Keeping the Weight Off When Abroad
The second I step out of my apartment, there is boulangerie after boulangerie, cafes, restaurants, and every food you could imagine in between. For someone who wants to be healthy but likes to eat, it's the best thing — and the worst.
So what to do? If you are like me, you want to have that balance between feeling good about yourself and still being able to indulge. Here are some habits and advice I can give you based on what I’ve learned. Five tips for keeping off the pounds…without losing your mind.
1. Walk. Walk. Walk.
Walking is proven to be an effective activity for shedding weight. And guess what, in new cities you are exploring, walking barely even feels like an exercise. On a sunny Saturday, or even a cloudy Monday, you can rack up 10,000 or more steps by simply walking and enjoying time with friends and passing historical and beautiful sights.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Lunchtime Walk
2. Moderation.
I’ll admit it, my first week in Paris I had an average of two croissants a day, a baguette and cheese and, to top it all off, steak and fries for dinner. Now that the initial splurging is over, one of the most helpful habits to practice is moderation. Yes, you can have bread, but you don’t need to have two baguettes! Don’t continue gouging yourself if you are already full. You have all the time in the world to make it back to that café tomorrow.
Image Credit: Pixabay
3. No gym membership? No problem.
Besides the cardio from walking, take a quick walk to a local department store and purchase some cheap hand weights and a yoga mat. You don’t have to go to the gym to be fit. There are plenty of free workouts online to choose from, and the best part is you don’t need to leave your room. A little here and there will make a difference in the end.
4. Drink up.
No, I’m not talking about wine, even though that’s definitely allowed. During the day, drink water. Carry around a reusable water bottle and keep refilling so you can have the booze at night if you want. Stay hydrated, stay healthy.
5. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Do not lose your mind over a couple pounds. If it happens, it happens. Be sure to think to yourself: when in your life will you be this young, with new friends, exploring the world, and trying the best food of your life? Not anytime soon. When you get back home, no worry, your gym will be there waiting for you — and the diets too.
Image Credit: Taylor Manley.
In the meantime enjoy this experience making memories in these new cultures. Cheers.
