Best Active Vacations – Health

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Kicka Witte/kickawitte.com

The ultimate vacation

You go somewhere luxe, indulge away, and come back thinner. Our experts canvassed the country to find 10 standout trips that make it easy to eat healthy and get toned without trying.

Our healthy-travel judges then ranked these top U.S. destinations, based on how nutritious and tasty the food is, how active you’ll want to be while you’re there (in other words, how creative and fun the exercise options are), how much private coaching is at your fingertips, and whether you’ll pick up healthy habits to bring home. Jet off to one of these places this summer and your souvenir just might be a smaller dress size.

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Meet our judges

• Samantha Brown is the host of Travel Channel shows including Great Weekends and Passport to Europe.

• Melisse Gelula is the co-founder of WellandGoodNYC.com; she is also the former editor-in-chief of spafinderlifestyle.com.

• Jim Kaese is a hotel gym expert and Editor in Chief for AthleticMindedTraveler.com.

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Courtesy of Miraval Arizona

No. 1 Miraval Resort & Spa

Tucson, Arizona
How to travel: alone, with your partner, with girlfriends

The peaceful desert setting at Miraval will inspire your sweat sessions; all meals are under 450 calories.

An exhilarating zip-line trip through the desert. A flavorful, grass-fed beef tenderloin under 350 calories. The premier integrative-wellness program founded by mind-body guru Andrew Weil. These are just a few of the reasons why Miraval snagged the top spot. “You leave there feeling lighter in spirit and slimmer in your waistline,” says Melisse Gelula, one of our panelists and co-founder of Well & Good NYC, a healthy-lifestyle Web site. Food-wise, dishes are portion-controlled, locally sourced, and delicious.

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Courtesy of Miraval Arizona

More about Miraval

As for fitness, your options are challenging and inventive, ranging from Qigong to walking a tightrope. “You’re pushing yourself physically in entirely new ways,” Gelula notes. But the real magic of Miraval is that it makes healthy eating and being active so effortless—you’ll be genuinely surprised when your pants are looser upon checkout.

Cost: Rates start at $525 per night and are all-inclusive (800-232-3969; miravalresorts.com)

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Courtesy of SwellWomen Surg & Yoga Retreat

No. 2 SwellWomen Surf & Yoga Retreat

Maui, Hawaii
How to travel: alone, with girlfriends

No worries if you’ve never been hangin’ ten before! SwellWomen welcomes beginners, and your body will still benefit big-time. “Even when you don’t get up on that board, it’s an amazing workout,” assures panelist Samantha Brown, a host on the Travel Channel.

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Courtesy of SwellWomen Surg & Yoga Retreat

More about SwellWomen

On a typical day during this women-only, weeklong retreat, you’ll fuel up with a fresh, portion-controlled breakfast prepared by Swell’s private chef. Then you’ll set out for two hours of fat-burning surfing lessons, followed by a zen outdoor yoga class. After a nutritious lunch, bliss out with a massage or lounge by the pool. Later, enjoy the chef’s specialty dessert—Pineapple Coconut Haupia—guilt-free. Your parting gift: newfound confidence in your surfing skills and your sculpted bod.

Cost: $3,595 all-inclusive rate for one week with single occupancy; $2,995 for double occupancy (800-399-6284; swellwomen.com)

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Courtesy of Red Mountain Resort

No. 3 Red Mountain Resort

St. George, Utah
How to travel: alone, with girlfriends, with your partner

It’s hard not to get your heart rate up at this resort located in Utah’s red rock country: You’re surrounded by thousands of acres of cliffs and canyons that beckon you to go hiking, biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding.

“What stood out most to me was their mountain-biking program,” says Jim Kaese, panelist and co-founder of Athletic-Minded Traveler LLC. “Rentals and guides are provided for an array of rides.”

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Courtesy of Red Mountain Resort

More about Red Mountain

The meals here are filling but diet-friendly. “You work up an appetite and then return to have really healthy food choices laid out for you,” Gelula says. We love that there’s plenty of good low-cal grub, like chilled watermelon-cilantro soup, southwest chicken skewers, and frozen mango passion mousse—altogether, less than 500 calories!

Cost: A la carte rates start at $189 per night; package rates start at $250 per night, all-inclusive (877-246-4453; redmountainresort.com)

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Courtesy of Sanctuary on Camback Mountain

No. 4 Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain

Paradise Valley, Arizona
How to travel: alone, with girlfriends, with your partner

The dazzling backdrop alone is worth the trip here—Sanctuary is set at the base of majestic Camelback Mountain, in a serene desert landscape. But it’s the resort’s attentive and skilled staff that landed Sanctuary at the number-four spot.

