Fitness: Staying Fit on Vacation

Although vacation is time to indulge, it never feels good to come back from a trip feeling like you are out of shape. We were conscious of this on our last trip and tried hard to maintain a routine while still appreciating our surroundings. We have found a couple tricks that help keep us on track and full of energy.

1. Sparkling Water with Lime! (Agua Mineral Con Lima Por Favor)

Although it may be tempting to sip on a sugary Pina Colada while sitting pool side, our tip is to skip the drinks mid-day and stick to a refreshing sparkling water. The sugar and alcohol, from a tropical drink, may perk you up in the short run, but as the afternoon drags on you will lose steam. Sparkling water is fun to sip on and the lime adds a special touch. You will also stay hydrated and are skipping extra calories.

2. Take the Stairs!

Seriously! Get in the habit from day one of taking the stairs. The extra flights, however small they may seems, definitely add up. Making healthy choices like skipping the elevator ride can also encourage you to make other healthy choices in general. One step at a time ;)

3. Indulge Once a Day

Complete restriction on vacation is unnecessary and no fun! That said, going over board every meal is going to make you feel sick and lethargic  Our suggestion is to pick one special treat a day but stick to the normal routine. We stuck to oatmeal and lots of fruit for breakfast, veggies and protein for lunch and then a special desert or cocktail after a yummy dinner! Staying with the routine helps to keep your body feeling normal and indulging keeps you satisfied while on vacation.

4. Get your Workout in Early!

Heat and humidity can really tire you out. Wake up refreshed and get some exercise before the sun takes its toll. A thirty minute run on the beach, a swim in the pool or a few games of tennis are a great couple of ways to stay active and fit on your vacation. 

5. Stay Busy!

Fill your vacation with fun activities that get you moving! You don't have to run on the treadmill to get your heart pumping. Swim in the ocean, go hiking in the jungle, or do some water aerobics. Although vacation is definitely a time for relaxation, you will feel both rested and happy on your return if you use vacation time to get in touch with what you body really needs! 

What are your favorite tips to keep active on vacations?

Maddie & Ellie

Mexico

Our trip to Mexico was both relaxing and adventurous. We did plenty of lounging by the pool and beach but also explored our surroundings. It was fun to spend time with our family, read new books and soak up the sunshine. Here are some highlights from the trip: 

Ellie and Maddie dressed up for a fancy French dinner. One of our favorite part of the vacation was getting freshened up and picking out cute outfits to wear for dinner nightly. 

Maddie at the beach! Can you believe she rode a mechanical bull before this photo? 

 Ellie and Jay enjoying a drink before the Circus Show! 

Family adventure to Coba (a Mayan ruin), included repelling, zip-lining and swimming in a cenote. 

 Maddie in downtown Cancun, looking for some pottery to bring back to Oregon. 

All of our rooms were right next door! Surprise :) 

 Brandon and Maddie post climb to the top of a Mayan temple. 

 Jay and Ellie enjoying a golf cart ride around Isla Mujeres, before snorkeling. 

Brandon and Maddie looking glamorous before dinner. 

We had a blast on our trip. Surprisingly the transition back to Oregon wasn't too bad. We were greeted with 75 degree weather and sunshine, we should go to Mexico more often! 

Ellie & Maddie 

Fitness: Beach Ready Yoga

Later this month we are lucky enough to go on a family beach vacation to Cancun, Mexico. We are in quick need of toning fitness moves to get us bikini ready! It is not often in Portland that we get to wear our bikini, let alone show off our calves in all the rain. We found two great Jillian Michaels yoga videos that do the trick. They are challenging without feeling like you are bulking up. She uses a method of yoga with high intensity reps evolved from classic yoga moves. Here are some pictures of us doing  our favorite toning moves. 

Warrior Two pose:

Warrior One pose to Warrior Three pose done in repetitions:

Warrior One post repetition with arms out and in:

Goddess pose done in repetitions:

Plank pose into Three Legged Dog pose done in repetitions:

Camel Pose Repetitions:

Camel Pose: 

Here is the link to the videos, Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown Level 1 and Level 2. We were thrilled to have sunny weather in Portland this weekend because usually we practice yoga in Ellie's tiny bedroom. It can get quite cramped!

Ellie & Maddie

Fitness: Maui Hiking!

To escape the gray of Portland winter my mother and I took a short vacation to the western coast of Maui and stayed at the Napili Surf Beach Resort. It was amazing to hike around, snorkel, and experience the beauty of a completely different part of the world. It was spectacular how many different plants and animals call Maui their home. Although it was warm on our trip it was unfortunately not as sunny as we had hoped. There were flash flood warnings and rainstorms the last couple days of our vacation. We did not let the less than perfect weather keep us inside though!

 

:: It was so warm I got to show off the new sportsbra I got at Lululemon! So comfy and cute! ::

 

 

:: My mother and me! ::

 

:: The not so spectacular weather ::



:: Neat plants ::

 

:: The sunny day hike ::

 



What is your favorite sunny vacation spot?

Maddie

Fitness: Running in Washington Park

One of the many benefits of living in Portland, Oregon is the beautiful parks and running trails just minutes away. There is something about running through the woods on a cold winter morning that can be both magical and therapeutic. My mother, Nancy, and I are training for the San Francisco Marathon this June. For the sake of a goofy blog post and because it was a Saturday, we decided to take our phone with us and take a couple of pictures mid run. Sadly, we learned that taking action shots is not as easy as advertised and we also looked like total tourists :)

One time we saw the T.V. show Grimm filming in this clearing!

Our usual 8 mile loop that we run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings begins with a 2 mile hill which brings us up to the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden. We then continue on a combination of hilly trails that run throughout Washington Park.

              

If you have any questions or need any specific running advice feel free to contact Ellie and me for tips and tricks!

Maddie

Fitness: Weekly Pilates

Tuesday night is our family's night to get together. We chat about the week,  do some pilates, and eat  yummy Thai food at Jade. It is a great way to see each other, and pilates is a relaxing way to start the week! Anne McCranie is our awesome pilates instructor and the founder of Fluid Movement and Massage. Every month, Anne puts together five exercises, which we practice each week along with previous ones we have learned. The January Five are hundreds, leg circles, down dog, triangle, and seated twist. Here are our attempts. You can find the instructions for these five and also other helpful health and fitness tips on her website.

Triangle ::



Hundreds ::

Leg Circles ::

Seated Twist ::

Downward Dog ::

Have a healthy and happy weekend!

Maddie & Ellie