How Traveling Affects your Weight
Vacations are often planned around relaxation and indulgence. While it is no surprise that people don’t eat very healthy while on vacation, food may not be the only thing that contributes to vacation weight gain. This article will open your eyes to the many ways that your vacation is making you gain weight.
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SLEEP
Switching time zones interrupts your gut microbes’ circadian rhythms, which can contribute to weight gain and even metabolic complications linked to diabetes.
Additionally, although vacations are often used as a way to catch up on lack of sleep, one study concluded that individuals who sleep in until around 10:45 consume 248 more calories and twice the amount of fast food than those who wake up earlier. You’re also more likely to skip your workout if you sleep in, so opt for a mid-afternoon nap rather than hitting the snooze button.
COUNTRY HOPPING
If you‘re traveling to another country your gut biology will almost surely be impacted.
University of Minnesota biologists collaborated with biologists from around the world to study the impact of the Westernized diet on new US residents. It was found that immigrants began to lose their native microbes almost immediately upon entering the United States. They then acquired the alien microbes that are present in European-American people. This microbe exchange resulted in a significant overall loss of gut bacteria diversity, which reduces a person’s ability and chances of fighting off various diseases. If the loss of diversity happens almost immediately for immigrants, it also happens when you travel. You can improve or worsen your gut bacteria in 24 hours. So, depending on where you travel to, you may benefit from a more diverse microbe.
As your gut microbes affect how your food is digested, a diverse microbe can prevent weight gain.
LACK OF AMENITIES
If you’re used to a routine of hitting the gym 5 days a week, abruptly halting that physical activity decreases caloric burn and you may find yourself gaining weight while eating what you normally would. To accommodate, pick a hotel that supplies a fridge in each room. This way, you can stock up on healthy yogurt, fruit, veggies, and other perishables that make calorie-light snacks. If your hotel room does not have a fridge, you can still get healthy granola bars, nuts, and beef jerky to stop yourself from ordering room service every time hunger strikes.
Additionally, while it’s possible to do some simple workouts in your hotel room, and even go for a run around the hotel property, if you can score a hotel with a gym you’ll be able to maintain your normal routine which will even make it easier to continue once you arrive back home.
TOO MANY AMENITIES
If your cruise or resort is all-inclusive, not only is indulging in food and drink easy, it’s a way to ensure you get your money’s worth out of the trip. When this is the case, it’s almost guaranteed you will eat more than necessary, and more than you’re actually hungry for. Try sticking to three main meals a day, like you would at home, and a few small, healthy snacks. While it’s okay to indulge a few times, doing so consistently will add up and leave you feeling bloated by the end of your trip.
TYPE OF VACATION
A week of surfing and a week long road trip present opposite activity levels. Not only do road trips guarantee hours of sitting in the car, they can also become boring. One of the most common ways to combat this boredom is to take pit stops at gas stations and drive thru restaurants for unhealthy foods.
If you are leaving for a road trip, prepare your car with an ice chest full of healthy snacks and plenty of water. Combat boredom with some car games, upbeat playlists and instead of stopping for food, stop at monuments and scenic points.
AIRPORT FOOD
If you have an early morning flight, chances are you were more worried about remembering to pack your toothbrush than you were packing a healthy breakfast. So, your only option becomes airport food. This may not sound so bad until you learn that the average airline meal packs 1,054 calories, and seemingly “healthy” snack boxes sometimes have even more. Do whatever you can to avoid relying on what your flight attendants offer you and pack something TSA-friendly the night before your flight.
YOUR SHOES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
Buying brand new shoes for your vacation seems like a good idea until they give you painful blisters during your first day out. If this happens, chances are you’ll avoid any opportunity to be active for the rest of the trip and find yourself sitting by the pool ordering food and drinks to occupy your time.
Instead, make sure your shoes are broken in and will allow you to comfortably participate in walks, hikes and other activities that burn some calories.
YOU SPEND TIME IN THE SUN
Much like blisters, acquiring a sunburn early on during your trip means less outdoor time and more lying around indoors. You’re also less likely to work out because any sort of tight clothing or sweating makes your burn, well… burn. Remember to wear an appropriate SPF and reapply throughout the day to avoid a sunburn nightmare.
YOU DRINK AT EVERY MEAL
It’s one of your few vacations a year so you’re looking forward to letting loose. However, boozy breakfast, lunches, dinners, and every occasion in between dehydrate your body and leave you confusing hunger for thirst. Thus, the calories from the alcohol lead you to consuming food your body doesn’t need, contributing to weight gain.
YOUR TRAVEL BUDDIES
When you travel with a group of people, their lifestyle habits become yours. Vacationing with people who want to lay on the beach all day and drink bottomless mimosas and Pina Coladas puts you at an increased risk for gaining weigh while vacationing. If you travel with people who plan a balance of physical activity and relaxation you’re more likely to maintain your weight and go home feeling less regretful.
Weight gained while on vacation is not always burned off in the weeks after you return home. One vacation is enough to throw your routine out of whack and lay the groundwork for resorting to old, unhealthy habits. While indulging on vacation is part of the experience, doing what you can in between treating yourself will significantly help maintain and protect your health and weight.