Why you get fatter on holiday and how to prevent it!

By Dr Harry

Going on holiday usually leads to gaining a few extra pounds. Being aware of this fact will help you to be on your guard, and avoid fat creep during the vacation season.

I expect you go on holiday to enjoy yourself. For many of us, summer vacation is something to look forward to the whole year. But it's all too easy to come back from holiday weighing more than you expected.

​Why are you at risk of gaining weight during the holiday season? 

There are many reasons for possibly gaining weight, but they fall into two broad categories: doing less, and eating more.

Doing less

• Extra relaxation: holidays are a time to take it easy and relax; extra time spent relaxing by the pool
• Time off from calorie counting: it is a time to give yourself time off work and calorie counting which can very much feel like an extra job!
• Loss of routine: you may find it difficult to find time or the opportunity to have scheduled exercise. Perhaps you didn't even find room to bring your trainers along :)

Eating more

• Excitement to try the local cuisine: after all, you may not get a chance to eat authentically like this again. With your guard down, it is easy to overindulge.
• Dining out a lot: you are away from home and it is almost impossible to control how food is prepared. For instance, they might use more fat than you would.

The usual story of an imbalance between calories going in and energy expenditure:  put all this together and no wonder your weight inevitably balloons!

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​How much weight do you think you will put on during your next vacation?

The answer to that question depends on where in the world you will visit and what you are planning to do. 

Visiting America is well known for piling on extra pounds for a variety of reasons: the large food portions being one. 

Beach holidaymakers have options to be more active: beach volleyball, swimming, watersports, etc. But the opposite also holds true: sunbathing, building sandcastles and reading on the beach are also popular beach time activities which are not that calorie burning.

How can I avoid fat creep during my vacation?

Being aware of the problem is a great start because you can be on the lookout for pitfalls and be ready to act positively to prevent problems before they arise.

• Mix relaxation with planned activities: hiking up a mountain or going for a long walk along the sand dunes can be a refreshing change to mindless hours of endless sun worshipping.
• Schedule a jog or gym session: remember to take your running shoes and appropriate gym gear. 
• Plan to eat normal amounts: don’t supersize portions just because they are new experiences. If you are given a portion much larger than you would normally: keep some for later or just leave some; or better yet, share with a friend or dining companion.
• Make sensible choices when dining out: fried food is notoriously unhealthy especially French fries and anything battered, mayonnaise (you get the idea!). So go for the steamed catch-of-the-day and replace the double chocolate gateaux for fresh fruit salad. 

Weigh yourself pre-holiday and also when you return. If you follow these tips and other healthy living advice, you should find that your perfect bikini beach body is not bursting out of your work clothes when you get back to reality!

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​Although your personal finances and your business success are my primary interest, I believe you only operate at peak efficiency when you're fit and healthy. If you feel good, it filters through to your work. To help you with that, click for your free ebook: The Quick Guide to Sexy
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