Home > Healthy Eating > Archives > 2007 > April > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDiet Vacation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do you use your time off as an official “time out” from dieting? Or do you continue watching what you eat and exercising whether you’re at the beach or tromping through a new city?
Hotels and resorts have gone overboard in recent years to add fitness facilities and lighter menu choices for folks who “live on a diet” no matter where they are. I’m on a Crystal Cruise right now with meals served ‘round the clock, including servers holding trays of sandwiches available after dinner. Meanwhile, there’s a yoga instructor and personal trainer on board, too. Every menu comes with lighter suggestions for each course from soup to dessert.
Do I order the broiled fish with lemon or go for the lobster thermidor???? Diet overboard!! What’s your vacation philosophy when it comes to a healthy lifestyle?
Comments
By Koz
April 30, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
I actually exercize more on vacation, just because I have a little more personal time.
On the other hand the diet gets compromised. I don’t totally blow it, but I do indulge in a few things that I wouldn’t normally eat.
By try to watch it
April 30, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
I was a heavy teen and young woman and vacations were very serious dieting times for me; I really don’t know why. Maybe because I was heavy and very unhappy because of it, I have worked hard to change and have come to enjoy exercising and moving my body and eating and feeling lighter. I bring my exercise tubing (stretchy rubber bands) and walking shoes with me on vacation and I will take advantage of a pool or bike rental if available. Whether home or on vacation, I’m not crazy about restaurant dining or eating heavy and always watch it. I don’t know what I’d do on a cruise because I definitely would not want to dress up for dinner or have food thrown at me 24/7.
By Deb
April 30, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Actually, if eating healthy and living an active lifestyle is your normal routine, enjoy your vacation…indulge a little. When you get back home, just resume your healthy eating habits and you will be amazed at how quickly your body will recover.
By Andrew
April 30, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
I’m young, not overweight (at 6’1, 165 lbs) and try to eat healthy, but probably don’t exercise as much as I could. Speaking from experience, this past holiday season, I took it easy on my usual healthy habits. I indulged in more sweets than I usually allow myself and wasn’t as careful in general about the things I ate. Once the holidays were over, I found it much harder to resume my healthy ways.
I say there’s no vacations from a healthy lifestyle. If you take a break, it becomes too easy to justify other breaks from your habits and lead to a pattern of yo-yo dieting. Just my two cents!
By JJ
April 30, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
Typically I loose more weight on vacation. If we are at the beach, I may have quick bite of a bagel, hit the beach, walk, swim, run with the kids, etc. Lunch is a sandwich, then back out in the sun and fun. Dinners are typically seafood, nothing fancy. My vacations are pretty active. This year, we will be gorging on Alaskan King Crab and Alaskan Salmon as we are going to Alaska. Plus the walking….lots of it!!! I eat healthy year round. It’s the drinking I have a problem with…..especially on vacation.
By DYJ
May 1, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this
I lost weight during my first cruise. I had just joined weight watchers 4 months before and even though I did cheat a little, I did a lot of activities and never gorged myself at meals. I seem to be more active on vacation. I, usually, indulge on dessert but I seem to snack less. I take advantage of light options (fresh fruit, fish) that I don’t always have at home.
By Darrell
May 1, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
vacations are supposed to be for relaxing and having fun, taking it easy, and enjoying those things you don’t get to year around. Although, people’s opinons on what a vactions is for and what should be done during vactions differs. I excerise regualrly, but even if a person exercises regulary, your body still needs a break here and there. You shouldn’t jog or weight train 3 or 4 days a week 52 weeks a year. There is nothing wrong with eating healthy or following a diet, however, unless your body has reactions that are unhealthy to certain foods, everyone should “treat” themselves to some things they don’t usually have. The whole point is to enjoy yourself, but be smart about it. Don’t overdue indulgence of food treats, and let your body take a break from the exercise, or, if you are looking for a jump start to get into excerise, vacations can be a good time to do it.
By Katie
May 2, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
I actually try to exercise more. I usually don’t stray too far from my normal daily diet, but will include a few things that I normally wouldn’t eat. Maybe a desert one day where as I am normally not a sweet eater.
By Tina
May 2, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
As a fellow foodie and dietitian, I’m a fan of your work. I hope you’ll have a chance to visit my blog www.voiceofreason.net and let me know your thoughts on all things food and nutrition!
By Carolyn O'Neil
May 7, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
Wow! I am so enthused by all of the comments.It looks like “healthy eating” on vacation is a trend and ya know, I agree…it’s easier to get the exercise time in b/c we’re not at work all day. By the way, I really enjoy being on a cruise ship and since I’m not cooking or cleaning I enjoy the extra time to get dressed for dinner. That’s half the fun!! Of course, you should see my suitcases…a weight lifting experience for sure.