So I know I said that my next couple of posts wouldn’t be completely about health and fitness, but I just couldn’t resist, guys! When I’m passionate about something, I guess I just really like to share it :)
Chris and I were on a fairly extended vacation (by our standards), first a week in Maui with Chris’ family as you’ve been seeing and then straight into a week on Lake Michigan with my family, and we made the conscious decision to take a really relaxed approach to our fitness, nutrition, and wellness regimen.
We slept a lot, enjoyed the rest and recovery as we relaxed on the beaches, and let the time spent with our families fortify our hearts and bolster our spirits.
We also made it a point to indulge in some special treats while we were away, which was great while it was happening but also left us feeling less than our best toward the end of our vacation!
Ice cream, anyone? :)
Long story short, as fun and refreshing as our time away was, we were ready to get back to our usual routine once we returned :)
BUT we know it’s not always easy to get back on track - sometimes a break from healthy habits only makes it easier to take a longer break (which we totally get), so we wanted to share our three favorite techniques to get right back into your healthy routine when you set foot back in your hometown!
#1. Get your butt to the grocery store immediately and buy ALL the healthy things! Fresh, unprocessed, low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods. Veggies, lean proteins, healthy fats and carb sources. Vacation is a great time to let loose and indulge a little, but now you’re home. Don’t let the hedonistic vacay mindset carry over into your regular life! I believe that staying as healthy as you possibly can for most of the time (90%) lets you indulge without any real consequences whenever it’s truly worth it (10%)… Let your vacation be your 10% and get back to your healthy 90% as soon as you get home. If you’re anything like us, you might have a little ground to make up once your vacation is over and that's ok! :)
#2. Crush your excuses before they get in your way! Put all of your gym stuff in front of your door, so you absolutely can’t leave the house without it. Plan your gym time and don’t let anything get in the way. Anticipate potential road blocks and try to get around them - you know yourself better than anyone, so imagine what excuses you might make and nip them in the bud!
#3. Grab a workout buddy! Call or text a friend, your significant other, a family member, a coworker - whoever you think might join you for (and help you commit to) a good sweat upon your return! Your first workout back could be anything: a long walk, a hike, a group fitness class, a swim, a spin class, a pickup basketball game… Anything that gets you moving and can ease you back into your healthy routine! It doesn’t have to be hardcore, or even what you usually do for fitness - just commit to doing something! Accountability is the key for most of us, and it’s always nice to have a little extra motivation when you need it, so make a plan with a friend (or two!) and get going :)
Lastly, remember that you’ve been on vacation - don’t expect to pick up right where you left off in the gym if you haven’t been in there in awhile. And don’t be hard on yourself about it!
Anytime Chris and I take a break, especially if we’ve been traveling and enjoying a little time off from our usual habits, we expect to feel pretty lousy in the gym for a few days after we return. We know that travel is hard on the body, and that it takes time to dust off the cobwebs and start feeling like ourselves again.
Although feeling like we’ve fallen behind can be a little frustrating, we just make it a point to get to the gym in the first place, and do what we can once we get there - any work is good work, and we try to ramp it up a little each day until we’re firing on all cylinders again. It’s super tempting sometimes to just give up when you don’t feel great during a workout, but it’s important to keep moving the best you can for that day and know that it will get better. To me, that’s the best way to ensure that you don’t fall completely off the wagon and stay there!
We also try to take care of ourselves as much as we can in other ways to maximize our productivity and get back into the swing of things as fast as possible - for us that means really concentrating on flawless nutrition, drinking tons of water, and getting back into a normal sleep routine for our time zone. I’d recommend that trifecta to anyone!
The important thing to remember is that even if you’ve taken a break, no matter how long or how much you’ve deviated from a healthy lifestyle, you can get back on it TODAY. Don’t wait!
The more you put it off, the more excuses you make, and the more you fall away from the things you know keep you looking and feeling the way you want to, the harder it is to get back into it. Don’t drag your feet - get over the initial challenge of starting back up and it’ll get better each day!
What strategies do you use to get back into your routine after a vacation?
Need help? Reach out to me!
Please feel free to comment, upvote, or resteem! :)