Fitness on holiday: finding ways to stay active on your vocation lets you have your cake and eat it, too

American Fitness, July-August, 2004 by Amanda Pressner

Vacation. It's an eight-letter word that revs the pulse of my inner adventurer--and strikes fear into the heart of my inner dieter. No matter how faithfully I follow my pre-departure workout routine or firmly resolve to indulge in moderation while I'm away, my knees (and willpower) buckle in the presence of all-you-can-eat buffets, do-it-yourself dessert stations and never-ending rounds of margaritas. For me, getting away from it all isn't just some glossy brochure hype. It's the ideal excuse to ditch my goals of following a nutritious diet and exercising regularly in favor of more pressing objectives: pigging out and lying around.

But this time (I swear!), things will be different. As I gear up for a two-week holiday on the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman, I'm determined to end my foray into paradise sporting a barely-there bikini, not hiding within the folds of an extra-large muumuu. Since past attempts at vacation weight maintenance have fallen flat, I decide to enlist the help of Tara Trickett, an AFAA certified fitness instructor, registered dietician and the Caymans' resident expert on evading vacation pudge. Unfortunately, we can't schedule our consultation until several days into my adventure and, true to form, I used my time to get acquainted with two island favorites: the Cayman kolada and mudslide.

Now I'm paying for my nightly indiscretions. Dragging my bloated body onto the scale at the World Gym where Trickett works, I'm shocked to discover I've already gained nearly five pounds. Could that be possible? I turn to Trickett for answers.

"Men and women can gain up to a pound a day during their vacations," reveals Trickett, as I try to hide my dismay. "After spending all day in the sun, sipping cocktails and forgetting to drink water, they can get extremely dehydrated. This, coupled with unpredictable schedules, unhealthy food choices and a lack of exercise quickly leads to weight gain." Here's the kicker: those mudslides I've been slurping down tip the scales at nearly 900 calories apiece. Yikes!

My gut, now a formidable presence, tells me to eliminate high-calorie, high-fat foods and beverages from my diet to compensate for this week's overindulgence. Trickett stops this suggestion in its tracks. "It's a mistake to tell yourself you can't indulge on your vacation--it never works," she warns. "You want to think in additive terms--what you can contribute to your diet and exercise routine, rather than take away."

Trickett recommends drinking two liters of water daily, snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables and selecting lean meats at meals. By following these guidelines, rather than avoiding certain foods, I'll be less inclined to binge on empty calories or go overboard at mealtime. But how should I handle those calorie-laden cabana cocktails and ubiquitous Caymanian rum cake? "You can still have a dessert or high-calorie drink," she says. "Just make sure it's the one thing you want to splurge on that day."

Beyond all else, Trickett insists, exercise is the most important part of the vacation/weight maintenance equation. Unlike in the real world, where we log the majority of our workouts in a gym, vacationing on a sport-fanatic island like Grand Cayman affords the opportunity to try heart-pounding activities in exotic locations. Best of all, nearly all of them burn a lot of calories yet hardly feel like exercise.

Since I had already accomplished my all-important mission of lounging around, Trickett suggests I spend my remaining time on Grand Cayman immersed in the range of aquatic adventures offered along Seven Mile Beach, the island's epicenter of activity. As she rattles off a list of pursuits that include snorkeling, kayaking, beach volleyball, scuba diving, windsurfing and water skiing, my anticipation and adrenaline levels skyrocket. If a few hours of intense playtime could slough those unwanted inches, I couldn't wait to hit the beach. Surfs up!

Water Skiing

It's a workout just trying to attach the doublewide skis to my feet and I've settled upon a fish-flopping motion to slide into them. Grabbing the rope handle attached to the boat and squeezing for dear life, I call out, "Ready!" A split second later, just before nose-diving into the ocean for the umpteenth time, I wonder how a former tomboy could be so uncoordinated. "Curl up into a little ball," the driver yells as he loops around. "Your legs are too straight!"

Although I'm not wearing a watch, I'm acutely aware that I don't have much time to get vertical before I'll have to return to shore. Determined to revive my former athletic prowess, I reach for the handle, tuck my knees into my chest and flex every stabilizing muscle in my body. Roaring to life, the boat jerks forward and, by some miracle, I rise out of the water and start gliding. From my perspective, I can see the whole island whizzing past--it's the next best thing to flying.

Muscles Worked: Gluteals, hamstring, quadriceps, deltoids, pectorals, trapezius, biceps and shoulder girdle

Calories Burned (per hour): 468 *