretch the legs out, bask in the sunshine (soaking up that
vitamin D), take in the local scenery and atmosphere and I always find that a
good walk helps get rid of aches and pains by forcing you to be in a natural
upright position – which is vital as far too much time is spent sitting these days.
Look out for the omelette station at
breakfast
The breakfast buffet is probably the best thing about hotel food. There
is always loads of pancakes, waffles, bread rolls, bacon, cured meats and much
more on offer and it’s as tempting as the evening buffet to go overboard. I
have found the best way to approach a hotel breakfast is to go for eggs. There
is always an omelette station and they are always freshly made and have a good
selection of fillings available – this breakfast is full of protein and good
healthy fats, satisfies your appetite and gives a feeling of self-righteousness
that can be rewarded with an ice cream later in the day ;-)
Give the water sports a try
If like me you are from the UK it’s not often you get to go in open
water without needing a wetsuit or emergency treatment for hypothermia, so it
seems a shame to not fully take advantage of the aqua based activities
available at most summer holiday destinations. Whether its sea kayaking, water
skiing, swimming, surfing, coasteering or climbing back on the banana boat
after being thrown into the drink for the umpteenth time, you will be using
elements of fitness such as strength, balance and co-ordination. So ditch the
hotel gym for your holiday workout and head down to the beach to try out some
of the awesome and fun sports on offer and turn your holiday into an active
adventure.
Look out for local patrons
Unfortunately the view of many resorts is that Brits like to eat
burgers, chips and beans and have very unsophisticated palates, so the quality
of food available in the more touristy zones is ropey at best. So I have found
the best way to get decent food that the locals would eat is to ask, erm the
locals. Take some time to get some inside knowledge about the best restaurants
that are not in the tourist areas and you will most likely get better quality,
better value and food that doesn’t destroy your gut leaving you bloated and
smelling of fried food.
Coconut water is a perfect hangover
cure
After a night dancing away until the early hours and sinking a few too
many sangrias there is no better hangover cure than a cold coconut water. It’s
full of electrolytes which is great for hydration and packed full of nutrients
such as potassium and magnesium which can help reduce the inflammation in the
body. If you’re lucky enough to be staying on an island paradise then a fresh
coconut is perfect, but if that isn’t available then a carton full of
non-concentrate coconut water will more than do the job leaving you refreshed
and ready to face another day.
All of these tips recognise the need to enjoy yourself whilst on your
holiday; the key is not to deprive yourself but to have these tricks up your
sleeve so that you can get the best of both worlds. You avoid ruining all of
your pre-holiday hard work and won’t face a huge repair job once you get home.
Enjoy your holiday and stay healthy!
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