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I recently returned from a all-expenses paid trip to Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico and you know what I brought back with me? 5 extra pounds! Haha! No, seriously though, we went on this trip because I earned it and we did let loose as kind of our once a year free for all. But generally, when I travel, I have a system because I travel so often that gaining 5-10 pounds each time I go somewhere would really cause problems!

     So how do you come back with only extra weight in your luggage and NOT on your midsection? Here are some of my favorite tips!

• WATER, Water and More Water! I can’t stress this enough! A lot of times when you get home from a trip or vacation, you’ve consumed more salt than usual so you’re SO bloated! (Yeah, I went there) You also make drink a little more than usual and that means you’re going to make less than stellar food choices. WATER is your friend! Start it on the plane or car on the way to your destination because traveling dehydrates you as well! Start every morning with a big glass of water and be sure to have water at every meal. For every alcoholic drink you have, drink two glasses of water. Skip the sodas!
• Plan Ahead! My husband totally makes fun of my over-preparedness and planning, but it always pays off! My obsession with planning started with Walt Disney World trips where it’s completely necessary to put in some work ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy when you’re there. Now, I do a pre-check of wherever I’m going, but maybe for a different reason- I like to know what food options are available to me! If you’re going to be on the road, you can make a good plan on where to stop so you don’t end up with fast food, but instead can take a full break at a restaurant with some better options. That’s better for mental clarity and safety on the road anyway! If you’re staying at a hotel, see if there’s a restaurant and what they serve. If there isn’t a restaurant, see if there’s a grocery store nearby where you can grab some healthy snacks.
• And Speaking of Snacks…. Get Some! Another reason we gain so much weight on trips is because we abandon our several meals a day strategy that we have at home and dig into 3 solid, probably too big, meals a day. A lot of times that’s because of the ease- we don’t want to have to go to restaurant 5 times a day, right? The way I combat that is by bringing my own healthy snacks or hitting up a grocery store as soon as I arrive. Here’s a list of some things I like to have with me:
  • Shakeology– obviously, the easiest meal of any day anywhere
  • Oatmeal- you can make it in any hotel room with a coffee maker (you can actually steam veggies in a coffee pot too if you want, but that’s advanced, haha)
  • Fruit- if you bring it with you grab dried that doesn’t have added sugars or go to the grocery store for fresh apples & bananas
  • Protein Bars- I like the P90x bars but whatever you like is fine- just watch the sugar in the bars you choose and skip any that have soy
• Load Up on Veggies. Have you ever been traveling and found it hard to… ::ahem:: go? That’s lack of fiber and the best place for you to find fiber is in veggies. The best fiber-filled veggies are avocado, beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, chick peas, eggplant, greens (kale, etc), lima beans, mushrooms, potatoes with skin, pumpkin, peas, peppers, rhubarb, spinach, and sweet potatoes. Don’t skip the veggies on your plate or if you find a buffet, fill one full plate up with veggies and eat it before you go back for anything else.
• Don’t Go Carb Crazy. It’s hard on a trip to avoid the carbs, but make sure you try to eat a good balance of vegetables, fruit, protein, healthy fats, and carbs. It’s that balance that will keep you more on track and feeling better. Then you won’t end up coming home feeling badly because you’re bloated, gained weight, and your stomach is rebelling because of too many carbs!

Now, of course, I’m not saying to not enjoy yourself! You absolutely should! But if you travel often like I do, this will really help you stay on track so you don’t go home with an extra ten pounds- and I don’t mean from shopping!