How to Stay on Track While Traveling During the Holidays

“Eat, drink, and be merry!” That’s the typical mantra for people during the holidays, right? But when you’re trying to stay on track with your fitness goals, that fun saying can seem more like a curse. With lots of good food, family and friends, and going out of town during the season, staying the course can seem like a daunting task. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track when traveling and enjoying the holidays.

Don’t Worry if You Can’t Find A Gym

If you’re out of town for the holidays and staying at a hotel, chances are there’s a gym available for use. But what if you’re at a relative’s house with no work out equipment or a budget hotel or motel with no fitness center? You can simply go back to the basics. Do things like jumping jacks, squats, burpees, and crunches. Create your own circuit right in your room. You can also pack your own equipment. Think resistance bands, hand weights, or a jump rope. Don’t be afraid to simply go for a hike or jog with a family member.

Avoid alcohol

Whether you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your current level of fitness, one thing is certain: alcohol is never your friend. Alcohol is loaded with empty calories and sugar, and often pretty high in carbs. Not only is there little to no nutritional value in alcohol, drinking in excess can lead to poor judgement when it comes to food choices. Everyone has experienced a night out on the town that ended in a slice of greasy pizza or a large order of fries, and during the holidays there are tons of fattening and sugary foods laid out for easy pickings. Additionally, the hangover you feel the next day may impact your workout if you even feel motivated to work out at all! It’s smarter to stick with water, your body will thank you.

Think About Your Food Choices

There’s no shortage of delicious foods during the holidays, and no one’s saying you can’t indulge! Just be sure to enjoy things in moderation. A half serving of mashed potatoes and gravy, splitting a dinner roll with one of the kids, and skipping butter or salt on your corn are all easy ways you can eat what you want without feeling like you’re having a cheat day. Keep in mind that just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean every meal has to be an indulgent choice. Pack some of your own snacks or breakfast items, like protein bars and shakes, and eat plenty of vegetables and lean proteins (turkey bacon, anyone?) at breakfast. Making seemingly inconsequential choices like these throughout the day adds up to a lot of calories saved, and you won’t feel as bad when you do decide to indulge.

Don’t Stress Out

This is supposed to be a joyous time spent with family and friends, don’t spend all your time counting calories and guilt-tripping yourself if you indulge here and there. Have a donut at breakfast? No sweat. Take a walk around the neighborhood with a family member and catch up. You’ll forget about the donut and get to enjoy time spent with a loved one (and maybe burn a few calories). Mental well being is just as important for your overall health and fitness goals as calories in and out are, so make sure you’re relaxed and having a great time with family and friends.