There’s a bathing suit in my future. Worse yet, the beach where I’ll be wearing that dreaded uniform will be filled with friends. It’s one thing to have to squeeze into a two-piece. It’s another thing to have to do it in front of people you know.

Thank God for the sarong.

Instead of being excited about the prospect of sun, sand and stacks of magazines, I am obsessed with getting my thighs in shape. They haven’t seen the sun in several seasons.

The good news is I’m goal-oriented. If I know I have a hard, fast deadline, I’ll get there. But as sure as I’ll find a way to fit into shorts, I’ll splurge and be back where I started when the fun in the sun is just a memory.

It appears to be common. We diet, exercise show discipline to reach a goal, then let it go as soon as we step outside of I-270! Nearly one half of travelers polled by USA Today said they were in worse shape because they lack the time or the means to exercise properly during travel.

This year, what do you say we do something different? Let’s try to keep the fitness and diet regiment on the road. These days, there are lots of great tips to help us do just that.

Most experts will tell you not to obsess, and not to try to lose weight while you’re on the road, but rather to maintain. If you can come back weighing about the same as you did when you left, and are less stressed, then you’ve scored a victory.

When it comes to eating right, never is moderation more important than when you’re away from home. You don’t want to deprive yourself of the delicacies that your exotic destination is known for, but you don’t have to sample everything in one sitting! A great way to indulge is to share. Hopefully your travel partner will play along.

If you’re traveling alone, ask for a to-go container when you order, and put half in the box even before you begin eating. And if you really want to quell your appetite, eat an apple or drink an 8-ounch glass of water before every meal. It works.

If your destination isn’t known for its culinary delights, then stick to what you know. Arrive at the restaurant with a healthy meal in mind and order it regardless of selections on the menu.

As for exercise, travel time isn’t the time to obsess. But it’s the perfect time to incorporate exercise into your day. Schedule it like you would a spa service or excursion and you’re more likely to stick to the plan. Experts advise mornings are best, not only to jump start your metabolism but to make sure you get it in. Oh, and how good you’ll feel lying on that chaise lounge hours later knowing you earned it!

Rebecca Johnson and Bill Tulin, authors of Travel Fitness & Feel Better, Perform Better on the Road offer great tips to keep you in shape. The pair suggests exercising at least every third day while on vacation, performing at least a third of your aerobic routine at your typical intensity level. As for strength training, do it once a week using the same amount of resistance, and you should be able to maintain.

Of course you’ll always want to choose a hotel that has a gym, if possible. But don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t. Taking your exercise on the road may be the best exercise of all in a new locale, and all you need is a pair of shoes and a map. Not only will you log the miles, but it can be a great way to see the sights.

If the location isn’t conducive to a long walk on the beach or run through the countryside, pack more than your shoes. Resistance bands or a jump rope take up little room and will help you break a sweat when you’ve got just a few minutes to spare.

Above all, enjoy yourself. Time away from the hustle, bustle and headaches of our day to day lives is a luxury – a time to let stress melt away. Remember, there’s always the sarong.

Watch Andrea Cambern on WBNS-10TV Eyewitness News weekdays at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. and at 10 p.m. on WWHO-TV.