Live It Articles Vacation Destination

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me and I will give you rest all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.”

Summer is here; the children are out of school, and it is time to make plans for summer vacation. There are many questions and plans to make. Where will you go? What will you take? What hotel will you use, and how long will you stay? My favorite vacation destination is Gulf Shores, Alabama. Before I began my journey with First Place, I can remember very well how I planned my entire vacation around food. Gulf Shores, Alabama has great seafood restaurants. I would have my entire week of food planned before I arrived. In fact, food was the highlight of the entire week. I can remember how it would thrill me to drive into town and see new restaurants. Rather than change my plans, I would add extra meals to my day. After all, I was on vacation and I deserved it. I would just go on a diet the next Monday when I returned home. After losing 147-1/2 pounds through First Place, my idea of vacation plans did a 360-degree turn. I wasn’t aware of how things had changed inside of me until the First Place Conference in Aiken, South Carolina. I remember the revelation as I was driving into town. Rather than looking for what kind of restaurants they had in that fine southern town, my heart did a flip-flop when I saw that right next to our motel was a nice city running/walking track. I gave glory to the Lord and built an altar right there in downtown Aiken. From then on I planned and packed differently for each trip.

Trip Tips

• Always ask if the motel or hotel has a workout room.
• Check to see if the motel or hotel has a healthy breakfast buffet.
• Be sure to take your workout shoes.
• B.Y.O. F. (bring your own fruit).
• Bring shoes for walking on the beach. Power walking on sand can blister your feet.
• Plan to stay on track. There is no vacation from a lifestyle change.
• Look around to see what other fun fitness options are available at your vacation site, i.e., swimming, biking, kayaking, water slides, or any type of moving activity.
• When dining out, always ask, don’t assume--baked-steamed-grilled?
• Don’t forget to drink water.
• DON’T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN for outdoor activities

Make plans to stay on track before you leave town for your vacation destination. When you return home, you will truly have found a refuge and a resting place in the arms of Jesus. Vacations are to be a time of rest and recovery to renew the mind, spirit, and body. If you choose to take a healthy vacation, you will feel totally rewarded, recovered, and revived, with a smile in your heart and a grin on your face.

A healthy vacation = a healthy destination.

Beverly Henson
Certified Personal Trainer


Beverly Henson is a conference and rally speaker for the First Place ministry. She is also a Bible teacher and certified personal trainer. Beverly joined First Place in July 1997 and has lost 147-1/2 pounds. First Place has given Beverly a powerful testimony. She is a First Place leader and Bible teacher at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Beverly has a genuine love of proclaiming the word of God to His people.