Tips For a Club Med Lifestyle--wherever you G.O.

Whether you are vacationing at Club Med or starting the Club Med Diet at home, our Corporate Chef provides some beginner's tips to help you navigate restaurants and home prepared meals.

Remove the unhealthy fat from your diet
It’s easier than you think. We are creatures of habit, so create healthy habits! Healthy fat is important for normal body function and adds taste and texture to foods. A small amount of healthy fat at every meal helps you feel satisfied longer and absorb certain vitamins (Vitamins A, D, E and K make up the fat soluble vitamins). But remember, keep the portions under control.


Examples of foods with healthy fats:
Olive, peanut and canola oils
Avocados and most nuts
Safflower, corn, sunflower, canola, soy and cottonseed oils
Salmon, mackerel and herring
Flaxseeds, flax oil

Unhealthy fats are most commonly found in animal products (red meat, butter, whole milk). You should limit your intake of unhealthy fats. Eat them in small portions and on a limited basis. For more indepth information on healthy and unhealthy fats, go to the Mayo Clinic Website:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fat/NU00262

Go easy on the salt
Salt makes your body retain water. From puffy eyes, to bloated bellies, salt can make you feel heavy. Season with pepper or other spices instead.

Eat 5 mini meals during the day instead of 3 large ones
Snack sensibly. The consistent, moderate food intake will help keep your metabolism up and
prevent you from getting too hungry. If you love a large dinner or --then make the time to take it over several hours and several small courses.

Keep your portions small
This will permit you to maintain a well-balanced and varied diet.

Add color
It’s important to have colorful vegetables at every meal: red, yellow, orange, purple, and of course green.

Drink lots of water every day (of course!) and add a few glasses of unsweetened green tea

Be active
Activity is the most important compliment to a healthy eating. In other posts, you will see the gamit of activities available to keep you fit and entertained.

Discipline, self control, and will power
Although our modern culture wants to pop a pill for everything--a healthy lifestyle requires discipline to form lasting, healthy habits. If you are having difficulty forging new habits, start a food and activity diary. Note your moods in relation to food and post activities. Keep on online food journal at http://www.calorie-count.com

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Tantalizing Trapeze Burns Calories

Want to burn 300 calories an hour flying above tropical landscapes without throwing yourself out of a plane? Try the trapeze at Club Med. Excellent for increasing strength, grace and coordination, the trapeze will help you tone, increase your flexibility and develop better posture. You strengthen your core, arms and legs during trapeze routines and you learn how to overcome fear.

You don't have to wait for your next vacation to Club Med to start (use the vacation to show off your moves.) If you can find a trapeze class in your area you will surely become hooked--and on your way to a healthier lifestyle.


For a school in your area check out http://www.damnhot.com/trapeze/trapezelinks2.html

Helpful Tip: Start an activity diary today : Trainers worldwide suggest that people attempting to improve their physical condition keep a daily activity journal. Keep track of activities, and approximate calories burned. To begin your own, free, online activity diary check out http://www.caloriecounter.com/.

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Why Club Med Guests Don't Get Fat

I feel like a trip to Club Med is similar to a trip to Europe in many ways. I usually come back 5 pounds lighter after a week of satisfying and sumptuous cuisine and tons of activity.

The secret is really very simple--fresh food without a lot of processing and additives paired with daily activity. In essence, for over 50 years Club Med has offered vacationers worldwide the opportunity to build the foundation for a healthy lifestyle while on vacation. In September, the Club Med Diet will officially launch in Columbus Isle, Bahamas. If you don't want to wait until then, create your own Club Med Diet at home.


Pictured is Chef Peter's delicious curried vanilla mahi-mahi.


Helpful tip:
Start a food diary today--you'll be surprised how much you eat and when you eat it! A food diary allows you to keep track of food and drink consumption and feelings associated with eating. It will also serve to remind you of dishes you have enjoyed while at Club Med and enable you to store the recipes to recreate them at home.
To begin your own, free, online diet diary check out http://www.caloriecounter.com/.

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Burn calories, without burning out

At Club Med you can participate in activities you love while discovering new ones. Below is a list of Club Med activities at our "Sun" resorts, the approximate number of calories consumed in an hour and the muscles worked. The new Club Med Diet at Columbus Isle will include pedometers for all participants to allow tracking of steps taken and calories burned.

Archery
Shoulders, neck, back, chest, upper and lower arms
302
Basketball
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, back, arms, core muscles, groin, legs
691
Canoeing
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, back, arms, core muscles
1036
Dancing
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, neck, back, chest, arms, core muscles pelvis, hips, legs
605
Fishing
Shoulders, back, arms, legs
259
Kayaking
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, back, arms, core muscles, legs
432
Ping Pong
Shoulders, arms, back, legs
345
Sailing
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, back, chest, arms, core muscles, legs
432
Scuba Diving
Cardiovascular system, arms, core muscles, legs
605
Snorkeling
Cardiovascular system, arms, core muscles, legs
432
Swimming
Cardiovascular system and total body workout
864
Tennis
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, neck, back, chest, arms, core muscles, groin, hips, legs
605
Volleyball
Cardiovascular system, arms, core muscles, legs
345
Wall/Rock Climbing
Shoulders, back, neck, chest, arms, core, hips, legs
949
Water Aerobics
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, neck, back, chest, arms, core muscles, hips, legs
345
Waterskiing & Wakeboarding
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, neck, back, chest, arms, core muscles, hips, groin, legs
518
Weightlifting
Muscles worked depend on activity
259
Windsurfing
Cardiovascular system, shoulders, back, chest, arms, core muscles, legs
259

*Calories burned based on 190 pound male or female and one hour of activity. If you weigh less you will burn slightly fewer calories during activity--especially in weight bearing excercises like dancing, running, walking or yoga. If you really want exact calculations go to the following site where you can enter your weight and the duration of excercise: http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/jumpsite/calculat.htm

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