Enjoy Your Vacation Without Feeling Guilty

I've been looking forward to our annual summer vacation for months now! Every year my family and I hike it on down to the beach and just CHILL. Like seriously just chill. You will see no bigger beach bums than my mom and I.   But I'm not going to lie to you..I've also been secretly dreading this vacation. Why? Because vacation week is the time where I ALWAYS fall off track with my diet and workouts. YES, that IS what vacation is for: taking a break from it all and just relaxing without the guilt. But I always feel like a crummy pile of dog crap when I throw all my worries down the drain and eat whatever the hell I want. This year I am making it a point to not feel that way. So in honor of this years summer vacation to Charleston, South Carolina (I am literally in the big rental van on my way there right now!) I am going to share my tips about how to stay on track all while have a WONDERFUL time with my family.

1. Pack all of your meals for the car ride down.
You won't find me in line at McDonalds for a meal on the go. Nope, no way! Instead I've packed a cooler full of food that I normally eat: chicken breast, turkey sandwiches, veggies, protein bars, etc. I'm saving money and eating nutritious food. It's a win-win! If you're flying instead of driving, airports will allow you to bring your own food on as a carry on! Just make sure you check ahead of time that what you're packing doesn't break any TSA rules :)

2. Cook your family dinners.
Believe me, my family and I love going out to restaurants while we're on vacation. But with the number of people that come along with us, sometimes dining out can be more of a hassle than a luxury. So during the week we cook a lot of our dinners...and we have a ton of fun doing it! We usually blare music, dance around the kitchen and just spend time together. It makes our vacation that much more memorable. And with cooking you have the option of making healthier choices for you AND your family.

3. Stay active.
Yes. Your normal gym routine IS going to get thrown off   There really is no way around that. But some gyms around touristy vacation areas do offer week-long passes! And if you're somewhere warm, get up every morning and go for a walk or a run and watch the sun come up. There's honestly no better thing than watching an east coast sun rise. My dad and I plan on getting up every morning and going for a walk on the beach. The point is, if daily exercise is important to you during your vacation, make a point to get it in some way or another. My advice is to do it early in the morning so you're not dreading it the rest of the day!

4.  RELAX
That's what a vacation is all about! If worrying about where or when you're gonna workout every single day is going to stress you out, then don't worry about it. There's nothing wrong with taking a few days off...or even a week! Sometimes your body just really needs a break--so why not give it one? Use this time to just BE with your family and enjoy yourself. Normal routine can return on Monday. But for now, make the most of your time off!

5. Indulge.
It is OK to indulge. If you don't, you're just gonna drive yourself insane watching your brother devour that big piece of cheesecake... Every vacation I go on, I make damn sure that I get a scoop (sometimes even 2!) of some homemade hard-dipped ice cream. nothing better, in my opinion! I treat myself, and you should too :)

In the end it's all about finding balance. Whether it's on vacation or in real life, you need to find a good balance between a strict/structured lifestyle and a lifestyle that's a little more carefree. Laugh a lot, stress less and eat well :)  don't feel guilty--just relax with the people you care a about!

Xoxo Jess
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