HOLIDAY FOOD WITHOUT THE HANG UP - ACTIVITY HOLIDAYS

Annelies Van de Velde

How to eat what you want on your summer holiday, without bringing home the extra pounds

 

Many of us eat up to 500 extra calories a day when we're on holiday and it's easily done. Hearty breakfasts, plates piled high from the eye-catching buffet and even deceptively fatty fried fish - all washed down with scrumptious cocktails and beers in the evening. Of course, holidays are all about letting go and treating yourself. Who really wants to deny themselves that croissant at breakfast or that extra scoop of ice cream in the afternoon? The problem is, unless you burn all these extra calories off somehow, you'll come home with more baggage than just your luggage! Eating 500 calories extra per day for 2 weeks will mean you gain around two pounds. So how can you avoid this?

 

The answer is to get active. Activity holidays will not only make sure you burn off those extra calories, but they are also a great mood-boosters and stress-busters as exercise releases endorphins in the brain. These are your body's natural pain-killers and when released, such as during exercise, they make you feel good. Building daily exercise into your holiday will also help to keep your weight in trim and work on your muscular strength, joint flexibility and cardiorespirotary fitness. The best calorie-burning type of exercise is aerobic exercise, whereby you are continually and rhythmically using large muscle groups.

 

To give you an idea of what is possible, here are some typical aerobic holiday activities and the average calories burnt per 30 minutes:

 

Swimming (light laps): 300 - Great for stretching your body at the same time and saving your joints

Walking (moderate pace): 140 - Don't hop on the bus to go sight-seeing, walk it off!

Water Aerobics: 160 - Aerobics in the pool. An absolute blast and easier on the joints than the land-based variety

Tennis (single person):  300 - Single person tennis will burn more calories than if you play doubles

Sailing: 120 - Try this and you may come home with a hobby

 

If you mix all these up you'll work different muscle groups, burn enough calories to enjoy your holiday food and keep things interesting. So where is this possible? Resort-based holidays are a great way to try different sports as they usually come fully equipped for numerous activities, all on your doorstep. Mark Warner specialise in activity holidays based in resorts with multiple activities on offer. They also have some great late deals on at the moment, some for under £500.

 

For walking holidays, try Thomson Lakes and their holiday deals of which some are even under £150.