A Vacation from Your Vacation
I’ve always said that a week’s vacation should be 10 days. Because we need the extra time to recoup from all fun!
Sun. Surf. Big breakfasts. Late dinners. Wine and fruity cocktails. Ahhhh…vacation. It’s the best. Time spent with family and friends and most importantly, away from work does a soul good. However, a vacation can both renew our spirit and wreak havoc on our bodies all in the same week!
Whether it’s indulging in foods that are normally off-limits or pausing your workouts to just relax on the beach, many times, we come home from time away feeling like we need another vacation to recover from all the fun.
As the unofficial summer vacation season comes to a close with Labor Day weekend (that’s this weekend, y’all!), it’s a great time to refocus on your health and wellness goals and get back on track. Because, before you know it, we’ll be facing the…HOLIDAYS! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Right now, it’s about returning from vacay relaxed, refreshed and ready to restart our fitness and nutrition efforts.
While you’re getting back into a routine with the kids and work, here are a few tips to help you ease back into a lifestyle focused on wellness.
Ease into your Workouts. If you pressed pause on those workouts all week. Don’t jump right back into a high intensity sweat sesh. Start with 3 days the first week back, 30 minutes of cardio on those days that gets your heart rate up to 50-60% of your max. Add a full body strength or yoga class to stretch and prep those muscles to return to regular workouts.
Drink up! No, not more margaritas and cold beers. Water. Lots of it. You’re likely feeling bloated from all the food and fun. Water is the best way to flush out the bad and help you eliminate that full feeling. Aim for half your body weight in ounces. 150 lb. woman should drink 75 ounces.
Focus on Fiber. If lobster, steak, pizza, boardwalk French fries and giant ice cream sundaes were all on the menu last week, your system is craving a bit of a restoration. Instead of starving yourself because of the calorie guilt you’re feeling, focus on eating more fiber – the insoluble kind that will do the same thing as the myriad cleanses being sold online or in nutrition stores. That means lots of greens, raw veggies, and fresh fruit, plus greek yogurt, green tea, and other foods/beverages that will naturally cleanse your system and restore balance.
Plan and Prep. You’ve eaten whatever, whenever and your body craves routine and balance. While you’re planning your week ahead include your meals. Prep lunches for at least 3 days so you don’t continue to overindulge.
Return to your Routine. Give yourself a week to ease back into things. Then, week 2 – get back to it! Regular exercise, eating clean, sleeping 7-8 hours a night. Your body has a great memory and will recover quickly – so don’t let it get used to the vacation vibe.
If this sounds like a great plan but you took more than a week’s vacay from your health and wellness and need some help refocusing on your wellness, I’d love to chat with you. Let’s connect and see if I can help you be the best version of YOU at home, at work and in your own mind. Confidence starts from within, and your health is the first step in gaining back your mojo.
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