If you’re anything like me, your idea of staying active while on vacation is walking to the buffet or pool bar! If I go on a resort vacation, the whole idea is to relax and enjoy paradise. It’s to relish in the bounty of food and drink that I wouldn’t otherwise have on a daily basis back home, like huevos rancheros for breakfast, Blue Hawaiians and Piña Coladas every hour, 24-hour room service…you get the idea. I’m also the type of person who likes to try everything on the menu. So, if there is basically unlimited food available at my fingertips, you better believe I’m going to take full advantage and eat waaaaayyyy more than my little stomach can handle!
Unfortunately, what I learned the hard way the last time I did this was that my body doesn’t bounce back as quickly as it did when I was in my 20s. Now that I’m over 30 and my metabolism has slowed way down, I can’t just throw caution to the wind, and eat and drink whatever the hell I want when I’m on vacation. Because I’ll most definitely have to deal with the repercussions when I’m back home!
So, when my husband and I went to the Mayan Riviera about a week ago (you can see my travel guide here), I decided beforehand that I was going to force myself to stay active while on vacation. It didn’t have to mean working out every day (come on, who has time for that, when there are 8 à la carte restaurants?!). But I knew I was going to get at least a couple workouts in there, so it wasn’t subjecting my body to going from one extreme to the next.
Not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy. Our schedule wasn’t the same every day, and the activities on our itinerary mainly revolved around eating. But based on my experience, I’ve come up with a list of tips that kept me accountable to my goal to stay active while on vacation. And believe me, if I can do this with all that temptation, anyone can!
Here’s my fool-proof list on how to stay active while on vacation:
1. Set an Intention and a Realistic Goal
The first tip is easy: add “working out” to your vacation to-do list – somewhere near the top of the list, to be more effective. Because, if you don’t set an intention, realistically, it ain’t gonna happen! Also set a realistic goal about how many times you’re going to work out. If your goal isn’t realistic, you’re less likely to stick to it. If you’re the type of person who can squeeze in a workout every morning before breakfast, then all the more power to you. But, I knew that 2 or 3 times during my 7-day vacation was achievable.
2. Schedule It
This is where it may become more difficult. After you’ve arrived (and preferably before you’re 3 margaritas deep), figure out which days you plan to work out. This could be weather-dependent (e.g. if you plan to run on the beach), or could be dependent on the fitness schedule at the resort. Luckily, our resort had 2 gyms which were open every day between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. There was also a fitness schedule available online, so I could plan to catch a class or even grab a workout with a personal trainer.
3. Bring The Right Workout Gear
I knew I needed to bring comfortable workout gear with me that I could move in and wouldn’t overheat in. I popped into Sport Chek before my trip because I was desperately in need of some new gear (shameful to admit, but I was previously wearing old tank tops and t-shirts to the gym that weren’t going to fly in the Mexican heat). I got a few new things from Sport Chek, including the Lorna Jane Bondi Sports Bra, Nike Epic Lux Tights, and Nike Free RN Flyknit running shoes.
The most important factor for me in terms of choosing the right workout gear was breathability. The Lorna Jane sports bra is made from moisture wicking fabric, which means it is actually designed to draw moisture away from the body. The Nike Epic Lux Tights are also made from wicking fabric – Nike’s Dri-FIT technology – which acts in the same way.
In terms of fit and comfort, the bra has adjustable straps and is designed to have maximum support. So, I felt like I was always in place, whether running on the treadmill or doing downward dog. One of my favourite parts about the tights is the high waistband. If I’m going to feel comfortable wearing a sports bra and showing my midriff, then I’m going to want high waisted bottoms…especially after a few days on the resort, when I’ve expanded a little in the waist area! Lastly, the shoes’ flyknit constructed upper is designed to stretch and support your feet continuously; and aesthetically, I love a shoe with a low-profile.
Pro-Tip: after you arrive, actually remove your workout gear from your suitcase and put in plain view, where it can serve as a daily reminder, if you plan to stay active while on vacation. Otherwise, if you let it sit in your suitcase, you may not actually get around to using it.
4. Find Company
Last, but not least, I find it helpful to work out in a group for motivation. My husband made it very clear that he did not plan on accompanying me to the gym on our trip. So, I was really happy that my resort offered personal training services and group fitness classes almost every day. One of my favourite experiences was a sunrise yoga class on the beach. Even though it was for all different skill levels, I was able to focus on my yoga practice and catch a beautiful sunrise at the same time.
So, there you have it. My tips on how to stay active while on vacation. Do you guys have any other tips you can share? Leave them in the comments below!
Photography (other than lead photo) by: SweetEscape
*This post was done in partnership with Sport Chek, but as always, all opinions are 100% my own.