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Courtesy of Sanctuary on Camback Mountain

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“The yoga and Pilates teachers will really push you physically, and the classes are small, so you get a lot of attention,” Gelula says of the complimentary studio classes.

“The trainers will take you on hikes and bikes that will kick your butt, too,” she adds. The executive chef here is Iron Chef America winner Beau MacMillan, who uses what’s fresh and local to cook up nutritious dishes like edamame-and-truffle dumplings. “Beau really knows how to get creative with healthy food,” Gelula says.

Cost: Rates start at $235 per night (800-245-2051; sanctuaryoncamelback.com)

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Courtesy of Muana Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows

No. 5 The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows

Big Island, Hawaii
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner, with the family

Kick up your flippers and check out the tropical fish in the reef that’s on the Mauna Lani property.

Triathletes flock to Mauna Lani to train for a half-Ironman that takes place on the hotel’s paradise-like premises, but there’s no need to be a professional athlete to enjoy staying here. Located on three miles of secluded shoreline, the resort lets you play hard outdoors at everything—kayaking, tennis, golf, even coconut husking. (Trust us, you’ll work up a sweat!)

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Courtesy of Muana Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows

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The lap pool is what really wowed Kaese: “It has an amazing competition-quality, three-lane lap pool with floating lane lines,” he says. Mauna Lani takes
a true farm-to-table approach to food, sourcing the vast majority of ingredients locally. “They go way beyond your typical resort fare and provide a real connection between you, the location, and the food,” Brown adds.

Cost: Rates start at $395 per night (808-885-6622; maunalani.com)

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Courtesy of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino

No. 6 Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino

Incline Village, Nevada
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner, with the family

Ready to relax? Chill out at one of the Hyatt’s lakeside fire pits.

Just walking around at an elevation of 7,000 feet will get your heart pumping. This Hyatt is nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, right on the shores of Lake Tahoe (with its own private beach), so there are countless ways to get moving outside. “You can go on walks and runs around the forested area and take thrilling mountain bike rides up and down the nearby Flume Trail,” Kaese says. “And the winter skiing is superb in the surrounding mountain peaks.”

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Courtesy of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino

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The resort’s Lone Eagle Grille also got high marks from our judges for consistently serving healthy, organic, seasonal meals that taste great. (The chef is a big fan of fresh seafood.)

Cost: Rates start at $178 per night (775-832-1234; laketahoe.hyatt.com)

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Courtesy of Canyon Ranch

No. 7 Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach

Miami beach, Florida
How to travel: alone, with girlfiends, with your partner

The Canyon Ranch menu is broken down by carbs, calories, protein, fat, and fiber content.

At Canyon Ranch Miami, it’s all about the staff, which includes a team of integrative physicians and wellness pros who will help you learn the skills needed to get into peak shape. “You take classes here knowing there is a guiding, intelligent expert at the helm of it,” Gelula says. With more than 40 on-the-house exercise offerings (including Zumba and kinesis) and low-cal yet mouthwatering food, you can’t help but shrink while you’re their guest.

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Courtesy of Canyon Ranch

More about Canyon Ranch

Make no mistake: This is a great escape, a posh boutique hotel set on a pristine beach. Plus, you’re in Miami, which can be inspiring, physique-wise. “There’s a less-is-more approach when it comes to clothing,” Brown notes, “and that’s always a great motivation!”

Cost: Rates start at $525 (800-742-9000; canyonranch.com)

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Courtesy of Montage Laguna Beach

No. 8 Montage Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach, California
How to travel: alone, with your partner

Montage is located on 30 beachfront acres, and all rooms overlook the water.

It’s all about location at this luxe resort, which is set high on a coastal bluff overlooking white-sand beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Among the many ways you can burn calories by the shore: a beach boot camp, sunset yoga sessions, and a fantastic running path along the ocean. “You will be inspired to become a runner because of this path!” Gelula says. You can also hightail it into town where “the galleries and shops will keep you walking for miles,” Kaese adds.

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Courtesy of Montage Laguna Beach

More about Montage

The chefs at Montage consistently whip up meals made with sustainably raised seafood and farmers’ market produce, and they offer a special spa menu that focuses on low-cal foods and specialty grains.

Cost: Rates start at $595 per night (866-271-6953; montagelagunabeach.com)

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Courtesy of La Posada de Santa Fe, a RockResort

No. 9 La Posada Resort & Spa

Santa Fe, New Mexico
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner

“The whole city of Santa Fe is behind organic, wholesome, and healthy living,” Brown says. “And La Posada is at the heart of it all,” surrounded by mountains and two blocks from Santa Fe’s historic, buzzing city plaza, which will lure you to walk, walk, walk to explore it. (Don’t miss the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.)

