We all look forward to vacation. Whether it be an annual trip up to the family summer home, a road trip with the kids, or a world-class luxury vacation at home or abroad, we can all agree that getting away can contribute to our sanity levels from time to time.
I was excited to share my recommendations with the fabulous folks at Vegas.com on how to balance the enjoyment of visiting Las Vegas with the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In other words, how to have the best of both worlds: ultimate indulgence WITHOUT falling off the bandwagon!
Sounds easier said than done, right? Well, it is. It sounds like a straight-forward plan to keep your six-pack abs and chiseled shoulders anywhere at anytime. But most people recognize that kicking back, having a few cocktails, and just taking it easy in general makes it harder than ever to bring about the proper amount of balance between fitness and pleasure.
So, I have decided to compile a list of my most sensible and common thought-out tips for staying healthy while getting the most out of Las Vegas at the very same time.
1) Walk everywhere.
First thing is first: exercise can NEVER make up for a poor diet. However, there are some healthy habits you can incorporate even while in Sin City that will at least keep your blood flowing and your blood sugar levels from spiking out of control.
The number one tip is to walk everywhere that you can. Again, walking is NOT going to work off a 5,000 calorie meal at Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers, but at least by getting up and moving about, you can keep things in check to some extent.
The key is to always to eat in moderation: but a little bit of walking around certainly will do your body nothing but a little good while living it up.
BONUS TIP: Grab an app on your phone, such as Charity Miles or MapMyRun to keep track of your steps and your daily mileage. This will give you an idea of how many additional calories you’ve burned by choosing to walk everywhere that you can rather than taking a cab or the tram.
2) Try a little bit of everything.
While it’s easy to go overboard at the buffet (Wicked Spoon Buffet, anyone?), you’ll want to maximize your experience while at the same time controlling your cravings by going slow and by trying a little bit of everything.
Sure, not everything at the buffet is necessarily top-notch diet friendly food, but by indulging in just a little bit of your deepest cravings and desires, you’ll avoid the temptation to splurge and go overboard night after night.
Have a little and live it up, but just take your time and make sure your eyes and mouth don’t get too big for your stomach!
3) Take advantage of your hotel gym.
The convenient part about staying on the strip in Las Vegas is that the majority of hotels are going to have some nice amenities and facilities. For instance, Mandalay Bay and Caesars Palace both have state-of-the-art facilities with newer workout equipment.
In addition, the pool can be utilized to get a few laps in (although most customers staying at the hotel will not be looking to get an Olympic-style workout in) and tread some water in between piña coladas.
If all else fails, and you want to experience the best of what fitness has to offer in Vegas, you’re in luck: Las Vegas is home to some of the most well-known gyms in the bodybuilding scene. For example, EOS Fitness, what once what was known as the iconic Gold’s Gym Las Vegas, is available in two different locations on opposite ends of the city.
For more information, check out some great hotel options here!
4) Visit the Mr. Olympia expo.
The mention of world-renown bodybuilding gyms brings up none other than the annual Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition and expo. If you are planning on traveling during this time of the year, typically the third weekend in September, make sure to book early and plan ahead.
Attending the Olympia expo will accomplish a couple things for you during your visit to Sin City. First, it will refer back to point #1 to walk, walk, and walk some more. If you visit the expo during peak hours and make it a point to see each booth, you will undoubtedly leave with a minimum of five miles under your belt.
Second, if you cannot find motivation to get in shape, lose fat, and build some muscle from hanging out with all of the fitness models and professional bodybuilders at the expo (or even at some of the wild pool after-parties thrown), you’re most likely not looking hard enough. You’ll find enough motivation for a lifetime by visiting bodybuilding’s most important annual event.
Summing it all up.
I hope my tips have been helpful to you and I hope you will keep some of these in mind as a checklist next time you make a trip to beautiful Las Vegas.
Be sure to check out some more of these Las Vegas Deals and comment below to add to my list of staying healthy while visiting Las Vegas. Thanks!
