I should preface this by saying that my recent visit to Jamaica was not really a “vacation.” I’m still calling it that because I was visiting a place that most people would only visit while on vacation, but because I am possibly the luckiest woman alive, it is my job to visit beautiful destinations and show them off; to learn about them and share my experience so that you can make the most of your own visit.
I recently stayed 5 nights at Sandals Negril in Jamaica. I traveled alone and met with a group of travel advisors who were all there for the same reason I was, to learn and network. So I can’t say that I was there to enjoy a lot of R&R with someone I love like most of you would be, but I was still exposed to the same temptations, ate the same food that any other guest would eat, and had the same number of options for staying active.
I definitely took advantage of the unlimited bar, but for the most part I tried to stick with lighter drinks. I even used Google to look up some of the lowest calorie (and “cleanest”) drinks you can order. We won’t count the night we had “off” from work where my new friends & I went to a silent DJ party, had a BLAST, and maybe one too many shots of tequila. 🤣 Other than a few splurges, I often chose Red Stripe Light, wine, and champagne (with a splash of some juice). Those all fall somewhere around 100-150 calories vs. the common drinks like daquiris and pina coladas, which can pack upwards of 500 calories. A good choice for a cocktail if you’re really looking for a beachy mixed drink is a mojito! 🍸
There were also plenty of opportunities to indulge in some delicious food. I allowed myself a 2 cheat meals: the first being at Cucina Romana, the Italian restaurant, for a carb load before my 5.5 mile run, and I had to try one of the famous Jamaican beef patties. Otherwise I made the following types of food choices (note that I almost always was served potatoes with my order and opted not to eat them):
Breakfast – Corn Flakes/Raisin Bran with 1% milk, Vegetarian Omelet, Eggs Benedict removing the hollandaise
Lunch – Veggie Wrap, Thin Crust Brick Oven Cheese Pizza, Jerk Chicken
Dinner – Swordfish w/vegetables, Sea Trout w/vegetables
And I also splurged on my last night and had the best Creme Brulee I’ve ever had in my life. I didn’t eat the whole thing, but I intended to only eat a couple of bites and ate more than half. 😆
There are plenty of ways to stay active at these resorts including the water sports, and many offer fun group fitness classes. During my visit I ran 2 miles barefoot on the beach, did some weightlifting in the gym, and ran my long 5.5 mile run around the resort. It’s an absolutely beautiful resort, so I had PLENTY of scenery to enjoy on those runs.
All this to say that, you can definitely stay on track with your goals even if you’re in a place where you are “eating out” for literally every meal, there are temptations around every corner, and lounging by the beach/pool might sound a lot better than lacing up for a run. I had a healthy balance of both indulgence and moderation, and I did not gain any weight during my trip. 😊
Fit Body Fit Budget 