Ahh, summertime is here, and it is time for a vacation. It's time for you and your family, (or just you yourself), to get out there, explore someplace new, visit family and friends, or just go to the beach. So, of course, you pack your necessary clothes, toothbrush, comb, hair dryer, etc., you have everything, right?

How about your weight loss exercise program?

What about your local gym that you go to?

Or the fitness devices you have at home?

Can you use your vacation as a fitness vacation, also?

Did you pack your discipline, too? Because you'll need it when you go to all of those restaurants you'll be going to.

Well, if you forgot to pack those (which most people do when they go on vacation), don't worry, I am here to help you with all of those questions while you are on vacation.

While vacation is for having fun, you should NEVER lose sight of the big picture. And that is to lose weight, stay in shape, changing your lifestyle, etc.

I can hear the excuse train coming already...

"It's too hard to work out while I'm on vacation."

"How will I ever eat right when we go out to eat at restaurants the whole time?"

"Where will I work out at?"

Etc. etc. etc.

Always an excuse, right?

First of all, yes, it will probably be more difficult to stay on your fitness regimen while you are on vacation.

I'll give you that.

But that's all I will give you.

You can and MUST get it done...many people do it, including myself...so, it can be done.

Inconvenient?...maybe.

Impossible?...Not even close.

There are people in this world who do the most amazing things to survive day in and day out...so before you start complaining that thinking ahead and planning how you will stay fit on your vacation is sooooo hard...just realize that people are always doing bigger and better things.

Now that that's out of the way...let's get into the "how" you will manage to stay fit on vacation.

Let me show you how, it's really not that hard.

Ok, sample scenario...

You and your family are driving to the beach, staying at a nearby hotel for a few days.

Sounds like a basic family vacation, right?

Let's see what you can do...

1. Stop by a grocery store (there are some by the beach too, you know) and stock up on fruits, vegetables, other assorted healthy snacks (low-fat yogurt, granola, raisins, etc.) to keep in your hotel room as snacks.

2. Also, you can buy bottled water, healthy juices (NOT the ones loaded with added sugar), teas, etc.

3. Most hotels have a small refrigerator (or...just go to the local Walgreen's and buy a styrofoam cooler to put all of your stuff in). You just have to get ice from your hotel (and change it every day or so).

4. When you do go to restaurants (and there are usually a TON of them wherever you go on vacation)...pick a restaurant that offers a lot of lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.

5. If you need to, eat just enough to tide you over for when you get back to your hotel room...then you can eat from your healthy snacks.

6. Share a healthy chicken, turkey, or fish dish with a member of your family.

7. Stay FAR AWAY from onion rings, french fries, mozzarella sticks, etc.

8. Most hotels have a gym...use it...they also have carpeted floors...use them for doing pushups and other body-weight exercises (more to come on that in the future).

9. Take a brisk walk on the beach in the morning and night...there's nothing much better than watching a sunrise and sunset while you are exercising.

10. Or, just do this little routine.........brisk walk for 2 minutes, do 10 pushups, then 15 jumping jacks, then sprint for 15 seconds....rest for 2 minutes and repeat.

There you go.......I just gave you 10 things you can do to stay fit while on vacation...what other things can you do?

Nothing short of hundreds...maybe thousands.

But it's about that time.

Let that marinate in your brain for a while...then stop on over to http://www.fitnesswithchris.com for some of the best health and fitness tips you can possibly find. As you should know by now, I'm always here to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Don't be afraid to ask me for help, it's time you turn yourself into the person you've always wanted to be.

I'll talk to you soon.

Chris C.