Funny subject really, ‘how to stay fit and healthy on holiday’. Funny in that most people look at a holiday as a reward for their labours and an excuse to kick back and indulge. Why not?
Thing is, everyone whom I have ever trained who adopted this kind of attitude, come back from holiday, fatter, more miserable and determine never to ‘do that again’!
A holiday is the perfect time to train like Jess Ennis, eat like Gwenth and come home looking like Bradgelina. Remember that when on holiday you are not running around with the same amount of nervous tension that keeps you slim and trim during your busy working life. This drop in out put and the inevitable increase input all points to one direction, muffin tops and lose change in your ‘money belt’.
It is quite difficult to be objective here when I provide a holiday experience where you go back feeling and looking amazing. So I ask the question, what would you rather do, eat rubbish, lounge around all day and have a permanent hangover. Or, would you like to wake up everyday feeling energised, alive and centred? All this would include the odd glass of Rioja of course because life is for living.
I guess the best advice I give people going on holiday is to justify every meal. How on earth people, eat a massive dinner, get drunk, wake up and eat a massive breakfast then snack on ice creams until the massive lunch, and not exercise is beyond me. Justifying every meal does not mean you run 10km three times a day, though that’s my idea of heaven, no, you just have to keep active during your day.
Here are my top five suggestions:
Walking round the place you are staying before breakfast for an hour. There is no better way to see a new town or resort than to walk around it early in the morning.
Always choose a hotel/resort with a gym. Pre-lunch cardio sessions will make the lunchtime crusty bread taste even more delicious.
Always drink plenty of water even if you are not staying anywhere hot. No excuses here.
Go carb free at night, fish and salad is a no brainer and you'll avoid having two hangovers in one night (that's a food hangover and a wine hangover, just in case you didn't get that)
Lastly, if a holiday is a week or so long, you really do have the perfect opportunity to kick-on with your wellness. Sixteen hours a day to pack in swimming, yoga, gym, massage, walks, runs, fine food and good wine.
You only live once so don't miss an opportunity to improve yourself and a holiday is that very opportunity.
Steve Halsall
Steve Halsall has worked as a professional trainer for 15 years during which time he has helped 100's of people to make permanent changes. He is a Men's Health magazine celebrity trainer and The Daily Mirror's fitness expert. www.stevehalsall.com
