Five pounds may not seem like much, but the pounds could become a long-term problem if you don't act quickly to get your waistline in check. Get on the scale as soon as your vacation's over and develop a plan of action to lose the weight, which could take up to one month.

Losing "vacation weight" typically takes anywhere from three days to two weeks, depending largely on whether the weight gain is true fat or merely temporary water retention. Most people find they weigh 3 to 5 pounds more after a trip, but much of this is "bloat" caused by increased sodium intake from restaurant meals, alcohol consumption, and higher carbohydrate loads that cause the body to store extra glycogen and water. If the gain is primarily water weight, returning to a balanced diet with high fiber and plenty of hydration can flush the system in about 72 hours. However, if you genuinely overconsumed calories consistently for a week, you may have gained 1 to 2 pounds of actual body fat. In this case, losing it safely at a rate of 1 pound per week through a modest caloric deficit and resumed exercise will take about 14 days. The key is to avoid "crash dieting" immediately upon return, as your body is often already stressed from travel, and instead focus on restoring your pre-vacation routine and sleep schedule to regulate cortisol levels.