All-inclusive vacation, strategies for not gaining?

UrbanLotus

Hi people, I'm headed to a fabulous Mexican resort for 5 days - I'm excited but also really worried about messing up my progress. I'm the type that gains just by smelling food lol, so I could come out of this up like 5lbs .

So how do I balance wanting to enjoy my vacation & taking advantage of the awesome spread (aka get my money's worth lol) with not gaining? The last resort I went to didn't have many options as far as salads were concerned - the veggies were all wilted and gross. This one is a 5 star and the food is supposed to be better, so hopefully I can fill up on salad a bit, but if not... And its my vacation, I want to drink!

And to top this off I'm going out of town for 3 days immediately after getting back - an Indian wedding, so multiple events filled with tons of delicious food and alcohol .

sheltrk

Whenever I go on vacation, especially if it is a nice resort, I tend to eat more than I do at home. However, it usually ends up weight-neutral for me, because I tend to go on lots of long walks, go snorkeling, kayaking, etc. I say it's your vacation: enjoy your food! But go out and *do* lots of fun stuff too!

alexadarielle21

Try to workout if they have a gym!

UrbanLotus

Whenever I go on vacation, especially if it is a nice resort, I tend to eat more than I do at home. However, it usually ends up weight-neutral for me, because I tend to go on lots of long walks, go snorkeling, kayaking, etc. I say it's your vacation: enjoy your food! But go out and *do* lots of fun stuff too!

good point, I love being in the water so I'll be swimming a lot, hopefully that will help mitigate!

They do have a gym, I'm only taking a small carryon so I'll have to see if I can fit gym stuff in. I'm so out of shape that I can't work out for long, only end up burning like 200 cals so I don't know how much of a difference that would make

zeke1964

Probably not the best choice for a vacation............Just try to remember that you arent losing weight for the moneys worth, you are doing it to look and feel better.......Have fun and good luck!

UrbanLotus

Probably not the best choice for a vacation............

Are we not supposed to vacation while on this journey? Come on

imtrinat

I'm planning a big vacation for a couple weeks from now too, so I'm in the same situation! I decided to just... enjoy it. Try to get in some exercise. Don't gorge on unhealthy food, but eat the darn fajitas and have that margarita if it suits you. If drinking is an issue, try to keep it to stuff like club soda with flavored vodka and lime. It is tropical enough without the syrups and you can throw your high cal drink in there occasionally without overdoing it. Do the same stuff you would do at home with your food. Sub out some bad things for better options, be mindful of your calories, and don't eat just because it's there. If you make some decisions you regret, move on and just enjoy yourself anyway. No need for self shaming any time of year, especially while on vacation.

Have faith in yourself! I just knew that I would come back from Vegas after New Years and never step foot back in the gym. I immediately got the flu when I returned home, but I was back at it within a few days! Don't give yourself the option to fail. It's not worth the angst. Have fun, do some things in moderation that you wouldn't do at home, and just remember that you will come home and get right back on track.

HAVE FUN!

Annerk1

You need to forego the "Get my monies worth" mentality. Choose your foods carefully and allow a couple of splurges a day--either a fruity drink or a few bites of a decadent dessert. Work out every morning. Skip the pastries and junk at breakfast. Instead of the buffet, just sit at a table and let them bring you an egg white omelette with veggies and a side of fruit. No breads, no potatoes. Eat a lot of grilled/broiled fish, drink a lot of water.

singlefemalelawyer

Drink LOTS of water, easy on the booze, and don't go for seconds at the food buffets. And pick the healthier options, more fruits and veggies and less carbs/fried foods. And HAVE FUN !

toutmonpossible

Watch the buffet. Build exercise, even a walk, into your schedule every day. If you can, hang out with people who are fitness-oriented and who don't overindulge at the bar or in the restaurant. Consider weighing yourself every day if that will help. Or tracking everything you eat.

nainai0585

I just got back from an AI vacation to Cuba last month. My only advice is to have a great time, eat sensible portions, enjoy your alcohol, walk and check out the resort and surrounded area, and don't worry about your workout routine as you can easily pick it back up when you get home.

toutmonpossible

You need to forego the "Get my monies worth" mentality. Choose your foods carefully and allow a couple of splurges a day--either a fruity drink or a few bites of a decadent dessert. Work out every morning. Skip the pastries and junk at breakfast. Instead of the buffet, just sit at a table and let them bring you an egg white omelette with veggies and a side of fruit. No breads, no potatoes. Eat a lot of grilled/broiled fish, drink a lot of water.

