Greetings!

I just got back from a wonderful family vacation in sunny California!

I went to my niece’s wedding, toured the USS Midway in San Diego, went to Disneyland, and spent a couple of days at Huntington and Venice Beach.

Vacations are amazing for experiencing the world and spending quality time with the ones you love.

Whether your goal is to look better for your trip, or more long-term goals, there are many situations that will try to derail your progress.

So here are some of my favourite tips!

Get Hydrated!

Everyone always talks about the importance of being hydrated, but I promise you, this one saves me every time! There are a couple reasons why your body bloats on a plane. From dehydration to the foods you have eaten, the air pressure causes our bodies to do funny things. Before getting on any plane I make sure to drink at least one complete water bottle. I suggest you bring your favourite empty bottle through security and fill it up at the fountains inside. After all the hassle to get everyone loaded on the plane it can be very tempting to ask for an alcoholic beverage (believe me!). They may help at the time, but alcohol dehydrates your body, which can lead to your bloat. Instead, you guessed it, stick to water. If you can find electrolyte tablets, those are also great to toss in your water for added hydration.

Avoid restaurants

Now, you don’t need to run in the opposite direction of any restaurant you see, but always try to make your own food (if you can). My first day on vacation, I try to find the nearest grocery store to grab the essentials and quick, easy, and healthy snacks for on the go. This way you know what you are putting in your body, and you have control over your portions. Things like Protein bars, unsalted nuts, dried fruit and fresh fruit are all great options to bring with you on your excursions.

Get Moving

This goes for every part of your trip. If you ever find yourself sitting for long periods of time, there is plenty of things you can do. It could be as simple as leaving your seat on the plane (as long as the seatbelt signal isn’t on) and walking to the front or back of the plane every hour. Or, if your plane is delayed there are so many spaces in an airport to get a quick bodyweight workout in. Some of my favourite exercises are:

Squats
dips (using the chairs)
Pushups
Jumping jacks
Lateral Raises – just hold on to your purse or backpack

They are easy and accessible and if you need them to be a little more difficult, just toss on your backpack. Of course, if you can get to a gym, and it doesn’t interfere with your vacation I would recommend going. There are other ways to get your activity in so you don’t need to stress. We were lucky enough to find the famous Muscle Beach in Venice, which is just what it sounds like: a gym on the beach. We didn’t have too much time, so we completed a quick full body workout just to get moving.