Spring Break
Staying healthy while on vacation
Don't take a retreat from wise decisions
Erin Edwards
Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: Features
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As many temporarily escape from school or work obligations, some take a retreat from a healthy lifestyle. Once vacationers reach their destinations, temptation begins to show itself in the form of fatty foods, sugary drinks, overindulgence in alcohol and overall laziness.
Still, going on vacation does not have to signal the end of making healthy choices. It is possible to make wise decisions about eating and exercise while having fun.
Suzanne McDonald, the assistant director of physical activity and wellness education at ECU believes that people tend to create excuses to overindulge while on vacation.
"Some people get into the mindset that 'I am on vacation so I can eat anything I want and/or I do not need to exercise,'" said McDonald. "With that, many will eat all meals out at restaurants, which typically consist of huge portion sizes or 'all you can eat buffets.'"
McDonald stresses that to avoid weight gain it is important to decide on healthy choices before heading out on vacation, including sharing meals instead of ordering an entire entrée for one, packing food, drinking water with all meals, or skipping restaurants all together and cooking for yourself.
"If you plan ahead for these 'high risk' situations then you are more than likely to stay on track," McDonald said.
ECU student Jan Bowers believes that overeating isn't the only bad decision vacationers make. Exercise is a large factor often ignored that can eventually result in weight gain.
"A lack of exercise can also be a problem that many people have while on vacation, but a way to combat that is to maintain a form of exercise that will burn some calories without having to feel like you are going to the gym," said Bowers. "For instance, if someone is going to the beach, taking a brisk walk on the beach or a couple of laps in the pool will make a considerable difference."
Using her own experiences, Bowers offers up the 90/10 rule, meaning that if a person eats healthy 90 percent of the time, then they can eat unhealthy 10 percent of the time. Along with healthy food choices, Bowers recommends eating whole grains and fiber, which can help you feel fuller longer and cuts down on snacking between meals.
So whether one chooses the grilled chicken over the fried chicken, healthy decisions are still possible while taking a break from everyday life. It is important to avoid creating excuses that can stray away from wise eating habits, but is it just as essential to allow yourself to splurge a little. Stay active and try to balance food intake with physical activity. If travelers are able to eat healthy on vacation, then they can do so anywhere else.
This writer can contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.
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