Staying Balanced while Traveling

It has been a whirlwind of a month! I’ve been traveling all month long- from Mexico, El Paso, San Diego, Houston, Cape Cod, and Martha’s Vineyard. I was thinking about my trip to Mexico to visit family and I remembered that just a few years ago, I really struggled with the food every time I went home. I wanted to be able to enjoy my trip and eat all the amazing Mexican food, but this diet mentality followed me everywhere I went. I obsessed about the calories and exercise and just wanted to find balance to I could enjoy my time without worrying about the scale.

Let’s talk about why I’m even talking about balance and traveling. Most of us have one of two experiences when going on vacation. We either think we have to eat exactly the way we do when we’re home or we go off the rails completely and eat everything in sight. This typically leads to feelings of anxiety and deprivation, or feeling completely stuffed, bloated, and uncomfortable.

However, there is a way to travel in a way that leaves you feeling satisfied, able to explore different cultures- which a lot of times is in the food-but still feeling energized and vibrant so you can actually feel great and enjoy your trip.

So, what does balance mean to you? As a health coach when it comes to food, I really see balance as choosing healthy foods most of the time and indulging sometimes- and coming together in a way that allows you to feel your best so you can enjoy your life and experiences to the fullest.

How do we do this? Here are my top tips for staying balanced while traveling:

1. Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water will keep your appetite in check. Keep a reusable water bottle with you so you can easily refill it and drink throughout the day.You’ll be better able to recognize what you REALLY want versus just eating what’s in front of you, which brings me to my next point…

2. Consciously CHOOSE what you want. Be mindful about where you’re choosing to indulge. I like to choose things that normally wouldn’t be as tasty at home, or things that are specific to the place I’m in. Examples include pizza in Italy, my favorite Mexican dishes when I’m visiting my hometown, or pastries in France.

3. Bring your routine with you. Does your daily routine at home involve certain supplements, teas, probiotics, or essential oils? Bring those with you and make it a point to continue as much of your routine as you can.

4. Stay active. Movement is another form of fuel for your body and also helps regulate your appetite. Take the scenic route when you’re exploring a different city. Seek out some adventures that are unique to your destination. Examples include kayaking, paddleboarding, bike tours, and races.

5. Sleep When you’re sleep deprived, it becomes much harder to make healthy decisions for yourself. This typically leaves you choosing foods that bring your energy down and leave you feeling even more sleepy. I know you don’t want to miss out on all the activities in #4, so make sure you get some rest!

6. Check your Focus. Chances are, you didn’t just travel to eat your way around the city. Focus on enjoying the people you’re with and create meaningful connection. Being fully present in the moment means you’re not worrying and obsessing over food. Take a few deep breaths and decide where you want to focus your attention.

In my health coaching practice, I help people find balance so that they can find the foods that work for their unique body type and choose those most of the time, but also be able to participate in things they enjoy and eat the foods they love without guilt. This is what a healthy relationship with food looks like. This is the way to food freedom.

If you are ready to find your food freedom, click here to schedule a time to talk with me. I’ll help you develop a vision for your healthiest, happiest self, find out what’s getting in the way, and we’ll develop an action plan to get you where you want to go!

#eating #mindful #sleep #wellness #travel #health #food #movement