Vacation Tips?

Upright_Beast

I'm not sure this is the right board but here goes... I have been killing it, from my point of view, over the past few months but I have a 9 day vacation coming up the second week of September which will be very food-and-booze-centric (including 5 days in Vegas). I have been looking forward to it all summer but now that it's getting closer and I've been on such a hot streak, I'm starting to dread it. I'm torn between (a) wanting to strategize every meal, make it to the hotel gym/pool every day and try to stick close to my plan (and risk being semi-miserable with FOMO while I'm there), or (b) just saying eff-it, indulging and paying the price when I get home (and risk being semi-miserable with guilt/regret when I get back or even while I'm still there).

I have some ideas for strategies that I feel like are a compromise, to wit: (1)(a) don't eat anything that isn't something I could easily get at home (nationwide fast food, french fries, pancakes, basic stuff that I can get anywhere that I would just be eating because hey, I'm on vacation); (1)(b) try to stick to stuff that is "exotic" in terms of local specialties or favorites; (2) at a buffet (which I would normally avoid like the plague but I am traveling with a group of people who I know are living for buffets, plus it is a casino staple): (a) eat a plate of veggies/salad before you start on the other junk; (b) fill half of any subsequent plate with veggies before you go for the other junk; (c) "seconds" are OK but no "thirds" or "fourths"; (d) if something looks too amazing to pass up, put a spoonful/bite on your plate and take it back to the table to try - even if it looks like heaven it might not be all that and you don't want a huge pile of it in front of you because you will eat it even if you don't love it; (e) dessert is OK if it looks really special, but not if it looks like something you get after a blood donation or at a school cafeteria; (f) if you feel full, if you are sighing and you can feel your panty elastic digging in, STOP FREAKING EATING - you don't have to clean your plate - it will be equally wasted by you eating it as it will be by throwing it away; (3) you don't have to get wasted just cuz you're on vacation - if you're somewhere with over-the-top drinks, maybe have one and then switch to vodka sodas if you feel like you have to keep drinking; (4) try to be as conservative as possible throughout the day (bkfst/lunch) since the big meal of every day will be dinner; (5) see # 1 but for beer, do not be drinking $9 Heinekens that you don't even really like - if you're going to drink beer try something you can't get at 7-11. Um, I think that's it. I know there are people in this world who would order steamed skinless chicken breast and a side of steamed broccoli at every meal but I am not those people.

I have a day long kayak trip as part of the itinerary so I'm really looking forward to that, and I do love to swim so I'm hoping the pools won't be too full of children and/or the cast of Jersey Shore that I can maybe get in some laps. I'm pretty confident that whatever happens in Vegas (in terms of getting out of my routine) will stay in Vegas, since I'm not going to come home and suddenly start drinking mudslides and going to buffets, and I know that no matter how much damage I do in 9 days, it may be a setback but it will not undo what is now several months of what I consider to be good behavior, and in a few weeks/months I'll easily be back on track, and I am not in a rush or anything.

If anybody has any more suggested tips/tricks/motivation/etc., I would appreciate it. I'm totally fine with gaining a couple pounds, but I will be crushed if I come back 20 lbs heavier (which frankly seems not impossible...). This is certainly not the first vacation I've ever taken while on my "journey," but most of my vacations tend to be very activity laden, (snorkeling, climbing pyramids, running, canoeing/kayaking, tennis, cycling) and this one is going to be a lot more sedentary and debauched. I guess I am looking for advice about not going too off-track but also and maybe more importantly advice on how not to ruin my vacation by freaking out about food the entire time.

lorrpb

TLDR #1: Portion control is your friend.
TLDR #2: Use the MFP search feature and search for threads with "vacation" in the title. You will find tons of suggestions. There might even be such a thread in one of the sticky posts, here or in General Health and Fitness forum.
Have fun on your trip.

Upright_Beast

Ah thanks, my bad. I tried to search before but didn't realize I could search only by title so I was getting every post with "vacation" mentioned which was a lot.