Monday, December 8, 2008

Please don't hate me...

...but I'm going on a trip with my husband. For a week. With no children. And we're going far enough away that we have to fly there. This is the first time I will have ever been on a plane with him with no kids. This is also the longest we've ever gone away together (breaking our previous record of 4 days, which broke our previous record of 24 hours. What can I say? We don't get out much).

I am really excited about this trip, but there's something about traveling that I really hate: the unknown. I mean, I just don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I have a whole week without having to break up any Polly Pocket-related fights or get excited about anybody's excrement (did I mention that Sam is potty training?), and I'm really afraid that I'm going to sleep all morning every day. Oh, I'm just kidding (mostly), the unknown that I hate is all the stuff that goes with trying to lose weight. I don't know what kind of food I'm going to have access to, don't know when or where I'm going to exercise, don't know how much water I can drink and when (since I don't know when I'll find a bathroom)(or what condition it will be in, for that matter).

So all I can do is plan the best I can. I'm bringing along some portable snacks, exercise clothes, running shoes, and an exercise tube. In my favor is the fact that I never have to talk my husband into exercising (in fact, usually I have to talk him into leaving me alone about exercising already), and with the shoes and the tubing, I'll be able to get walks and modified strength training in, with bodyweight cardio moves to use in case other forms of exercise aren't feasible. I'm also going to try to get some fruit and water to keep in the rental car so that along with the snack I bring, we'll have healthy options available. As for the bathroom thing, I'm thinking I'm just going to have to hope for the best :)

What about you? What do you do when you're traveling? How do you make sure you get your exercise in and have access to healthy food you can eat? Is anybody traveling for the holidays and needs some help formulating a plan to get you through it with your goals in tact? Give me your best healthy-living-whilst-not-at-home tip! Also, do me a favor and try to work the word "whilst" into conversation today.

13 comments:

K and/or K said...

Congrats on your trip!!!! Walking on hot beaches burns lots of calories. Any of that involved?

wowo said...

I usually MapQuest the hotel and work out a running route in advance. Or you can check with the front desk and ask for their advice.

On the food: Wherever I go, I order a salad no matter what. I fill up on that first, then sample all the other goodies that are available. If I'm going someplace known for their cuisine (like seafood, deserts, etc.)I know I'm going to splurge and try it, so I fill up on veggies first so that a few bites of the less-healthy foods will satisfy me.

And even if I don't have the time/facilities to get my heart rate up, I at least stretch and do some strength moves. That way I'm not abandoning my routine completely.

Wendi said...

I'm thinking that you worry WAY too much whilst still being very happy for you and your opportunity to get away. That's the best I can do. :) Seriously, have a good time--there will be plenty of time left in the contest and in your life to worry about diet and exercise. Although I continue to be highly impressed with your determination. :)

Debbie said...

Sara, since I so doubt that your vacation will involve things like laying around all day sipping pina coladas, I don't think you need to worry. My general objective on vacation is to not GAIN weight. If that's a success, I feel good. Oh, and chew gum...gum is always good, saves you from the driving munchies (not to mention ear popping).

Sara said...

Kelly, there will be beaches, but not hot ones. It's pretty chilly there right now. I still want to walk on it though--I miss living by the ocean.

wowo, those are great tips! Thank you! I'm not sure it's safe to eat salad there (it's not in Egypt), but there's usually a veggie platter option, so I'll get that.

Wendi and Deb, I'm not worrying so much as trying to think ahead be as mentally ready as I can. I am such an all-or-nothing person that I want to have my moderation mindset already in place. Though you're right, Deb, that we won't be lying about the whole time. It's a working vacation for dh, but I'm fortunate that his work will involve a lot of sightseeing.

Holly said...

Go ahead and order the salad, Sara. The resulting diarrhea will give you a great advantage in this contest.
Happy to help.

Katie said...

Whilst checking the email one day (see there is the whilst you wanted), I read that it is really good to have peanut butter at least once a week. It helps with bone strength and soemthing else, I just can't remember. When I went to China, I was scared about what to eat, so I was going to pack a jar of peanut butter, some honey, and a loaf of bread. I just didn't get there. But the peanut butter is great on apples, bananas, chocolate--wait--that wasn't supposed to be there...oops...:) I've also heard that peanut butter and bananas go well between two (whole wheat) tortillas. Just a suggestion. Have a great trip!

queen40 said...

Sara,
If I had a week with no kids and my husband, my diet would be the LAST THING on my mind! Have a great trip and stop trippin' about it.

Sara said...

Holly, you first.

Katie, peanut butter's a great idea (and one I hadn't thought of), thanks!

Maureen, not trippin', planning. There's a difference.

Sun Productions said...

Sara,

You can't really discount the whole salad-leads-to-diarrhea-weight-loss. I lost 10 pounds that way...decided that because I was already losing, I might as well keep going, you know. I'm just saying...

Have fun on your trip without the kids. I'm very jealous.

Chantelle

queen40 said...

Sara,
What? I don't get it....

Tanwon said...

I say pick activities on your trip that are physically interactive! And when eating out share meals because servings are always too large. . . unless your hubb-o is the eating type go with the fish. Always a healthy, yummy choice if you like it.

wowo said...

I laughed out loud when I realized you were overseas...possibly in Egypt...I assumed you were going to some remote location like Cleveland or Denver.