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More about La Posada

During the summer, you can go hiking, rafting, biking, fishing, and more in the area. And in the winter, skiing and snowshoeing are just steps away. La Posada’s “Appetite for Life” menu offerings, all of which are sustainable and heart-healthy, earned points from our judges, too—organic, inventive dishes like the piñon-nut-crusted mahi mahi will please your palate and keep you trim.

Cost: Rates start at $225 per night (866-331-7625; laposada.rockresorts.com)

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Courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

No. 10 Fairmont Battery Wharf

Boston, Massachusetts
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner, with the family

This boutique hotel right on Boston Harbor boasts stunning coastal views, but the real draw weight-loss-wise is the city itself: Boston is a walking and biking mecca. The Fairmont is close to some of the city’s historic landmarks, such as the Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and you can borrow a complimentary BMW bike to cruise around on.

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Courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

More about Battery Wharf

The hotel steps up its healthy game inside, too—choose from the Lifestyle Cuisine Plus menus, which cater to different dietary preferences including macrobiotic and gluten-free. The Fairmont also recently opened an Exhale spa, which offers challenging core-fusion classes. “These are metabolism-revving classes,” Gelula says. “It’s a very efficient workout!”

Cost: Rates start at $279 per night (800-257-7544; fairmont.com/batterywharf)

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Runners-up you’ll love

• The Ranch at Live Oak, Malibu, California
At this relatively new boot-camp spa, guests log 10 hours
of exercise a day—hiking, strength training, and yoga—and
eat a 1,500-calorie vegetarian diet. (888-777-2177; theranchmalibu.com)

• Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Thompsonville, Michigan
This picturesque resort boasts a green spa, with a huge fitness center and free classes like water aerobics, and Nordic walking. Order off the special Peak Performance menu for leaner, lighter fare. (800-968-7686; crystalmountain.com)

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More runners-up you’ll love

•Westin St. Francis, San Francisco, California
Give those famous hills a run for their money by following the Westin’s comprehensive maps around the city. When hunger strikes, choose power eats off the hotel’s SuperFoodsRx menu. (800-937-8461; westinstfrancis.com)

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6 ‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods to Throw Out Right Now

 

Last week, a study published in the journal BMJ Open revealed that a whopping 60% of calories in the average American’s daily diet come from “ultra-processed” foods, which are pretty much exactly what they sound like: processed foods that contain additives—like hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, and emulsifiers—with long names you don’t recognize.

The researchers also found that these ultra-processed foods account for 90% of the added sugar we consume, increasing our risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Yikes. In an interview with HealthDay News, lead study author Euridice Martinez Steele stressed the importance of cleaning up our diets. “There is one relatively simple way to avoid excessive added sugar—not replacing real food with ultra-processed food and drink products,” she said.

RELATED: 20 Foods You Should Always Have in Your Kitchen

Luckily, creating homemade versions of your favorite treats is easier than you might think. And you don’t need to swear off conveniently-packaged snacks altogether, says Health‘s contributing nutrition editor Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD. You just need to read the labels carefully: “My take is, if the ingredient list looks like a recipe you could have made in your own kitchen, you’re on the right track.”

Here, Sass points out the six worst ultra-processed foods in your pantry right now, and healthier versions you can buy—or make at home—instead.

 

 

Chips

The most notorious offenders, says Sass, are brands that contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. (That means anything neon-orange is out.) Your best bet is a basic kettle chip with just three simple ingredients: potatoes, olive or sunflower oil, and salt. Other good options include organic blue corn chips and popcorn, which is low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with antioxidants. Or better yet, go the DIY route. Baked kale chips are easy to make, as are oven-roasted sweet potato chips. Follow the the step-by-step instructions in the video below.

RELATED: How to Make Zucchini Oven Chips

 

 

Packaged snack cakes

Those plastic-wrapped cakes that seem to last for months years in your pantry are packed with sugar and preservatives (hence their longevity). Whipping up your own sweet treats is a better option, says Sass. You can use a nutrient-rich alternative to white flour, such as chickpea or almond flour, and also cut back on sugar and butter with healthier substitutions. Sass recommends replacing half of the sugar in the recipe with pureed fruit (mashed bananas and date paste both work well); and swapping each tablespoon of butter with a half tablespoon of avocado. (Check out this video for more smart baking swaps.)

Craving a sweet fix, stat? “I love to take fresh fruit—berries, slices of pears, whatever is in season—and warm them in a skillet with a little lemon water,” Sass says. “Then I’ll make homemade crumble with almond butter, oats, and cinnamon and sprinkle it on top of the fruit.”

