Fitness Regimen after Vacation

September 8, 2010

Getting back into a healthy routine post-vacation can be tough. I can definitely say that while I was floating in the ocean in Cozumel drinking a Corona, I sure wasn’t thinking “man, I can’t wait to get back in the gym! Ooh, and cooking my own healthy food again will be awesome!” Uh, no sir.

I’m pretty much an open book, so I’ll tell you what I did. Some might call it cheating, but I don’t care- it’s what I needed to do to get back into weight loss mode.

Prior to leaving for vacation, I knew that I wouldn’t want to cook when I got home. I would have loads of laundry and unpacking to do. So I cheated. Before I left, I had my fabulous cook friend, Elizabeth, agree to prepare some heat and eat foods for when I got back. The night I got home, she brought them over, and voila! No-thought food for the week all stocked up in my fridge. The low carb goodies included:

So maybe you don’t have a cooking-inclined friend or don’t want to spend the money to have someone else do it for you. I totally get it. Before you leave on your trip, why not make some dishes ahead of time and freeze them? Or at least stock your fridge with the meats you need, individually portioned out to make when you get home? In any weight loss journey, I think preparation is KEY. I was prepared to meet my lazy ways when I got back into town.

The food was handled, but what about the exercise? I will admit that I got home on Thursday night and didn’t get back in the gym until Tuesday. Could I have done better and gone? Yep. I can use excuses like it was the beginning of Kentucky Football season and that it was a holiday, but really, it doesn’t matter. I slept in on Friday, did laundry all day, tried to go through some emails (I’m still not through them all), made an impromptu trip to Ikea with my sister-in-law, and watched the Kentucky game with hubs family. I COULD have made time to go to the gym, but I didn’t. I’m not going to beat myself up over it. I went Tuesday and today (Wednesday) and will go again tomorrow. Friday will be a rest day and then Saturday is a session with Trainer Rob to get me going on my next program.

What tips do you have for people trying to get back into a fitness or weight loss routine after vacation (or even a temporary set back)?

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Tagged as: fitness, fitness routines, low carb, vacation, weight loss

  • Ann

    What a fantastic idea, especially after a cruise vacation! I’m going to borrow that plan, in some form or another. I usually just stock the freezer with food, and prepare away, when I get home. I like your idea better! xx

  • LyndawithaY

    Ask your friend if she is willing to share those recipes–they sound great. Good for you for preparing to land home back in the game.

    • http://www.skinnyemmie.com skinnyemmie

      I have the recipes! Will link them up tomorrow.

      - Emily
      sent from my phone, pardon any typos

  • Stephnms

    Hello Emmie! You’ve been nominated for an award! :) Please visit my blog at http://www.unveilingthediva.blogspot.com/ for more details. Congrats! *Hugs*

  • Eredblue

    there’s an ikea in ky? that makes moving back more appealing somehow!

    • http://www.skinnyemmie.com skinnyemmie

      There’s one in West Chester, OH, on the north side of Cincinnati. It’s about an hour and a half from Lexington.

  • http://abetterlesserme.blogspot.com/ D…

    That is such a good call to organise that for your return. When I’ve had a break from exercise for whatever reason I try and give myself a bit of a pep talk and remember that it will be hard but that certainly doesn’t mean I can’t do it. It just might take longer and be harder for a short while however at the end of the day you know you’ll feel great :-)

  • http://twitter.com/LiveStartled kathleen wright

    I think you were BRILLIANT to have those meals done.

  • http://slowmiles.wordpress.com/ Allison K.

    I love the idea of having meals ready for you when you get home from vacay! Preperation is key for me, it’s actually good if I have something frozen in the freezer at all times, for when I have a “I dont want to cook” moment. Which is usually…once a week!

  • http://twitter.com/LisaEirene Lisa Eirene

    Getting back to my normal routine has always been pretty easy for me. Just do it! Make yourself exercise just once after vacation and you’ll probably get back into the groove immediately. I also try to work out on vacations too, so I never “Really” slip up.

  • http://stellarfashion.blogspot.com/ Jennifer

    I had a rough time recently getting back into it after a vacation. I really like your idea of preparing a few meals ahead of time and freezing them! That would be so handy when you return, like I usually do, late on a Sunday night and there’s no time to grocery shop before the workweek begins. Good tip!! Keep on doing well Emmie! You’re awesome!

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