So you have a weight problem.

 Pounds have added up over the years, slowly accumulating on your hips, thighs and belly.

When you look in the mirror you don't like what you see. Yet you feel stuck.

 You're stuck because...

• You've gained too much weight to ever lose it all.
• You're too old to make a change.
• You'd be lost in a gym.
• You simply don't know where to start.

And so, if you are like most people, you give up on yourself before you ever shed a pound. The enormity of your goal paralyzes your ability to even begin. 

I believe you can end this cycle of self destruction by simply focusing on the molehills that make up the mountain – rather than focusing in on the mountain itself. 

Don't get me wrong, I know that weight loss can seem like an enormous task - especially when you have 20, 50 or even 100 pounds to lose.

 However, rather than being discouraged by the mountain of fat you need to lose, conquer the molehill of losing one single pound each week. 



The Domino Effect
Regular exercise makes it easier to eat healthy. Just as healthy eating makes you more likely to exercise. It's the domino effect. When you begin to make a positive change in one area of your life other areas will soon follow. Remember, while nutrition is vitally important for weight loss, true results are achieved through a combination of both nutrition and challenging, progressive exercise. 

Snack Healthy
Travel days create the perfect opportunity for snacking. A mocha and scone before your flight, a salty snack on the plane and then before you know it - it's lunch time! Road trips open up even more opportunities for regrettable snacking...rest stop vending machines, gas station quickie marts and of course the never ending string of fast food restaurants that line the highway. 

This summer avoid unhealthy snacking by packing your own goodies. Try these:

• Dried or fresh fruit
• Unsalted nuts
• Health bars
• Cut veggies
• Low fat crackers or pretzels

Also remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day. It's easy to become dehydrated while traveling, so always carry a water bottle with you.

Here is the second part to my Tips for a Fit Vacation series. I hope you find these final three tips helpful!

Vacation Tip #4: Eat Natural Sweets


One of your biggest enemies when it comes to vacation weight gain is...sugar. 

The average modern person consumes 46 teaspoons of sugar every day. The average person on vacation consumes even more than that.

Even though sugary calories taste great, the sweet pleasure comes at a high price. Here's what I mean:

• Sugar creates false hunger (as a result of the insulin rush and then ensuing plummet in blood sugar levels), which causes you overeat.
• Sugar promotes aging (due to the advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, that occur when insulin levels are consistently elevated as a result of eating too much sugar). Sugar has even been dubbed the negative fountain of youth!
• Sugar weakens your bones -making you vulnerable for osteoporosis, and weakens your teeth - making you vulnerable for cavities (both due to the calcium being pulled from your bones and teeth in order for your body to process sugar).
• Sugar in excess is stored as fat (after your liver has no more room to store it, sugar is converted to fat and deposited on your belly, thighs, hips and the backs of your arms).

So instead of eating that ice cream cone or chocolate éclair, satiate your sweet tooth with a piece of juicy fruit.



With summer vacation quickly approaching, you're probably planning your next getaway. 

Whether you go on a cruise, an African safari or a low-key trip to the beach, warm summer days are the best time to get away from it all. 

But wait - did you know that the average person gains almost a pound a day while on vacation? 

Between missed workouts, extra-large restaurant meals and indulgent snacks, lazy vacation days will quickly add inches to your waistline. 

So before you pack your bags for your next adventure, read part one of our Vacation Tips and come home fitter, not fatter!



Vacation Tip #1: Make a Decision


Before you leave home, make the decision that you will NOT gain weight while on your trip. 

This is the easiest step to take to make sure that you avoid weight gain, but it is also the most overlooked. Instead of leaving things to chance, harness the power of creative visualization that has been proven time and time again by go-getters such as Michael Jordan, Einstein, Napoleon and Andrew Carnegie. 

Visualize what it would be like to return home fitter than when you left. Take a moment to let yourself feel the excitement that you'd experience. 

Remember what accomplishing your goal feels like - this will keep you motivated throughout your trip and will help pull you through the inevitable tempting situations that you'll face.