Can exercise and vacationing go together? How about eating healthy and vacationing? To most people that may seem like an oxymoron but believe it or not it’s not. I’m a mountain girl and enjoy the great outdoors and every year my family and I spend a week up in the Sierras. Keep in mind, that I’m not much of a camper, meaning camping outside doing the “tent thing/ sleeping bag,” that just doesn’t work for me. However, I will stay in a cabin;) Anyways, we usually stay at a cabin right along the Lake. The cabin is rustic, meaning it contains limited amenities. Which means, it does have the basics (small kitchen, bathroom and a bed). The nearest grocery store and restaurant is about a good 45-minute drive down the mountain. My job is to plan the menu for the week and do grocery shopping for the week. And that means, there will be some healthy eating going on with exception to these “to die for” Cinnamon Rolls that we manage to make several 40 minute trips during the week to get. Oh, and I must confess that I did engage in eating a hot dog on one day and a Sirloin Burger on another day and yes I did have some cookies for desert on several days but it was the Kashi’s Trail Mix whole grain cookies that taste just like a macaroons :).
During my vacation my plan was not to exercise but to do the things that I enjoy such as taking an am run through the forest, going on a boat rowing tour across the lake with my family and Kayaking solo several times during our stay, hiking and my new favorite rock climbing. Every morning started with a breakfast of egg whites, a bowl of shredded wheat with soymilk, 2 cups of green tea and I was fueled for the morning. Even though my plan was not to exercise, I engaged in all the activities that I love to do and before I knew it, I had already spent around 2 hours or more some days exercising. For one thing, it’s not like riding the stationary bike or running on the treadmill wondering if you’ve reached the hour mark. Hiking through the forest and enjoying nature does not seem like exercise nor does scaling granite rocks along side of a waterfall seem like you’re burning calories. In fact, all I can think about is what a sense of freedom I have and the privilege to view such majestic sites of beauty that only God can create.
In closing, I’m sad that my trip came to end an end but I have no regrets of overindulging in foods that to some might be “off limits.” I ate balanced and if anything I ate more than normal to compensate for my high activity level. For example, trail mix was a wonderful energy sustainer for longer activities. I stuck to a trail mix that was mixed with dry fruit and nuts, less the simple carbohydrates such as chocolate, m&m’s etc… I also ate every 2 hours or so to properly refuel and stayed well hydrated. And when the evening came, I enjoyed a balanced dinner and popcorn as a late snack, a glass of chardonnay topped with a picturesque view of the lake. So next time when you ask yourself, how can I get through my vacation eating healthy and exercising? Simply pick out some activities that you enjoy doing and focus on eating a balanced diet. That will allow you to enjoy your vacation without the fluctuating energy level due to poor eating and planning. And in return, you will enjoy your vacation with a higher level of energy resulting in more time spent doing the things that you like best.
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