Napa & San Fran: The Healthy Way
So today’s guest blogger is a pretty special person. Not only is she a blogging friend, but she’s an IRL (in real life) friend, AND she’s my next door neighbor. No, seriously, our husbands like to think they’ll knock the walls down one day and make one, big, awesome room made up of both of our townhomes. So Brie has this pretty cool job that has sent her to some pretty cool places. Most recently, northern Cali. She’s got some pictures for you, along with some great advice on traveling healthy… because, let’s face it, traveling can get unhealthy really fast. Enjoy Brie!
Hi Like Ordinary Life readers! I’m Brie of Recipe for a Beautiful Life, where I blog about my passion for fitness, my love for all things fashion and beauty, my obsession with sports, and everything in between.
Recently, I’ve been on a little health kick {and have worked hard to drop some major LB’s}, so when the hubs and I started planning our trip to San Francisco and Napa, I was of course thrilled and excited, but also apprehensive about keeping up with my fitness routine. I knew there was a lot of amazing wine and food awaiting me on the West Coast!
I don’t think I am the only one who feels like when you have finally saved up some vacation time, planed out a trip, and cut loose from you cubicle, it can be very tempting to leave all responsibilities behind…even (or especially) the fitness and healthy eating ones… But…the last thing I wanted to do was slip down the fitness slope and come home from my vacation discouraged… Here’s what helped me stay on track, but still enjoy my travels: Turn sightseeing into fitness! No one wants to spend their vacation laboring away in a hotel gym. So get out there and see the sights whileyou workout! The hubs and I saw some of the best sights in San Francisco while out for our runs. We used our iPhones to plan out the best routes to maximize sights and mileage. The hills were brutal, but it was a badge of honor making it up those suckers!
Scenes from our 6.5 mile run:
Pack healthy breakfasts and snacks! Having your own stuff on hand minimizes the chance you will cave and order room service or stop off at Starbucks for a giant muffin. I trekked a box full of Clif bars across the country and it was a great way to start each day on a healthy note {plus, they’re great fuel for your workouts}. Use your own body weight for strength training! No weights? No fancy machines? No problem! Lunges, squats, pushups, and crunches are great ways to get in a good workout, even in your hotel room. Add in some jumps, jumping jacks, and high knees to do a mix of cardio and strength training. Bring your best {fitness} friends along for the trip! A jump rope is one of the best cardio workouts you can do. It’s perfect for travel because it’s small and light weight. You can easily pack a jump rope in your suitcase {even a carry on}. It requires only a little bit of space for the workout! Resistance bands are also easily packable and usable anywhere! Moderation is key!Let’s be real, you have to live a little. There was no way I was going to San Francisco, and Napa, and not drinking wine {I had previously been on a self-imposed wine ban} or enjoying some of the fabulous food. Know what your priorities are. I stayed away from unnecessary snacking and desserts because I would rather indulge in my main courses and, of course, vino!
San Francisco, and especially wine country, were amazing! I highly recommend a trip. If you love wine as much as I do {and that’s a whole lot} then Napa and Sonoma are a must-visit! The wine was amazing, the scenery was stunning, and everyone was so warm and welcoming. We are already planning our next trip!
