Anyone watch Biggest Loser this past week? The five remaining contestants traveled on a forever plane ride to Australia for sightseeing, a mini-triathlon, bridge climbing and delectable food. Travel down under was not kind to their overall weight loss. A couple gained a pound, a couple hardly lost any weight and one contestant did shed a miracle three pounds.

What this show told me was vacations are plain dangerous when it comes to weight gain. If Biggest Loser contestants have trouble losing weight on a quick jaunt to Australia, even with their careful calorie counting, intrepid hydration and stellar fitness efforts, how can us average folk keep off the inevitable five or ten pounds after a week basking on the beach, dinners out and bicycle rides to the island ice cream store?

Muffin-topping over your pants upon return from an exotic vacation is the quickest way to sabotage a week's relaxation. For me, a more reasonable goal is to keep my weight the same or gain no more than a pound or two. Beyond making sure to pack my scale, here's a handful of ideas to feel relaxed and fit into your tightest jeans after a week or two on holiday:

• Calorie Compromises -- eat a low-cal breakfast to enjoy a sumptuous dinner with dessert.
• Share high-caloric foods/desserts.
• Keep lifting and cardio on the radar (pack a fitness rubberband, go for walks/jogs/bicycle rides). Hotel/resort gyms are an added bonus to keep your fitness on track.

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Vacation is a time to get away and enjoy oneself without the stresses and trials of everyday living. In most cases, we splurge on vacations -- on travel, extravagances and ... food.

Are there ways to prepare for a vacation that won't wreck your diet and figure at the same time? Sure -- and a little planning now can save you a ton of headaches when you return from vacation and have to face reality again.

Now, don't get me wrong -- there's nothing wrong with indulging in some goodness (food goodness) while in vacation, but you have to temper yourself and not go overboard. If so, you'll pay handsomely for it later. For five specific tips on planning a "healthy" vacation, see this. Yes, it is possible.

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