Building new healthy habits into your life feels amazing. It may be really important to you that you’re healthy, or you’ve maybe recently adopted new healthy habits that you really want to keep, and are scared of losing.
When we get into a great routine of eating well, working out, getting to bed early, and doing all the things that help us #FEELGOOD, the thoughts of weight gain on your holiday can leave you feeling stressed out and anxious. This topic comes up a lot at Inspire Fitness. I mean, you’ve worked hard to feel good all year, you’ve progressed, you’re feeling so good in your clothes, of course the feeling of back-tracking is going to feel really stressful.
Instead of starting your holiday swearing you’re going to go to the gym every day, and eat only healthy food, and then be so disappointed with yourself when you don’t, I’ve put together a few tips that will help you continue to feel good, while you’re away. That way, when you come back from your holiday, you won’t feel so much at square one.
Bare in mind, that holidays are there to relax you, and help you feel good. There is zero point in heading away, and beating yourself up the whole time you’re there. Indulging, but quietly hating yourself, is not a holiday!
Get moving in a fun way.
I really feel that it’s important to take a break from the gym while you’re away. Allow your body to rest and just get loads of walking in. You muscles have been worked out, pulled, pushed and stretched all year round, why not use this time to give them some recovery, and just walk!. Walking will help you take in all the sights, will help you feel good, and it’s a fantastic way to stay fit for the time that you’re away. Paddle boarding, cycling, water parks with the kids! Have the craic and move as much as you can.
2. Eat two healthy meals a day.
Eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. Alcohol, desserts, ice cream… why not save all that to the evening? Wake up, have a lovely healthy breakfast, a piece of fruit as a snack min-morning, a healthy lunch, and then indulge in what it is you like in the evening. You’ll feel good, you’ll feel more in control, and you’ll still be looking after your body.
3. Stay hydrated.
De-hydration can make us turn to starchy, carby, salty food, and while you’re on holiday, the temptation can be too much! Get lots of water in, aim for 3 litres a day, and just get it into you, no excuses.
4. Get your mindset right and figure out what you really want.
Remember that a big part of you working out and eating well, is that you wanted to feel good. I sometimes feel that we slip into old habits on holidays because the old us, hasn’t really caught up with the new us. Food can make you feel bad, and if you don’t want to feel bad, and you start getting snappy/cranky, do what’s right for you. Make sure you’re not just indulging because you feel like you have to, or because that’s what you’ve always done in the past. Do what you want and most importantly, what makes you #FEELGOOD.
5. Rest
Take the time out to recover and relax. Taking time out from your fitness and food regime is totally acceptable. It takes about 3 weeks for your body to start losing muscle mass, so don’t be worried about one or two weeks. Have fun, look after your body, and get yourself fully rested to come back and have a great rest of year.
Jessica Cooke X
