How to Keep Your Healthy Habits While Traveling

Hola from Tulum, Mexico!

I’m here with two of my girl friends, hosting a trial run of a wellness retreat that I’ll soon be inviting you to. This enchanting stretch of beach nestled between crystal clear waters and lush palm trees is the perfect oasis for rejuvenating and kick-starting (or revving up) a healthy lifestyle.

Now, I have to get a little tough love on you here.

On this trip, I realized there are two types of people: 

those who will stop at nothing to get what they want, and 

those who will use any excuse to give up. 

Who do you want to be?

Remove the phrase “It’s too hard” from your vocabulary. If you really want it, figure out how to make it work. That goes for when you’re traveling. Just because you’re on vacation, that doesn’t mean it’s ok to have ice cream at every meal.

Next time you pack your bags, remember these 10 tips to keep your healthy habits while traveling: 

Food

Act Local:

Find the local farmers market or grocery store and stock up on fruits, nuts, and seeds for breakfasts or snacks. In foreign countries, try the things you can’t find at home.  Here in Mexico, we picked up mamet, tamarind, and star fruit, in addition to papaya, watermelon, and jicama.  

Just Ask:

If everything on the menu is covered in cheese, and you’re avoiding it, simply ask them to leave it off. If no entrée looks suitable for your dietary needs, order a few sides and make that you’re meal.

Stay Balanced:

Just like you shouldn’t go completely off track with 3 courses every time you eat, you shouldn’t restrict yourself to the point where you’re feeling deprived and envying your partner’s plate. The key is to stay balanced. If you’re eating healthy 80% of the time, lighten up the other 20%. For example, it’s ok to have dessert, just not at every meal. If you know you’ll be going to a big dinner where you may stray from your eating habits, then make sure breakfast and lunch are as healthy as can be.

Have fun!:

Plan activities other than just sampling the local cuisine.Your vacation shouldn’t revolve around eating. Remember when you were a kid, playing outside and your mother had to remind you to come in for dinner? Make your vacation that much fun.

Exercise

When you travel, one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a culture is to forget guided tours and explore a new land on foot.

Walk:

If the destination allows, avoid renting a car and walk from destination to destination. When you have to go further, you can take a taxi or rent a car for a few days. Traveling on foot allows you to get a much more nuanced view than you would behind the wheel.

Run:

The great thing about running is you can do it anywhere. Again, this is a great way to see the town you’re staying in. If it’s a beach vacation, run barefoot along the beach where the water meets the sand. You won’t even need iTunes, as the sea lapping at your feet, the wind off the waves, and the view will energize you.

Bike:

Whether you’re in a major city or a small town, there should be a bike rental shop. Here in Tulum, we decided that everything was close enough that instead of renting a car, we rented bikes.

Swim:

The ocean is not just for jumping waves, you can actually swim in it, too. Swim horizontal to the shore line for a total body work out that you will feel in all your muscles the next day, or, simply stand shoulder deep in the water and work your arms as if you were swimming, to tone your arms while you wade. Even just keeping yourself afloat, without touching the bottom is a workout in itself.

If there is no ocean, take advantage of a hotel pool and swim laps early in the morning, or do you own version of aqua-cise.

Yoga:
Do a Google search to find a local studio, or simply ask around when you arrive at your destination.

Try something new:
Do something out of the ordinary, that you could only do in your destination. Take a kite surfing lesson, go to the local bar for salsa night, learn how to do the silk ropes. When you step out of your comfort zone, you'll be having so much fun, you'll forget you're burning calories. 

What are your tips for keeping up with your healthy habits while traveling? Leave a comment below and let us know!