Vacation Strategy: Use Selective Indulgence to Stay on Track While Traveling

When it comes to vacation, it feels like we often find ourselves caught between wanting to enjoy the food and sticking to our health and/or weight loss goals. But what I've learned? After years of all-or-nothing mentality? You don’t have to choose between the two!! In this post, I want to talk about the concept of selective indulgence—a strategy that allows you to enjoy the foods you love without packing on the extra pounds. This is not only helpful for vacation and travel - it's even an ideal strategy for eating out at restaurants or social gatherings in general!

What Is Selective Indulgence?

I define selective indulgence as making smart choices that let you enjoy your favorite treats without going overboard - but more importantly - being picky about what you indulge in. What is ACTUALLY worth the extra calories? It’s a balance between indulging and keeping your caloric intake in check by only having what you truly want, and skipping the rest. This approach allows you to satisfy your cravings while still staying on track with your fitness goals.

For example, on my recent trip to Portugal, I made bread my go-to treat. Bread is something I usually limit at home, but on vacation, I decided to fully indulge. Instead of having both bread and desserts, I focused on bread and skipped most of the desserts. This was an easy decision for me, as I’m not a fan of custard, so the famous pastel de nata didn’t tempt me much (although I did try it just to say I did! Hah!) By being mindful of what I truly enjoy, I was able to indulge without guilt and stay on course with my weight loss journey.

Use Walking as Your Vacation Hack

One of the best ways to offset any indulgence is to stay active, and of course, walking can be your go-to strategy. Not only does walking help burn calories, but it also allows you to explore a new destination in a more intimate way. During my trip to Lisbon, I made sure to surpass my daily 10,000 steps by starting each morning with a 30-45 minute walk. This set the tone for an active day and ensured that I stayed on track with my fitness goals.

Planning Active Sightseeing

Incorporating physical activity into your vacation doesn’t have to be complicated. Plan your sightseeing with movement in mind. Whether it’s hiking, cycling, or simply walking through the city, staying active will enhance your experience and keep you healthy. For example, Lisbon’s hilly terrain was a natural workout, allowing me to burn extra calories without even thinking about it.

Vacation doesn’t have to derail your health and fitness goals. By choosing a walk-friendly destination, engaging in active sightseeing, and making savvy food decisions, you can strike the perfect balance between relaxation and activity. With a little planning and some clever choices, your trip can be rejuvenating for both your body and soul. Enjoy your vacation and the myriad of benefits that come with staying active on the go!

I made a YouTube video about this as well that covers these points if you'd rather watch me talk through them. Let's keep pushing toward our goals!