By Sarah Schmermund

So here I am, a week and a half into Stacey’s Summer Shred, committed to toning up and slimming down with consistent exercise and a healthy diet, and I decide to take advantage of the holiday weekend with a little jet setting. Apparently, this was a dire mistake, and I need to find the nearest train from the Phoenix Airport that drops me off at the Arena doorstep. Not even 10 steps off of the plane and I am bombarded with the fine delicacies that serve as my lunch options (and yes, that is a woman eating an ice cream cone at 10:00am). How is a Summer Shredder supposed to stay on task when the only apparent menu options are fried, syruped, or greased – would you like that large or ginormous?

This dilemma is not a new one, and I do not struggle in isolation. A quick Google search (thank you, Phoenix free wi-fi!) pulls hundreds of links dedicated to tips and tricks to keep the health conscious and weight-loss minded on track while perusing the world beyond their own kitchen walls. Now, while you could browse the 10+ pages of search results yourself (you know, with all that free time you have between laundry and packing and dropping the dog off at the boarder), in an effort to save us all some grief (this is supposed to be a vacation, right?!), I pulled together some of the most helpful points to keep in mind while enjoying your long weekend.

  • Drink more water! Much of the discomfort (headaches, fatigue, hunger) experienced while traveling is a result of dehydration. To save money (and help mother earth), bring along an empty refillable bottle to use at water fountains. Drinking more H2O can also help you turn down the sugary, calorie-heavy sodas offered by the in-flight beverage carts.
  • Remember the 80/20 Rule. If it has slipped your mind between now and Monday, read below.
  • Avoid “road food.” Keep convenient snacks on hand, like granola bars and dried fruit and nuts. A lot of fresh produce is easy to eat on the road, so pack apples, bananas, and carrot and celery sticks for midday snacks.
  • Have your own menu. When eating out, opt for sit-down restaurants over fast food joints, and keep your own healthy menu in mind without looking at the restaurant’s when ordering. A few standard options, like grilled fish or chicken and steamed vegetables, are pretty easy to get anywhere, and coming prepared limits the chances you’ll be mesmerized by the 2-foot tall order of onion rings.
  • Keep busy. Fill your downtime while traveling to curb excess snacking. Long layover between flights (maybe in Phoenix, perhaps?)? Walk the terminals, bring a book, or even write a blog post!
  • Your vacation is not your diet’s vacation. Don’t think of traveling as a break from your regular life and healthy eating habits. Calories are calories, whether they’re consumed in the air or on the road.
  • Eat only what tastes great. This is your vacation, after all; a perfectly seared steak or a raved about sushi joint are part of the fun. Just make ‘em count: don’t waste calories on foods you can live without.
  • Look for ways to exercise. As nice as it would be to have a mini-Arena to cart around in your carry-on, exercising on the road isn’t always convenient. Bring workout clothes and take advantage of the options you do have. Does your hotel have a fitness facility? A free hour in the morning to jog around the city while the kiddos sleep in? A chair back to use as a makeshift Ballet Booty barre? Be flexible and creative. A pedometer is also helpful for keeping track of all on-foot fun. And, keeping at least part of your exercise routine intact will keep your energy levels up.
  • Keep it up at home. If you treat your vacation with a “no rules” mindset, it will be much more difficult to get back into your “at home” routine. Keeping in mind your long term goals and guidelines while traveling will help curb the temptation to stay on your less than healthy “vacation diet” after returning home.

While not an exhaustive list, these guidelines will help make it much easier to navigate the art of staying healthy on the road. And, if we can follow even a few of them, next week’s weigh-in is likely to be much less intimidating. As for me, I found a lovely sit-down taco bar with grilled fish and steamed rice.

Summer Shred: 1, Cinnabon (and Pizza Hut and Burger King): 0.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Big thanks to these websites. Check them out for more info:
https://www.travelfitness.com/
https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509574,00.html
https://www.ehow.com/how_4748_maintain-diet-traveling.html
https://www.medicinenet.com/travel_health/article.htm