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Health & Fitness: Need a Vacation from Your Vacation?

Some basic rules to follow to keep in shape while enjoying yourself on vacation.

Ah, vacation. Something we all plan and pine for. For many, it's one of the main things to look forward to year in and year out.  

Maybe we go someplace warmer than where we are? Get away from the seeming endless winter gray and cold. Have a few frozen drinks. Get a little color on our skin.

Maybe we go someplace even colder? Throw in a few hills, strap some slippery sticks to our feet, and try not to get hurt as we plummet down steep hills for some kicks.  Have some hot cocoa. Bundle up in front of a fire. 

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Maybe a spa sounds wonderful? Or a retreat? A little self examination time? 

How about a visit to see the family? A little time with the in-laws is always part of the deal, right? Many of us in Maplewood are transplants from all over the globe before the pilgrimage from NYC and Park Slope, Brooklyn brought us here.

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Whether it is relaxing or adventure you seek, one thing always seems to be the constant for many of us: we want a break from the norm, and maybe a little time with our partner. We all work so hard to pay these property taxes we have, many of us barely see each other day to day.  

My most recent family vacation was to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Our timing couldn't have been better. We had a blizzard in Maplewood on Tuesday, fly out from Newark on the following Saturday. Plenty of time to clear the air strip. Time to chill out on the beach!

But one thing may be lacking in this thought of "breaking away from the norm." Not all of our habits should be abandoned. The whole idea is to feel great, get rest, come back rejuvenated and look amazing. Right? So that might actually take a little effort. With a little planning you might enjoy your time off even more.

I know I've fallen prey to this myself.  Listen, I spend every day in a gym.  I love it.  But struggling to find some dark, dank dungeon of a gym whenever I travel is, well, like an accountant trying desperately to find an office to hang out in for the week.  Not too appealing. 

Now, I know I wouldn't totally fall apart from one week without doing push-ups.  That's not the point. The point is I feel better when I get my body moving, even just a little bit. I also like to have a little structure to my day. That helps to keep me a little more sane. And it doesn't take long, just a few minutes. It can also give us just a little bit of "me" time.  This is vital.  I love time with my kids and wife. I know they feel the same. But just a handful of minutes not being with them can make me so much better at, well, being with them.

I've found that if I follow a few simple rules, I can make my time so much more enjoyable on vacation. My wife has taken the same approach, and our vacations just keep getting better and better.

First, don't try to get totally fit while on vacation. What I mean is, just focus on doing a little when you can. Get moving, get active, feel your heart-rate go up a bit, but don't try to get ripped while your away. For starters, you'll just end up exhausted and sore for your entire trip. That's no way to go. You'll need some energy for the rest of your day. 

If you've already been exercising before your trip, this is the time to enjoy your efforts while you sit by the pool in your bikini.  Just do enough to get those endorphins that by now you're quite used to. If you've not done a thing in some time, you're not going to get that much more fit in one week. So just use this time as an opportunity to get started. You can carry your new habits over when you get back in town.

Next, make sure you communicate your plan with your partner and schedule it.  Look, the point of vacation is to do things with your family, not just by yourself.  Otherwise, you could do just that—travel alone. So make sure you're not putting your needs completely above the itinerary of the trip. You're not going to have many opportunities in life to see ancient ruins, but you'll have plenty of chances to go for a run. But if you plan it all out, there should be time for both.  You've got a full day to get all this in. If you think of all the stuff we fit into our daily lives, getting in 20 minutes for yourself should be pretty easy to accomplish. 

While you're at it, you're on vacation to do something different than the norm, right? Maybe this should apply here, too. When I travel, I find one of my favorite ways to get "the lay of the land" is to go out and explore it a bit. A nice run on the beach is certainly a good bit different than up Prospect Street to South Orange Avenue, don't ya think?  

I also make it a habit to never go to a gym. I bring it with me. I've found the rubber band resistance tubing you can buy almost anywhere nowadays is a great travel companion. It weighs nothing, takes up no room in my bag, and has limitless options for me to employ while exercising. I love going for a quick run, stopping off at a local park and using the playground equipment for some exercise. I also love taking my cup of coffee and iPod out on the patio for a quick 20 minutes of exercise with my bands. Different is a very good thing. 

Last, make sure you allow yourself some slack. The pressure might feel like it's on. It seems like everyone at the pool is checking you out, and if you feel a little frumpy, it can ruin a good time. Remember this: Most people aren't focusing their attention on you at all; they're too busy worrying about their own stuff. They feel the same way you do, trust me. "Does this suit make my butt look big?" "Is she looking at my gut?" Maybe, but her thoughts are really on her own thighs. 

And allow yourself to enjoy the food—to a degree. You don't have to pig out the entire trip, but food is one of the major joys in life. When you're somewhere different you should experience the local cuisine. Sometimes it won't be as healthy as what you're used to. So be it. I come from the rural south. Everything is deep fried. It's yummy. By golly, I'm gonna eat it when I'm visiting there—just not too much. Again, go too far and you'll feel awful the entire vacation. Allow yourself an occasional treat. Believe it or not, it won't really show much. Body composition cannot be effected that greatly in a short span. So enjoy that Nutella crepe while you're in Greece. Just be wary of the addiction to it when you come home.

You might find that it will be much easier to come home to your normal routine if you follow these simple guidelines. And you won't feel like you need another break before you go back to your routine. 

Tim Reynolds is the owner/operator of THE GYM ON SPRINGFIELD, a personal training studio in its third year located on Springfield Ave. in Maplewood. He lives in Maplewood with his wife Suzanne, and their children August and Sinikka.

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