Staying on track--- travel edition!

Summer is almost here and you know what that means... time for vacations and road trips. It can be really hard to keep up with eating healthy and staying fit while away from home. We just got back from a weekend getaway to Baltimore and I was thinking about all of the planning I put into staying healthy while away from home. I wanted to share some things that might help you stay on track this summer.

1. If you're staying at a hotel, see if they have a fitness area. Yes? Throw your gear in when you pack! No? Pack your sneaks anyway. You might be able to find somewhere nice to walk or run. I researched the hotel we were staying at and found that they had a fully equipped exercise room- cardio machines, weights, medicine balls, etc. I was pretty excited about that!

2. Get your workout in first thing in the morning. It will be done and out of the way so that you have the rest of your day free to enjoy yourself! You'll find that if you say you'll do it later... You might not actually do it.

3. Pack your own snacks. Not only does this save money, but it also ensures that you have healthy goodies on you at all times. We packed a bag full of pre-portioned snacks for our trip. Since I have to maintain a gluten free diet for health reasons, finding something to eat while on the road is nearly impossible. By packing my own snacks I saved not only money, but the stress of whether or not I'd be able to find GF snacks.

4. Plan your meals. If you have an idea ahead of time where you will be eating, most restaurants have their menus online. You can see what options they have and even pick your meal in advance (which is also a time saver at the restaurant!)

5.) Bring your water bottle, keep it full, and drink up. It's really easy to get dehydrated when you're out and about and the weather is warm.

6. If you're attending any weddings, make sure you write on the response card any food allergies, sensitivities, or dietary specifications such as vegan/vegetarian. Most caterers are more than willing to accommodate with advance notice.

7. Indulge... But don't go overboard. Small splurges are okay. Too many splurges are not okay. Yes, you want to enjoy yourself. But you don't want the "But I'm on vacation!" excuse to turn around and bite you in the butt when you're home and have to hit the reset button. It only takes a couple of days to undo your hard work if you're not careful. If you're want to indulge, try to pick one meal to do so. Then be sure to eat healthy/mindfully for the rest of your meals and snacks.

Are you seeing the theme with all of these suggestions? It takes some planning and preparation to stay on track while away, but it's SO worth it. You'll come home feeling energized and refreshed, as you should after a vacation!

What do you do to stay on track when away from home?



This is the fitness room at the hotel we stayed at in Baltimore.