8 Tips to not gain weight on vacation

Most of us have all been here… we eat healthy for weeks and intensify our gym time for an upcoming vacation only to gain all the weight back and then some. What’s the point of killing it in the gym to only look good for half of your Spring break? By the time the third day comes around, you’re back to feeling like crap, overstuffed with food and bloated… not a good look. Not to mention, by the time you get home you’re back to where you started weeks ago. Well worry no more as I have proof on how to not gain any weight on a THREE-week vacation and it’s easier than you think! I have a personal testimony because I did this and it didn’t require much effort! This is coming from a girl who has never not gained weight after a vacation. When I stepped on the scale after my 3 week trip and saw that the number didn’t move, I just had to share my 8 tips!

1. Don’t dine out for every meal. I’m not saying you can’t splurge on your vacation, because you certainly can and in all honesty, that’s what vacations are for. Good food and good company! The problem arises when you’re overdoing it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Pick one meal a day that you can go all out on. I find that dinner is best for my free for all meal!

2. Simplify breakfast. On my three-week trip, I kept my breakfast simple and convenient. I chose an energy bar every morning, which varied between Larabars, KIND bars, and NuGO slim bars. Stick to bars that actually give you energy and have ingredients that you are able to read. No matter if you’re camping in the middle of nowhere or on a cruise to the Caribbean, these can be purchased prior to your trip. Not only do they taste delicious, provide adequate energy but also lower the cost of your “food” spending. If you’re looking for a sit down hot breakfast, bring single packets of oatmeal and top with fruit.

3. Stay hydrated. I know this is drilled into our heads over and over again but you hear it because it’s so extremely important. On my vacation, I made a point to get enough water in everyday, which resulted in no water weight gain! When you fill up on water, you’re less likely to mindlessly snack so it’s a win-win in my book. Bring a measured water bottle to ensure you meet your water goal every day. Aim to consume your body weight in ounces!

4. EAT VEGAN. This is the most important tip and what I think made the most significant difference. This was my first trip as a vegan. On previous vacations, I ALWAYS gained weight no matter what and the length of those vacations were at most 10 days. This particular trip was 3 weeks and I didn’t gain a single pound. Think about it for a minute, dairy and meat sit in your gut and take a long time to digest. Dairy contains lactose, which is proven to slow down weight loss. Also, a lot of vegan food is primarily plant-based so although you’re “going all out” on your meal, you’re still eating somewhat healthy.

5. Two workouts you need. I’m not one to go to the gym when I’m on vacation. Something simple and effective that you can pack in your suitcase are exercise sliders and/or resistance bands. Search Google or Pinterest to find total body exercises that only take 20 minutes and in the comfort of your own hotel room. Maybe it’s just me, but I have no desire to go into the 8×8 gym hotels but if that’s your thing, more power to you!

6. Replace alcohol with kombucha. The one thing you don’t want to be battling on your time off is a daily hangover. If you’re craving a fizzy fruity cocktail, switch out alcoholic beverage for a glass of kombucha. I know this isn’t readily available everywhere, but if you are faced with the two, go for the latter. It will also help with gut health and detoxification due to the probiotics and infused vitamins. Our favorite kombucha is Bootleg Boocha, you can check it out here.

7. Fill up your itinerary. The more that you sit around, the more time you’ll have to focus on mindlessly eating even if you’re not hungry. And we all know that we eat more when we’re bored so fill up your itinerary. Not only will you get your mind off of your stomach, but you’ll have some pretty amazing experiences and burn calories in the process.

8. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re on vacation so BE on vacation. Don’t worry about calories or overanalyzing every bite that goes into your mouth. When I used to track what I ate, I always ate more than what I would’ve if I wasn’t tracking. That’s why I don’t track, count or calculate anything!

I hope this has helped anyone who has struggled with weight gain on vacations! Let me know in the comment section below if you have any additional tips!

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