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| You'll look good in your swimsuit lying at waters edge at your beachfront vacation rental. |
If you're like a lot of people, a vacation can
mean you come backed weighted down with more than just souvenirs. A week's
worth of eating out, eating on the run, and snacking in the car or in the
airport because you're bored is dangerous even for people who don't have a
weight problem. And it's darn near deadly for someone trying to watch what they
eat.
Staying in a vacation rental is a great way to
win the battle of the travel bulge. You can stay in complete control of what
you eat because you'll have a kitchen with everything you need to prepare meals
and store your food. You can eat every dinner in, pack a lunch for when you're
on the go, and start your day right with a breakfast of your choice (and not
just what's on the hotel or
resort menu).
But you still have to travel to your
destination, and the journey will be filled with temptations. The first thing
to remember is to pack healthy, tasty snacks you can enjoy on the way. Whether
you're driving or flying, you'll have countless opportunities to eat the wrong
food. Bring low sugar and low fat cereal bars, diet drinks, water, fruit, small
bags of pretzels, and beef jerky (though you should also watch your sodium
intake with the last two). Another thing to keep in mind is that while you're
driving or flying, you won't be expending many calories, so there's really no
need to eat all that much. You'll be sitting in a car or airplane. If you eat a
meal along the way, try to eat less than you normally do. You might feel a
little hungry, but you'll feel better about it in the long run.
Another way to stay on top of what you eat is
to track your caloric intake. Be sure to read food labels of everything you
eat. If you have a smartphone, get an app such as MyFitnessPal. It can help you
keep track of everything you eat. It acts as a food diary so you can avoid the
pitfall of "unconscious eating."
When you get to your destination, leave time
for shopping before you arrive. Most vacation rentals won't have spices, so go
ahead and pick up the ones you'll need, along with any staples. If you're
pressed for time, you might check with the property manager to see if there are
any grocery delivery services in the area. If you start off with food to cook
(as well as healthy snacks), you're more likely to eat healthy at the start of
your vacation.
While you want to watch what you eat while on
vacation, don't deny yourself completely. Allow yourself to indulge in a steak,
chocolate cake, a favorite drink or two and other treats from time to time.
You're on vacation, after all! Just be sure to stay on track to prevent a
dangerous slide into unhealthy eating patterns.
