how to manage low calorie diet on vacation ??

jenniferpiotrowski0
jenniferpiotrowski0 Posts: 215 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm going on vacation soon to Mackinac island. But I'm worried that I could sabotage my calorie goal while away from home. Can anybody offer any advice or suggestions of how to handle being on a 1660 calorie diet. I've never been there before but chances are my dad and I might stop by fast food places on the way there and back. Idk what we will eat while at Mackinac either. I'm sure the trip will be fun but what can I do if ill have to eat fast food on the way there and back? Is there any way I can plan for this or am I doomed to go over in calories or should I just take a few weeks break from my fitness pal then start over when my vacation is over? What do you do when on vacation when dieting?

Replies

  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    I do very small breakfasts - piece of fruit - and lots of walking. Light lunch. Indulgent dinner out - with dessert, of course. I don't log. I just enjoy. But I keep moving...

  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    just enjoy your vacation and gt back to it when you return. i gained 1.5 pounds on vacation and lost it and more within a week and a half.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    A lot of people change their goal to maintenance level while on vacation, or just try to stay active. Depending how long your vacation is any excess you consume will probably be gone within a few days or even a couple weeks when you get back. Don't stress and enjoy your vacation.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Also meant to say that there's nothing wrong with eating fast food on your trip. Most places have options that can be fit into any calorie goal for the day, especially 1600.
  • sophomorelove
    sophomorelove Posts: 193 Member
    I recently went on vacation and still lost weight. i made sure to make the most of my vacation by saying yes to all adventures: water park, hikes, tours, etc. Also, i hit the hotel gym every day and swam in the pool. keep logging your food but focus more on experiences and choose quality over quantity. try new things and enjoy your vacation.
  • dais718
    dais718 Posts: 7 Member
    Just relax and have a good time! Don't think of yourself being on holiday from MFP otherwise you might go crazy (that's my mindset: I've had one biscuit so I must eat the whole packet now and I'll start again tomorrow) - eat sensibly, indulge on stuff but stop when you're full and just make sure you make satisfying and satiating food choices! I wouldn't log but I would perhaps keep an estimate of calories in my head or my phone's calculator if I'm feeling anxiety

    Seriously you probably won't gain any real weight and I imagine you'll be walking around a lot and doing lots in the day. Have fun and enjoy yourself! :smile:
  • Owlfan88
    Owlfan88 Posts: 187 Member
    I changed to maintenance and tried to make decent choices. Sometimes I ordered soup and an appetizer and no entree. Sometimes even appetizer and dessert. It depended on what looked best, how hungry I was and how active I'd been that day. Except for a couple of traveling days (plane and train), I walked a lot. I logged as best I could, but didn't sweat the fact that I knew lots of entries were wild guesses. Have fun and just do your best to be reasonable.
  • KateTii
    KateTii Posts: 886 Member
    Part of my "diet" (aka lifestyle) is that holidays are a no-logging, no-worries zone. I recently went on a 9 night cruise where I had no internet (first holiday since starting MFP). I ate whatever I wanted, probably drank my maintenance in calories each day and didn't care basically.

    However, the deal was the day after I got back, I got 100% straight back into it.

    So I got back, stood on the scale and it said I had gained 5kg. I laughed, knowing this was mainly water retention. Two days later the scale said I had only gained about 1.2kgs. A week after that I was back where I started.

    Some people can't do the "diet break" as they wont get back on the wagon. But for me, I can easily set a defined time and at the end of it jump straight back in.

    For me, I wanted to enjoy my holiday and that meant enjoying food and drink. In the end, I had a fantastic holiday, didn't worry once about what I should be eating and any weight I put on was quickly lost afterwards.

    If you want to keep going on holidays, that's fantastic - most fast food places offer calorie information that can be logged easily. But it's also okay if you don't... As long as you can jump back into it.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Go for salads at fast food joints. Skip the fries because they use up your calories fast. Also limit empty carbs like bread, pasta, potatoes. Again these are not bad foods but they use up calories fast. Temrmbet portion control, you don't have to eat everything on the plate. Split dessert when you can. That said, leave a little room for dome delish Mackinac fudge!! Have fun!!

