Lose weight over summer vacation

If you’re like most people, you’ve been dreaming of that vacation to the beach for a long time. You’ve been working hard all year to lose weight, and now it’s finally here!

But wait—you don’t want to show up at the beach looking like a sausage in a swimsuit, do you?

Of course not. And here’s a secret: Losing weight fast is actually really easy. In fact, all you need to do is follow these simple steps:

Tips to lose weignt over summer vacation

1. Cut out alcohol – a week or two before trip.
2. Load up on veggies and fiber (good example of fibers: broccoli, green veggies, high fiber tortillas, high fiber cereal), they keep you full longer and if they are high in fiber they tend to be lower in carbs.
3. I don’t suggest skipping any meals! I try to give myself a 14 hour window before my first and last meal. My last meal is usually at 6:00pm. I have a major sweet tooth and like having something sweet after dinner. I used to do it around 8:00 before bed but now I have it directly after dinner and then by the time I workout, get the kids ready for school, I don’t eat again till 9:30am the next morning, giving myself a large gap in between meals.
4. Drink half your body weight in water every day before the trip. When you are dehydrated you tend to over eat and when you are hydrated your skin will look fresh and ready for your vacation.
5. Cut back on simple carbs such as white breads, pasta and sweets. These foods can lead to water retention and puffiness and cause a crash in energy levels. I don’t eliminate carbs but before a vacation I try not to eat any carbs after lunch. I don’t cut out vegetable carbs such as sweet potatoes but I don’t have any pasta in the evenings.
6. Include the Fab 4 in every meal which includes a green, fat, fiber & protein. For breakfast I start everyday with my Fab 4 smoothie. You can find the recipe here.
7. Get 30 mins to 1 hour of exercise 5 days a week.
8. Don’t do any juice cleanses. They are full of sugars and you will crash and then feel hungry at the end.
9. Workout in the morning on an empty stomach. You burn direct fat instead of food you may have eaten that morning.

5 Tips for Losing Weight Before Going to a Maui Beach

1. Schedule a daily time to work out – preferably with workout buddies

My beach vacation includes three other people who want to exercise daily, which makes it much easier for me to stick to my weight loss goals! We work out at 7:30 every day, rain or shine, together or apart. We alternate between a Yoga Weight Loss DVD in my room, a jog on the beach, or 45 minutes in the fitness center.

2. Surprise your body by exercising in different ways

Our hotel — the Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas — has a fitness room. However, you won’t find me there because those exercise machines don’t offer me anything different. I prefer to run along the beach outside my hotel room, while my travel companions prefer the fitness center. Jogging on soft sand is a great way to exercise your body in a way it’s not used to, and will help you break out of a weight loss plateau.

3. Walk – don’t drive – everywhere until your vacation

We loved the “Drums of the Pacific” luau at the Hyatt in Maui, but we didn’t realize until a few days later that it’s only about a one hour walk on the Beachwalk from the Kaanapali Villas! I would’ve loved to have walked to the luau and back – and that’s one of the best ways to lose weight before and during a beach vacation. Walk, walk, walk as much as possible…stay away from the cars, buses, and trolleys if you can.

4. Do the physical activities that Maui is famous for

To lose weight before a vacation on a Maui beach or anywhere in the world, find out what the most popular exercise or fitness activities are there. Take surfing lessons, go scuba diving or snorkeling, or try windsurfing. Challenge your body to move in different ways and at different speeds than you’re used to.

5. Take your workout DVDs on vacation

All the rooms at the Kaanapali Villas have DVD players and big TVs, so you can do your home-based workouts before heading out to the beach. I’m kicking myself for only bringing one Yoga DVD – I wish I would’ve brought my 10 Minute Solutions Exercise Videos. My plan was to take a break from my usual exercises and go swimming and running on the beach, but I really wish I would’ve brought my Pilates videos.

Weight Loss Tips for When You’re on Vacation

1. Eat out – in restaurants – as little as possible. When you’re booking a vacation in Maui (read 10 Tips for Booking Vacation Packages to Maui), make sure your room has a full kitchen. Fill the fridge with fresh fruit, veggies, and other healthy foods – and eat as many meals at “home” as possible. Restaurant meals are not only packed with calories, they’re more expensive.
2. If you eat in restaurants, try the local Hawaiian cuisine. Let’s face it: eating out is part of a fun beach vacation! Avoid the fast food restaurants (which are all over Maui), and avoid food that’s known to be high fat (most Mexican meals, for instance). To prevent weight gain, look for local restaurants that feature Maui cuisine.
3. Avoid eating big evening meals. My husband can eat a huge meal at night and wake up hungry because his metabolism is faster than a speeding bullet. But, most people who eat a lot at night don’t burn the calories, and wake up feeling lethargic and heavy. Whether you’re on vacation or not, eat a big breakfast, a medium-sized lunch, and a light dinner. Don’t eat after 6 or 7 pm.