The Tribune

Health coach Ethan Quant, of Elite Wellness Solutions, has succeeded in his weight loss journey and now wants to share his methods with the Bahamas in an effort to foster a culture of wellness and conquer the obesity epidemic.

It’s truly amazing how changing our lifestyles can impact every aspect of our lives.

“Ethan on vacation” at 306 pounds versus “Ethan on vacation” today are two totally different experiences. I used to literally plan my vacation around where I wanted to eat. I had an extensive list of my favourite restaurants – ones that I absolutely had to dine at before the end of my getaway. My lunches and dinners were booked like events on my calendar. Definitely, Cheese Cake Factory, Red Lobster, Olive Garden – all these were destinations on my itinerary. I also would go to Walmart and stock up on all sorts of cheap junk food. Oh, and how could I forget the Krispy Kreme donuts conveniently stocked near the check-out line!

Literally, my vacations were comprised of shopping, eating and entertainment, which normally involved eating and excessive drinking and partying. Back then, I couldn’t tell you if the hotel I stayed in had a gym or not because it wasn’t important to me. It wasn’t a priority. And of course, there was no need to pack workout clothes because I wasn’t working out.

Now, my trips are a lot different even from the planning stage. First of all, I don’t book a hotel unless it has a fitness centre. And if it’s a smaller fitness room with only a treadmill and some dumbbells, I would research commercial gyms in the area to ensure I don’t miss a beat. Don’t get me wrong, while I still enjoy myself, gorging on large amounts of cheap food is no longer my mission. Depending on where I am going, I research things to do and sights to see. Also, I do what many of us skip on vacation – rest!

Most of my mornings are spent in bed allowing my body to recharge from the rigours of everyday life. That’s something I purposely set out to change after realising how consistently drained I felt at the end of a vacation. Honestly, there were times that I felt slightly depressed once the trip ended. While many of us experience despondence after returning from vacation, that’s usually because we’re broke. What I experienced was something different. It was because I was abusing my body, which had already not had the best care given to it.

While I still “let my hair down” and do a bit of partying and eat at my favourite restaurants, it is not a priority for me. Now, I make it a point to get rest. I may even hit the spa so that I can feel rejuvenated and have a greater appreciation for home at the end of my vacation. This allows me to seamlessly get back to the daily grind of my life.

Early in my fitness journey it was a challenge for me to get back on the wagon after vacation. After my time of overindulgence, I would experience somewhat of a “vacationer’s remorse” – cringing as I reflect on all of the gluttonous choices I made in the name of “loving myself”. This led me to coming up with three major keys that I call my “post vacation reset”:

1. Avoid the compound effect – The compound effect is no physical activity and overindulgence. This is a sure way to derail any progress you have made on your health, wellness and fitness journey. The way to avoid this is to maintain some level of regular physical activity while on vacation and enjoy your ‘vacation eats and drinks’ in moderation.

2. Take some time to plan your fitness strategy for when you return home. A vacation is time to recharge and refresh yourself. It’s also a good time to sit and plan without the distractions of your daily routine. So take some time to create a realistic action plan that fits into your life. Look for pockets of free time that can be filled with activity that will advance you on your health, wellness and fitness journey.

3. Get back on the grind as soon as you get back home! I used to say it all the time: “I need a vacation after my vacation.” Some say that they need a readjustment period after the fun-filled time overseas. However, the best way to reset after vacation is to get started right away. The longer you take to get back into your fitness routine the harder it will be!

I would love to hear from you, so let me know how these tips helped you!

Also, if you need help navigating any aspect of your health, wellness and fitness journey, feel free to reach out to me directly. Always remember, at the end of the day, you have the power to be successful in health, in fitness and in life.

• If you need help navigating any part of your health, wellness and fitness process, you can contact Ethan Quant at ethan@elite-wellnesssolutions.com or on Instagram at @ethanquant.