Women's Fitness With Charlene: Do You Exercise on Vacation?

So what is going to be my game plan when going on a cruise? At first I was thinking, I have worked hard for 2 years at losing weight and keeping it off, I just want to go on vacation and not think about diet or exercise! I plan on eating whatever I want...after all this is a cruise with lots of food and drink everywhere you look. I don't plan on getting a stomachache from eating to much food...but if it happens once or twice it won't ruin my vacation :) So now that it has been decided I will eat what I want, the next decision is about exercise. Should I or shouldn't I fit in some exercise while cruising? I'm not talking about snorkeling and swimming, I know that does burn calories but I am talking about lifting weights and running. I did some research about the ship, Oasis of the Seas, that we are going to be on. They have a state of the art fitness facility and a running track. HMMM? I just can't decide, so I posted the question on my Facebook page.

Trying to figure out what to pack for vacation. Should I take work out clothes or not?

Each time I prepare for vacation I take work out clothes and some resistance bands. Each time I vacation I never use them. Isn't this what vacation is about, to escape from EVERYTHING? Now that the airlines charge you for each bag, and they can't weigh over 50 pounds, I don't want to take something I wont use. Here are the comments that I received on my Facebook page.

-Absolutely you should. You may have to modify what you do but you don't want a vacation from the great feeling you get from being active and healthy.
-Pack them! You'll be happy you did. Running on an outdoor track while the boat is at sea sounds fantastic.
-Yes! Even if you only get 2 or 3 workouts in, you won't feel like such a slug when you get back. Plus, it boosts your mood your mood and energy and it's always fun to workout in a new setting.
- What would you tell your clients?
-Pack your workout clothes char...I always love running the track in the morning while the boats is at sea...so relaxing...you will be glad you did...
-No, but you will because you worked out on hockey tourney weekends

Even personal Trainers need a little boost now and then. I guess these responses have guilted me into packing the workout clothes. The key now is to actually take the workout clothes out of the suitcase and use them. I did receive a few No responses on my page like these:

-Nope. What else is vacation for but to relax.
- Work-Out clothes and vacation do not go together...we don't like putting the words "work" and "vacation" together!

I think the pro's to working out, out weighed the cons. I am happy to say I packed the workout clothes and I used them. Only three times but at least they got used this time. I ate and drank whatever I wanted so I felt a little less guilty about that.

I have not weighed myself yet and I have been home for 3 days. I plan on doing that after having a week of eating right and exercising. I know if I weigh myself now, I will become depressed and it will ruin my week.

In the 3 days that I have been home, I have taught 4 bootcamps, trained legs, shoulders, back and biceps, and ran 2 miles. I have also ate healthy...I am feeling much better about stepping on the scale on Friday.

I had to take some pictures for proof that I worked out, just in case you didn't believe me.

Check out all the elliptical machines!