Planning your summer vacation? You don’t have to give up your health goals! Let’s bust a few of the myths surrounding summer vacationing and uncover the truth–you can continue to live a balanced life throughout the year!
Summer vacations are exciting, but they can also lead to extra stress if you’ve set high expectations for your 2023 health goals. Whether you’re planning a staycation, a road trip, or even international travel, it’s important to know the truth about prioritizing your health while vacationing.
Myth #1: You need to diet before your vacation so that you can indulge.
Are you feeling pressure to go on a strict diet in preparation for your vacation? The idea that you can ‘balance’ your vacation indulgences by restricting yourself beforehand is totally false and will only lead to stress and unnecessary guilt. In reality, crash diets don’t work, and can actually be dangerous.
True balance comes from creating a lifestyle that puts your health first in sustainable ways. Living a balanced lifestyle includes indulging on occasion. You don’t have to ‘earn your dessert’. You can just enjoy it in combination with nutritious, delicious meals.
And p.s., the longer you’ve been living the PFC lifestyle, the better able you are to “bounce back” from those occasional over-indulgences.
Myth #2: Summer vacationing requires giving up exercise.
Worried that you’ll lose progress in your exercise goals while on vacation? Take a breath! You may find that your typical exercise routine doesn’t fit with your vacation plans–and that’s okay. But you can absolutely find new ways to get your exercise in while enjoying your vacation to the fullest!
If you’re staying in a hotel with a gym, it might be a good opportunity for you to try out exercise equipment that you don’t have access to at home. If your vacation spot is on the beach, schedule in time to run or take a walk on the beach (Have you ever run in the sand? It’s a whole new challenge!).
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Think about the kinds of activities you have scheduled for your vacation. You may find that they’re physically engaging! In fact, many people find that they engage in even more exercise on vacation–it just may not be what you’re expecting. If many of your plans involve physical activity, you may even want to plan some extra training in the weeks leading up to your vacation so that you can participate fully without being super sore. For instance, if you’re planning a hike and aren’t used to hiking, spend some extra time on cardio and strength training for your legs.
Don’t be afraid to get creative! Try something new and unique that you wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to do. Always wanted to try paddleboarding? It’s both fun and physically challenging. Never ridden a horse? You might be surprised at how much it engages your core and legs!
Myth #3: Resting on your vacation is lazy.
If you’re feeling pressure to pack in as many activities as possible during your vacation, allow me to ease your mind. We live in a world where busyness is glorified, and rest is often seen as a weakness. But that could not be further from the truth!
Recharging plays a vital role in a healthy lifestyle. If you aren’t getting enough rest, your body and mind will suffer. So give yourself permission to really unwind on your vacation.
But let’s rethink what rest looks like for you.
For some, sleeping in sounds like a dream come true; for others, getting up at the regularly-scheduled hour keeps stress low. Do what makes sense for you. If you spend a lot of time and energy on preparing meals for your family, resting on vacation may look like eating out instead of cooking; but if you love to cook and typically don’t have time, you may find that cooking is a fulfilling experience! Maybe your version of rest looks like logging out of your work email. Or maybe it looks like luxuriating in a simple breakfast, then settling into a hammock to read a good book.
Remember: The key is to broaden your definition of what a vacation indulgence means so that your life is holistically joyful–not just in what you eat, but in all aspects. Focus on moderation in everything. Don’t overdo it to the point of regret–whether it’s food, exercise, or vacation plans! Want to gain new tools to help you live a healthy lifestyle? Let’s work together! Learn about the programs I offer and find one that meets your needs here.
DAWN MCGEE
Dawn McGee is a certified and licensed Nutrition Evangelist and a long-time foodie, she focuses on both the health and joy of food as fuel for your body. She is a driving force in bringing education on healthy eating to more people through her community, my “Reclaim Your Life, One Bite at a Time” programs, and my book “365 Days of Healthy Living”. Her hope for you is that you live a life you love, without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass
