If you read me, you know that I have ankylosing spondylitis and that I keep it under control through exercise, diet (gluten-free, low carb, minimal sugar, avoid dairy, etc.), maintaining a low body weight and generally living a healthy life. At home it’s easy to maintain my chosen lifestyle, but what happens on vacation? It took a little longer to get things in order, but lately I’ve been able to. I know what food to choose so that I can eat gluten-free and low carb so that I don’t have pain and don’t gain a pound on vacation, and sometimes I even manage to lose a few pounds here and there. How do I do this?
I don’t go to All Inclusive. I went only once and gained 3 kg in 10 days. Although I ate properly (one source of protein, vegetables, no sauces, no side dishes, no pasta and sweets (they hadn’t even heard of gluten), I only overdid it with olives and greens), I didn’t drink juices, I didn’t eat between meals, I walked to the beach (45-50 minutes), I swam… for nothing, the pounds builded up. So much food in one place, everybody so desperate to fill their plates… brrr. Thanks, but no thanks.
On vacation, I have a hearty breakfast, maybe a little more hearty than at home. If I have breakfast included (the only meal I have included on vacation) I choose from all the goodies, eggs, sausages, vegetables and greens of all kinds, I even eat a slice of bread with jam (I bring the bread myself), a big coffee and when I go back to the room I also eat a biscuit or a cookie (all made by me). If I don’t have breakfast included, I have all these goodies in the fridge, put them nicely on my plate, make my coffee in the kettle and eat just as well. In the morning I digest very well, I have no problem. I have breakfast around 7.30-8.00. I turned down a good hotel because it had breakfast starting at 9, it was too late for me.
I don’t eat anything more until around 3-4pm. No snacks, nibbles, juices, crap. Then I have my second meal of the day (I still haven’t decided whether to call it lunch or dinner). A much smaller meal than breakfast. Usually a source of protein, grilled meat, seafood or fish, and a big salad. I also treat myself with a glass of wine.
I walk a lot, between 10000-20000 steps a day. I like to walk in quiet and old streets, full of history, I avoid crowded places, I like to listen to my footsteps, the distant noise of the city or the waves of the sea. I usually do my walks in two stages, after each meal, with a rest break at noon. If I’m tempted by ice cream sometimes, I take a small portion. Lately, I don’t feel like snacking on vacation anymore, so I satisfy a little whim, without getting frustrated, especially since the range of choices is quite small, because most of them contain gluten, and I don’t touch such foods.
I sleep a lot, 8-10 hours a night. I like to choose a quiet place for vacation so that I can sleep well. I go to bed early and wake up at sunrise. During this holiday I had the sea view room, a real treat for me. I watched every sunrise from the balcony, accompanied by seagulls and the lazy lapping of the waves. I don’t like nightlife, with hustle and bustle. Night is for sleeping, and lack of sleep, among other disadvantages, makes you fat.
A vacation is an escape from the everyday, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the good habits you’ve worked hard to implement. Or at least not all of them. I take a break from morning gymnastics for example. I feel that after a few days, I’m stiffer and sometimes I need a few extra anti-inflammatories, but when I get home I start it again. I don’t eat foods with gluten, but I know that I can get contaminated. I’m not afraid, that’s it, it can happen. Again, I solve it with anti-inflammatories, smecta, teas or a food break, it depends on how it affects me. When you’re not in your familiar environment anything unexpected can happen, but that’s part of the charm of life and you learn to deal with such situations without panicking or putting yourself in a bad mood.
