Vacation AND I need help!

MaddieHard

Hi everyone,
My weight fluctuates really easily. I gain and lose pretty quickly..obviously I gain faster than I lose. However I am on vacation with my family this week and the hotel we are at doesn't have a kitchen…this means we are eating out every meal. I'm struggling. I'm having such a hard time. For those of you have been successful with maintaining what do you do on vacations? Do you let yourself splurge and then know you have to work hard for the time after the vacation? Or are you very careful? Please help me. RIght now I'm making myself crazy with stress.

cardbucfan

Splurge some, don't clean my plate, try to be extra active but overall enjoy myself. I don't vacation every day.

hgycta

It's personal preference, really. It's possible to be successful doing just about anything, as long as you're smart about it.
Want to indulge? Go ahead and do so, but limit your portions and don't feel the need to clean your plate, as someone had earlier posted.
Feeling no desire to indulge? Then don't do so, eat healthy. Eating out can mean a lot of healthier options that may usually be too tedious to make at home on normal nights (just make sure they take it easy on the butter).
As long as you try to remain active, and listen to your stomach when it says it's full, you shouldn't have an issue. Try to enjoy yourself and get plenty of sleep, too, since stress and sleep are also very important in regulating your appetite

nxd10

DON'T SPLURGE! I had been thin all my life and never had weight problems. I traveled 4 months and - like Bill Clinton - gained weight that took a LONG time to lose.

Do enjoy restaurant food. I still travel a lot and I love to eat. My rules of thumb are:

If you're traveling, find the food the area is famous for and eat it. Just eat a reasonable amount.
Drinking water buys you a lot of calories for other things.
Eat lots of green vegetables - restaurants do sell them.
Eat soup for lunch or dinner - lots of filling. Not a lot of calories.
Avoid heavy sauces, noodles, and bread
Split meals or bring half back to your room - portion sizes are way too bi
Try one or two appetizers as a meal
Chew your food and really SAVOR it. You don't have to eat a lot. But eat well.

Forget the weight loss - the salt, fat, sugar, and portion sizes just mess you up so you won't feel as good while traveling and will have trouble readjusting when you get back

GoRun2

green healthy salads everyday for lunch and dinner. (salad dressing on the side, dip your fork in the dressing and then the salad to really limit the dressing.)
eat as healthy as you can, limit portions, chew slowly and enjoy it.

Be very active, you have time.

I splurge a little bit on vacation, but not much. It took a lot of work to lose weight. I want to stay thin.

Joreanasaurous

I think I huge factor is what kind of vacation you are on. I took a month long vacation in September and splurged every single meal and still lost weight since I was so very active.

If you activity level isn't going to be too high then bring healthy snacks. See if the room has a mini fridge. See if you can share plates when you go out to eat.

acpgee

I still log on vacation.

I exercise to make room for the extra calories from restaurant meals and visits to the bar. I will use the hotel gym, or if they don't have one will buy day passes at a local gym and do a morning workout while the hubby sleeps in. If that is not available, I will try to do a lot of walking.

My profile page has pictures of the view from every elliptical and treadmill I used on my last vacation. Includes a picture of the plunge pool I used for swimming laps at a really remote hotel.

verptwerp

Use common sense ....... eat human bites ...... and have a great time !

byu818

I got my degree at BYU in Dietetics. So, I have had the SAME problem with going on vacation. Honestly, I really think that the way you treat food at home should be the way you treat food on vacation. I would eat as healthy as possible( wherever you are at-if you are at a function, on vacation, or at home). Do whatever you need to do to do that. If the group of people you are with want to go to McDonalds or some place where it is hard to find something healthy-just go with the flow but eat the healthiest you possibly can-like a salad. Also eat until you are satisfied. Way to go on your weight loss by the way-keep it up!

alexapatel

I went all out for a week at an all inclusive resort. I gained two pounds, but lost it within 2 weeks of eating regularly.

annesmann

Try to choose plain proteins, nothing wrong with a small steak that has been grilled with no sauces and fruits and veggies without sauces. I try to not eat as many carbs while vacationing and just skip the desserts altogether as they are usually very high in calories from the restaurant. If you need a sweet buy something that you can control a little more like a pudding cup. Good luck! Ruby Tuesday has some great veggies and a wonderful bbq chicken that is pretty low in calories.

KeysGirl23

I usually get up before everyone else and go for a walk, run or hit the gym. Then I eat whatever I want, but keep in mind serious portion control. You can do it!!!! :flowerforyou:

TigerBite

Where are you on vacation? In Europe, there's ALWAYS stuff to climb, and as a bonus, you get a great view and, thus great pictures ...

ETA: Do fun stuff, be active ... You can be a wee bit lax w/ food and drink ... I actually cam back from Italy 5 LBs lighter ... I deprived myself of NOTHING ... pane forte in Sienna, gelato, limoncello and torrone in Sorrento, bottles of wine everywhere ... a humungous cannoli on Capri ... All fair game ...

MayaSPapaya

Splurge some. Usually I get a big veggie burger, but fries on the side. Or one of those fancy salads. I have problems if I don't get enough fiber, so I need to eat a lot of veggies on vacation, but this also helps me maintain.

MinnieInMaine

Try to be eat well most of the time - make healthy choices, keep portions low. Pick one or two meals where you decide to indulge in a couple drinks or a dessert or the local faire which happens to be deep fried then covered with gravy and cheese (or what have you).

Also try to be as active as you can. Get up early and hit the gym or go for a run or walk on the beach. Ask your fellow travellers to join you too - you might be surprised at how many would love to work out too but might be too shy to go on their own. Also pick active things to do like walking tours, hikes, etc.

Above all, have fun!

sarahi2009

Try to eat as healthy as you can but don't beat yourself when you can't. I say eat fresh as much as possible and indulge here and there.