It’s holiday season and I really hope you are jetting off somewhere amazing!
Maybe it’s a beach holiday, an all-inclusive, a countryside family getaway in a beautiful British beachside town… Whatever you are doing, you’ve earned it.
The sad thing about this time of year is that holidays often bring terror to those who have weight loss goals…
And I want you to know that I speak of this first-hand, because holidays used to bring me THE FEAR.
This is how it went for me….
- I told myself 6 months before that I was going to lose weight for the holiday
- I’d then faff around on some unsustainable diet and get nowhere
- Two weeks before the holiday, having made zero progress, I crash-dieted and exercised like CRAZY
- Got to the holiday and went hell-for-leather on the wine and croissants, because I had over-restricted so much that I couldn’t control myself
- Got back from holiday feeling bloated, saw the pictures and promised that next year would be different
It wasn’t.
Not until I discovered The Mum Boss Method and changed my approach to fat loss, food, exercise and my body for good!
I wanted to share with you how I approach my holidays and the advice I give my clients.
How to maintain your health & fitness on holiday
- Decide what is most important to you for this holiday.
At the end of the day, we all work hard for our holidays so it doesn’t matter if it is a staycation or an all-inclusive Maldives holiday – what is the experience you want to have? How do you want to feel when you get back? Is this about going all-out and indulging, or is it about spending quality-time with the family and relaxing? This is completely personal to you. - Accept that you will gain some scale weight.
How much is likely to depend on your answer to point 1! But, on holiday, we tend to eat differently to at home. We may drink more alcohol, eat saltier food and may move less; so there will be a gain on the scales. Most of that will be down to water retention (see June blog post) but some of it might well be body fat. But I want you to know that that’s ok! It’s fixable (see point 7). - Apply some structure to your meals.
For example, you may want to stick to a reasonably balanced breakfast and lunch (where protein, fruit & veg are the focus) and save the indulgence to the evening meal. - Try to keep active.
There might not be a gym, but can you get in a daily walk or swim? - Stay hydrated.
Especially if you are somewhere hot and there is alcohol involved. - When it comes to alcohol, this is a very personal choice.
For me, it affects my sleep and my anxiety and I don’t want to come home from holiday feeling worse than when I went, so I am mindful of when I drink and how much. If you want to drink alcohol, remember that clear spirits and diet mixers will have fewer calories than beer, wine and cocktails. - Whatever you choose to do, and however you approach your holidays, remember they are YOUR holidays!
There is no right or wrong and you can get right back to your healthy habits when you get home. When I work with clients, however, it is really important that I help move them away from the all-or-nothing approach they often have.
I have recorded a podcast about Holidays and Weightloss which you can listen to here.
And, if you want my help to get out of this all-or-nothing cycle you are in with weight loss, why not book a call with me here?