Travelling for work... Alcohol + lots of 'meeting' meals.

frankiesats

So i'm about to start a new job (roughly 3 weeks time) but i'm going to an all day meeting with them tomorrow. The director closed our conversation with 'oh and we'll be going for drinks and dinner afterwards' - they have these meetings on a monthly basis.

I'm also going to be travelling a lot - staying in hotels for 2-3 days at a time, attending social events (expected to involve alcohol - what PR job doesn't?) and 'lunching' with clients frequently.

I'm really worried about how this will affect my progress. I have a fairly strict exercise regime and will have to work with hotel gyms etc. and road run whenever I can to avoid falling behind.

How do you stick to making good choices at these kind of events and get out of drinking too much? I'm all for a glass of water between every glass of wine...

Does anyone work in similar situations? How do you cope?!

dlwyatt82

Just don't drink, or don't drink very much. There are plenty of people out there who wouldn't attend at all, such as a recovering alcoholic.

As for food, you'll probably find that after a while on MFP, you're getting fairly good at eating reasonable amounts. I recently went on vacation for 9 days and wasn't weighing or logging anything at all, or even trying to keep a rough estimate of calories in my head. I had the attitude that I would just weigh myself when I got back, and if I had put on a couple of pounds, no big deal. They'd come back off after a week or two of being back on track.

Turns out, I came back from vacation half a pound lighter than when I left. That would NEVER have happened last year before I started logging everything on MFP. I'd have stuffed all the awesome food into my gut until I felt like splitting open.

PayneAS

Have one alcoholic drink and sip it throughout the night. They honestly probably won't notice and if they do just say you're not a big drinker.

As for meals. Stick to small portions of what is offered. My rule of thumb is that a "portion" is the size of my closed fist. If you can, order "healthier" (i.e. grilled chicken instead of fried shrimp, salad with dressing on the side instead of french fries).

Most hotels now have fitness rooms. Go work out every morning before you start your day or every night before you get to bed (or both!).

Hope this helps!

ST99000722

I sympathise, it's not always easy when it's with work.

for "dinner and drinks" - I agree - small portions or the "healthy option"
I don't like to be the only one not drinking so i have one glass of wine and make it last all night. Any offers for another round i just say "no thanks , i'm a lightweight and i'd have a hangover tomorrow"

I've had to stay away a few times recently - I throw plenty of healthy snacks in my case - in individual portions. things like muesli bars, dried fruit, nuts, seeds are all good.
I take a fitness dvd (30ds as it's only 20 mins) and do it in the room (never had a gym in the hotel !).
I always go over on calories staying away - long days and not enough food options, but I do my best with it.

dupaboo

I am traveling a lot more lately and work for a company that works hard and plays hard. Cocktails and meals are prime business time here....but when I decided that I needed a change in my life, I committed to it. While I'll have the occassional glass of wine, I typically don't drink. I have had a few associates question me as to why I'm not drinking, but I just tell them the truth - it's not on my plan. As for meals - if I know where I'm going to be, I look up the menu before going and decide what to have before getting there. If I don't know where a meal will be, I don't stress about it and make the healthiest choice given the options.

You'll have good days, great days and not so good ones...every day is a new day, so make the best decisions that you can and if you decide to drink and go crazy, then start over the next day.

Sounds like you have the working out thing down....you'll do great! Congrats on the new job!

myfitnessnmhoy

I used to travel a lot, and the only things I can say are:

1. When you first arrive, buy ingredients for healthy breakfasts and lunches and eat brekkie in your hotel room and pack your lunch. That way, you're regulating your food intake for at least most of your food for the day.

2. During the day, drink only water and coffee, skip any sodas or stuff because the alcohol in the evening is enough empty calories and sugars for you. Drink LOTS of water whenever the opportunity arises.

3. When going out, order water with your alcoholic beverage, and alternate sips. Favor the water - it's helping you. Remember there's a benefit to being the clearest head at the table, too. It's also OK to be a coffee drinker at supper - the caffeine is an appetite suppressant, and you have a "social beverage" in front of you that happens to be calorie-free if you drink it black.

4. If you know you'll be going out to a chain restaurant, research the menu ahead of time and choose your meal as soon after eating lunch as possible. You can make good decisions when you're not hungry. Pick something that fits well within your calorie budget and leave yourself some calories for the inevitable shared appetizer - but only leave a few calories so you don't have an excuse to NOMNOMNOM on the appetizer. Sample *lightly* and enjoy.

5. Most hotels have at least decent workout facilities. USE THEM! Take a swimsuit with you because if there's a pool, that's a great way to get some good exercise in the evening (or the morning if you're an early riser - I'm not). My preference is to start on a treadmill or elliptical and get my heart rate up for an hour or so, then a quick shower and hit the pool for a light swim for a while.

6. If at all possible, save yourself a few calories for an evening snack, and have something healthy in the hotel room.

frankiesats

I tend to get 'you don't need to lose weight' when I tell people this... it really frustrates me that people, whilst they may be trying to be complimentary, won't take no for an answer.

I'm hoping the new company will be a little bit different and more accepting of my choices! Fingers crossed!