Vacation hints

catfive1

Heading away for Christmas. Will be eating all meals out (no home cooked meals). I know my protein numbers will be down and my carbs up. Should I be adjusting my diet now so it won't be suck a shock to my system?

Also, won't have access to weights to do my 5/3/1 workouts. Any suggestions for body weight exercises.

SideSteel

How long are you on vacation for?

catfive1

We will be gone for about a month. Leaving around the 10th of December.

SideSteel

As far as workouts go, Convict Conditioning and You Are Your Own Gym are both reputable body-weight programs. You could consider looking into them for something to keep you active and potentially help to mitigate strength losses while on vacation.

As far as the diet goes this is a topic that will require some thought on your part. On one hand there's plenty of merit to the idea that you are on vacation and therefore you should enjoy yourself. On the other hand, if enjoying yourself turns into a 15lb weight gain, you may have some regrets.

As such, you're probably going to want to find a way to intuitively eat without doing too much over-consumption. I don't have a straightforward method, but as an example when you go to restaurants, ordering vegetables as a side item and grilled meats without much added calories, would be one way to exert some control over energy intake. For example, I eat out fairly often and many times I'll order salmon or steak with a double order of broccoli and green beans, steamed. Can I control EXACTLY what my energy intake is? No, but it's going to be much easier to estimate "steak and vegetables" than "alfredo pasta" or other more complex dishes.

The alternative is to bring a food scale with you and continue to track your intake. I personally wouldn't go that route, but I can see some situations in which it wouldn't be a bad idea.

catfive1

I will just have to make better food choices and skip McDonald's.

And for workouts I'll check out your suggestions.

Coming back 15 lbs heavier is not an option.

Thanks

Just downloaded the "you are your own gym" app on my phone. Looks pretty easy to follow. :drinker:

acpgee

Keep exercising.

I try to find hotels with gyms or pools at least half of the time (if I am travelling to several locations) and do a big cardio workout in the mornings wherever I can. It's so easy to pad into the gym in your jammies, and then jump into the shower in your room. In a hotel gym there will probably be some machines to do some semblance of a weights session. If I am not at a hotel without a gym I will ask reception for any local gyms that offer deals on day passes for hotel guests.

Otherwise do a lot of walking.

I eat out a lot when I'm home (and all meals on vacation). Just don't treat eating out as carte blanche for being indulgent, unless you make room for it with a big workout.

On my profile page I posted pictures of the view from every elliptical and treadmill I use on my last vacation.

Sarauk2sf

SS already gave you what would have been my suggestions for workouts.

It's a vacation so you want to enjoy yourself. Try to stay active in a way that fits into your plans - keep your NEAT up by walking etc. I actually find it really hard to motivate myself to do formal exercise while travelling so I treat it as a training break, while trying (and usually failing) not to turn into a lazy slob.

Personally, I would pretty much do what SideSteel suggested re the intake as well, depending on personal circumstances. Enjoy yourself while not going crazy. Just be conscious of the food choices you make.