- By Caila Ball-Dionne

Avoiding holiday temptations at home is hard enough, but taking your quest for good health in the season of good cheer on the road comes with even more challenges. High calorie plane food! Relatives who won’t stop feeding you! Unfamiliar workout studios! 

All of this can be overcome, however, with a little bit of planning. Before you board that plane, train or automobile, prepare for a healthy trip with these six tips.

1.  Plan of (Snack) Attack

Let’s be honest: anyone shelling out $5 for a can of potato chips on a plane has fallen victim to desperation snacking. Prevent this default calorie consumption by packing healthy snacks for the journey. Although only the tiny tiniest of pressed juices will make it through the security line, sandwiches, salads and trail mix are all TSA – and diet – friendly. 

2.  Destination Workouts

Your car practically goes on autopilot to the gyms at home, but the exercise options for your trip are still a mystery. Do a bit of advanced research for studio options at your destination on GoRecess, and sign up for classes before you even board the plane. Keep it familiar at a branch of your home studio, or use your new destination as an opportunity to try out a new workout.

3.  First Stop: The Gym

There’s no stopping the holiday social train once it’s left the station, so get a jump on your fitness before family time begins. Shake off the exhaustion from a long journey with a workout before your post-flight shower, and then get to the business of celebrating the holidays. Doesn’t an hour of yoga after a day of sitting like a pretzel in the car sound tempting anyway?

4.  Pack Your Equipment

Take away excuses to skip workouts by making room in your luggage for the exercise necessities. While your back will thank you for not loading a bag with kettlebells, you’ll be prepared to sweat with running shoes, climate-appropriate exercise clothing, a jump rope and resistance bands.

5.  Running or Walking Tour

Put those running shoes you packed to good use, and use a tracker like MapMyFitness to discover new training courses at your holiday destination. Whether you are rediscovering the beauty of your hometown, or getting to know a new destination up close and personal, enjoy the refreshing view on your vacation run.

6.  Socialize with Negative Calories

Not all holiday get-togethers need to include food and cocktails. Tap into that group of friends and family who are just as happy to catch up on a long walk, or at a post-yoga class coffee. Sounds like the start of a healthy holiday tradition!