It’s not hard to burn calories on city vacations — you’re out and about and walking all day. But if you’re on a tropical island or planning to just hang out in a hammock somewhere, you might find it tough to zip up your pants when you get home.
First of all, while it’s fun to try new dishes and get ice cream at the beach, remember it’s easier to control yourself now than it is to burn it off later. Go easy on the fried or sweet stuff. Treat yourself but stick to small portions.
If you’re not hitting the gym while you’re on vacation (and who can blame you?) you’ll lose your cardiovascular fitness fairly quickly. That means the treadmill will just be that much harder when you get home. To hold you over until you return home to your regular routine, you should include some activities that get your heart rate up. Here are some fun ways the entire family can stay active (just don’t call it exercise):
Rent bikes
Many vacation locations offer bike rentals or even bike tours. You’ll cover more sights and burn more calories!
Look around
There is a hiking trail at almost any vacation destination. Kayaking, surfing ... what activities are specific to where you are? Take advantage of your surroundings.
Be silly
Before you retire in a beach chair for the day, take advantage of the fact that walking and running on the sand burns more calories than walking on flat ground. Crab races, sprints, skipping, hopping … draw lines in the sand and get to it. You can do this on any patch of grass as well. Also, always pack a beach ball and a Frisbee!
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