Sneaking Health in Unexpected Places: The Trip Abroad

You’re no longer in Kansas, and life is wonderful.  Suddenly it makes sense to wear a scarf and large sunglasses (whether you’re male or female) and say “Oui” or “Si” or “Ja.” 

Unfortunately, your newfound foreign language skills stop there. You have learned to order and how to pull out your dictionary at a moment’s notice. You also notice how fast a moment passes, and how there will be some things you will miss. Your normal diet, usually, is one of them.

If you are not accustomed to eating butter or sausage on a daily basis, suddenly this is hard to express. You don’t want to be seen like a finicky North American (unfortunately, this is one of our reputations). So when everything is different, how do you cope, health wise? In any country, in any language, here are some tips.

1) Most importantly: don’t sweat it. You may gain a few unintended pounds. However, you’ll have tried new foods, met new people, and captured some fabulous photos to share. The pounds will come off. Some of the stress of gaining weight is believing it will be there forever. If you can believe it is temporary, you can give yourself the freedom to enjoy yourself.

2) Enjoying yourself does not mean letting every single one of your priorities slide. Stick to regular meals rather than eating all day, every day (even if you are on a cruiseship). Surprisingly, having everything you want can get boring. Let food feel special. Exercise in the hotel or go running or walking outside. 

3) Eat as the locals do. This can be a time to learn there are other ways to eat and play that could be easier and more sustainable than your current routines that fluctuates from guilt to gym time. Dinner may suddenly be at 10pm, but it may not be as large as what you’re used to. Take it in, watch what a local eats and try the same. You may not adopt every custom, but you may find that there are ways to live that are less focused on being strict and more focused on feeling pleasure.

So do as the Romans do… enjoy! You’ll be back home and back to the grind before you can say pizza.

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Courtney Sunday has two cats and a boyfriend who are very patient with her health and wellness obsessions. She teaches yoga, Pilates and indoor cycling and gives Thai massages through her Toronto business Om at Home Yoga. When she is tuckered out, she takes up the sport of sleeping.