Right. Getting your money's worth will be to have fun, relax, socialize, enjoy sensuous pleasures like good eating and drinking while returning home roughly the same size.

It might not hurt to lose a little weight before the wedding so you'll have a margin for gain. Some people lose a few pounds before the winter holidays in the West.

katieverkuilen94

I'm going on a week-long cruise in a few weeks, so this post really helps me out too! My plan is to only eat at meals (no-inbetween snacking unless it's something healthy) and to keep active. Whenever you think about food, do something active instead like taking a walk or swimming. And... LOTS of water!

I hope you have a wonderful time! Sounds like fun!

257_Lag

First of all, don't restrict yourself too much. It's a vacation! How much could you realistically gain in 5 days? 2 pounds maybe? (7000 EXTRA calories!) Have fun!

That said I usually try and be smart at breakfast. Most all inclusives have lots of healthy choices for breakfast. Lots of fruit.

Let your hair down a little at lunch, haven't had a burger in a long time? Go for it! Surely your activity level will cancel lunch out.

And at dinner, let it all hang out. Eat anything you want! Even with that attitude I'll bet you make smarter choices just out of habit.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

confetti_blind

Go and enjoy it! We work all year, at work and at the gym, we eat healthy and watch our salt, alcohol, sugar intake etc. Why do we work hard?

So that we can afford to go on amazing vacations, look great in our bikinis, and have a good time!! So go and enjoy yourself after working hard to get there

UrbanLotus

You need to forego the "Get my monies worth" mentality. Choose your foods carefully and allow a couple of splurges a day--either a fruity drink or a few bites of a decadent dessert. Work out every morning. Skip the pastries and junk at breakfast. Instead of the buffet, just sit at a table and let them bring you an egg white omelette with veggies and a side of fruit. No breads, no potatoes. Eat a lot of grilled/broiled fish, drink a lot of water.

Right. Getting your money's worth will be to have fun, relax, socialize, enjoy sensuous pleasures like good eating and drinking while returning home roughly the same size.

It might not hurt to lose a little weight before the wedding so you'll have a margin for gain. Some people lose a few pounds before the winter holidays in the West.

I see your point about the money's worth thing...but this doesn't sound like fun at all, I mean I DO want to enjoy my vacation and not be at strict with things as I am here you know? Maybe I'll follow these strategies during the day & splurge at dinner.

LOL the wedding (not mine) is in 8 days (5 of which will be spent at this resort), and I'm always trying to lose sooo...

MarieKG77

I have been on one vacation since I started my journey. That was to Las Vegas in January. I went with my mom who really enjoys eating out and I was very worried that I would gain weight and fall back into old habits. But i was relieved to enjoy myself for the whole week and not gain any weight. I did try to limit the alcohol to just a few drinks a day and I drank lots of water and WALKED everywhere. My family and I will be going to Florida for a week in July and I am so looking forward to it and am happy to say that this time I have no anxiety about gaining weight. Being healthy is a choice and a lifestyle. One week of anything is not going to make or break you. I'm also looking forward to going for runs on the beach!!

whitlisd

My only comparison is my two week all inclusive a few years ago where I ate so much BACON that I gained 10 pounds!!! lol I still believe in high protein, but okay, the fat was a bit much!

If I were doing it again, I would splurge earlier in the day and cool it at dinner so that I would at least have a chance to burn some of it off before bed.

I like what another person said. Stay away from the syrupy drinks, sugar, and white carbs. Focus on the lean meat, eggs, cheeses, and veggies. And drink lots and lots of water. Do the a la carts and try to stay away from the buffets as much as possible.

Have a good time!

UrbanLotus

Ok mental note - no bacon LOL. A la carte is a great idea!

Hennagrrl

Mexican food is generally pretty healthy -- and lots of tropical fruits around. I'd go easy on the flour tortillas -- corn have fewer calories. No sour cream... fresh avocados over guac if you can. And then just stay active. You are on VACATION! Have fun, but don't overdo things and you should be fine.

