I'm starting to do some pre-planning for our family trip next week. We're spending 4 days with my in-laws and 4 days with my parents and grandparents. Our last family trip down was the visit that ended up being my "light bulb" moment and impetus to eating healthy and exercising. In the past, these trips were an excuse to eat whatever, lay on the beach and do nothing. Not a good combination!
My plan this time is to try to make it a very active vacation. My in-laws have a fully equipped gym in their condo (it's beautiful) so I'll be able do all my strength training and usual working out with them. With my parents, I won't have access to any equipment but I can still do pushups, crunches, etc... and I'm also planning on running on the beach and swimming laps daily. My dh and I are hoping to rent sea kayaks one of the days that our daughter is at the zoo with the grandparents so that will be extra exercise.
My dh wants to get ice cream one night at my parents place (it is this little place by the beach that makes THE best ice cream I've ever tasted) so the plan is to walk to get the ice cream and then eat it while walking on the beach (and then we'll have to walk back home).
I'm hoping that the activity and exercise will help offset the increased calories that I will be sure to take in. My food plan is to try to eat as clean as possible for breakfast/lunch/snack so I can enjoy the dinners (exercising portion control), a glass of wine, and some dessert. Both sets of parents usually whip up great meals and my mil makes the most fabulous desserts. Thankfully my fil is still on his South Beach diet so my in-laws are trying to cook more healthy and my parents will make us what ever we want (we try to eat as much fish as possible in FL) so hopefully we'll have lighter meals to leave room for dessert!
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
How old are your children? And which Zoo are they going to visit?
My daughter is 3 1/2 and I think my parents are taking her to Parrot Jungle and my inlaws are taking her to Jungle Larry's. (I think thats what they are called).
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
The inlaws are in Naples and my parents and grandparents, in Palm Beach. I'm pretty sure that we'll be eating at home and not out to dinner other than one night in Naples. The plan is to go to Chops for sushi (that I way, I can't get myself into any trouble). The big temptation for me in FL is always key lime pie (my very favorite) so I'll have to be very mindful to not over indulge in that. Both sets of parents have had places in FL for 2 decades now so we're very clear on the sun warnings. I was down for a quick weekend last winter for my aunt's wedding and I went running at 6:30/7:00 am (w/water bottle in hand). Not only did I not have to worry about the sun as much, it was cooler so running was more bareable. I have a 3 1/2 yr old too so we're especially conscious about having her out of the sun in the mid-day heat (she and I burn easily) so we're usually under an umbrella and have SPF 45 on us.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
What part of FL will you be vacationing in, Bee? I can verify for you that in the beach-y areas, nearly every restaurant has super-great low-fat/low-cal dishes. . .I would guess because the tourists have given them a reason to chef it up
I'm sure you already know it, but while you're watching your inner health, be sure to pay attention to your outer and wear plenty of sunscreen, a hat, and watch your sun exposure from 10 to 2 (10 to 4 is better, but no one's going to stay out of the sun for 6 hours a day while vacationing here). The increased heat & humidity will suck your water reservoirs dry, too, so keep a water bottle nearby and try to drink more than you normally do.
Nothing's a downer quite like having people come down to visit us and ignore our warnings about the sun & drinking water and have a couple of miserable, dried-out, sunburned days.
Have a wonderful time, and your plans have given me some ideas of what to do on the 10-day business trip I'll be going on in a few weeks.
D
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
