So I know what I have been doing the last few months and if you’re like me, you have been doing it too. Not only have I been looking forward to the summer season, but also approaching it with tiniest bit of dread because as we all know, this is the time when the clothes come off and it’s time to show off that body you have been working so hard on (or not). Now’s not the time to let your weight loss goals fall to the side.

When you booked that trip to Mexico or Hawaii or California, you probably pictured yourself ripped and tan drinking a cocktail of some kind by a beautiful body of water and maybe a beautiful “body” too. It is easy to picture throughout the winter and springs months of busy schedules and hectic lives. And that is when the primer begins. The closer you get to your trip, or your friend’s 4th of July pool party of whatever it is you are looking forward to, the more you realize, you have to put back that bagel and get your ass into the gym. So hours and hours of dedication to cardio, weight training and maybe a little yoga have lead to this summer. So now that you have gotten to this point, don’t throw it all away now on your vacation!

Don’t you want to look the same or BETTER when you get back?

Be organized. Now I’m not saying that every minute of your trip needs to be planned, just know your options in advance. It is easy to get caught up in sightseeing or relaxing and wait too long to eat. This is when the worst meal choices are made.

Don’t fall victim to the blood sugar drop. Go on a website like my Yelp where you can read about blogs about local restaurants wherever you may be going (info might be limited in foreign countries just yet) and even target the search according to dietary needs. For example put in “healthy lunch” in Santa Barbara, CA and see what you come up with or “vegan” in Haleiwa, HI. That way you can orient yourself to the place that you are visiting and not “accidentally” ingest 1000 calories of a burger from one of the big fast-food chains.

Another option is to get a hotel room or even rent a back house that has a fridge. That makes it easier to go ahead and buy healthy snacks at the supermarket or local farmer’s market and pack them with you on your daily adventures, not to mention it is a great way to save a few extra dollars so you can afford that para sailing that you have been wanting to try.

Having the time to be physically active is one of the great byproducts of planning a trip. When you are in an interesting place with beautiful weather, try to soak it up with activities that are enjoyable and help to burn those calories. Usually you won’t even notice that you have been exercising all day long by kayaking, swimming, hiking, and surfing and by the time night falls, you will be so tired you will sleep like you did when you were 10 years old.

So enjoy. Relax. Eat some local food and paddle, peddle and