RELATED: 34 Easy Swaps to Make Every Meal Healthier

 

 

Certain breads

You already know to avoid ultra-processed white bread in favor of fiber-rich whole grain breads that offer a slew of good-for-you perks. But picking the right loaf can be tricky because even healthy-seeming varieties can contain additives: “Bread is one of those foods where reading the ingredient list is really very important,” Sass explains. In general, she recommends looking for a whole grain or gluten-free, or even grain-free bread that doesn’t have any artificial additives or preservatives. When in doubt, check the frozen foods section, Sass says. It makes sense: Some of the healthiest breads “need to be frozen because they don’t contain any preservatives,” she explains.

 

 

Diet soda

Yes, you’ve heard it before. But seriously, it’s time to ditch your diet soda stash once and for all. Besides the fact that diet soda has zero nutritional value, it contains artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose, and has been linked to headaches, depression, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. If you can’t get used to plain old H2O, opt for sparkling or flavored water. “Just be sure to choose one that contains only carbonated water and natural flavors,” says Sass.

RELATED: 9 Low-Fat Foods You Shouldn’t Eat

 

 

Frozen pizza

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be a minimally-processed version of pre-made pizza. The best alternative, says Sass, is making your own dough. She bakes a light, flaky crust from chopped up cauliflower that pleases even diehard pizza fans, and loads it up with veggies and fresh greens. This video shows how simple it is so make your own cauliflower crust pizza.

 

 

Candy

First, the bad news on candy: Most of the movie theater brands you know and love contain high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors. But the good news, is there are better options out there. “Seventy percent dark chocolate is a great alternative to candy,” Sass says, noting that it’s a good source of magnesium and antioxidants, which can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. For a bite-sized treat, she likes Dagoba Organic Chocolate Chocodrops ($8; amazon.com). “Some of my clients keep a bag in the freezer and grab a small handful of the frozen chips when they’re craving something sweet,” she says. And if you prefer gummy candies, Sass recommends a German brand called Seitenbacher Gummi Fruit ($20 for a dozen 3-oz. bags; amazon.com). “Their sweetness comes from real fruit juices, such as apple and beetroot,” she says.

 

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Iskra Lawrence Talks About Editing Photos

People are just living their best edited lives on Instagram.

It’s not news that many of the so-called “real” images you see on social media don’t embody people’s truths. Yet, that doesn’t stop us from comparing our bodies (size, skin, hair, you name it) and our lives to people on Instagram, which can send us down a pretty dark rabbit hole. Luckily, model and fitness influencer Iskra Lawrence is here to tell us that the real you is good enough.

Lawrence posted a side-by-side to Instagram of two photos of herself in a navy lace bralette. Although the images appear similar—same bra, same stance—there are noticeable differences. She writes that the picture on the left is “the REAL me,” while the one on the right is the FaceTuned version of herself after editing her skin tone, tummy, and face.

“For me social media is the most damaging place where images are made to look ‘real and candid’ but in reality 100 pics were taken and then they were Photoshopped or FaceTuned,” Lawrence captions the photo.

Scrolling through our feeds, we are only getting a glimpse—a very small, controlled window—into the lives of others. Chances are, the photo we are presented with may not be the reality of their situation. That fitness model’s abs look perfect in her selfie, but we don’t see a photo of her sitting down post-workout with natural stomach rolls (which we all have). That influencer posted a photo holding hands with their seemingly perfect S.O. or fiancé, and yet they could fight all the time. The photo of the social star smiling on vacation or enjoying a happy hour cocktail could be disguising a struggle with stress and anxiety that he or she feels every day, just like the rest of us. These perfectly posed, often edited images on Instagram can mask larger issues, like eating disorders, insecurities, and unhappiness. 

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Instagram only shows us what the person wants us to see, and these false realties are, well, damaging. In our daily scroll, we tend to internally bully ourselves with thoughts like Why can’t I be thin like her? and Why can’t my pores be that small? The hardest question of all may be, Are we supposed to look like this? Lawrence’s response? “ABSOLUTELY NOT. THE REAL YOU IS GOOD ENOUGH,” she writes.

“We cannot compare ourselves to unrealistic images. We cannot compare our real selves to Photoshop or FaceTune. We cannot compare our real lives to the Instagram versions. We cannot compare ourselves to seemingly perfect relationships we see online. We cannot compare ourselves to each other full stop,” Lawrence writes in her post.

Ironically, it’s often easy to see the beauty in others but completely forget to acknowledge the beauty within ourselves. Being different and being you makes you special. Iskra Lawrence is not one to shy away from telling it like it is, and she’s once again reminding women to practice self-love and to honor their bodies—not to digitally manipulate them.

“The real you is good enough, so let’s start celebrating that and know that FaceTune or Photoshop will not make you happier or more confident. Finding the things you can be grateful for and love about yourself will.”

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