All Inclusive Tropical Resort Coping Tips?

ZaftigLor

Thank you everyone for those amazing responses. Lots of good tips and advice - I really appreciate it.
MFP rocks.
;-)

Binky_Muffin

I was in Cuba in February and had a fabulous time. People will say the food isn't that great, but I thought it was good compared to Mexico and Dominican Republic. In addition, I've never gotten sick in Cuba. Mexico and DR are a totally different story. LOL.

Cuba will have a great variety of poultry and sea foods. Stay away from the beef. It's not that great. The pork is good.

There will be a good variety of foods. The breads are AWESOME!!!!

The biggest reason why you shouldn't overeat is so you don't get a dodgy belly.

Have a good time!

Beet_Girl

I used to be one of those "just enjoy yourself! it's vacation!" types of people.

But really, if we did that every time there was a holiday, event, vacation, it would add up. That's what happened to me. I gained about 15 pounds this fall, and I ate right and worked out most days. However, there was Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, friends birthdays, office celebrations...and if you are not just a little careful, it will add up.

With that said, I would try to limit the "no holds barred" to maybe a few meals over the course of your time there. Also, if you don't want to worry about tracking and all that, just make sure to have a lot of water and maybe a salad before a meal. And then stop when you are full. Then you can take a vacation from calorie counting and just enjoy the food without overdoing it.

ndj1979

eat, drink, and have fun ..

I assume they have a gym at this resort? If yes, then try to get a few workouts out in ..but overall just enjoy yourself….

ndj1979

I used to be one of those "just enjoy yourself! it's vacation!" types of people.

But really, if we did that every time there was a holiday, event, vacation, it would add up. That's what happened to me. I gained about 15 pounds this fall, and I ate right and worked out most days. However, there was Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, friends birthdays, office celebrations...and if you are not just a little careful, it will add up.

With that said, I would try to limit the "no holds barred" to maybe a few meals over the course of your time there. Also, if you don't want to worry about tracking and all that, just make sure to have a lot of water and maybe a salad before a meal. And then stop when you are full. Then you can take a vacation from calorie counting and just enjoy the food without overdoing it.

so you consumed almost 50,000 additional calories on just these "special days"….

Beet_Girl

I used to be one of those "just enjoy yourself! it's vacation!" types of people.

But really, if we did that every time there was a holiday, event, vacation, it would add up. That's what happened to me. I gained about 15 pounds this fall, and I ate right and worked out most days. However, there was Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, friends birthdays, office celebrations...and if you are not just a little careful, it will add up.

With that said, I would try to limit the "no holds barred" to maybe a few meals over the course of your time there. Also, if you don't want to worry about tracking and all that, just make sure to have a lot of water and maybe a salad before a meal. And then stop when you are full. Then you can take a vacation from calorie counting and just enjoy the food without overdoing it.

so you consumed almost 50,000 additional calories on just these "special days"….

Sounds about right! I did the no holding back, stuff my face approach. Because I thought of any birthday, office celebration, ect. as a special occasion and told myself I eat right most of the time...

I know everyone is different. I was at a pretty low weight starting out and was at maintenance. Part of the reason it wasn't coming off was because I was never eating at a deficit to make up for it. But still, everything you put in, you got to work off or diet off later. And since I'm not overweight, I don't burn so many calories at the gym, so its dieting hell.

spoiledpuppies

I know this is easier for me to say now that I'm in maintenance (and wanting to gain a bit) after I was strict while losing, but just go and enjoy yourself. Definitely be active for fun, but also eat, drink, and be merry. Honestly, while losing, I wouldn't have planned to go on such a trip, but if one came up for some reason, I think I would have just taken a break (...maybe--again, easy to say now). I think the key will be to have a plan for upon return. For me, indulging for 10 days could put me on a bad streak afterward; so if you're ready for getting back on track, it may help.

SezxyStef

I used to be one of those "just enjoy yourself! it's vacation!" types of people.

But really, if we did that every time there was a holiday, event, vacation, it would add up. That's what happened to me. I gained about 15 pounds this fall, and I ate right and worked out most days. However, there was Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, friends birthdays, office celebrations...and if you are not just a little careful, it will add up.

