Coming Home From Vacation Fitter Than When You Left
February 24, 2009
When I talk to my clients after they return from vacation, they are often filled with body remorse. They come home 5 pounds heavier and the satisfaction from their travel is muffled by their bodily disgust. I always feel as if I haven’t done my pre-vacation job if I haven’t told them that it doesn’t have to be that way. As a matter of fact, not only do they not need to come home feeling like a beached whale, they can actually come home in better shape than when they left! All it takes is a game plan and a bit of research pre-trip.
Nowadays, even the most remote resorts in the far-flung corners of the Carribean have workout facilities and most of these gym facilities are viewable on these resorts websites.
I tell my vacationers to do some homework prior to choosing a resort and keep the idea of maintaining their workout throughout their trip in the back of their mind as they choose where they stay. Cruises are a no-brainer, they all have acceptable health clubs. And even if your destination does not have a gym, I can’t imagine a vacation that is not made better by seeing the surrounding area. Get out on a bike or go for a walk, get in the water sports department and see what activites are available during your stay.
After you’ve mapped out a specific exercise plan, the trick is to get off on the right foot on the first day. If you’ve traveled to a different time zone this is even more critical for resetting your internal clock since exercise is one of the best ways to deal with jet-lag. Nip it in the bud by breaking a sweat on your first day, no matter how tired or how disorganized or unsettled you feel. This will get your vacation off on the right bicep and set the tone for following through with your fitness commitment for the rest of your trip. Secondly try to get your exercise in first thing in the morning, preferably before breakfast but definitely before lunch. As the day goes on, the odds of exercise decreases as does your willpower and energy level.
Most resorts have an early morning group bike ride or organized walking group and this is also a great way to meet other travelers as a side benefit.
In summary, make a plan before departure and be specific, the more details (time and type of workouts) the better.
Get your first day workout in no matter what and finally, the early vacation bird gets the workout in and returns home without slacker’s remorse.
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