Fit Travel Tricks for Families

Planning your summer vacation? Please enjoy these travel tips from guest blogger, Kendra.

I’ve always enjoyed traveling, and I especially love taking my kids on vacation now that I’m a mom. Although I work hard to keep my family healthy at home, I find that it can be more difficult to stick to healthy routines when traveling. Here are a few tricks I’ve learned that help me keep everyone healthy when we travel:

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Everyone needs to drink plenty of water. Proper hydration is especially important when traveling. Drinking enough water will help everyone avoid common travel discomforts such as cramping. When traveling during the summer, it will also help to prevent common heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion. My family always brings refillable water bottles along on vacation. If a day’s activities will include time in the hot sun, I often chill the full bottles in the freezer before we head out.

2. Play in the Water

On vacation, you probably won’t get to participate in your usual exercise regime. This doesn’t mean you can’t get a good workout every day. My family likes water sports, and these are a great way to get active on vacation. Almost any form of boating helps to build muscle and burn calories. You can canoe, go rafting, rent paddleboats or enjoy a romantic afternoon in a rowboat.

3. Eat with Care

There is the potential to gain a lot of weight on vacation. You may want to set a goal before your trip to not gain weight or maybe set a limit of no more than 3-5 pounds. If there are special foods to try, eat and enjoy. Be careful of the portion size, foods with sauces, and anything creamy. Sharing is a great way to sample different foods, especially desserts. If you drink alcohol, the calories can add up quickly. Don’t feel obligated to finish every bite on the plate. Always listen to your hunger cues.

You will encounter all-you-can-eat buffets on vacation. These popular restaurants are often open all hours, and they are well known for their decadent selections. Stick to a moderate approach. I like to start with some fresh fruit or a crisp salad. On my dinner plate, I try to load up halfway with delicious vegetable dishes before adding other food. It’s okay to indulge a little as long as you don’t overindulge.

When you return home, hop on the scale. If you gained weight, get back to your usual eating and physical activity routine and lose the weight as quickly as possible.

4. Use Fitness Amenities

Many hotels provide an array of fitness amenities for guests to enjoy. I always book hotels with well-equipped fitness centers and did so for our upcoming trip to Orlando. With so many hotels in the area, finding resources that can provide the right information can be a huge asset. Some hotels also have yoga or other fitness classes available. Others provide in-room fitness options. My family has enjoyed staying at hotels that offer bike rentals to guests for exploring the sites nearby.

When you make a point of staying healthy on vacation with your family, everyone will enjoy himself or herself more. I know we always do. I hope these tips for a healthy trip will help you the next time you take a vacation.

Lose Weight with Ruth: What do the Three Stooges have in common with thes...

Lose Weight with Ruth: What do the Three Stooges have in common with thes...: Beverly Warren Gaard Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting these two lovely ladies. Both of these actresses had roles in the Three ...

What do the Three Stooges have in common with these ladies?

Beverly Warren Gaard

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting these two lovely ladies. Both of these actresses had roles in the Three Stooges movies.

Beverly Warren Gaard was in one Three Stooges films. Maybe you have also seen her in D.O.A and River Lady. Her book, I Was There, will soon be released. Her favorite foods are bananas and pineapple. She does aerobic exercise and walks 30 minutes every day. By the way, Beverly is 90 years old!

Dianna Darrin

Dianna Darrin appeared in ten of the Three Stooges movies! Dianna is an actress and singer and had roles in numerous movies (The Broken Land with Jack Nicholson, Slither with James Caan) and tv shows (Bonanza, McHale’s Navy). When Dianna wants to lose weight, she cuts back on portion sizes. She loves Sushi and Italian food.

It was a rare treat to meet these delightful and accomplished women.

Lose Weight with Ruth: Vegetables are Your Friends

Lose Weight with Ruth: Vegetables are Your Friends: Are you looking for ways to eat vegetables? Try these tips: -Vegetables are delicious grilled or roasted. Make a  stir-fry or add t...

Vegetables are Your Friends

Are you looking for ways to eat vegetables? Try these tips:

-Vegetables are delicious grilled or roasted. Make a stir-fry or add them to a smoothie.

- For convenience, stock up on canned (tomatoes, dried beans) and frozen (corn, spinach) vegetables.

- Go to a Farmers Market with family or friends. Keep trying new vegetables.

Here's an awesome recipe loaded with vegetables. Go Yum!

Roasted Veggie Pizza

Spread 3 cups of sliced mushrooms and 1 red pepper cut into ¼ inch slices on a large pan and roast at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Add ¼ inch slices of ½ large sweet onion to 1 tablespoon of hot oil and cook until caramelized. Remove onions and add 7 cups of small pieces of kale to 1 tablespoon of hot oil and stir-fry until wilted. Press 2 prepared pizza crusts on pans. Spread marinara sauce on crusts. Add veggies and cover with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake pizzas in a 450 degree preheated oven until crusts are golden brown on bottom and cheese is golden and bubbling.

Lose Weight with Ruth: Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right

Lose Weight with Ruth: Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right: Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right It’s been a busy month helping clients enjoy the taste of eating right. Are you like most people? If ...

Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right

Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right

It’s been a busy month helping clients enjoy the taste of eating right. Are you like most people? If food doesn’t taste good, you aren’t going to eat it. To be healthy, it’s important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. I have found that some people are turned off by vegetables, because they grew up eating them steamed, mushy and flavorless.

Keeping in mind the theme of National Nutrition Month, “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right”, I worked with my clients to find interesting, new ways to prepare vegetables. And do you know what? It worked.

• ·         If you don’t like anything green, try kale chips. They are surprisingly quick and easy.
• ·         If you think vegetables are bland, coat cut up pieces of potatoes and carrots in a little oil. Season with a new herb, like rosemary, and roast. Delicious!
• ·         If you absolutely don’t like vegetables, throw some spinach, celery, and cucumber in a blender with an apple, some yogurt, and ice for a refreshing smoothie.

With a little creativity, it’s easy to enjoy new flavors that taste great. For more ideas, check out eatright.org/nnm.