On Plan or Off Plan?

For many of us getting ready to enjoy summer feels like it can be an extended stay at …. (insert the worse place you’ve ever been).   Why do we make it so hard on ourselves? Summer means having fun, traveling, camping, boating or just getting away for the weekend - Right? Yes, but it can be easily done when you are prepared AND not totally derail yourself.

When you travel, boat or camp, initially you have to make the decision of whether or not you’re going to stay on plan or choose to deviate from your plan to some extent. Being mindful of the quantities you consume and simply not binging just because you can.  Simply stated, if you know what your goals are and how bad you really want them it will be easier to relax and enjoy yourself without beating yourself up.  It really is a mindset that YOU get to choose whether to stay on plan or off plan.

Too many times we give ourselves the excuses of “I couldn’t take my food with me, so I just ate whatever” or “there weren’t any healthy options.”  So I’ve listed just a few suggestions of how to stay on plan while traveling, camping, boating or whatever it is you like to do…

• If you know that you’ll be traveling away from home - look up hotels that has a kitchen then grab some groceries to prepare your meals.  If no kitchen, some hotels will charge you a small fee for a microwave or fridge if not already in your room.   
• Locate the closest gym if the hotel doesn’t already have one.  Some hotels have arrangements with local gyms to provide service as part of your stay.
• When camping, knowing what to pack for your stay ahead of time makes it less worrisome of what you’ll be eating.  Still enjoy yourself while out in nature and have the “treat” of your choice just be mindful of HOW MUCH you consume.
• Boating is another activity that we like to have excuses to go off plan. A simple cooler to keep your premade prepared foods in will help you stay on plan.  You can also substitute in non-perishable food items that can be packed in your purse or a bag
• If you plan to take your on-plan meals with you wherever you go, here are some ideas - ie… protein bars, nuts/seeds, tuna packets, canned tuna/chicken/salmon, peanut butter/almond butter, fruits..  There are quite a bit of foods that are safe for traveling without refrigeration.

It is perfectly OK to enjoy dietary balance while on vacation, provided you aren’t in the homestretch of a race or event. You of course have the option to just “wing it”  looking for healthier options so that you aren’t tempted to overindulge so that you don’t have to suffer consequences (slower progress of reaching your goals). All in all, the thing about vacations and traveling is that it doesn’t inherently have to totally derail you.  You can choose to be on plan or off plan, but ultimately is it a CHOICE.