Going on vacation

mpaulson89
mpaulson89 Posts: 24 Member
edited November 30 in Health and Weight Loss
Going on Vacation to Chicago in a month. Obviously want to cheat some and get pizza/hot dogs/beer. What's the best way to not lose all your progress or end up wanting to give up and go back to your old eating habit after the trip?

Replies

  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I went for a long weekend and put on a full 10 pounds. It came back off just as fast so I say go have fun!
  • violet_wister
    violet_wister Posts: 34 Member
    I guess either you do or you don't? It's just a question of choosing to not let it derail you forever, or choosing to let it.
  • jandsstevenson887
    jandsstevenson887 Posts: 296 Member
    What I would do is try eat light and healthy for 2 meals a day and let one meal a day be your "special meal". Make sure you are walking and stay active and try not to drink excessive calories. And if you want to eat a big rich pizza, just eat until you are full enough but not stuffed. I'm learning that I can really live with 2 slices, eating them slowly and anymore is just silly.
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    edited April 2016
    Try to log BEFORE you eat it. So you can be somewhat aware.
    Ex: Uno's deep dish individual meat pizza
    2,300 calories, 164 grams of fat, 4,900 sodium
  • GreenIceFloes
    GreenIceFloes Posts: 1,491 Member
    edited April 2016
    I tend to reduce my deficit to 100 cals/day or eat at maintenance during vacation. Also, setting weekly goals instead of daily may help.

    ETA: This is considering you are in the process of losing weight, of course.
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    I am in maintenance and just got back from vacation. I ate like it might be my last vacation ever. It was glorious. I am up 4 pounds. At least half of the vacation weight is just water weight and will come off quickly.

    You can chose to enjoy the hell out of your vacation and get back to it when you are home. Or you can choose to make sensible choices and stick with it while on vacation. Or you can try to strike a balance between the two. Me - I will always chose to enjoy to enjoy the hell out of my vacation!

    If you go to Lou Malnati's get the Malnati Chicago Classic! It is fabulous! Another place I LOVE is Philly's Best.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Will you be logging? I've been on vacation a few times during my MFP journey - sometimes I was able to log, sometimes I wasn't. If I learned anything, it's to have a good time but not go crazy. Be prepared to put on a couple of pounds, but you should be able to get the weight off again within 2 weeks. Enjoy yourself.
  • DanSTL82
    DanSTL82 Posts: 156 Member
    Just try to take it easy. Don't look at the trip as an excuse to binge every day. Drink beer at a slower pace than you used to. If you're eating pizza, just nibble at it instead of devouring it.

    Remember that 3,500 calories is roughly one pound of weight on you, so you'd have to overeat by 3,500+ calories each day in order to gain significant weight just from a short vacation, which is pretty tough to do. Also, I would assume that most of your pizza meals/beer are going to be in the evening. Since that is the case, take it easy during the day. Don't eat a huge breakfast and a huge lunch, so you have more calories to spare when you start hitting the pubs at night.
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    Oh! I forgot to mention Calumet fishery! I would not order any of the fried items (they are OK but nothing great). I would just stick with the smoked fish. The smoked trout is very tasty and reasonably priced. Bring some bagels and cream cheese with to put the fish on or just eat it by itself. Yum!
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Its a vacation. This is not something you do all the time. I say just go out and enjoy it. If you are overly worried, you could see about the 5/2 diet for the week... dont eat 2 of the days and then eat whatever on 5 of them.

    Overall, weight loss is about the long term.
  • punkrockgoth
    punkrockgoth Posts: 534 Member
    When I go on vacation, my goal is to maintain and/or minimize the damage done by time off. Some tips I've used, feel free to use any, all or none as fits you and your journey:
    • I log the best I can, even if I'm just guessing. It keeps me accountable.
    • Depending on where I am staying and what amenities are available, I make arrangements to buy some healthy food and snacks that work with what's available. For example, is there a fridge/microwave/access to a stove or whatnot? I'll bring granola bars/fruit/apples/nuts whatnot or make arrangements to do a grocery shop when I get to my destination.
    • I enjoy doing active activities. Go for walking/running can be done most places. Are there other activities you enjoy doing that can be done?
    • When eating out, I try to find healthier restaurants for at least some of my meals.
    • I make an effort to keep my sleep schedule as close to normal as possible.
    • I enjoy the time to explore, eat delicious foods, enjoy life. Sometimes a break from logging and worrying about weight and weight loss is good for the soul and muchly needed.

