Vacation season is right around the bend! You workout regularly, you eat healthily, and you’re right on track with your fitness goals. So, how on earth do you stay that way during vacation time with all the great restaurants and other temptations that might impede on your healthy lifestyle?

Is there a way to have a guilt-free vacation? I’m glad you asked. Don’t worry, I have an excellent plan for you, and it doesn’t involve putting a damper on your vacation.

4 Ways to Enjoy Your Vacation Without Abandoning Your Fitness Goals

1) Bring Your Running Shoes

No matter if your vacation is three days or three weeks long, pack some workout clothes and running shoes so that you can at least spend 30 minutes each day doing some exercise.

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Vacation is the best time to get away from all the hustle and bustle and leave your alarm clock out of the equation, but waking up just a bit early and getting in a quick workout before you start exploring is a great way to stay on track. If that sounds too much like work for a vacation, wear that workout gear around the city or town you’ll be exploring and get your exercise by walking instead of taking a cab or a car to each of your destinations.

2) Don’t Feel Guilty About A little Cheating

Going on vacation is always a fun time to try new foods, and depending on your destination, there might be a few once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Should you miss them? Try a little of this and a little of that, but don’t overindulge with everything. It’s not going to ruin everything you worked for in just a short amount of time, so enjoy yourself, but also ‘exercise’ (pun intended) a little self-control at each meal.

3) Planning on a Cocktail or Two?

Lot’s of people like to have a few drinks while on vacation, and we all know that drinking alcohol can inhibit your fitness goals. But during this time, it’s ok to enjoy yourself, let loose, and relax a little bit.

Choose drinks that are low in calories and low in sugar and try not to have more than 2-3 drinks per setting. Getting drunk can lead to eating more and more as it increases cravings big time and can set you up for a rough morning ahead.

4) Enjoy Yourself!

Vacations only come once a year for most people. You’ve saved up for it, you’ve gotten time off of work for it, and you’ve been planning for it for awhile so have a great time on vacation without feeling guilty that you’re getting too far off track from your fitness goals. Make yourself a promise to be aware of what goes on your plate, to stay active during this time, but most of all, to have fun and enjoy yourself because you deserve it.