I could say it’s that time of year coming but we can be faced with social events at any time of the year…a new baby, a new job, a new house, a holiday the list is endless…
In a few weeks, I am away for a few days …We are off to Bangkok…one of my favourite big cities for a few days and then I scuttle home…I can have a mocktail at my favourite hotel …The Shanghai Mansion in China Town…My son is back from quite a few months away and it’s Lily’s birthday she wants not only to see her daddy but to celebrate her birthday at one of the biggest and newest water parks…I’m sure it will be fun times all the way…lots of lovely food and a few cocktails…but I will be good where I can and enjoy where I can’t…
It is all about balance...A bit like walking a tightrope sometimes… I don’t expect to put weight on or lose anything just to stay the same will be a bonus…Challenging sometimes but doable…I know…x
Of course, food and drink are one of the major factors on a holiday…we want to be able to enjoy these foods without returning home with a waistline twice the size. Surely there’s a way to maintain your weight loss AND enjoy new foods on holiday?!
I know that now the covid restrictions have been lifted many people are going away…Keep reading and you find some great tips that won’t scuttle your weight loss or healthy eating plan…
Picture the scene...You are sitting watching the sunset …The waiter brings your sundowner…he then comes back with a plate of ” May as well ” foods.
These are foods you would never really consider having at home but, because you are on holiday and they are there for the taking, you’ll happily just take one until before you realise the bowl is empty … “may as well.”
These usually include (but are not limited to):
- Olives
- Peanuts
- Doritos
- Dips
- Something unrecognisable – but you take it anyway… “May as well”.
Doing this for no other reason than because you can is a surefire way of unnecessarily bumping up your overall calorie intake.
Now, I do believe you should try and sample the local cuisine but remember if you have a full week or two, to try and sample all the foods you fancy… there’s no need to keep nibbling until they are gone on the first day…
I know it’s tempting and most of these little bowls are not only put there to tempt you to nibble but they make you thirsty and you have another drink…
Limit the Booze…
In the past, I have been on all-inclusive holidays with a bar in the middle of the pool… or we have walked to the beach stopped in a little cafe and had a wine or beer with our lunch…
By this time it is only 3 pm in the afternoon and we have had a few drinks…
It can be so easy to get carried away when you have a beer, wine and cocktails literally on tap and, whilst drinking can be a fun and relaxing part of your holiday, it’s a good idea to control your intake, helping to maintain your awesome weight loss results.
What can you do…?
Stay off the booze until 3pm (or later). As a general rule, the longer you wait until your first drink, the less you’re likely to drink overall in the day.
Set yourself a (sensible) drink limit. Giving yourself a maximum number of drinks to have will help keep your alcohol intake in check whilst freeing up when and how often you can drink.
Drinking water in between the glass of alcohol is what works for me and it keeps me hydrated as well.
It is also important especially in the heat to keep hydrated it doesn’t just have to be water. Teas, coffees, juices, even fruits like watermelons and peaches can all help you stay hydrated in the sun. Carrying a bottle of water with you though, that can be refilled and sipped on throughout the day, is always going to be a smart idea.
Also, remember alcohol will increase your chance of dehydration because it’s a diuretic, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day if you’re on the beers.
Neglecting your body’s need for water can lead to tiredness, lack of energy, muscle cramps and an upset tummy – not what you want on a relaxing holiday.
Alcohol as those of you know who read my post last week was the biggest factor in my weight loss …I am quite happy to keep it to a minimum on holiday and in all honesty, when I went away the other month, not one person said anything when I requested water instead of alcohol…It was really easy to not drink throughout the day and just have a couple of sundowners at sunset…
I also took my stock of green tea as I have learnt when I go away I can’t get it everywhere as often green tea is served with milk as an iced tea and I asked for it with no milk and it was foul it was some sort of green tea mix made to go with milk…
It also meant I could still apply my intermittent fasting and just drink my green tea while everyone ate their brekkie …I sat and watched the waves while sipping my green tea…
Who doesn’t love a walk when on holiday...or a few lengths of the pool..some even use the gym(not me) …Walking is my thing so whatever rocks your boat…
But, when you go on holiday it would be unrealistic to expect yourself to work out every day and count your calories – after all, holidays are meant to be a time for relaxing and taking a break from your usual day-to-day routine.
One or two weeks of some overindulgence isn’t going to be the end of the world…
But this shouldn’t mean we just forego all common sense and eat anything and everything in sight, doing our best sunbathing sloth impersonation each and every day…Just saying…
The trick is finding the right balance and even just one or two of the suggestions above will help you to strike the difference between relaxation and indulgence, whilst keeping things under control.
And if things don’t go to plan and you do end up putting on a few pounds more than expected?…. Don’t stress.
It probably means you had a great time …Of course, I will have a great time but all these tips apply to many social situations there are always temptations.
We have Halloween coming, Christmas coming, and New Year on the horizon, and someone is bound to get engaged, married, divorced or have a baby…
All of these are triggers…Life is one big trigger …We have to choose how we are going to live it!
Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a creative week ahead xx
Retired? No one told me! 