Just imagine

One of the best meals I've ever eaten out.  Local Ocean in Newport, OR.  

Just imagine that you are going on a vacation.  You're headed to a great destination, one that could lend itself to over eating and under moving.  But, you decide on something a little different for this trip; instead of an unhealthy indulgent fueled free for all; you decide to make it a vacation of clean eating and healthy living?  Wow, what a strange concept right?  In life there are never ending reasons for excuse filled unhealthy indulgence.  Oh yes, I am guilty of this; although I am changing, but change can be slow.  I use to think it was free for all time on holidays, vacations, weekends etc. etc.; but now I consider the result of bad indulgence before diving in.  Although there are some not so great indulgences that I never plan to give up; they are things that make me happy and life is just too darned short to not enjoy what you love, right?  Right!

When planning a vacation, what if you put yourself into a health spa retreat mode?   Even if you are not going to a health spa retreat; you can treat your body like you are.  Instead of letting your hair down and eating every bad thing that you think that you've been missing out on; you let your hair down, put your feet up and go for the premium fuel?  The healthier your lifestyle becomes, the easier it is to think healthy indulgences instead of the unhealthy type.  

Funny how we look at the word "indulge" as a bad thing.  The word on it's own is not bad, what comes before or after can be the good or bad.  Much like the word "diet," on it's own it simple refers to what we eat; what comes before or after can be the good or bad.  

Indulge - to yield to an inclination or desire; allow oneself to follow one's will.  

I am going to indulge and eat that whole bowl of fruit, good.  I'm giving in and going to indulge in that whole bowl of chips, not so good.  

Over eating is probably the biggest issue when on vacation; that and eating things that you don't typically eat.  It can leave you feeling horribly sedentary; put you into a state of sloth like, lack of motion. Especially if you typically eat clean, regular portions.  Of course there are vacations that are harder to eat properly on.  Depending on where you are going it might be more difficult to stay on track.  Road trips can be tough; for those you need to think out ahead and fill the car with good food.  Relying on road stops or fast food places is not a good option; although many of us have had to do so.

So maybe your next vacation will be filled with healthy indulgence instead of the unhealthy kind.  A little naughty indulgence is always good; a whopping load, not so much.