Last week I was on vacation in the Florida Keys with my family. When I am on vacation, I am checked out so that is why this blog has been dormant for over a week.
Vacations are great but can definitely bring some challenges for healthy eating. This trip was no exception. I had two main goals for this vacation: sample as much local seafood as I could and exercise every day. Fortunately, I accomplished both. My husband and I both committed to getting some form of exercise every day. We were so glad that we did this. It helped us feel good and somewhat stick to our good intentions.
The seafood in the Keys was truly amazing. I enjoyed conch, lobster, snapper, mahi, shrimp and tuna (although that was not local). Oh it was so good! There were also many other goodies along the way – 2 types of Key Lime pie (a must for a trip to the keys), homemade ice cream sandwiches (a staple for our family gatherings) and various treats that my mom kept around the beach house. Oh, and maybe a margarita or two. =) I am sharing all this because I definitely ate more than I normally do. After nearly 7 days of all this great food, my mind starts to re-program itself. Things I would normally not eat started to end up in my mouth without a second thought. A cookie was an “easier” snack than a piece of fruit. Yikes! What was going on?!
It’s really easy to quickly turn from healthy practices and mindful eating. This proves that we are never truly immune from poor food decisions. Every food decision we make is practice for the next one. When you continuously practice unhealthy eating, doing anything different seems like a terrible task. On the contrary, when you are used to eating healthfully, an indulgent snack or meal may turn out to be an unwelcome change of pace.
As I get back into the swing of my regular life and eating after this vacation (as many of you will be doing as well this summer) I am reminded that once again, it may be hard work. I need to take a few days to retrain my mind to want and naturally choose my high fiber granola bars, simple lunches and fresh produce. Hopefully it will only take a day or two. My goal is jut keep going with my exercise, pass on the treats that come my way this week, and track my food on daily plate.
So don’t let your vacation get your weight up. Commit to exercise and returning as quickly as possible to your regular eating habits. Happy summer!
This is the snapper that I caught in the Keys and then later enjoyed eating.
