Pound the Pavement to Keep Vacation Pounds Away44 lbs LOSTso farMay 8, 2008 by Israel Lagares | 7 comments
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Sarah Scrafford, an industry critic, as well as a regular contributor on the subject of RN.
I hate vacations, not because I’m a workaholic, but because I’m one of the unlucky millions who gains two pounds for every one that I sweat and toil to shed, simply by looking at a cheese burger. Working hard to keep my weight in check all through the year and then gaining back a considerable number during two weeks of vacation, well, that’s not something I would wish on even my worst enemy.
But my vacations being what they are - long lazy hours lying in the sun, elaborate five-course dinners, ice-cream sundaes to beat the midday heat - the scales tip upward rather rapidly even before I’ve unpacked the last bag. Being the hedonist that I am for those two weeks, my taste buds would never forgive me if I put them through the crackers and water test.
And once back to the daily grind of mundane work, there’s just not enough time to dedicate to more hours of working out at the gym, and working more than 9 to 5 hours makes me cranky when I’m forced to go on a diet. All I can do is stick to what I’ve been doing before I left for the vacation (which turns out to be a weight-watcher’s nightmare in hindsight) and rue the fact that the buttons on those snug jeans are repelling each other like similar poles of a magnet.
Caught between the devil and the deep sea, I took a firm decision – to have my cake and eat it too and still stay slim and shapely. I would eat all I wanted while on vacation, but I would make sure those delicious bites were never converted to even an ounce of fat on my body. And if you’re wondering how on earth I managed to pull that off, keep reading.
- I replaced my stilettos with sensible walking shoes, and I walked. I walked up and down the stairs at my hotel, I chose the table furthest from the door at the restaurant, I left my computer and cell phone behind and walked to the furthest Internet café and public phone each time I needed to communicate with people back home and at the office. Since I’m addicted to both my phone and the Internet, this strategy worked wonders for it ensured that I would have to walk at least a mile a day.
- I found a bicycle and explored the town - it beat taking public transportation or driving a car.
- Instead of just lazing in the pool, I actually swam a few laps everyday (and then allowed myself to laze).
- I filled myself with fluids, water in particular, just before I kept my date with the sagging buffet table. Window shopping was all I could do, as my stomach could only hold so much with all that water sloshing inside. Of course, my mouth watered long after the tables were cleared, but by then it was too late to let go of my self control.
- And when I did let go and stuff myself, I made sure it was before my long walks or bicycle rides. Instant energy for those activities equates to no extra pounds on my hips and waist.
The scales told the whole story on my return home. Not only did I manage to keep the excess pounds at bay, I also returned refreshed and ready for work, not hung over and lethargic as I usually do.
Sarah invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com
Is your Food Worth its Weight in Exercise?44 lbs LOSTso farMay 6, 2008 by Israel Lagares | 21 comments
Photo Courtesy of Odalaigh
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Lisa Newton who can be found at Iowa Avenue and the Healthy Lifestyle Bloggers.
If you’re trying to lose weight, exercise is the best way to create a negative calorie balance. Too many people have the misconception that exercising […] Continue Reading…
Are You Overweight?44 lbs LOSTso farMay 2, 2008 by Dr. Kal | 13 comments
That’s an easy question to answer, but the answer is often difficult to accept. The answer lies in your Body Mass Index (B.M.I.). BMI is a ratio of your weight to your height. It is calculated by multiplying your weight (in pounds) by 703, then dividing […] Continue Reading…
Former Fat Guy Rob Cooper On Diet and Nutrition44 lbs LOSTso farApril 29, 2008 by Israel Lagares | 5 comments
Last week I posted a fitness interview with Rob Cooper. He is the guy that lost 300 lbs the natural way. This week we will focus on his diet and nutrition. We can stand to learn something from his weight loss journey. Health wise, I think continual learning is […] Continue Reading…
Twitter’s Effect on Your Health44 lbs LOSTso farApril 27, 2008 by Israel Lagares | 17 comments
I consider myself a savvy internet user, but there are some internet tools that I refuse to use. Twitter was one of those such tools. I’m all about being as healthy as possible so when I see an addicting new internet tool I try to avoid it. Why? Simply […] Continue Reading…
Gym Stereotypes To Laugh At44 lbs LOSTso farApril 25, 2008 by Israel Lagares | No comments
I was forwarded the perfect video for this week’s Fatso Friday. I for one can’t stand those people at gyms that stick out like sore thumbs. It’s the main reason why I’m not a member at a gym anymore. You know you’ve seen them, they come in pretty distinct […] Continue Reading…
Former Fat Guy Rob Cooper On Fitness44 lbs LOSTso farApril 23, 2008 by Israel Lagares | 6 comments
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Rob Cooper, the Former Fat Guy, about his natural weight loss experience. We covered his fitness, nutrition, and mental health. He is an inspiration to all, he once weighed nearly 500 lbs. 500 POUNDS! It took him only two and […] Continue Reading…
Earth Day, What’s The Big Deal?44 lbs LOSTso farApril 22, 2008 by Israel Lagares | 8 comments
Photo Courtesy of Waffle Whiffer
Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day. So I guess I should be saying happy earth day, right? Earth Day is supposed to inspire awareness and appreciation of Earth. Wow, an entire day just for the environment.
What’s The Big Deal?
One day out of the year we […] Continue Reading…
Finding Health and Balance as a Blogger44 lbs LOSTso farApril 21, 2008 by Israel Lagares | 9 comments
I was going through my daily RSS health reading when I came across an article in the NY Times. By now, you should know what it’s about: blogging being “bad” for your health. Being the curious soul that I am, I went over and read the article and it […] Continue Reading…
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