With that said, I would try to limit the "no holds barred" to maybe a few meals over the course of your time there. Also, if you don't want to worry about tracking and all that, just make sure to have a lot of water and maybe a salad before a meal. And then stop when you are full. Then you can take a vacation from calorie counting and just enjoy the food without overdoing it.

so you consumed almost 50,000 additional calories on just these "special days"….

Sounds about right! I did the no holding back, stuff my face approach. Because I thought of it as a special occasion, and told myself I eat right most of the time...

We jsut had the same thing happen plus I had a 8 day all inclusive vacation...through all of that and eating everything I wanted I gained a total of 1.5lbs over Christmas and 4 over vacation...all of which was gone within week(s) of getting back on track...

Gaining 15lbs in 3months is a lot more than just halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas....

ndj1979

I used to be one of those "just enjoy yourself! it's vacation!" types of people.

But really, if we did that every time there was a holiday, event, vacation, it would add up. That's what happened to me. I gained about 15 pounds this fall, and I ate right and worked out most days. However, there was Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, friends birthdays, office celebrations...and if you are not just a little careful, it will add up.

With that said, I would try to limit the "no holds barred" to maybe a few meals over the course of your time there. Also, if you don't want to worry about tracking and all that, just make sure to have a lot of water and maybe a salad before a meal. And then stop when you are full. Then you can take a vacation from calorie counting and just enjoy the food without overdoing it.

so you consumed almost 50,000 additional calories on just these "special days"….

Sounds about right! I did the no holding back, stuff my face approach. Because I thought of it as a special occasion, and told myself I eat right most of the time...

We jsut had the same thing happen plus I had a 8 day all inclusive vacation...through all of that and eating everything I wanted I gained a total of 1.5lbs over Christmas and 4 over vacation...all of which was gone within week(s) of getting back on track...

Gaining 15lbs in 3months is a lot more than just halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas....

I was thinking the same thing ..

I absolutely blew out on Thanksgiving almost 4000 calories of what I logged maybe more than that ..I also destroyed Christmas and new years and I may have gained two pounds…I also started my bulk in November….coincidently

ALNoog

We went to St Croix in August for our honeymoon and I wanted to eat all the local food that I can't get here and must have fun and relax and enjoy little umbrella drinks by the pool... So I did I'd say relax and enjoy yourself. Do as much physical activity as you want but it's a vacation.... Enjoy it and relax

All you do when you get home is just get back on track... We went on a mini vacation a couple of weekends ago and I was In a panic about what I was going to eat to the point I was so stressed I didn't even want to go.... But decided the day of to just go and relax and enjoy the food and get back on track as soon as I get home.. And that is what I did and I had a BLAST!

greenlight22

I had some problems finding decent salads (or vegetables for that matter) in Cuba, but then again I was in some of the smaller cities and never went to a resort. I was also watching my weight on this trip and I thought all the rice would get to me, but it didn't Luckily the local faire is usually a hearty brown rice that fills you up with a relatively small amount.

PS: Whoever said that the pork was good in Cuba, you speak the truth! I usually don't prefer pork, but at the places I ate at they almost always served it with a really great sauce.

Binky_Muffin

That was me!

From my experience, the best meats are the seafood, poultry and pork. Their "hamburguesas" are made with ground pork as well. Delish!

To the OP, if you have a chance to eat off the resort, do so. Try to find a restaurant that serves fresh lobster. You can get a lobster meal for two including apps and drinks for approx 20CUC per person. If you're going to Varadero, I can recommend a really good restaurant. Just PM and I'll give you the details.

kimad

Enjoy yourself and worry about it when you get back. I just got back from Cuba on Apr 5.

When they say Cuban food isn't that great, they aren't lying... so I didn't indulge too much in food, maybe only the all you can eat lobster we can Friday evening.

Try to get a lot of exercise in if you can... walking, snorkelling, Havana trip!

But you are paying to be there so don't deprive yourself.

I gained a lot more than some (but I swell up a lot in hot places) and I am only a couple above my weight when I left.

Where are you going? What resort?

Enjoy!