Counting Calories on Vacation

katiewcurlz

Hi everyone,

In 3 weeks, I am going to an all-inclusive resort, where food and alcohol are included with our stay, and are essentially available 24 hours a day. I will be without cell phone reception, internet or a computer. Since I've started MFP, I've been working towards this trip, and it's important to me that I set realistic boundaries for myself, but still be able to enjoy the local food, etc.

Have you had any success counting calories without MFP while on vacation? How do you account for alcohol?

Also, we'll be on a beach for most of the time, and although I won't be doing cardio, I'm sure treading water and swimming will burn some calories, but I'm not sure how to count activity calories either.

If anyone has suggestions, that'd be great! Thanks!

laurasimmons

When I go on vacation I don't worry about counting calories. I just try to eat as well as I can and also enjoy what I want. But I do make sure that I still get exercise in by doing all kinds of activities!

fitinyoga14

Don't stress about the actual counting while you're on vacation. If you can get in some physical activity, that's great! Instead of worrying about calories in your meals, just make sure you eat around the times of your regular snacks/meals, and make sure they're balanced with fruits and veggies, etc. Then you can't really go wrong! As for alcohol, treat it as if it were a 'treat'. If you think you got in a lot of exercise for a day, it means you can probably drink a little more and be just fine!

shastar

If you know what type of drinks you will be ordering, do a mock food log and it will tell you what the calories are in the drink. I recently plugged into my recipe tab the margarita recipe I have been using for the last 25 years. Now I actually know what calories I am drinking and will think twice about having a second one because it would be more than half my day's worth of calories.

That might do the trick with you as well.

You can do the same thing with exercises you think you will be doing to get an idea of how many calories will be burned.

I am going on a trip soon too and will be a way from internet. I think you can add in things in your phone and it will automatically update when you get to WiFi or nearest tower if you pay for internet on your phone.

amylanphierd

Maybe you could prepare a list of some of the foods you think you may be eating and drinking, include the calorie count and other nutritional information as well as some of the excercises, like walking and swimming. Then you can write down estimates and get a general idea where you stand.

wriglucy

I always find that since being on here, I can kind of "guess" about how many calories different food has. You could take a little notebook, and at the end of the day write down what you all had, and make a "guestimate" of how much you think you had. I wouldn't stress yourself out though...you're on vacation! Have a great time!!!

katiewcurlz

All great ideas! I will definitely check out calorie counts in foods I think I'll run into, AND not stress. Thank you!