How to Keep Fit and Healthy on Holiday (Without it Becoming a Chore)

Read our tips on keeping up with fitness on your travels which still enable you to indulge.

We all love holiday mode; this usually means swapping our fitness routines and somewhat healthy diets to over indulgence and lots of relaxing on a sun lounger, working your way through the cocktail menu. Are you worried about keeping up the motivation to exercise and eat healthy on holiday and dreading feeling crappy about yourself after? Want to find a happy medium you can work towards to stay in shape? Then read our guide below which emphasises how you don’t have to do strenuous workouts in the hotel gym every day and miss out on fun to keep fit and healthy…

Make a Plan for a Mini Workout Every Day
This doesn’t have to take up too much of your time at all. In fact, you can plan it so that you do one before breakfast in the comfort of your hotel room. Even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes, you can complete a basic but effective workout with some sit ups, squats, leg raises, press ups or whatever you feel like. This will definitely keep you nice and toned throughout your holiday and make you feel good about yourself in swimwear. The rest of the day ahead is then yours to do what you want!

Use the Scenic Surroundings as an Exercise Backdrop
If you’re staying at a hotel or resort with or beside a beach, then this is a perfect opportunity to produce a daily fitness routine on holiday. You could enjoy a sunset or sunrise walk or jog along the stretch of coastline each day and burn some excess calories. There’s something therapeutic about being beside the ocean even if there isn’t a beach nearby you could take a walk around the resort to keep up joint movement or explore the local area to take in some new sights. You’ll feel much better for it and it won’t feel strenuous at all.

Make Exercise Fun
Going on holiday is the perfect opportunity to get off your backside and do something exciting… whether it be simply swimming some lengths or something thrilling like surfing, kayaking, water skiing or hiking. It won’t feel like a work out but you’ll certainly be burning calories. If you’re staying at a hotel, join in with the activities whether it’s yoga, pool aerobics or water volleyball and rent a bike to go exploring. Exercise really doesn’t have to be boring, it can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Even dancing at the bar counts... Forget the gym and challenge yourself to some fun new experiences.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Water really is the answer to everything. Drinking cocktails and eating salty foods on holiday along with the sun will of course dehydrate you. Flush out any toxins and drink some water for your health’s sake. Swapping one or two drinks for water or just drinking it when you can throughout the day is going to make you feel much better and keep your energy levels up. Water comes from fruit and veg too; strawberries, melons, cucumbers and tomatoes have high water content and are refreshing to consume if it’s hot. A simple but so important tip.

Catch Some Zzz’s
There are so many health benefits from a decent night’s sleep, and being on holiday is the perfect opportunity to do just that. There’s no getting up early for work and there’s also time for afternoon naps. Aim for getting at least 8 solid hours sleep each day, which as a result will provide you with more energy and recovery. Catch up on some well needed sleep and don’t feel guilty about it either! If you’re on a sightseeing tour or full day excursion, get an early night beforehand. Sleep deprivation is a known factor which links to weight gain, so sleeping will help keep your metabolism in check.

Whatever Happens, Enjoy Yourself
Most importantly, don’t do something if you aren’t going to enjoy it. As much as it would be cool to maintain our fitness routines, we do need a break now and again. Give yourself that break. Break the cycle and enjoy your holiday, and if you follow our tips then you’ll be just fine. Do what makes you happy and your wellbeing will benefit massively from it.