5 Tips To Stay Lean On Holidays

Holidays are so important for your health because your body needs time to relax and unwind. But let’s be honest, we also tend to let our hair down, eat more and exercise less! Not that there's anything wrong with that but you can have too much of a good thing and staying consistent with a few easy tips will mean you don't have a big mountain to climb when you're back to reality. 

1. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper

We’re not suggesting you skip dinner here, but making dinner the lightest meal of your day, avoiding starchy carbohydrates in the evening and making sure there are at least a few hours between dinner and bedtime will ensure you sleep better and wake up feeling lighter.Out to dinner a lot over the holidays? Go for the option with a small piece of meat, fish or poultry (or a vegetarian protein like beans, legumes and tempeh) with lots of green veggies. Avoid filling up with potatoes, white rice, pasta or bread. You're on holidays so totally treat yourself with desert, although maybe only once or twice a week... and sharing desert rather than having the whole thing to yourself might let you get in one extra ;) 

2. Keep your liver clean

Your liver is a powerhouse when it comes to burning fat. To help this super-efficient organ blast through belly fat, make sure you minimise stimulants and alcohol.Addicted to coffee? I used to be but then it bothered me that I couldn't live without it and decided that a holiday would be a really good time to go cold turkey. I struggled for a few days but tea was a great substitute and haven't looked back since.Avoiding the booze when you're on a break can be hard, particularly if you're around others who are drinking. Our advice is choose red wine over white, and clear spirits over dark. Avoid sugary mixers (soda water is best) and try to fit in a few alcohol free days. 

3. Eat a protein breakfast

Getting some protein in to your first meal of the day will help keep your blood sugar (and insulin) levels under control, meaning your body is in fat burning mode longer. It will also keep you feeling full for longer which will help avoid the snacks which invariably creep into our diet when our days start to slow down. Holidays are a great time to focus on this because we usually have more time to prepare in the morning, rather than scoffing down the cereal as we're running out the door. 

4. Avoid sugar

Sugar comes in many sneaky forms, so make sure that on top of saying no to the obvious culprits you also avoid hidden sources of sugar such as processed food, sauces, sugary cereals, starches and takeaway - all the things you're likely to encounter plenty of on holidays!I find the best way to avoid the sugar is to have an alternative handy, for example nuts are a great travel snack. It's not always possible to get a healthy option but even McDonalds has a salad which isn't too bad for you. If you can find a label with the nutritional content of your food and you're wondering what to look for, less than 5g per 100g is considered low in sugar but foods with less than 10g of sugar per 100g are fine.Extra sugar tip: Eating sugary treats within an hour of your workout completely inhibits the fat burning effects of the session you just completed. 

5. Stay active

When you're on holidays it can be hard to keep motivated and inspired when it comes to your training. It's important to try and maintain some consistent physical activity in between lying around the pool but it doesn't have to be full on - it is good to change up your day-to-day routine and take a break from your intense training. We recommend planning to get in 3 to 4 workouts per week and to give you an extra helping hand check out our brand new eBook with 10 no equipment workouts! Just $15.    Happy holidaying BUFettes!