eating on vacation

batgirl_273

this is probably a repeat post (as many are) but i can't find it in a search on here. It brings up pages of random posts.

Anyway, i'm wondering what tips/what's worked for you when you go on vacation, and are watching your calories? Going to a grocery store and doing shopping for healthy food isn't always an option, since some hotels don't offer mini fridges, or make you pay up the ying yang for them. (such as in las vegas!)

I won't be able to track my calories on my phone app because of the roaming charges.

This is my 1st test, and i'm only going for 2 nights, but in a few months i'll be going for 2 weeks.

Any suggestions? If I eat at a diner or something, anything I should stick to? (besides salads obviously!)

MinnieInMaine

Actually, salads may not be your best bet. Most people assume they are but - well, look up a chain restaurant like Chili's or Applebees and check out the calorie counts for some of them! It may be mostly made of lettuce and maybe you get your dressing on the side but you've still got things like fried tortilla strips, "crispy" chicken, croutons, etc that can pile on the calories and fat pretty quickly. For the same amount of calories, you'll probably be more satisfied with a piece of grilled meat and a side of veggies (just make sure they don't add any sauces or butter).

You probably could take some snacks with you in your suitcase - I've done this before when going on vacation. Bring along a box or two of your favorite snack bars, protein bars, 100 cal snacks, etc. Like at home, having these on hand while out of town may help you avoid some temptations. If you can get to a grocery store or even a corner store, pick up some fresh fruit. If your room has a coffee maker, you could make instant oatmeal with the hot water. If it has a microwave, you can make light popcorn to snack on.

Bring your favorite water bottle with you too and make sure you drink a TON of water. If you're eating at restaurants most of of the time, that food is chock full of sodium. Which is something else to keep in mind when you return home and step on the scale. If you see a slight gain, it could just be water weight. Give it at least a few days getting back to your normal eating and activity to see if it is a true gain.

Being as active as you can will help a lot too. One vacation I went to the gym for at least 30 minutes in the morning and then pretty much walked all day (Williamsburg) and sometimes swam in the evening. Between that and watching what I ate, I ended up losing 2 pounds!

If you drink, be careful. Not only do mixed drinks have a lot of extra calories but the more you drink the lower your inhibitions will be and you may cave when faced with food temptations. At least I know this is how I can be.

Try to have a plan in place for when you get back home to make it easier to get right back on track.

Above all, just do your best and have fun!

batgirl_273

The hotel does have a pool, so I'll be sure to hit that up once a day to get some exercise in, good point.

As for eating out... think it's a bad idea to eat 2 meals a day instead of 3 then? I'll snack in between on some low calorie and healthy snacks... but I'm wondering if having breakfast then dinner at a restraunt, would make sense. I can usually skip lunch no problem... but I like to start the day with a good breakfast to give me some energy for the day. Should be fairly easy to get egg whites at whole wheat toast at any diner, no???

Thanks for the tips. I'll be sure to drink lots of water, and maybe I won't weigh myself until a few days after i'm back, just do avoid discouragment.

nomeejerome

Try to make decent choices, enjoy yourself and get back to it when you get home.

cwolfman13

I think part of the problem with MFP is that people put so much emphasis on actually calorie counting and not enough emphasis on teaching themselves how to properly fuel their bodies and how to listen to their bodies...proper nutrition, etc. Vacation is a good time to practice such things as good decision making, portion control, and intuitive eating (i.e. listening to your body and understanding when you're acutally hungry and in need of energy).

Personally, I wouldn't plan on losing during your vacation, but maintaining really shouldn't be an issue IMHO.

chandanista

I like to eat out at chains where I've already picked out my "favorites" and can stick to those, so long as it's a short trip it's pretty easy to stay within calories that way.