Back To School Means Back to Routines...

...which also means back to healthy eating habits. It's okay - necessary, even! - to take a break from structure but it is a delicate art finding a balance between giving yourself (and your family) a mental vacation - eating out, enjoying life and the beach and not cleaning up the kitchen every night - while not straying so far off the beaten path that it becomes painful finding your way back.

For me, exercise is key during my "breaks" because it helps me maintain a certain level of fitness even if my eating is less disciplined. The activities may come in different forms as I'm in a different environnment - running outside on the boadwalk as opposed to the treadmill, for instance - but I do feel it's important to keep the routine not only to "stay fit" but also in order to indirectly remind me to make healthy food choices when I am eating during these breaks from "normal protocol." After all, I view that extra scoop of ice cream at the local parlor slightly differently having just run 5 miles in morning, knowing how hard that workout was and not wanting to chip away too much at the hard-wrought gains.

Another "vacation hack" I use is to stick to the good calories because we all know that not all calories are created equal when it comes to health and weight. Whether eating out or BBQing in, I try to avoid anything too highly processed, cane sugar, excessive carbs, focusing instead on protein, fats (think Omega-3's), vegetables, fruit and whole grains. I find I feel much better, less sluggish and clearer-minded if I try to stick to those "rules" at restaurants in general. Don't get me wrong - I will allow myself a splurge on pizza and dessert! But I do try to stick to the 80/20 rule, that is 80% quality cals and 20% meat lovers' supreme and cookies! During holiday weekends, I find the resultant damage control is REAL :)

For myself personally, I do practice intermittant fasting at least a few days a week during vacays. It keeps me from grazing mindlessly around the clock (the best way to unknowingly send my calorie count through the roof) and allows me to be more mindful of what I eat when I eat, plus I also tend to enjoy and savor my meals more because I'm more aware.

All in all, breaks are the best! I look forward all year to these times because let's face it - regimens, as good as they are for us generally speaking, are meant to be messed with once in a while. I mean, where's the fun in being a rule follower 365 days of the year?