My spring break cruise must-haves: bikinis, flip-flops, sunscreen and sunglasses.
But here is one thing I definitely leave at home: a diet.
I have to be honest. One of my favorite things about cruising is the variety and endless amount of food. I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t planning on eating dessert.
It’s vacation and I want to enjoy myself. But just because I will be indulging in dessert does not mean I will forgo all of my healthy habits.
My gym shoes were the first things I put in my suitcase. I know I will be busy having a blast with all my friends, but I still plan on getting my exercise fix. However, I may not be as coordinated in the gym. I envision the boat hitting a huge wave, knocking me off balance in the middle of a bicep curl, then landing flat on my face. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but if it does, at least I will know I squeezed in a workout.
I know sitting by the pool all day, soaking in the sun will be very tempting, but I will have to part with my friends for just an hour a day to exercise. I know it will be worth it. Exercise puts me in a better mood, and when I skip exercise I tend to get cranky. I don’t want to be “that girl.”
So I am going to promise myself something right now. Exercise will be the first thing I do in the morning. If I wait until the afternoon, I will be less likely to hit the gym because I won’t want to leave my friends or the perfect tanning spot right in front of the pool.
I know I’m going to be surrounded by endless amounts of food all day for the next week, and I do plan on indulging a little. I believe that everything is OK in moderation. I will eat one dessert a day, not three. I’m not going to beat myself up for eating a piece of cake. Part of the fun of vacation is the food. I’m going to accept that my eating habits on the cruise will not be as healthy as my home-cooked meals, and I’m just going to enjoy it.
I think this mentality contributes to my success in maintaining my goal weight throughout college. Don’t beat yourself up. Eat healthy as much as you can, and it’s OK to treat yourself sometimes. I even think it’s healthy.
So with that, I will leave for my cruise. Although I will not be blogging for the next six days, I still want to hear your tips on staying healthy. What keeps you motivated? See you Saturday!