How To Stay On Track With Weight Loss Goals While Living Abroad
The idea of living abroad seems like an adventure straight out of a fantasy novel where you get to immerse yourself in a different culture, meet new people, gain an expanded perspective, and pursue your dreams. Traveling abroad also means that you are exposed to new cuisines, and you quickly find yourself going down the culinary rabbit hole as you discover unfamiliar ingredients, bold spices, unexpected combinations, and unforgettable dishes.
It’s easy to slip into vacation mode and indulge in every new food that crosses your path, sending your weight loss goals out the window. Finding ways to stay on track with your weight loss goals will help you make the most of living abroad without sacrificing your health.
5 Ways to Stay on Track with Weight Loss Goals While Living Abroad
- Don’t Skip or Stop Your Weight Loss Medications
A lot of people who are on weight loss medications like Ozempic make the decision to skip or stop their weight loss medication while living abroad. A few people do this because they want to be able to enjoy more food, but most do it because they don’t know how to get their weight loss medication while abroad. This is why you need to talk to your doctor in advance for advice on how to manage your doses while traveling. If you skip a dose of Ozempic or any other weight loss medication, you might not notice any changes right away because the medication stays in your system for a couple of weeks. However, once it clears your system, you will start to notice the side effects of skipping Ozempic doses, which will derail your weight loss progress and cause you to gain weight.
2. Make Walking a Habit
Whether you are going to the local grocery store or simply exploring the city, make it a habit to walk instead of taking a cab. Walking around the city helps you mentally map the area so that you feel more comfortable while travelling. It also gives you a chance to stop and enjoy street art or local vendors selling handmade jewelry and other items. You can include a brisk walk in your daily workout routine while traveling, as this will help you stick to your weight loss goals.
3. Track your Progress
While obsessively logging every calorie can be tedious when travelling, a simple journal or app check‑in once a day will keep you accountable. Use a method that is simple and easy, and pair this along with another habit so that you’re less likely to forget. For example, you can update your journal before or after you brush your teeth at night. Studies show that creating healthy habits allows you to maintain them over time with minimal effort. Tracking your progress allows you to notice patterns in your eating behavior that you can address, which will help you lose weight.
4. Celebrate Achieving Healthy Milestones
It is not easy to lose weight while living abroad, so instead of setting weight loss goals, you can set healthy living milestones. This means that instead of rewarding yourself only when you reach your goal weight, you treat yourself to a non-food reward when you meet a healthy living milestone, such as swapping desserts for fruit for an entire week or managing to workout every single day. This will help you stay motivated to make healthy choices, which will bring you closer to your weight loss goals.
5. Stay Mindful to Avoid Overeating
Discovering new foods is one of the best things about living abroad. From street foods and tiny family-run cafes to artisan bakeries and high-end restaurants, these are the memories that will last a lifetime! You don’t have to give up on eating out so that you can stay on track with your weight loss goals; all you need to do is approach these meals with intention instead of impulse. Eating mindfully is one of several simple but effective ways to stay healthy when living abroad. Take smaller portion sizes, especially when it comes to fried foods and desserts, as these are high in calories. You should also take smaller bites of food and eat slowly so that you can savor your meal without overeating.