Indian wedding should be awesome, too! (Jealous!)

Pepper2185

If you drink and swim at the same time, the calories will probably cancel each other out!

Enjoy your vacation. If someone told me I could go to Mexico but I would have to gain 5 pounds, I'd gain the 5 pounds and have fun.

yaseyuku

Enjoy your vacation! Try to choose the healthier options at meals, but really I'd just eat what you wanted but not when you're not hungry and try to keep the extra calories minimal while still treating yourself.

Any weight you gain (a pound? two?), you can lose pretty quickly after by switching back to your regular eating habits.

Sometimes even higher calorie days will help me lose weight; right after my birthday, I ended up gaining but then losing it all and more about two days later.

If there's a gym, try to go to it - even if it's just 30-45 minutes a day. You'll also be walking a lot and more active than you would be at home.

kiku76

awesome topic! we're going on a family vacation at the end of the month to Disneyland. I'm a little worried about the eating out but I plan to make good choices. well, at least I hope to. I probably won't avoid all bad foods. This is a vacation after all, and one that we don't get to take often.

Isakizza

I too went on an all-inclusive resort vacay to Mexico.

What helped keep me in check was staying active. We did so much swimming, snorkel, walk, dance, hike all kinds of daily activities, and yes including the lay by the pool and swim up bars.

I did my best to eat all the yummy fresh fruit they put out with every meal, lots of water, and veggies with each serving. I still ate what I desired and drank way too much. It was nice that they also provided a very nice well equipped gym for my use.

All in all, I lost an extra quick 5-10 lbs before going. And when I got back, I gained about 5 or so lbs back. Broken even, pretty much started where I left off.

HAVE FUN & STAY ACTIVE!


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QuHeCTiC24

I'm going to Mexico in 2 weeks and I plan on enjoying every minute of it. Bacon for breakfast every morning, deserts after dinner, drinks all day!

When I come back I will be back on the grind. A vacation is a vacation

KristiLeighS

with the all inclusive it can be a bit hard but see if you can get menus from the restaurants you will have to choose from ahead of time and make a game plan about where you should and shouldn't be eating. do keep the drinking to a minimum. I mean, if you need to have that much alcohol to have fun then you really aren't having fun, if you get my point. do exercise. swimming is great! and just relax and have fun. try not to worry so much about it. like i said if you kind of make a game plan ahead of time it won't be as stressful.

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pobalita

I go to all-inclusives in Mexico at least once per year (twice this year already). In general, I just forget about dieting for a few days but I do a few things to reduce the damage.

I limit sugary drinks. Alcohol with club soda, martinis, bloody Mary's, champagne, beer, etc.have way less calories than margaritas, coco locos, and mudslides.

I eat at the ala cartes as much as possible for dinner and avoid the buffets.

I try to walk instead of take the carts. I always say I'm going to exerscise and bring my gym clothes, but I never actually go.

You will be so busy walking, swimming, etc, that you will likely burn more calories than normal. I gained no weight after 9 days in January (but I had BAD food poisoning). I gained 2 pounds after 11 days in April.

sz8soon

you did not get fat in 5 days- you aren't going to this time either. Stay active, move and enjoy the food!

MayaSPapaya

I'm going to California in a little over a month, and I plan on ordering whatever I want. Now, that doesn't mean I'm going to go overboard and have a ton of fried stuff and stuff like that, but it's a vacation, enjoy yourself! Try not to eat the whole portion restaurants serve you and watch the buffet. Little things like that can make a huge difference. Also keep in mind that you will be walking/swimming a lot, and that does burn calories.
The most weight you'll gain is maybe like a pound or two, which will drop right off when you come home and go back to your routine. I've been on vacations when I wasn't dieting, and I still didn't gain any weight.

Also, when my family goes on vacation, we eat breakfast in the room. My mom packs stuff like cereal, pancake mix, etc. Once we get to our destination, we go to the nearest supermarket and pick up milk, coffee, whatever else we might want. Usually I have cereal for breakfast. We do this to save money, and I know your resort is all-inclusive, but I'm pretty sure it helps out with not gaining weight too

sz8soon

you did not get fat in 5 days- you aren't going to this time either. Stay active, move and enjoy the food!

eta: I'm not calling the OP fat- just simply stating that weight gain didn't happen overnight.