Overdoing it on holiday - tips?

sazzyb_

Hey everyone.

I just wanted to start a thread to see how people change up their diet/fitness routines when they're on holiday. As soon as I go into "holiday mode", I go completely off diet and happily eat and drink everything in sight with no guilt at all. I have a serious appetite so this often ends badly (i.e. with weight gain of +10lbs over a week...)

I just wondered what everyone else does on holiday? Do you still calorie count? Do you exercise more so you can eat more? Or just screw the diet and enjoy it?

LazSommer

Don't go into holiday mode? What makes a holiday different than any other week? Your body doesn't need more calories to celebrate.

Ws2016

Just stop doing that. Why are you putting your lifestyle on holiday? You're either committed or not. Your choice, no tips required.

Francl27

Do you mean vacations? I'm a SAHM so being on holiday makes no difference whatsoever for me.

For vacations, I still count calories, and always end up frustrated by the lack of healthy options (and SO SICK OF SIDE SALADS AFTER ONE DAY). So after a few days I try not to let it ruin my vacation by wasting an hour finding a restaurant that has something else than sandwiches and burgers, and just eat what seems the 'less worst' on the menu (I usually end up gaining 2 pounds that it takes me a couple months to lose - at maintenance).

It doesn't help that *when* a restaurant has healthy options, it's twice as expensive as a burger and fries (or side salad. Ugh). Usually I end up splurging only on stuff I've been wanting for a while, local specialties, or things I can't find easily here. I never drink my calories because it's just not worth it for me. Breakfast is the main issue for me because I need a filling breakfast, and low calories/filling options taste like cardboard at the hotels we usually stay at, so I end up eating more calories than I'd like to feel satisfied.

Anyway, it depends a lot on the type of vacation and how active you are too. I'm never as active as I'd like because my kids are lazy and will ruin your day if you have to walk more than 10 minutes somewhere (let's just say, between that and the low calorie food nightmare, we're not going anywhere this year).

But yeah, for me it makes no difference - I indulge a bit more because I have more opportunities to, but if there's nothing that really catches my attention on a menu, I'll pick the lowest calorie option (well, I'll often have to guess, and there's always a point after which I'm so sick of side salads that I'll eat a few fries).

Mentali

Ws2016 wrote: »

Just stop doing that. Why are you putting your lifestyle on holiday? You're either committed or not. Your choice, no tips required.

"You're either committed or not" is silly and the mindset that results in many people giving up because they slipped up once. It's harmful and you should rethink it, because that attitude is the same one that thinks "oh man, I went over my calories today, either I'm committed or I'm not so I must not be committed, better give up!"

For me it depends on how long my holiday is. If I'm just having a fun weekend, I know I can't ruin TOO much by relaxing so I don't count calories or care about what I eat (also I don't do cheat days/meals so every few months I consider it the culmination of all of them). Any longer, and I care but not overly. For example, I won't suggest food just because I happen to be near a place I like if I'm not hungry. I'll order something that isn't necessarily the lowest calorie thing on a menu, but something reasonable. I'll eat slower and listen to my body and stop as soon as I'm not hungry anymore and save the rest for later. It's likely that by not exactly counting calories you'll still end up over your TDEE but you won't do as much damage that way.

I don't believe in weighing your food and counting calories on holiday to prove you're "committed enough".

Lizzy622

I try to be good 75% of the time. I allow myself one meal a day to explore the local cuisine or have a treat I normally would not. I also like to explore where I am by foot so I do burn more calories when on vacation.

broseidonkingofbrocean

Gonna go against the grain.. Its a vacation eat whatever you want and drink whatever you want. A few days to a week isn't going to set you back that much as long as you eat well balance year round.

Forgot to add I would stick to a workout/cardio plan while doing this tho.

CrabNebula

I am a maintainer (range 120-130lbs) and I'm leaving in a month for a two week vacation. I started preparing about 2-3 weeks ago by going on a calorie bank. I hope to lose 2-3lbs so I can have the leeway to gain it back on vacation. It is going well and I will probably meet my goal of 121-122lb by this time next month.

I do try to plan active vacations - lots of walking, hiking, swimming, etc. I'll have access to a gym the second half of the trip. I wish I could have got it for the first, but it didn't work out that way. I do try to book hotels that have gyms (for me) and pools (for kiddo), all other things being equal. I like working out, so it is no big deal to me to get up at 7 or 8 and run a quick 5km before getting the day started.

As far as food goes, I am very likely to share anything novel that is a known calorie nuclear disaster. For example, there is a place in Naples that specializes in deep fried pizzas. I have every intention of trying it for lulz, but no intention of eating the whole thing myself, rather sharing it with my husband and kid as a weird snack. Not only does this approach save calories, but also €€, while still getting the experience.

I am on vacation though and do expect to indulge some and this is complicated by the fact that I have no idea what the calories are in the vast majority of food I will eat for some of the trip. So whatever, I'll just lose some weight in advance knowing full well I may put it back on. No big deal. If I want, I can always lose it again.

cityruss

Maintenance + running shoes = generally getting away with slacking for a few weeks.

Loosening the reigns doesn't have to mean all out carnage.

Afura

I try my best to stay on target, but I know my choices aren't going to be the same as if I was at home, plus I'm not weighing foods normally. I try and enjoy myself without getting too crazy, and try to get as much walking in as I can.