The trip to Cancun, Mexico, and the Hyatt Ziva Cancun was simply awesome. Everything about the resort was first-class. The weather was nearly perfect, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80s every day. For five full days, it was all about relaxing, enjoying the beautiful surroundings, and taking a break from everyday routines.
We arrived back in the United States on Monday, May 25th. I spent the night in Minneapolis and then made the drive back to Bismarck on the 26th. My weigh-in this morning, Wednesday, May 27th, came in at 274.9 pounds. At first glance, it appears I gained back everything I had previously lost.
To be honest, that wasn’t entirely unexpected.
The Hyatt Ziva Cancun is an all-inclusive resort, and before the trip I knew there was a good chance my weight would increase during the week. There is a certain mindset that comes with an all-inclusive vacation. After paying for the stay, part of you feels like you need to maximize the experience by eating a little more, trying different restaurants, and enjoying a few extra cocktails. It’s easy to think, “I need to get my money’s worth.”
What I discovered, however, is that even in paradise your body still works the same way. You still get full. While I certainly ate more than I typically do at home, it wasn’t the nonstop feast I might have imagined before arriving. A breakfast buffet, a relaxing lunch by the pool, and a nice dinner overlooking the ocean are enjoyable, but there are still limits to how much anyone wants to eat.
One of the fun aspects of an all-inclusive resort is how simple life becomes. Your three biggest decisions of the day are:
- Which pool am I going to spend time at?
- What cocktail will I try today?
- Where and what am I going to eat?
For a few days, those are pretty good problems to have.
Even while on vacation, I made an effort to stay somewhat active. Most mornings I woke up early and walked around the resort grounds while enjoying the ocean views and the sound of the waves. I also made it to the fitness center on two of the five days. While I didn’t follow my normal workout routine, getting some exercise helped me feel better physically and mentally.
I also stayed active in smaller ways. Jumping into the pool to cool off, walking between restaurants and different areas of the resort, and exploring the property all added a little movement throughout the day.
The resort offered morning water aerobics classes in the main pool as well. I watched several of the sessions but never joined in. Looking back, that is another reminder that improving fitness is often more about mindset than physical ability. The opportunity was there. The question is whether I am willing to step outside my comfort zone and participate. That’s something I continue to work on.
While the scale this week isn’t showing the progress I would like, I am not overly concerned. Vacation weight often includes extra sodium, more carbohydrates, travel-related water retention, and changes in routine. The important thing now is to return to the habits that were helping me move in the right direction before the trip.
My goal over the next few days is simple: get back into my normal routine, make better food choices, drink plenty of water, and get my workouts completed. I’ll see what the scale says at this Sunday’s weigh-in.
Then, on Sunday, May 31st, I’ll take a deeper look at the remainder of 2026 and lay out my goals and plans for the rest of my fitness journey. Cancun was a wonderful reward and a reminder that life should be enjoyed. Now it’s time to take the memories, get back to work, and continue moving toward the healthier, stronger version of myself that I want to become.
Final Thoughts
A successful fitness journey is not determined by what happens during one vacation week. It is determined by what happens during the dozens of ordinary weeks throughout the year. Cancun gave me five incredible days of sunshine, relaxation, great food, and great memories. The scale may have moved in the wrong direction temporarily, but the journey itself is far from over. The next chapter begins now, one workout, one healthy meal, and one good decision at a time.