I haven’t spoken about it too much on here, but I’m currently doing another round of Whole30. I try to keep to a Whole30/Paleo-type lifestyle on the regular so it hasn’t been that disruptive to my normal routine. What it cuts out is my tendency to have extreme days of over indulging.
The time when I tend to really go overboard with my eating is on vacation. Don’t get me wrong, on vacation you SHOULD indulge. You should try new foods/drinks, kick back and enjoy. The thing is, I go on vacation a lot. This summer I’m away almost every weekend and if I allow myself to get off track every single weekend, you better believe Monday-Friday is a struggle. I’m currently training for a bunch of races and after doing Whole30 the first time, I can fully acknowledge that when I eat better, I feel better, I train better, I sleep better. Oh, and I look better (bye face bloating). So despite having a packed schedule of weekend trips, I decided to do Whole30, full-in.
[above or below, which would you go for at a cookout?]
[It’s not a lobster roll, but I’m not complaining!]
With my weekend getaways I’ve learned how to stay on track and not be totally miserable. Here are my top tips whether you’re on Whole30, training for a race or simply trying to be healthy while away from home:
- Set a Plan: I like Whole30 because it gives me structure. I know that despite where I am or what I’m doing, I cannot stray from the program. Your plan might be different, but whatever it is, think about it ahead of time. If you’re going somewhere and you know you will want ice cream, get the ice cream! But know in your plan that because you’re eating that, for dessert later you’ll stick to fruit. Plan ahead and don’t allow yourself to stray (unless there is something that is so totally amazing you just can’t, because hey ya gotta live your life too!).
- Decide What is Worth It: Personally, I would never do Whole30 or stick to a serious plan while on certain vacations. For example, if I’m in Spain or Italy you best believe I’m going to eat everything that looks good. However, when I’m on smaller trips to places I’ve been before or aren’t quite as exotic, I’m ok saying no to certain things. This was my 4th trip to Maine, I knew that while of course there were delicious options, I could easily say no because I’ve either had them before or can have them another time if I really want them. Food that I was faced with that I’d normally give a big YES to included ice cream cones, lobster rolls, mini hot dogs, corn on the cob and so on. While of course these things are all delicious, there is nothing so unique and special about them that it was worth the indulgence. For me, those things were not worth it and instead I ate tons of fruit, drank lots of seltzer, loaded up on veggies and ate really tasty fresh salads.
- Bring your Own Snacks: I have a long list of go-tos for compliant & healthy snacks. I packed a huge bag of these for my trip to Maine and almost always had them in my bag in case of emergencies. If everyone around me was chowing down on mini hot dogs, I had something to distract me (one of my favorites is Matt’s Munchies). With your own snacks, not only will you be prepared, you won’t feel like a burden on your hosts. At one point I was staaaarving (I had run 13 miles that morning) and forgot my snacks so one of our hosts Becca started digging through all the cabinets to find me something I could eat. What a sweetheart, but I felt so bad and so high maintenance. BTW, she gave me a huge container of fresh cherries and I was in heaven.
- Don’t let the Haters Get You Down: When I first got to Maine my friend said, “Oh, you’re doing Whole30? THAT SUCKS” (still love ya friend). Instead of being like ugh you’re right, give me a piece of cake why am I doing this, I said “Ya know what, it doesn’t! I feel amazing” and it’s true. Remember WHY you are keeping to a healthy plan and how much better you feel. Don’t let people make the experience negative. If you’re feeling good, stick with your plan. On most vacations when I go crazy with eating, I return home feeling sluggish, bloated and disgusting. I kept this in mind and knew that when I drove home on Sunday I’d feel just as good as I did when arriving.
- Break a Sweat: I don’t care where you are or what you’re doing, you can find some time to workout. I love sleeping in, but on this vacation I set an early alarm, went for 2 long workouts and was home by 11am, feeling fit and ready to enjoy the rest of the day. Keep in mind, my workouts were 2+ hours each but I would have felt just as accomplished if I did a 20 minute sweat session to get the day started. Ask your co-travels if they will join you, everyone will benefit and feel good after a little movement.
And speaking of sweating, here’s a quick recap of how what I did up in Maine, taking advantage of the beautiful scenery and weather.
Friday morning MM and some others hopped on our bikes for 26 miles. It was a nice way to wake up and greet the day. As an NYC rider, I loved the open roads and lakeside stops.
Saturday morning 3 of us participated in a 4-mile race through Bridgton. IT WAS SO CUTE. It was one of those small town races where everyone comes out on their lawns and cheers for you. I loved it. After the 4 miles we chowed down on huge slices of watermelon. My training plan called for 13 miles so MM and Shira drove home and I continued my run. It was so hilly and I got some serious blisters but I’m happy to report I completed all 13 miles.
[pre-race pic!]
[post race watermelon deliciousness]
[most of my run was just one road. it got a little boring but I knew at mile 11 I’d hit a lake and that kept me going]
How do you stay healthy on vacation? Any good tips I missed?
