Getting Back on Track

If you followed me on Snapchat or Instagram stories you most likely saw the meals I was eating in Italy… and well, let’s just say I’d be lying if I said I didn’t come back from Italy with a little vacation weight gain. I’m a tiny bit softer than I was when I left. But honestly, no regrets because nothing beats homemade pasta.

I know a lot of people go away and get a little vacation weight gain and freak out – but honestly it’s mostly just your body holding on to excess water weight since you’re most likely dehydrated from traveling and eating differently than you’re used to. Your body is built to handle small fluctuations and will adapt and bounce back in no time.

Vacation Weight Gain: Getting Back on Track

Now that I’m back home, here’s my plan of attack for the next few weeks as I attempt to get back to feeling normal (the jetlag is not helping either) and a little less puffy.

How To Get Back On Track After A Little Vacation Weight Gain

No alcohol.

It’s possible I drank more wine than water in Italy, but the fastest way to get back to normal sleep and eating patterns is to cut the alcohol.

No fried/processed foods.

As much as I love carbs, it’s a definite no-brainer to eliminate the daily chips that came with happy hour (always a spritz!) and cut down on the pasta and bread.

Limit sugar.

Ugh. I have the biggest sweet tooth ever and this is really hard for me, but dessert on the daily was excessive and all signs suggest that sugar is one of the worst substances for you. Studies have shown excessive sugar can lead to heart disease, belly fat, and potentially even cancer. Yikes.

Sweat 3x a week.

I’m horrible at working out on my own, I spend more time “stretching” in the corner than actually doing anything productive,  so in an effort to actually be effective I turned to boutique fitness classes years ago and haven’t looked back. My absolute favorites in LA are Barry’s Bootcamp and The Studio MDR.

Lots of whole foods.

Thinking smoothies/eggs/oatmeal for breakfast and lots of fruits, veggies, and lean protein throughout the day. My boyfriend and I love to cook dinner together (actually I got extremely lucky and he is an amazing chef : ) I make small contributions here and there) and we try to keep it very clean. Last night we landed and immediately make a big batch of vegetable soup and garlic chicken thighs for dinner. You’re welcome to come over for dinner anytime ; ).

Overall, I live by the 80/20 rule.

If you take the 80/20 rule literally, my philosophy is that if you eat right 292 days of the year, the remaining 73 you can let loose a little ; ). Like a lot of girls, I struggled with finding out what was right for my body and health for a long time and it really wasn’t until I let loose and became more in tune with my body did I actually begin to feel better. Some of the first blogs I ever read and loved were centered around health and fitness, so stay tuned for more posts on these topics!

Truthfully it’s way less about how I look and more about how I feel. By the end of our trip, AJ and I were desperately craving chicken and vegetables (boring, lol). And my body completely rebelled against any and all wine : (. My skin broke out horribly in the worst way in a year and I knew that my daily diet of espresso, pasta, wine, and gelato needed to change. But all good things must come to an end and as much as I LOVED Italy (full recap to come) I couldn’t be more excited to be home and back to work, as dorky as that sounds.

Last thing – can we talk about this heat wave we’ve been having?! Yay or nay to summer year round?!

xx, Amy

jacket: lovers and drifters club | top: l*space | bottom: l*space

photos: lauren miller