Hello from sunny Greece! ☀️🇬🇷
I’m writing this from an all-inclusive hotel where I’ve already enjoyed plenty of the local food, had a couple of cocktails and, yes… I’ve definitely visited the dessert station.
One thing I can guarantee?
I’m not tracking a single calorie this week.
Why?
Because holidays are meant to be enjoyed.
One of the coaching tools we use at DM Elite is the Lifestyle Traffic Light System.
The idea is simple:
Not every week of the year should look the same.
Green – Goal Focused
These are the periods where you’re fully dialled in.
Maybe you’ve got a holiday coming up, you’re preparing for an event, or you’re making a real push to lose body fat.
You’re training consistently.
Your nutrition is on point.
You might even say no to a few social occasions because your goal is the priority.
This phase works brilliantly.
But it isn’t designed to last forever.
Amber – The Sweet Spot
If you asked me where I’d like our members to spend most of the year, it’s here.
You’re training regularly.
You’re eating well 80–90% of the time.
You’re enjoying birthdays, meals out and the occasional takeaway without guilt.
You’re making good choices most of the time, but you’re not stressing over every calorie.
This is where long-term results are built.
Not because you’re perfect.
Because you’re consistent.
Red – Life Happens
This is where I am this week.
A planned red.
Holidays.
Christmas.
Weddings.
Special occasions.
These are the times when making memories matters more than sticking rigidly to a meal plan.
And that’s okay.
Red doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
It doesn’t mean you’ve “fallen off the wagon.”
It simply means you’ve chosen to prioritise life for a short period of time.
Let’s be honest…
Nobody comes home from holiday saying,
“I’m so glad I skipped the cocktails, avoided the desserts and worried about every calorie.”
Instead…
Enjoy the local food.
Have the ice cream.
Try the desserts.
Order the cocktail.
Relax.
Spend time with the people you’re with.
Because years from now, you won’t remember the calories.
You’ll remember the sunsets, the conversations, the laughter and the memories you made.
The mistake isn’t enjoying one week away.
The mistake is letting one week become six.
The people who achieve lasting results aren’t the ones who stay in the green zone all year.
They’re the ones who know when to move between green, amber and red without guilt.
So when I get home?
It’s straight back to amber.
Back to balanced meals.
Back to training.
Back to my normal routine.
No detoxes.
No punishment workouts.
No starving myself to “make up for it.”
Just a return to the habits that have always worked.
Because one holiday won’t undo months of consistency.
But months of consistency will always outweigh one holiday.
So if you’re heading away this summer, I hope you give yourself permission to enjoy it.
The gym will still be here when you get back.
And we’ll be ready to help you settle straight back into your routine.
Erin Grant
Head of Gyms | MNU Certified Nutritionist
