How to Avoid Weight Gain When Traveling for the Holidays

‘The season for holiday travel! As one of the busiest times of the year approaches, many of us are preparing for a vacation with our families and friends. While this is something to look forward to, it can also be stressful. Not to mention, there’s often lots of indulging between now and New Year’s—and the last thing any of us wants is to pack on extra weight. Here are my five best tips for staying fit while you’re on-the-go this holiday season.

1. Walk everywhere

Instead of taking cabs or buses, try to walk whenever possible. This is one of my favorite things to do when traveling, even if I’m going somewhere familiar. It’s amazing what you can discover by walking around your hometown, and you’re fitting in extra exercise as a bonus. To give yourself an extra boost, always take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. And don’t get on those moving sidewalks in the airport!

 2. Find a local hike

For bonus points: Don’t just walk, hike! Do a bit of research to find a scenic spot for the whole family to enjoy. Not only will you boost your burn, but a change of scenery is also a great way to bond with your loved ones and experience something new.

3. Sightsee while on a run

Plenty of people just head home for the holidays, but if you’re going somewhere new and exciting this year do not overlook running routes as a fun way to see the sights. Nothing spices up a run or brisk walk quite like a beautiful view. If there’s a lake, ocean, or park nearby, use it as the starting point for your workout. This is a great way to explore the area on foot while getting your body moving and breaking a sweat.

4. Splurge, but only when it’s worth it

This is one of my go-to tips no matter where I am. I always want to enjoy the amazing food that come with the holidays, but I don’t want to expand my waistline while I’m there, either. If I did that every time I traveled, I’d surely gain weight over time.
Instead, I choose to splurge wisely on a few comfort meals or must-try restaurants, but I eat pretty simply the rest of the trip. In other words, if you’re at that famous bakery your mom loves and want to try their freshly baked bread, absolutely do it! But if you’re going to stop at a chain restaurant just to fuel up, opt for something on the healthier side and save those calories for dessert later on.

5. When all else fails, take five

When there’s free time in between activities or if it feels like we’ll be having a quieter day, I like to fit in a short workout. Here’s a quick circuit I love when I only have a few minutes to spare. It requires no equipment and can be done anywhere, such as if you’re waiting for your family to get ready for dinner. Do it once or as many times as you can before everyone is ready to go!