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A week or two away from the gym won't have a major impact on your fitness level, but vacation-related weight gain and waning motivation can make returning to a workout routine more difficult, said Michelle Miller, clinical professor in the Department of Kinesiology in Indiana University Bloomington's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "Physiologically, you can stop exercising for up to about 10 days and you should still be able to pick up where you left off," Miller said. "But what actually happens is that people come back from being on a trip and don't want vacation to be over. The real hurdle is not that you've lost your fitness base but that you don't want to get back to reality." Heavy Load
In addition to the mental challenge of resuming a routine, bringing home a few extra pounds can slow you down, Miller said. "I hear from people who come back from cruises that they gained five pounds in a week." Sudden weight gain can derail workouts by causing people to feel discouraged as well as physically uncomfortable, she said. Miller advises planning ahead to give your fitness commitment more staying power than your tan. Longterm Motivation "Be sure your motivation goes beyond wanting to look good on the beach, or you won't have a reason to resume your workouts. Before your trip, decide and prioritize what you will need to do to transition back to your normal routine. Above all, recognize that vacation is vacation and at some point it has to end." (From Indiana University's Living Well newsletter) Related reading: | ||||||||
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