Dear Readers,

Please enjoy this article by a guest writer  Cole Millen who, like myself,  is  an avid Traveler and foodie. He has recently been experiencing how it is increasingly difficult to maintain a nutritious diet when indulging in cuisines across the world on his travels. As more folks begin trending towards a healthier travel experience, we thought it would be great for us to provide you with some tips and tricks from our own experiences to staying healthy while traveling
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Avoiding Weight Gain on Vacation



Whether you are going to a five star restaurant or a fast food drive thru window, have a good idea of what you are eating. Regardless of whether or not you are on vacation, you should always try to eat relatively lean and avoid overwhelming yourself with starches and sweets.  If you order a hamburger, eat it without the bun. Substitute french fries for a sweet potato, side salad, or a side of mixed vegetables. A well-seasoned steak with a side salad is better than munching on a plate of loaded potato skins, pizza, or breaded buffalo wings. Another good way to avoid eating badly at restaurants is to already map out restaurants that you would like to dine at while on vacation. Due your research on their menus and already have an idea of what you would like to eat. Leverage the power of online review sites to get an idea of the quality of the restaurants and more importantly, use these review sites to find more "healthy" options in the city you are visiting.

The number one concern for many people who are active gym goers is avoiding gaining a lot of weight while on vacation. Many people worry that they will splurge on restaurant food, alcoholic beverages and worse of all - not be able to keep up an exercise routine that will minimize weight gain. Nonetheless, if you plan on going on vacation pretty soon, here is a list of simple strategies to employ in order to avoid coming back home with "additional luggage".

Stay Hydrated

Many people, after returning from vacation often feel bloated and fat. One reason obviously is heavy food consumption, but another reason is water weight gain. A lot of individuals typically consume excessive amounts of carbohydrates and sugar while on vacation. This leads to the body storing extra glycogen in the liver and muscle fibers, which in turns forces the body the store more water weight. The easiest way to avoid this problem is to (1) Stay hydrated all the time by drinking plenty of glasses of water throughout the day, (2) Limit intake of starchy foods and sugary drinks such as sodas and alcohol. It is very common for people to mistake water weight gain with fat gain. The good news is water weight can easily be lost within a few days of healthy eating and exercise.

Find Hotels with Healthy Amenities

One of the most important aspects of a healthy vacation is staying in a hotel that allows you to maintain the same lifestyle as your home. It is important to research where you are staying to ensure that they have the appropriate offerings and amenities provided for you. What I have found valuable in my travels, are reviews from other travelers alike. Other travelers provide the most unbiased and honest opinions that you can be found, while also providing very informative and helpful tips. I recently traveled west and was able to find a great site that listed reviews for Las Vegas hotels where I was able to find a great one with a gluten free restaurant. Not only did the site provide reviews on the hotels but it also provided reviews for the restaurants in the area. This made it easier than ever to eat both nutritiously and deliciously in and out of the hotel. You should also research your options when it comes to finding out which hotels offer the best gym rooms to fit your workout routines. Many Hotel chains offer very great indoor gyms filled with just enough exercise equipment to help individuals maintain their physique while on vacation.

Eat Consciously At Restaurants

In the end, it’s also important to realize that you are on vacation. Sometimes, we need a break from our workout routines and diet. If you have been consistent year round with eating healthy and consistently working out, a few "bad" days won't do much harm.