Summer is over and yet the fun continues! Everyone is fitting in last minute vacations or planning a fall cruise to escape the cold weather. I was blessed with the chance to go on my first West coast cruise for my birthday by two friends and former clients, Teresa and
Loretta. I tried to switch out of 'trainer-mode', but it was a challenge. After all a healthy lifestyle is just that, the style I choose to live my life. So I did us all a good thing, I looked around the whole weekend and found ways to be on vacation and not regret it when I got back by finding as many ways to stay healthy as I could, while even eating desert. I hope these tips help no matter if your on a cruise or cruising through
life!
1) Reach to the back of the buffet. The fresh fruit is hiding back there so you will take the fried food, which is cheaper for them to make and serve.
2) Tell a little fib: let the establishment know that you are on a diabetic diet and ask for alternatives. I found sugar free deserts hiding in little corners, out of the way. And several vegitarian meals were offered.
3) Bring your own water! I looked for 15 minutes trying to get a glass of water only to be told that the quality was not good and I should pay two dollars for a 8 oz bottle.
4) Go to the gym. I found free fitness seminars, great equipment and after two days of higher calories and a few drinks it felt so good to run. Split up your workouts: run in the morning when everyone is gorging themselves at the breakfast buffet and then go back for a half hour while everyone is getting ready for dinner and the gym is empty. The seminars were very educational, of course they want you to buy their product in the end but you can say no.
5) Walk the deck, day or night. The deck is open to do some laps around and the ocean breeze felt great.
6) Go to the stand up comedian, no really, go. Laughing is a natural stress relief and think of all the ab contraction from the belly laughs. Besides it is fun.
7) Have the oatmeal for breakfast! Avoid all the fat and salt in the fried food. Have the oatmeal with raisins, it was fresh and filling. Ask for your eggs boiled, poached or over easy to get eggs from the shell and avoid the instant scrambled eggs full of salt and preservatives.
8) Have a desert and a drink! We are on vacation after all, its not about depravation but balance. Have a treat, but tell your self your only having one treat every day and you will feel so much better when you get home!
HAPPY VACATIONS!!
