How do you stay on your diet while traveling?

nivisparrow
nivisparrow Posts: 12 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
For the next two weeks, my company is sending me to a two week long training conference. They're allowing me $45 a day for food. The good news is that I'm going to learn about nutrition, dieting, exercising and body building. The bad news is that I have NO idea how I'm going to keep up with my diet. I have avoided fast food for the most part for three weeks now. I don't want to throw away all of my progress for two weeks. That would be a complete reset. I know that they will pretty much have a fitness center so that I can maintain my progress in that aspect, but as far as my diet goes...Yeah. (I will obviously get to come home for the weekend and Christmas.) What do you guys normally do when you are unable to eat at home for an extended period of time and you do not have a refrigerator available to you? Any help would be greatly appreciated.. and anyone that wants to add me to help keep me on the straight and narrow for these two weeks would make me even more grateful.

Replies

  • lawtechie
    lawtechie Posts: 708 Member
    $45/day is alot! Grilled chicken, fresh veggies, stop at convenience store and get fruits and veggie snack packs. Or take a cab to grocery store and get some snack packs. Take a soft cooler bag that can fold up easy, fill it w/ ice at hotel and use that for small cold storage. Protein bars. Bagels/English muffin, peanut butter, hard boiled eggs (again from convenience store).

    Take a water bottle w/ you and drink drink drink. Watch the soda, watch the sugary snacks, limit the alcohol. Make good choices at restaurants.
  • jenndymond
    jenndymond Posts: 117 Member
    I travel for a living all the time. I try to google the closest grocery store (or ask the front desk) if you dont have a little fridge in your room you can usually ask for one. I pick up fruit, carrots and hummus, things that I can snack on. I also bring protein bars so I have a good chunk of protein for after the gym (I personally love the Cliff Builder bars). It is hard cause it usually means your eating out but just do the best you can and keep logging (always helps).
  • nivisparrow
    nivisparrow Posts: 12 Member
    Oh, I love the cooler idea! I will have to do that. And @jenndymond, if there isn't a fridge in your room.. will they actually bring you one?
  • nivisparrow
    nivisparrow Posts: 12 Member
    I have never eaten a protein bar before. I was considering starting due to the fact that the only time I feel I get enough protein is when I eat salmon or some other seafood.
  • jenndymond
    jenndymond Posts: 117 Member
    Depending on the hotel they have some if you want one. The cliff builder bars are awesome my favorite is the chocolate mint!
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    that is tough without a fridge but the cooler idea would be good, hotels should have ice readily available so you can change it daily and get different things. pick up some whole grain bread, some lean lunch meat/tofurkey, hummus, lettuce, cucumber, mushrooms you can make sandwiches with that. some yogurt, cottage cheese. if you have a coffee pot in the room just make the hot water, add it to some oatmeal and mix protein powder with it for flavor (i add chocolate) or you can mix indivual packs of applesauce to it with cinnamon. light string cheese, avocado, you can get a small thing of milk, or coconut milk or something else and some kashi cereal. make ahead of time or bring granola bars, protein bars (you can make your own as well). when you do go out to eat, just stick with boiled, grilled options. grilled chicken salads, maybe turkey or chicken burgers on wheat buns, salads, other lean proteins and lots of veggies. and drink that water! that is good they will have a fitness center, i think you will do fine though. ask the front desk about grocery stores and nearby resturants, find out the menus ahead of time to make the best choices possible.
  • Colbyandsage
    Colbyandsage Posts: 751 Member
    I agree with the others. I stop at grocery stores and get fruit/veggies to snack along with nuts, proteins bars, etc. I also use protein shakes so when I travel, I pack my shaker cup and pre-measure out the scoops in snack bags. I will eat fruit/ shake for breakfast. That starts my day well then try to get a healthy sandwich/salad for lunch. Dinner is always the big meal at conferences so I try to choose lean protein/veggies.

    I also try to get a good workout in. I pack my insanity DVDs and do them instead if the gym sucks.

    Good luck! Takes some practice but its not too bad after a lil while.
  • BroiledNotFried
    BroiledNotFried Posts: 446 Member
    I second the Cliff bars. Excellent tasting and a complete meal.

    Take your swimsuit, running shoes and shorts. Alot of good hotels have a pool and a gym.

    The airport has fruit cups and odwallas.

    Grocery stores. I triple that one. Delis usually have pre-made salads too.

    Avoid the hotel "foods" there at the conference. The scones will kill you.
  • abouttobebootylicious
    abouttobebootylicious Posts: 10
    I'm in Europe (I'm from the United States) now on business travel and I had similar fears about overseas travel. When booking my flight, I ordered the low fat meal option (special meal preference) in advance. For what it's worth, it was the best I could do for two in-flight meals on a 7 hour 47 minute flight (one-way). At the conference, each table has carafes of water for self service, so I have been able to keep up on my water intake. Our coffee and bio breaks have the usual bite-sized desserts (which I ignore), but also a fresh fruit salad offering. Uncut apples, pears, and tangerines are available for the taking all day long. The hotel's continental breakfast has somewhat unexpected healthy options: plain, strawberry, and blueberry yogurt with linseed, sunflower seed, granola, and dried plum options as mix-ins. Cottage cheese, soymilk, and granola are on the bar also. You just may be pleasantly surprised. I know I was! In the land known for it's weiners and streusel, I would have thought that I would blow my nutrition plan every day for eight days. I think I've done pretty well, all things considered. Good luck!
  • nivisparrow
    nivisparrow Posts: 12 Member
    Thank you all so much. I will definitely be packing my workout dvds. I wish I could bring my elliptical just in case, but it's a tad large for that sort of thing. :laugh:

    I hate that this is happening while I'm still so fresh into my diet. I don't want any excuses. I have around 50lbs to lose. I'm hoping that since the training is about fitness and health they will offer suggestions to us about the dining choices in the area.

Categories