It’s amazing how quickly we adapt to being on holiday. We eat and drink what we want, how much we want and whenever we want! Working out tends to go out of the window unless you count lounging around by the pool as a workout!
Unfortunately, when we are back home it can feel like a real struggle to return to the normality of a sensible diet and regular exercise.
Getting back on track need not feel like a big upheaval though. Let’s face it, we’ve got enough to deal with in terms of unpacking, washing and the post-holiday blues!
Here are my quick-fire quick fixes for easing back into a healthy routine after your holidays.
Don’t waste time feeling guilty about your holiday
What’s done is done and having a blow out on holiday is PERFECTLY NORMAL! Don’t get into a negative slump regretting what you ate or how little you exercised. This negativity can creep into your attitude towards diet and exercise leaving you thinking, “what’s the point?”
Don’t weigh yourself instantly
Wait a few days! We are all liable to gain a few pounds on holiday. If you feel a little bloated on your return home you don’t need the scales to tell you it’s time to get moving more and eating better. Give yourself a few days to get back to normality before stepping on the scales for a true reflection of any weight gain. It’s highly likely that it won’t be as bad as you think.
Eat your favourite healthy meal and do your favourite workout
Remind yourself how enjoyable healthy eating and exercise is! This will make it really easy to get back into the swing of things. Don’t force yourself to eat something you don’t like or undertake a long, gruelling workout session to punish yourself for taking a holiday. This will not inspire you to get back into a healthy routine, quite the opposite!
Don’t cut out, cut back
Make compromises not cuts! Any diet requiring you to cut out certain food groups is not only incredibly hard to stick to, it’s not great for you either. We need each food group for different reasons. When it comes to eating better the general rule is balance; everything in moderation. Don’t be too restrictive as this isn’t sustainable in the long run.
Do an alcohol detox
Give yourself a week off from drinking if you’ve hit it hard on holiday and increase your water consumption. This really does flush out toxins from your body, it’s not a health myth!
Start a diary
If you’ve lost your way when it comes to how much you are eating and what you are eating make a food diary. This will highlight if you are eating too much or not enough and if you have a balanced or unbalanced diet.
Lastly remember why you want to get back on track! Your goal is your best motivation.
