When most people think of summertime, they think of vacations filled with sunny days. Being as I’m a Florida native, my family’s idea of a perfect vacation includes destinations that require minimal travel and a lot of sunshine — Bahamas, the Keys, and Captiva Island were always winners.

Naturally, during the winter and spring months, people around the country slim down for swimsuit season.  But more often than not, we let our bodies take a break from our diet and exercise when we go on vacation. But why should you stop your routine when swimsuit season begins?  Don’t get me wrong: I’m definitely in favor of letting your body have a gym-cation, but there are simple tips you can follow that’ll prevent you from sabotaging your hard work.  The best part is, you won’t even feel like your dieting.

The Tropical Island Fitness Plan:

This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2010.