The Final Day

The final day has arrived. We have just had breakfast and now waiting for it to digest before hitting that awesome gym for a final Back and Cardio day. Then we’re going to check out at midday and head to the shopping centre to catch a movie before the airport later this evening. It’ll be another full night of travelling but I have to admit that the two of us find it a breeze in comparison with the usual scenario of dragging three tired children around the airports. Speaking of children – I cannot not find a way of articulating just how much I miss mine and seriously cannot wait to see them tomorrow.

So how has the holiday panned out considering it’s been done while fully into competition preparation? Here are the highs and not-so-highs;

-        I love finding innovative ways to stick to the program while in new countries. The harder the challenge, the bigger the reward.

-        I love new foods and feel infinitely grateful that South East Asia centres theirs mainly around vegetables as opposed to cheese or pasta etc.

-        I absolutely love finding gyms in new countries and putting them to the test.

-        I’m a little over working so hard to find clean food. There are vegies galore out here but most cooks favour covering them with lashings of fishy sauce and cannot believe I want mine dry!

-        With that in mind, I can’t wait to return to the safety of my own cooked meat and veg. Being able to omit everything, weigh it properly and know that I am sticking to my program 110%.

-        I love new gyms but will relish the safety and familiarity of my little home gym and the good old Katherine YMCA.

I have received quite a few emails about being on holiday while sticking to some sort of program so I know it’s topical for people. And I can sum it up by saying it is definitely and absolutely possible, and it’s not that hard either. I think the biggest sabotage is people. Especially (unfortunately) loved ones who find it threatening, annoying or even just irritating that you are not indulging in every way possible. That’s a real hard one. In the end it’s just down to you and your ability to withstand the pressure and temptations. Test your metal and see what you can achieve. It's a real buzz to put yourself to the test. You know you can win if you choose to.

Here's my personal reality;

Do I miss having alcohol while away? You bet I do! The grog in Malaysia is dirt cheap, there are bars galore and it's pretty much a full-time party going on in the streets. Langkawi Island was even duty free. I like nothing more than a chilled Chardonnay before dinner. But I can do without it this trip.

Do I miss helping myself to eggs and toast and muesli and yoghurt for breakfast? Of course I do! It looks and smells delicious. I crave lashings of tropical fruit on top of creamy bircher muesli, quickly chased by a cheesy omelette on wholegrain toast. So I’ll put that thought ‘on ice’ and pick up on it next time around.

Have I felt hard-done-by after dinner when I’ve had to bypass the mandatory 3-tier flowing chocolate fountain surrounded by baskets of fruit, pastries, cakes, macaroons, ice creams and frozen yoghurts? Yes. Yep. Of course. Absolutely. No doubt about it. The smell alone is hard to get past. But there is nothing, nothing, on that list that I can’t have on another day so again, I’ll put it ‘on ice’ and return to it if I so desire in the future. Let’s face it – nothing too special there, just a collection of yummy sweets.

Do I resent having to do tons of workouts and cardio on hols? No. I definitely do not. I love my training and will debate to the bitter end anyone who tells me that 60mins a day is too much to spend exercising while on hols. This trip was different to any we’ve had for an awful long time and we’ve had so much downtime. We have read books, watched movies, walked along the beach, sat around the pool, along with all of the other shopping and sight-seeing activities. And even when we’ve got the kids with us we try to fit in our fair share of rest. So all I’m talking about is 60 minutes of decent exercise. One hour out of 24 devoted to working off the extra holiday food. It’s my lifestyle – my ‘normal’ – and I have no desire to change or alter that fact simply to have some sedentary person give me the thumbs-up for relaxing to their standards. Not negotiable.

And most of all, I really do love active holidays. Even when not prepping I tend to go the extra mile to find ways to make most meals healthy and include a decent exercise session. I'll choose the hotel/resort with a gym over one without. I'll pick a family bike ride over hiring a car. I'll insist we walk the 1km to the city centre and maybe the bus home. I want my kids to grow up thinking that exercise and good food is very normal. That going on holiday is not an excuse to stuff your face and sit around doing nothing all day and night. I don’t want them thinking alcohol is a mandatory daily routine and that drinking to excess is something you need to do when you are celebrating life. I’m happy to live with the consequences of my choices on this one. Actually - I'm more than happy.