Should I track on vacation?

htmlgirl

We are stationed in Italy and are planning a trip to the Tuscany region for a four-day weekend (Friday - Monday). I think it would be pretty hard to track things because we'll be eating out and I really want to relax and enjoy the food and wine.

I've been pretty good with my caloric intake, only going slightly above once or twice. Obviously, this isn't going to be an every day thing.

Would you track or just enjoy it?

tinat84

I personally would get in the habit of tracking while on vacation. Recently I went to my home town and said I was going to enjoy myself and ate whatever I wanted. Well when I got back not only did I gain a few pounds it was hard for me to convert back to my diet.

For me, it has to be a life change. You can eat your fav foods or try new foods but in moderation.

You must be so excited for your trip. Have a good time! :-)

PeggyWoodson

We are stationed in Italy and are planning a trip to the Tuscany region for a four-day weekend (Friday - Monday). I think it would be pretty hard to track things because we'll be eating out and I really want to relax and enjoy the food and wine.

I've been pretty good with my caloric intake, only going slightly above once or twice. Obviously, this isn't going to be an every day thing.

Would you track or just enjoy it?

How likely are you to go back to your diet? I'm faced with the same thing coming up in May. I will be going to Chicago area for two weeks. I know it will be impossible to stay with it the whole two weeks. I do have the resolve, however to jump right back on if I haven't lost the weight I need to loose by then. Hope you have a good time on your trip.

hippychickuk

I agree with tinat. Now being away for only 4 days, you could probably get away without tracking, but it wouldn't hurt to track would it? Even if you go over your daily calories, at least you will know by how much. Then it will be easier to choose your dessert, or whether or not to have one more glass of wine.

I have an 11-day holiday coming up, to San Diego! and I am so looking forward to Mexican food, but am definitely going to track while I'm there because Mexican food is outrageous, and 11 days is a long time!

htmlgirl

I know I will track when I get back so that's not an issue.

I'm just not really sure how many calories would be in the dishes so I don't even know how I would track it. I hardly ever eat until I'm "stuffed" because it's really uncomfortable.

TundraTed

I went out of town for a week 2 months ago and did not track that week. I started the day I got back again. It worked for me. I would be aware of what your maint calorie goal is for the day and mentally try to keep at it while out of town.

Starzy696

I found it super hard to track on vacation last week and I have an IPhone. It's hard because you can't find many of the foods you are eating or know exactly the calorie intake unless you are making/buying/checking the calories.

Heaven71

I did not track. I stressed it for 2 months before we left and was planning to work out and track or keep a log of everything and it all went out the window. We did an 11 day cruise and it was too much to keep up with. I really just made better choices when eating and stayed active the whole time. We hiked on several islands and when my sweetie wanted to nap after we got back on the ship, I walked the promenade deck and watched the sunset.

I did gain 2 lbs but it was well worth it and worht the lack of stress trying to keep track while trying to have fun and relax.

BAMFMeredith

I didn't track on my recent vacation. And I ate whatever I wanted to eat and drank a lot of champagne. We did a lot of walking, but I didn't worry so much about it the entire time. Got back the other day and my weight was the exact same! A few days isn't going to totally derail your progress, so be mindful and enjoy the amazing food! Just make sure to get right back on track when you get back

mrshoneybear1014

I just went on a 4 day vacation to Savannah, GA last weekend. I still tracked but that is because we were eating fast food half the time and I wanted to make better choices. I definitely still splurged though - but I wanted to make sure not too much.

In August I have a trip planned to Great Britain. I am in no way going to be able to count my calories then. First, it's your vacation and Italy sounds pretty damn good. And MFP is mostly American dining I think so it would be really hard and you'd be making an edcuated guess at best. Second, you probably dont have cell service and who wants to bother logging online every day to input your calories?

I am sure you know by now what is a good choice and what isn't. Just choose your indulgences and ENJOY!!!!!!!! It's a vacation from MFP too!

vettle

When I went to the south pacific, I said I was going to try and track - but the foods and brands are so different sometimes that it just gets nutty. I also stayed with family so I barely cooked what I was eating myself. I did my best just to get an idea of what I was eating, but what I really underestimated was the amount of walking I was doing. I lost 5 pounds on my vacation which I didn't want to lose since I was already maintaining my weight!

