It’s June, vacation time for many and I am once again on the road. As I plan for 10 days away from home I notice that I have developed a pattern that I began shortly after surgery and have built on and fine-tuned over the past 10 years. Here are some of the things I do to stay focused on my needs while away from home:
- Book a hotel that has a fitness center, indoor pool or both if possible. I am a NO EXCUSES when it comes to getting my fitness on!
- Book a hotel within walking distance of places I would like to see whenever possible. More steps = more calories burned. Saves money on taxis, trains and transportation too.
- Pack my bathing suit, swim goggles and bathing cap whether or not there’s a pool where I am staying. I can usually find one close by
- Pack workout clothes and shoes and my music!!! Gotta have that playlist to get it going on the elliptical.
- Bring a shaker bottle (plastic) and zip lock baggies with protein powder and PB2 so I have my morning protein to get my fit on with power. I count the days I will be gone and add 3 for emergency “rations”
- Pack some protein bars - my current faves are Quest cookies and cream and Peanut Butter Supreme - they are not snacks or desserts, they are emergency protein sources.
- Pack some almonds- either 100 calorie packs pre-packaged (emerald makes them) OR I will make up my own pre-packaged baggies. Almonds can be a trigger food for me so I know that I must have them portioned.
- Pack some jerky - another great source of high protein low calorie emergency rations.
- I buy water wherever I get to, so I can stay hydrated. If it’s not in my hand it is difficult to drink. When I’m hydrated I am less hungry. This includes spending crazy amounts of money buying large bottles of water once I get through security at the airport when I am flying. I’m worth $4 or $5 for sure, and if I don’t I’ll probably buy some snack food with the excuse that I’m hungry.
- Eat at appropriate intervals when I am hungry no matter where I am…. see several bullet points above for what my 911 choices might be.
- Order dense protein at each meal, chew each bite thoroughly and have the food removed from the table when I am done eating to avoid grazing behaviors.
This may all look like a lot of work, lots of planning and carrying lots of extras with me. It used to be a lot of work. It is now second nature. I do it all automatically. What’s the end result? I get to focus on having a good time, not on FOOD!
What do you do to prepare for vacation?
