Whenever we book a trip, immediately after, something like this goes through my head.
Ok, this trip is xx number of months away. If I start attempting to lose weight now, how much will I weigh when we actually go? What could I wear? What would I look like.
Each and every trip.
You might guess that I have struggled to reach my weight loss goals for many years. You would be right.
I’m continually inspired by using my travel plans as motivation to put the idealized picture of myself in my upcoming vacation and to strategize about how to get there.
I’m not perfect, and I’m not usually successful, but I do appreciate a gentle inspiration to encourage my to act on my desire for better physical health.
Today, I’m going to share some reasons why you might also want to set a health goal related to your vacation plans, how to reach your goal, dealing with setback, and maintaining your progress once you get there.
Why set a health goal before a big trip
For a lot of people, setting a time-based health goal is critical to achieving success. We are significantly less likely to reach goals that are not time-bound, especially health goals.
For me, I love traveling, and looking forward to a trip is as exciting as actually taking the trip. When I plan a health goal around an upcoming vacation, I not only get to imagine myself in that place that I’ve dreamed, but in a body that I’ve imagined for some time.
For me, I find it inspiring. Possibility is infectious.
Whether the goal is to be a particular weight, have a certain level of fitness (we love intense hiking), or to wear something specific (tiny ski pants), I couple it with my vacation.
Personally, I also find it somewhat easier to keep my fitness and health goals in mind when I am on vacation. Once I’ve broken out of my day to day and am completely free, I find it considerably easier to, say, mind what I eat.
And, given how much we walk and explore while on vacation, I hardly have trouble meeting fitness goals.
Designing a strategy to reach your health goals
The key to actually realizing your trip-bound health goal is to make a solid plan.
By now, I have been attempting to get to my goal weight for the better part of my adult life. I know about how much weight I can reasonably lose in month, how I feel as I make changes to my routine, and how the ups and downs go.
I’m also a “wizard” on Noom, my current preferred weight loss app, reflecting my experience in this domain.
You can find a wealth of advice everyone on the web about creating a health and fitness plan, because just about everyone is wrestling with their weight.
My advice is simple. Know thyself. Be gentle to thyself.
Don’t plan an overly ambitious fitness plan or ridiculously restrictive diet. It won’t work. It isn’t worth the agony you mentally endure to discipline yourself so severely.
Be sensible. Be moderate. Keep working.
For a medically supported plan that fosters solid nutrition, reasonable expectations, and science backed suggestions, try out the Mayo Clinic’s plans, books, and advice.
Personally, I’ve been using Noom for just over a year. It aligns well with my psychological and whole-self perspective on health, fitness, nutrition, and self-care.
Dealing with setback… be kind to yourself
As a self-declared expert in gaining the weight back, I won’t tell you that it is easy to lose and maintain weight. And I certainly don’t judge if you find yourself hitting reset on your goals.
The key thing is to, at all times, be kind to yourself. You will still have an amazing and fun-filled vacation, even with out that bikini.
You will still drink wine at sunset and laugh with your partner, even if you didn’t quite reach the summit you had planned.
Travel will still excite the inner part of your soul, regardless of what you wear or what you look like.
Just, keep trying. Keep setting goals, keep working. Be yourself in your own way.
You can never do better than your best. And your best looks different from day-to-day.
3 Tips to maintain your weight loss success
This is the tricky part, the part I haven’t quite gotten very good at yet.
Once you reach your goal, or are satisfied with your progress, you’ve got to hold yourself there. You’ve got to transition from intense, dedicated work to something… less intense.
Of all the oodles of advice about how to lose weight and get in shape, there is hardly anything about how to transition. How to be. How to stay.
What I have learned, with lots of experience trying and failing to maintain…
- Be vigilant. It is easy for one splurge day to turn into 3 weeks. Be aware of what you are doing and how it aligns with the habits that brought you weight loss success. How does your today measure up?
- Get rid of the too big clothes. Clothes will remind you how you are doing in regards to remaining vigilant. Clothes, are objective. Listen to your clothes and only keep clothes from the size you are right now in your closet.
- Try something new. If you’ve really dedicated yourself to weight loss, you’ve done a lot of things the same. You will be tired of salad for lunch or that Zumba class, or these workout clothes. You will not have anyone available to talk to on your evening walk. This is the time to spice things up. Try something new for your health and wellness.
Wrapping Up
I realize this post was more about weight loss and health than traveling. But always, always coupled with my travel plans lies a weight loss goal.
I’m doing it now. We’ve scheduled a cruise for next spring break. I’ve lost 5 pounds, yet again, in my journey to look like the person I imagine in my future vacation.
This is hard stuff, and I don’t have all the answers. But, rather than look at your vacation as too far away to worry about, use that time to try to get a bit closer to another big goal you might have – one that will reward you each and every day.
Your health. Your longevity. Your best life.
Cheers,
Andrea
