from the publishers of: Verywell, Real Simple, EatingWell, Shape, Parents, Health and Allrecipes
You may be counting down the days to a planned vacation or daydreaming about your next getaway. It’s always so good for the mind and body to take a break from work and go play. Many people love to travel, but have anxiety about gaining weight and missing their workouts while on vacation. Not to worry, though: you can go on vacay without packing your resistance bands and still get in plenty of activity. Just follow these three tips.
It’s often easy to walk when you’re on a trip. Whether you’re headed to the beach, a big city or the mountains, it’s easy to take a stroll. Beach walks are great for the hips, thighs, buttocks and abs. City walking is one of the best ways to take in a new town or discover something different about a place you may have already visited. Mountain hikes are picturesque and beautiful and, depending on the incline, they can be a great way to help burn off vacation food. And skip the moving walkways in the airport, too!
If you’re heading to the beach, sign up for some snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding or surfing. You can also swim, play in the waves, build sandcastles and gather people together for some beach volleyball. In a city, you can find a place to dance the night away, go on a museum tour, explore a park or take the stairs. In the mountains, you can hike, ski, snowshoe or go horseback riding. Find something that feels like play—and not like a workout—and you’ll spend more time doing it.
Cooking can be a lot more active than sitting at a restaurant. As much fun as it is to eat out on vacation, it’s also great to explore the local farmers’ markets or gourmet grocery stores and prepare your own meal. Shopping, prepping and cooking a meal requires energy. If you’re stuck in a hotel room, you can still go to a local shop and get your own wine, cheese, bread and dips and prepare your own little in-room picnic. You could also sign up for a cooking class wherever your destination is.