Some advice for having fun on vacation — and staying healthy
7 ways to have an active and healthy vacation
According to a recent study, Americans are horrible at using all their allotted vacation days.
In 2016, approximately 54 percent of e mployees ended the year with unused time off. That was an estimated accumulation of 662 million vacation days, according to a study done by the U.S. Travel Association’s Project Time Off.
Even those who do take their vacation time, many still take their work with them. According to a Glassdoor, a job and recruiting site, about 66 percent report working during their time off.
For those who do take a vacation from work, it might hard to balance overindulging with enjoying oneself while staying fit. It can be difficult to pass up dessert at every meal or that plump greasy croissant or super saucy chicken wings!
Even if we are pretty healthy while at home, once on vacation, a whole level of temptation is literally thrown at us around every corner! If our options of eating healthy are between a fried doughnut or a heavily glazed cinnamon bun, how is a person to win?
With so many factors stacked against us, on our recent trip to Maui and the Big Island, my husband and I used these 7 easy tips for staying healthy on vacation:
1. Planning your destination: While deciding where to go is one of the fun aspects of a vacation, it can also determine the blueprint of your entire trip. Do the research needed in order to have healthy options available to you. On our recent trip to Maui, hotels like the The RitzCarlton, Kapalua and the Fairmont Kea Lani offer many services and dining options that cater specifically to the health and fitness-minded traveler. For instance, the Ritz offered daily fitness classes such as Pilates and yoga, which I loved because it enabled me to stay on track by taking sessions I normally would do so at home.
The Fairmont Kea Lani offered their classes outside under the blue sky (weather permitting), which was an extra special treat since it is not a typical experience.
Both hotels also had a 24-hour fitness center, which was perfect for early birds or people who would prefer to work out later in the evening. Without the restriction of specific gym hours, guests can work out early in the gym and then have the rest of the day to explore the island or lounge by the pool. Alternatively, for those who prefer to work out at night, they could spend the day out and about before heading over for a workout.
2. Pack healthy snacks for the airport: If you have healthy snacks readily available when you get hungry, you won’t have the urge to stop by the first fast food stand you see. On flights, I always carry some easy snack essentials: baby carrots, a small size hummus, a ripe avocado, various fruits that don’t need refrigeration such as apples and bananas. Other great snacks include raw almonds, walnuts and celery sticks. When opting for nuts as a snack, make sure to choose ones that aren’t salted or coated with sugar and chocolate. As a general rule, try not to eat more than a palm size of nuts. They can be healthy, but they are high in calories, so snack in moderation.
3. Make your vacation active: Most people have an idea that vacation is meant to be lounging by the beach or poolside, with little movement. Prior to arriving at your destination, schedule at least one activity every other day that involves getting out and moving.
During our stay at the Ritz-Carlton, my husband and I chose to participate in Cities Under the Sea, a snorkel trip arranged through the hotel, which was one of the most exhilarating and informative experiences I have ever had. This along with a morning canoe experience later in the week at the Fairmont Kea Lani really had us using muscle groups we normally wouldn’t be using at home. This is a great way to cross-train and stay fit while on vacation.
There is nothing wrong with sitting poolside, but also remember to switch it up so that the entire vacation isn’t spent lounging.
4. Walk everywhere: During our stay on Maui and the Big Island, even though we had a rental car, we only used it out of necessity and for long drives. For the most part, we walked everywhere, forgoing the hotels’ free shuttles. Walking is a great way to see the island and meander, discovering new and interesting places you might not necessarily stop for if you are driving a car.
Most hotels provide a map of the grounds and the town, so make use of the maps to plot a leisurely walk after breakfast, lunch or dinner. For me, my routine at home is to take a brisk walk about 10 minutes after a meal to help with digestion and just enjoy the outdoors. While on vacation, I applied this same routine after most meals, and the walking really helped with not feeling overly full and lethargic.
5. Peruse the restaurant menu before a
meal: Know what you are getting yourself into. When we stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Maui, prior to dining at their signature restaurant The Banyan Tree, I studied the menu to make sure there were entrees as well as appetizers that would be healthy and along the lines of what I wanted to eat. Not only did they have many
healthy options for all, this is where I had one of my most delicious meals of the entire trip.
Again, at all the other restaurants we dined at, prior to going for a meal, I did a scan of the menu and chose at least two items I wanted to eat and that are healthy and good for me. This is a great technique I do at home as well before going to a new restaurant. It is better to know what is available than arriving very hungry and finding every single item is unhealthy. It is difficult to stay on the path of eating healthy when your choices are limited.
6. Don’t stress – do things you enjoy: One of my favorite things to do is enjoying a spa treatment. Something about the spa environment and the delightful treatments provides a calming effect on me. Most hotels offer spa packages along with the accommodations, and you might able to score a savings. While at the Ritz-Carlton, I opted for the signature Hawaiian Style Lomilomi Massage, which is based on the Hawaiian concepts of working with the body, mind and spirit. The therapeutic treatment is powerful yet gentle using light to moderate pressure, which was perfect for me.
When we transitioned to the Fairmont Kea Lani, I tried their signature HydraFacial MD, which, focuses on restoring your skin to its healthiest state. This facial was the best facial I have ever had as I saw results almost immediately.
The Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island, where we stayed offers a great Hawaiian style detoxifying treatment using coconut oil that nourishes and hydrates the skin.
If spas are not your thing, then find what is relaxing and enjoyable for you. The point is to relax on vacation and put down your technology devices and stop checking work emails. By disconnecting, your brain can slow down, which will signal to your body to lower cortisol levels.
7. Take a vacation specifically centered around an activity: Yoga retreats are a major part of the wellness tourism market, which is a growing industry. 15. Since then, These retreats have become so popular, there are multiple websites such as BookYogaRetreats.com and BookRetreats.com that cater specifically to that market.
Some retreats are held in exotic places such as Thailand, Costa Rica and Mexico to name of few. Others are more accessible and closer to home. FivePine Lodge in Sisters, Oregon, offers a Yoga in The Pines retreat in late January, an appropriate time for detoxing and refreshing after the holiday season. The retreat focuses on yoga for all levels, whether a beginner or experienced yogis looking to deepen their practice. The 4-day package included twice daily yoga sessions – one more vigorous and the later a calm and restorative practice in addition to healthy prepared breakfast and lunch meals.
There are many benefits to taking a yoga retreat vacation since the focus is specifically on health and wellness. Most retreats like the one at FivePine Lodge will have prepared meals, which will alleviate some of the temptations on a regular vacation.
Lastly, don’t forget to be unreachable. During our last two nights on the Big Island, we stayed at a delightful inn nestled in the mountains, the Holualoa Inn. It was the perfect setting overlooking the city of Kona because the inn was remote and secluded. There wasn’t even a TV in our room. We spent the days hiking the mountains and enjoying nature. We didn’t even look at our smartphones once – well, maybe once to take pictures only.
While researching where to stay for the last leg of our vacation, we learned the Holualoa Inn also provided a magnificent two-course healthy breakfast, which is why we picked it. So, going back to the first tip, planning is key to staying healthy on vacation.