Summer holiday is around the corner, and besides being absolutely upset by all these travel sites that are throwing summer deals in my face (which I know I cannot afford now), I like the feeling of Summer. Please, let’s not argue about why we in Nigeria also call it ‘Summer’ when we are always in ‘summer’ haha. We should just go with the flow. Lol!
Now about summer breaks, the big question is: how do you get to travel during summer and still manage your weight? Well, I have two, or maybe three suggestions.
I will start with the easy one…
You don’t!
You don’t try to control or manage anything. I highly suggest this if you are in a new country for a short period of time, say 1 or 2weeks. Part of what makes travel fun is food, and you want to sample their food culture as much as your belly and pocket allow. Of course, within the confines of reason, so enjoy.
I would not like to, for example, go to an island in Greece and not try out as much as I have read in books or seen online. I mean, bread, cheese, baklava? Thankfully, I have a tummy that takes anything so if I can afford it, I will have it.
Lose the guilt
Even if I was travelling within Nigeria to a place I have never been, my sister, I will eat ooo, and I am not even a foodie but hey, like my mother will say ‘It is once in a while’
Recently, I was in Dubai and I tried Egyptian, Moroccan, Lebanese, Arabian, and more foods. Now, because all these foods are new to you, you may not have the time or knowledge to ‘count calories’ so you may add anything between 2 to 5 kg, and you must make peace with that and lose the guilt. After all, it is short term and you will do your best to work it all out when you are back, abi?
Now the second option would be this:
Plan and control your portions
I recommend this if you are in a familiar place and will be there for a month or so. If you practice my first recommendation for 1 month, a couple of things will most likely happen
- You will likely gain more than 5kg, and at that level, clap has entered the dance and it may be harder to even start to lose weight
- You would have lost a grip on discipline which is the real horror story. Actions repeated consistently for 21 days become habits and you don’t want a habit that precludes discipline
So, to avoid this drama, plan and prep ahead, and this works even if I am in an unfamiliar place. Chances are high that the country you are going to is a developed one so Google, and email go a long way in helping you plan.
For example, if I was in Switzerland for a month, I could let the first-week slide, while I sample the food culture but also start looking out for healthy alternatives and fit-fam options that fit my pocket. By the second week, I would get a grip. If I have access to a kitchen, I would have travelled with a few of my Nigerian food stuff so I can make at least a meal a day. Thankfully, fruits are universal so I would stock up on those too and make them a big part of my diet
Practical Ideas
To make this more practical. I could have cereal or oats for breakfast, a nice meal from that country or another for lunch and then fruits for dinner. That way, you can manage your weight. If you have access to a Gym, use it too, even if for 30minutes only.
I would also highly recommend that you stay at a place that allows you some flexibility to food and meal prepping, like with family and friends if that is an option or an Air BnB with a local so you have access to a kitchen and can prep your own meals. A hotel will be highly restrictive when it comes to food and may not help much to control your weight.
After all, you are on vacation, so you have the extra time to do these things.
When you return, you go on a weight loss journey in your own familiar terrain.
Bonus Point
Whether you go with option A or B, I recommend that you take 4 to 6 weeks before your vacation to get in shape, or at least lose 3kg or more. That way, you provide some wiggle room for the extra weight you are likely to put on. This way, losing it will not be that bad, slow, or hard.
Enjoy your holiday girl, you deserve it.