Still, while on vacation, make smart choices but allow yourself some splurging. After all, you only go on vacation once in a while and maybe only that place once.

Lesa_Sass

HOLY COW, enjoy yourself girl! Screw the tracking thing! EAT PRAY LOVE baby!

I find it is harder for me NOT to track than let it go, so do what ever feels right to you. But most of all, enjoy that time, I am so jealous it is not funny, and I do not get jealous often.

Enjoy life, we only get one.

Jenmccabe

I went to Thailand for 3 weeks in October I wasn't able to track online because of limited access to the internet, We ate out all the time and walked a whole lot. But I had access to the street food and there are carts where they sell fresh fruit. I ate several small meals each day and ended up coming home 20lbs lighter. But it came right back a few weeks later because it was all water weight :-/

mgmlap

I do..but I also where an HRM since I tend to do alot of walking while on vacation...

DaveRCF

I didn't bother tracking while I was away for a week last week and I was able to maintain my weight. You will find that you are still conscious of the foods you are eating and you will make the right decisions. I would add though that we were skiing so it is a bit easier if you are on an active holiday, rather than laying around.

RedHotRunner

I don't. I try to make good choices (fish, salads), pack my running shoes (great way to see the sights) and hit the hotel gym.

I rarely gain weight on vacation because i'm so active.

And like you said, it's a PITA to try to guess the calories. Who needs that while you're on vacation?

Talieowl

I'd track, but not necessarily the same way you normally track.

First, I would make sure to stick to fairly low-calorie foods for two meals out of every day and let myself splurge on the third (I travel a lot for work and do this for one day on each trip--the splurge part.)

Then, to track, I would keep a written food diary and really make it into something like a travelogue. Then it becomes your tracker as well as a memento of your trip. I think the biggest benefit of tracking is that it forces you to eat intentionally and consciously.

cloud2011

I probably wouldn't track, but I would focus on enjoying the food, but you sound like you will, since you said you don't like being "stuffed."

And, if you're walking more than usual, that will help. Have fun!

anastasiaBH

I recently went on vacation for a week, scheduled as my week off from working out and logging food. Ididn't move much at all from my spot by the pool, certainly nothing worthy of HRM tracking, and I didn't log a morsel of food. When I returned home, my weight was exactly the same, and I was ready to get back to the plan (and did).

Enjoy yourself.

adamb83

We are stationed in Italy and are planning a trip to the Tuscany region for a four-day weekend (Friday - Monday). I think it would be pretty hard to track things because we'll be eating out and I really want to relax and enjoy the food and wine.

I've been pretty good with my caloric intake, only going slightly above once or twice. Obviously, this isn't going to be an every day thing.

Would you track or just enjoy it?

How likely are you to go back to your diet? I'm faced with the same thing coming up in May. I will be going to Chicago area for two weeks. I know it will be impossible to stay with it the whole two weeks. I do have the resolve, however to jump right back on if I haven't lost the weight I need to loose by then. Hope you have a good time on your trip.

Oh, boy.... Chicago and Italy. The two best diet killers out there! Food, food, food everywhere (and such GOOD food, too).

I definitely think it's important to keep track - but you can enjoy yourself, too. Have a good time, maybe be a bit more lax than you would be normally, but still keep yourself on track.

MaryRegs

I just joined this program this past Saturday...and am heading off to DisneyWorld in less than two weeks-and we have the dining plan for the first time. Having said that, I plan to track while I am on vacation. I may only be 5 days into my program, but I do not want to have wasted my efforts thus far. Good thing about a Disney trip is the amount of walking done on a daily basis. I am interested to see my results!

claire7090

I am going on holiday next week (from UK to Florida) I won't be tracking my calories due to the cost of overseas internet acess on my phone. I think that after 7 months on MFP I have a much better idea of what I am eating and am hoping I can make good choices while away without calorie counting.
I have lost 29.6lbs for this holiday and I have mentally prepared myself for the fact that I will probably gain a little bit over the 17 days I am away (mainly due to eating out and American portion sizes) but I know that once I am home I will be able to lose the weight again.

Edited to add that I am now at my goal weight so am only trying to maintain at the moment which may have a bearing on my perspective!