Vacations are undoubtedly a time to disconnect, relax and unwind. For my husband and I, they’re also a time when we can get in some of our best workouts together. Last week was our first vacation as a family of three and we loved taking our baby girl on some of our what I like to call, “fit-scapades.”
Normally, on any given walk, run or bike ride, I use Strava to track my distance and pace. My goals differ day to day between mileage, pace and overall time. However, on vacation, I decided not to use Strava because I didn’t want the “stress” of stalking my phone to check how far I had gone or how fast I was going. I just wanted to walk along the beach with my toes in the sand, the ocean breeze in my face and enjoy being disconnected from my daily routine and enjoy vacation. I also typically have my Fitbit strapped to me at all times counting every step and stride. But one day I forgot it at home and didn’t track a single step until after 3pm. I have to admit I was bummed. I may not have been tracking my distance, but I didn’t want to lose steps. My husband kindly reminded me that the week was about vacationing with my family and having fun and that in actuality, I didn’t lose any steps, they were just off the record. So instead of being disappointed that I had a day with thousands of unmarked steps, I tried to focus on my family. Not to mention that any walk on the beach is tougher than a walk on pavement, and the walks I took with my daughter strapped to my back in our Osprey Packs Poco – Plus Child Carrier (Romper Red, One Size)
made it that much tougher. I told my husband my Fitbit should have tripled my steps between walking through sand and her on my back as it provided a much harder workout.
It was a blast taking my daughter out and about on our fit-scapades everyday and introducing her to the beach and all the summertime activities we enjoy so much. Ultimately, we had a perfect balance of walks, bike rides, paddle boarding, healthy foods, a few indulgences and relaxation making our first family fitcation vacation a great one. So if you’re headed on vacation this summer, don’t stress about keeping the same exact workout schedule every single day or the ice cream you might splurge. Go for a few walks, relax and remember it’s vacation and it’s OK to relax and let lose. Your gym, schedule and life will be waiting for you exactly where you left it when you get home.
Happy summer blog lovahs!
~Slparke