Question.
So how do you go on vacation and not come back weighing more than when you left?
Answer?
Moderation.
You've seen it all over the fitness/weight-loss blogosphere and you'll see it here too - moderation is key to a successful, long term victory over excessive weight.
Let's think about it.
Moderation is simply taking control over how much that you put in to your body.
As you know, I spent the last week at a camp and unlike most camps - this camp has some really good food. Let's see, some of what we ate was...
turkey and stuffing. beef brisket. pizza. chili. hamburgers.
Those things are completely different then my usual diet and I did feel the affects of them throughout the week, but yet I come home today weighing the same amount of weight as when I left.
It is because I practiced moderation.
Because I was a part of the staff -they wanted to heap the food onto my plate. I was able to say "not that much", "just a little", and/or "no thank you".
Moderation allowed me to enjoy the foods that I don't typically eat and not feel guilty about eating it.
Would I suggest that you eat that way all of the time?
Not at all.
I have another week of camp coming up and I would really like to lose that last 20 pounds. Eating foods that are processed, unhealthy, and not full of the vitamins and nutrients I need will not get me to where I want to be. I will be taking some of my own food with me next time so that I can have more control (other than just saying no or going hungry) of what I get to eat.
Another thing that helped me while I was at camp was the physical exercise that I got.
Monday we played soccer (won), Tuesday was Ultimate Frisbee (won), Wednesday was a 3 on 3 basketball tourney (2nd place), and Thursday was 6 on 6 volleyball tourney (lost). There were also multiple times that the campers were playing Knock-Out. Knock-Out is where everyone is in a line behind the free throw line (basketball) and shoot one after another trying to make the shot before the next one does. The whole point is to eliminate everyone else until you are the winner.
So, I tell you all of this to give you some tips on what to do when you are on vacation, away with work, and/or away from home.
Tips for when you are away.
1. Learn to say "No", "not that much", or "just a little".
2. Take action. Be active in order to balance the abnormal intake.
3. Enjoy what you do get to eat. Don't feel guilty about eating something that you don't normally.
4. Know when the vacation, trip, and/or hiatus is over. You have to set your limits when things are out of your hands and it requires follow through.
I've had a good week, but am really happy to be home. I've missed blogging and have no idea as of right now what the google reader has to say. I am pretty far behind on all of your blogs and hope that you take no offense at that.
You will be seeing me much more this week as I will be home for the full week.
What tip do you have to offer for when someone is on vacation?
