5 ways to lose weight while on vacation

Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you have to gain weight. You can even lose weight while you're relaxing in a far-away vacation hot-spot if you use these five simple tips. You've worked hard to lose weight; why give all that up just because you're not going to work every day?

Think about your day. One of my clients eats a smaller breakfast and lunch, and then enjoys a bit larger dinner when she's on vacation. Dinner is her favorite meal, so it makes sense to balance out her calorie intake by eating less during the day. If you love breakfast, do the opposite: choose a smaller lunch and dinner, and enjoy a favorite food first thing in the morning.

Ration alcohol. Part of the fun of going on vacation is sampling the local beverages. The operative word here is sample. Share one of the vat-sized tropical drinks with a friend. Drink lower calorie lite beer at least part of the time. If you want to blend in with the rest of the vacationers, drink sparkling water and lime juice. It looks like an alcoholic beverage, but without the calories!

Pile on the produce. Whenever I travel, I adore sampling the local fruit and vegetables. Even if I don't know their names, it's fun - and delicious - to try as many new salads, cooked vegetables, and fresh fruit as possible. These foods aren't just low in calories; they're also high in fiber. Fiber helps fill us up, so we feel full sooner and stay full longer. Aim for half of your plate - at every meal - to be covered in fruits and veggies.

Vacation is not a non-stop eating marathon. Just because there's food around all day doesn't mean you have to eat it. Schedule your meals and snacks, just like you do at home. That doesn't mean you have to get up at the crack of dawn to eat breakfast, but make it a vacation habit to eat that first meal of the day. Then eat every 2-4 hours - on a schedule - throughout the day. This tactic accomplishes two thing: it keeps you from getting ravenous and more likely to overeat; and it eliminates random eating.

Plan your meals. You probably have a plan for your meals at home when you're tyring to lose weight. Follow that same plan while you're on vacation, substituting in vacation-type foods. If lunch is usually a sandwich and a piece of fruit, stick with the same thing on vacation. Try a different type of sandwich, or a new kind of fruit, but keep the basic meal the same. Used to dinner of a palm-sized portion of meat, chicken or fish with a bunch of veggies? Enjoy the local fish, skip the rice or potato, and pile on the salad for your vacation dinner.

Have fun, get some rest, and come back a few pounds lighter. That's what I call a successful vacation!