    As time goes on, it gets easier to figure out what works for you while on vacation.
  • dolliesdaughter
    dolliesdaughter Posts: 544 Member
    edited April 2016
    How long will you be gone? If more than a weekend, I would say have one indulgent item every other day. One item, not one meal, not one day, just ONE ITEM. Plus only indulge in an item that you don't regularly have and is not available where you live. I always have fried conch when I go to the Caribbean, because I don't eat it in Pittsburgh, nor would I want too.

    Also continue to log.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I would have breakfast and then have a bloody Mary with a mini Chicago dog for the garnish. I only went downhill after that.
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    I calorie bank for trips - doing this right now, in fact. I try everything, but finish nothing. Most of my trips are fairly physically active.

    I generally don't fall off the wagon because we are usually planning/booking the next trip I want to be my current weight for right after we get back. B)
  • Peter_Brady
    Peter_Brady Posts: 3,750 Member
    dolliesdaughter wrote: »
    How long will you be gone? If more than a weekend, I would say have one indulgent item every other day. One item, not one meal, not one day, just ONE ITEM. Plus only indulge in an item that you don't regularly have and is not available where you live. I always have fried conch when I go to the Caribbean, because I don't eat it in Pittsburgh, nor would I want too.

    Also continue to log.

    @dolliesdaughter

    I heard Primanti's makes a mean fried conch sandwich, with fries and slaw on top of course.

  • dolliesdaughter
    dolliesdaughter Posts: 544 Member
    @Peter_Brady Not really a Primanti fan. I know, I know, I know, how can I not be since I am a Pittsburgher.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    You are coming to my city! Eat, drink and have a great time!!! You will be hitting up some great restaurants! ENJOY!
  • NaturalNancy
    NaturalNancy Posts: 1,093 Member
    For sure pre log your meals, try to plan as much as you can!

    When you get Loumalnatis pizza or UNOs deep dish you better enjoy every bite! Don't eat 3 pieces like I did hahahaha

    Try to eat some vegetables with every meal too.

    Most of all, enjoy yourself.
    Pre-planning helps a lot though.
    :-D
  • dollydiva2
    dollydiva2 Posts: 71 Member
    I'm going to Thailand this week where the food is pretty healthy but there will be lots of booze consumed. My plan is not to weigh myself for at least a week when I get back so any holiday bloat has a chance to settle down.
    I'm going to log as best I can while I'm away and try and get lots of steps in each day.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    ive gone on 3 vacations since i started. i dont log when im on vacation. ITS A VACATION.

    sure, sometimes theres a slight uptick in weight, but its generally water weight and falls off once you get back in to your routine.

    I've lost 80 some odd pounds.

    Go eat a hot dog ;)

  • vegasleo79
    vegasleo79 Posts: 63 Member
    I'll be going on two this year. One 4 day trip to Vegas for a bachelorette weekend and I plan to indulge in fun drinks by the the pool, decadent dinners and booze at night! Plus of course a breakfast buffet. I'll then be going on a nearly 3 week vacation to Europe later on in this summer, during which time I plan on indulging some and being moderate the rest of the time. I will not be logging on either trip and will jump right back on the dieting (maybe maintenance) horse when I get back. Ok, ok, one day after I get back bc I need a day to deal with jetlag ;)
  • Peter_Brady
    Peter_Brady Posts: 3,750 Member
    dolliesdaughter wrote: »
    @Peter_Brady Not really a Primanti fan. I know, I know, I know, how can I not be since I am a Pittsburgher.

    @dolliesdaughter Honestly, I am not either. I used to work two blocks away from one of their locations, and only went once. And I do not eat coleslaw! The last time I was at a Primanti's, I actually ordered a pizza.
  • hiyomi
    hiyomi Posts: 906 Member
    Honestly, the last few times I went on vacation, I walked soooo much just naturally exploring and going places that it completely burned off what I ate, and I ate up to 3k calories on some days! I came back home both times and didn't gain a pound! If you are gonna be going places/doing things, you will be getting alot of walking in!
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