    PS I've lost weight ony last 2 vacas using these tips and doing lots of walking.
  • MarkBenedikt
    MarkBenedikt Posts: 6 Member
    KateTii wrote: »
    Part of my "diet" (aka lifestyle) is that holidays are a no-logging, no-worries zone.

    I have a similar view on the matter. There are four, maybe five, food-centric holidays a year. Combine that with a week or two of vacation time and that leaves you with 346 days of well-monitored eating. It works out in your favor!
  • jenniferpiotrowski0
    jenniferpiotrowski0 Posts: 215 Member
    Thanks...ill have to think about all your opinion And do what I think is best. For now I'm logging in regardless if I go over or not so I don't get out of the habit of realizing what I'm eating and so I don't think its ok to binge on anything I want even just for a week. I tried yesterday relaxing on eating food but went over and saw my belly stick out after eating dinner so ill have to see what I can do for vacation

  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    Its normal for your stomach to be bloated after eating because you just put food and liquids in it. It doesnt mean you've gained weight.

    Even fast food places has healthy choices these days. If you really wanna stick to your goal, have a salad, careful with the dressing etc, you know what to do, just be smart about it.
  • dramaqueen45
    dramaqueen45 Posts: 1,009 Member
    I love Mackinac Island! Can you bring your bike? If not rent one while there and enjoy riding around the island. Enjoy the scenery, horses and of course the fudge. Don't worry about it too much- just watch portions and alcohol of course and you will be fine. If you gain a bit you will lose it fast when you return. If you insist on logging just do your best to estimate using similar entries in the database if you can't find the nutrition guides. Have a wonderful time, and watch out for the seagulls- they will steal your food!
  • Mezzie1024
    Mezzie1024 Posts: 380 Member
    I tend to eat my way through places I visit because it's food I can't get at home. Not *everything* I eat is huge or calorie dense, but a lot of it is.

    I have one reasonable meal per day (generally breakfast) and then eat what I want. It's a small part of the year, and it doesn't do much damage. This year, six weeks of travel added four or five pounds. That's really not bad at all considering how delicious everything was, and it was gone within a month (the first couple pounds to drop were probably water weight from so much sodium at restaurants anyway).
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    My vacation this year was a camping trip. We brought our own food and I could only eat what I brought. It worked out really well.
  • jswede1149
    jswede1149 Posts: 44 Member
    I went away for the day yesterday. The food choices in the area for dinner were fried foods, pizza, ice cream or salads with fried chicken. I walked 6.5 miles when I started to look for food. I refused to eat until I found a McDonalds where I purchased one grilled chicken ranch wrap. I've worked too hard so I do not desire the food. If you keep busy and make decent choices, you should be fine at the end.
  • dljones67
    dljones67 Posts: 88 Member
    I've been on 2 vacations since I started eating healthier in May. Roughly gained 4 lbs in a week the 1st one & 2 lbs in 3 days the 2nd one. Didn't take long to lose as I started right back once home. Vacations are meant to be enjoyed & we definitely do lol. Heading to Vegas in 4 weeks. Staying focused on eating & exercising til then. Plan on using their gym & walking daily , eating reasonably as I can & drinking a lot lol. When we get back, I'll get right back on track. Please enjoy your vacation & sample local cuisines. Then if you're scared to see your weight, don't weigh just get back on track & weigh a week later. You know you'll be back down. :)
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    Enjoy your vacation and eat at maintenance.
  • OldAssDude
    OldAssDude Posts: 1,436 Member
    jenniferpiotrowski0 wrote: »
    I'm going on vacation soon to Mackinac island. But I'm worried that I could sabotage my calorie goal while away from home. Can anybody offer any advice or suggestions of how to handle being on a 1660 calorie diet. I've never been there before but chances are my dad and I might stop by fast food places on the way there and back. Idk what we will eat while at Mackinac either. I'm sure the trip will be fun but what can I do if ill have to eat fast food on the way there and back? Is there any way I can plan for this or am I doomed to go over in calories or should I just take a few weeks break from my fitness pal then start over when my vacation is over? What do you do when on vacation when dieting?

    I just found the website for this place, and found the activities page...

    mackinacisland.org/activities/

    You could do some of the activities that will burn some of those calories.

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