I had a holiday planned long before I applied to the TC Health Club Challenge contest. After winning, I didn’t have time to think much about holiday plans (there was too much going on!). But the closer our departure date loomed, the more I started to worry. I didn’t want to fall backwards with my physical fitness or, lose momentum with the effort I was putting into clean eating. I reached out to my trainer and nutritionist, asking for help in keeping me ‘on plan’ while I traveled. They had some great suggestions and reminded me that life happens. They are teaching me how to let life happen while staying on track with strong exercise and food decisions.
We don’t take all inclusive resort holidays. We rent condos with kitchens and eat local fare. This type of holiday means I can shop locally and plan meals similar to what I do at home and, keep portions in check. I’m thankful that I didn’t need to concern myself with pre-set menus/quantity/quality/selection of food or alcohol offered on other types of holidays. I understand this type of vacation isn’t for everyone, but I was grateful for the structure... My suitcase didn’t contain just clothing and shoes. It included protein bars, almonds and other snacks, so I was never left without readily available, healthy food options.
As for exercising, I’m really proud of myself. I’ve always packed along the requisite running shoes for tourist walking. But this time around, I had actual exercise clothing and shoes in tow. Thanks to my amazing trainer and the management team at West Shore Parks and Recreation, I also packed a new skipping rope, a new set of exercise/resistance bands and a full body circuit designed around band training. And I actually used them despite getting really sick with a cold that severely impacted my breathing. But again, I’m being taught how to adapt workouts to accommodate the needs of my body. I worked out on a treadmill and got skipping in, when my breathing wasn’t compromised. The rest of the time I did resistance band training that worked muscles in my arms, legs, abs, back etc. It was AWESOME doing a workout with the ocean breeze to keep me cool and, the beauty of the beach to keep me entertained.
One of my fears of taking a holiday during these critical 12 weeks, was how pysically fit I’d be when I returned. I scheduled a workout with Dana the night after returning to the country (despite my breathing troubles and being jet-lagged). I’m happy to report that eating well and exercising while away kept me strong and allowed me to pick up exactly where I left off. I adapted my new lifestyle to accommodate a much needed holiday. I took a vacation and stayed on plan!
