You know when you go on vacation how it’s SUPER easy to eat all of the things and do a whole heck of a lot of nothing? I mean, depending on what kind of vacation it is, of course. I mean some vacations are packed with lots of activity, like walking, hiking, and swimming, which is great, but even those kinds of vacations can create unwanted weight gain if they include lots of indulgences– or necessary samplings of the local cuisine.

It’s harder when you’re on the road, there’s no doubt about that. But when you’re staying with friends or family, or have a vacation rental…or at least a small fridge in your hotel room, it’s much easier to create some boundaries and stick to your routine.

There are lots of times when I let my vacations be total splurge fests, but when we go on vacations that last longer than 5 days, it’s important for me to set some limits. It’s one thing to eat a bunch of crap on a weekend trip, it’s a whole other thing to do that for half of a month. (We usually spend at least 10 days a year in Phoenix and/or California visiting family and friends) So I set a set these guidelines for myself and plan to stick to them as much as I can, while still enjoying all of the festivities that are planned for the next 14 days.

1) I will fuel myself well so that I will FEEL GOOD

2) I will indulge in something that is not part of my normal (at home) every day, no more than 1x per day.

3) I will do something active each day

This is a challenge for me because I have become a creature of habit. When I’m not at home in my routine, all hell breaks loose. But, I do not want to feel lethargic or bloated for two weeks, so it’s important for me to find balance.

copy-of-blog-post-template Our extended vacations are usually to visit friends and family so we’re not staying in a hotel or on a boat or wherever else people stay on fancy vacations. This means I have access to grocery stores and can shop for my staples which include…