AmazingMFitness.com

One thing I love about summer is the freedom I feel to take weekend trips.

I traveled to Juno Beach with friends last week for a quick two-day jaunt and returned feeling rejuvinated. I didnt stick to a normal workout schedule, or even my typical eating plan, while I was there. But dropping my routine for a few days was a welcome change.

After an afternoon at the beach, where we spent more than two hours swimming in the ocean, catching waves and walking the shore, we stopped at a grocery store for a late lunch. I always crave fresh food after time at the beach, so I got a big watermelon to share and half a whole-wheat sub packed with veggies and lean turkey. Nothing particularly special, but it was satisfying and refreshing.

In the two days I was away, I didnt stray so far from the usual healthy that I came back regretting the trip.

Instead, it felt good to break away from life, from the gym and from my so-called diet.

The Sanibel Lighthouse looms in the background as beachgoers search for shells.

A week back from my vacation and I still have that vacation glow. Of course, I dont think its the glow that is responsible for the extra 9 pounds my scale insists I gained.

I didnt make it to the hotel gym, but I did exercise. My sneakers came out before the pia coladas. The compacted white sand on Sanibel Island made for an easy running surface – and thescenery wasspectacular on my morning jogs.

Toward the end of my stay, I decided I was going to run to the lighthouse (not knowing exactly how far away it was from my hotel). It was a beautiful morning, the sun was just starting to wake up. I passed a woman doing yoga (what a life), a dog prancing through the surf (he was the only one more relaxed than the woman doing down-dog) andtourists searching for the perfect shell. (Although I worked hard to avoid them, I actually felt guilty when I heard shells crunch under my sneakers).

My roundtrip distance: 5.9 miles in 1 hour, 2 minutes.

I wont say it was an effortless run, but it was one of the highlights of my vacation. Setting a goal and reaching it felt fantastic. Knowing that my crazy workout schedule the past several months had prepared me for this made it all feel worthwhile.

My new goal: Dropping those 9 pounds while maintaining my vacation glow.

As I was looking over my vacation itinerary, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the hotel we booked had a full gym. This wasnt part of my criteria when I started my search online. A view of the ocean trumped gym easily.

In fact, a gym didnt rank at all when it came to reasons to select a hotel.

However, as my vacation gets closer, Im starting to think about how Im going to transition from my normal schedule of workouts 6 days a week to four days of no set schedule (with exercise not really a factor in drinking pia coladas and lounging on the beach).

Whether its sightseeing or trips to theme parks, my typical vacation (or more often stay-cation) has exercise built in. (Walking around a crowded theme park in 90 degree temperatures definitely burns some calories.)

I really like the fact that the hotel has a gym but will I actually visit said gym? Ummm I guess well see.

What I do know for sure: I plan on throwing my sneakers in my suitcase in case the urge to run a few miles hits. Hopefully, that urge will strike before the pia coladas.

When you are planning your vacation, how much of a role does exercise have? Click here to vote

• Booking a hotel with a gym is a necessity. It allows you to get a quick workout each morning before the relaxing starts.
• My vacation plans always involve exercise in some way: Walking tours, water sports, hiking etc. So a hotel gym is not necessary.
• They call it a vacation for a reason. My goal is no work, no stress, no exercise.