By Radley West
Vacation has a funny way of making people think they have two options: stay perfectly on track or completely fall off.
Most people choose the second one.
Listen, you’re supposed to relax on vacation. But there’s a difference between enjoying your time and coming home feeling like you need to start over.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s momentum.
Movement doesn’t have to look like a workout. Walking through a new city, swimming, hiking, even just being more active than usual, all count. Some of the most active days people have all year happen on vacation; they just don’t call it exercise.
Hydration is another big one. Travel, heat, restaurant foods, and long days tend to leave people more dehydrated than they realize. That alone can affect energy, recovery, and how you feel overall. Drinking enough water sounds simple, but it makes a noticeable difference.
Sleep matters too. Late nights happen, but if every night turns into short sleep, it catches up quickly.
One of the best things you can do is keep a few basics in place. Move a little every day. Drink water. Eat like an adult most of the time. That’s it.
You don’t need a strict plan. You just need to avoid the “all or nothing” trap.
Because the best vacations are the ones you enjoy and come back from feeling good.
Finally, if you do find you gained a few pounds on your vacation, don’t stress. Typically, this is water retention and inflammation from being away from routine. The extra pounds come off shortly after you get back and return to “real life”.
Radley West is married to Dr. Andrew West and together they own Anytime Fitness Lake Murray and 33/18 Chiropractic Associates. Radley is a gym owner and personal trainer with more than 20 years of experience helping people achieve non-traditional health goals. She and her team approach fitness by teaching clients to build better habits and create sustainable, feel-good fitness and nutrition routines—no need for intense six-pack aspirations (unless that’s your thing).
