Airports are the place where we quite often leave healthy habits behind. The security lines cause us untold stress, the airport lounge is lined with fast-food joints just calling out our name and let’s not even start talking about the aeroplane food.
It’s not like you are out of the woods when you hit your destination – lounging about on the poolside with cocktails on tap and room service and all-you-can-eat buffets can play havoc with our health and fitness levels.
Of course, when you are on vacation, you want to relax a little and enjoy yourself, but if you have worked hard to build up your health and fitness levels, you may want to take some steps to at least stop it plummeting, if not maintain it to an extent. Here, we look at some of the things that you can do to stay healthy (ish!) on vacation – without spoiling your fun.
Stay hydrated
Stale airport air, too much alcohol and high heat can cause you to feel dehydrated. In between alcoholic beverages, drink a big glass of water, and if you can, carry around a water bottle and sip from it a little and often. Not only will it make you feel better but it will leave your hair and skin looking great – perfect for all of those Instagram snaps!
Make sure you have the necessary medication
When packing for your vacation, make sure you have any necessary medication. This includes paracetamol or the painkiller of your choice, anti-sickness or diarrhoea medication, and if you are prone to indigestion or acid reflux, buy lansoprazole before you jet off. Make sure these are clearly labelled and packed appropriately to pass airport checks. You can, of course, pick up these essentials in most countries, but language differences can make it a little trickier.
Check everything is thoroughly cooked
The last thing you want is your vacation spoiled by a dodgy tummy because you have eaten something that wasn’t cooked properly or salad that hasn’t been washed correctly. Always opt for food such as meat to be medium to well-cooked, and if in doubt, ignore the salad bar and get your five a day in through cooked vegetables. Avoid things like raw shellfish and sushi – while you may be fine eating it at home, why put yourself at extra risk when you are enjoying your vacation?
Enjoy everything in moderation
When there are tables and tables of food on offer and access to minibars and room service, it can be tempting to splurge and eat everything. While once in a while it isn’t going to hurt, if you do that for two weeks straight, you are going to feel sluggish very quickly. Enjoy a bit of everything – but in moderation. When you start to feel full, stop eating. If you know you are going to have a huge lunch, maybe have a light breakfast or vice versa.
Go for a walk or a swim
Very few of us feel like keeping up with our normal fitness routine when we are away on vacation, but it is important to keep up physical activity as much as possible. Go for a long walk and take in the views and the local area – you never know what you might come across. Instead of hopping on the bus or grabbing a cab, use your feet to get from bar to bar. Instead of lounging by the pool sunbathing, jump in and swim a few laps every hour. Even the smallest bit of exercise can make a difference, and your body will thank you for it.
Listen to your body
Your body is generally pretty good at telling you what it needs. If you have been eating a few too many carbs or ice creams, your body will start to cry out for something nutritious, especially if it is used to a good diet. Over the course of a week or two, if you listen to your body and what it is telling you, you will be surprised at just how balanced your diet is.
