The dreaded “vacation spread” is something that we all know, and something which magazines love to preach about: How to avoid it, reverse it, and deal with it. The media gives us all kinds of advice, but very rarely touch on the actualities of how our bodies change on vacation.
Yet, why shouldn’t we indulge a little while on vacation? This is hard-earned time off in which we should be allowed to relax and have a little fun without feeling guilty about it. After all, a little weight gain is only as permanent as you allow it to be, but how much weight will you really gain? Is there any real chance of you struggling to get into your wardrobe when you return home?
What is Normal Weight Gain?
If you indulge a little, but don’t overdo it, you’re really only looking at a pound or two of weight gain across the average vacation; this is not earth-shaking. This small amount of weight gain will have little effect on your body mass or shape, and will, furthermore, be fairly easy to shift when you return to your usual routine, diet, and exercise regime.
In fact, studies have shown that stressing about vacation weight is worse for you than the actual gain itself, so just chill out and enjoy your vacation!
Water Retention Woes
If you find that you bloat, rather than gain weight, especially in your hands and feet it’s very possible that you’re one of the many people who suffer from water retention while on vacation. This is a temporary, benign, and yet very frustrating, and sometimes uncomfortable, condition which can be caused by a number of factors.
What you eat, for example, has a big say in whether or not you suffer from increased water retention. If your intake of sodium increases while on vacation this can have an effect on water retention; so too can an increased intake of carbohydrates, especially if you were inhibiting your consumption before vacation. Eating the right foods, however, can help; keep your intake of protein, fibre, healthy fats, and fruits up; watermelon, strawberries, and other soft fruits which are naturally rich in water are a good way to avoid water retention. They’re also a good way to indulge your sweet tooth while avoiding weight gain.
Find a Healthy Balance
Both weight gain and water retention are temporary if you return to your usual schedule when you return it’s very likely that your body will find its own balance again without the need for hours of gym sessions and restrictive dieting.
Just pay attention to your body, it’ll tell you what it needs. Eat, drink, and be merry; this is your vacation, after all, and you deserve to kick back and enjoy it without guilt.