Do we watch we eat on Vacation

paulbear75
paulbear75 Posts: 44 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi everyone Do we watch what we eat ?

Summertime is here and I would love to know if most of you keep track with MFP while on vacation? My family will visit me here in Italy in July from America and they all want to feast on the local cuisine here. My Mother already has a 2 day wine tour in Tuscany that we'll be doing. How do I watch my calories for 12 days with the Family ? lol love to hear your experiences.
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Replies

  • Pinkylee77
    Pinkylee77 Posts: 432 Member
    I tend to not log my calories on vacation and I do eat pretty much what I want but I still watch my portion size I split my desert. So I am a bit more careful but don't make my life and those around me difficult. I also will also make sure I eat one meal a day this is smaller and lighter most often breakfast.
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
    Absolutely no way! A holiday is a holiday. If you can't let your hair down on a break, when will you ever let your hair down?
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,994 Member
    I still log and will try to do as much walking as possible. I often get day passes at a local gym as well and workout in the mornings. I will indulge in the local food though and just try to net within maintenance on the indulgent days.
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    yes so true!
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    I tend to not log my calories on vacation and I do eat pretty much what I want but I still watch my portion size I split my desert. So I am a bit more careful but don't make my life and those around me difficult. I also will also make sure I eat one meal a day this is smaller and lighter most often breakfast.
  • babydiego87
    babydiego87 Posts: 905 Member
    Nope. I went to Ibiza few weeks ago and ate/drank what I liked. I however did a lot of walking and sight seeing so probably burned a lot of it off. Came home, 1lb or so up on the scale but got rid of it pretty quickly.
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    I tend to not log my calories on vacation and I do eat pretty much what I want but I still watch my portion size I split my desert. So I am a bit more careful but don't make my life and those around me difficult. I also will also make sure I eat one meal a day this is smaller and lighter most often breakfast.


    This's what I will do in Sept on a trip with daughter,her husband & mine.Going by plans for the day,will stay aware,make good choices & be happy with no loss/no gain those 2 wks.
  • tram54
    tram54 Posts: 6
    Well, I have a just over week long vacation planned in June, and I am going to try and be smart about it so I don't un-do my whole first month's worth of hard work. I have the mobile app for MFP on my phone, and I'm going to wear a pedometer to record how much walking we do (to hopefully off-set some of the 'guilty eating'), and I'm going to try and make smart choices about where and what to eat. I know that there will be stops along the road at fast food restaurants; I'm going to try and do some research ahead of time about what the smarter choices are at the various chains so that I don't make a bad 'in a hurry' decision when we are trying to make time on the road. I figure that if I can 'hold the gains' (come back weighing what I did when I left), it will be a major victory.
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    One of the great secrets to vacation Eating or should I say Indulging haha..is the few weeks prior! Be at your best with your Plan and your workouts should be very consistent. The last week before a vaca my deficit will be much greater and when The vaca comes I have fun! I notice that I was fine after because of this preparation also..even when I am on vacation I remain active and still find a way to move my body gym or no gym!!
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    No logging during vacation for me! I will make better choices and I wont eat much breads (we cruise a lot and although the breads are fresh and delicious they are just not worth the cals!)
    After the holiday its back to logging again :-D
    So far on my 2 week cruises I have never gained more than 3lbs and I have got rid of those within a few weeks of logging again.
    We gotta live a little but theres no point in going crazy either, just find a happy medium and stick to it :)


    oh and of course get lots of walking/exercise in whilst away, that'll help big time - always take the stairs, walk as much as possible etc
  • 5pmsomewherenow
    5pmsomewherenow Posts: 163 Member
    I use vacation time as an extra boost of exercise -- getting up early to walk or jog, hitting the pool for swimming, etc. Think of all the extra opportunities to BURN, in amongst the naps and lounging around. Biking, hiking, dancing. Going for a stroll with relatives is a great way chat up, and fully digest local delights. Did someone say "dancing?"

    It's a wonderful opportunity to test out your committment to a healthy lifestyle, all good things in moderation, etc. Keep drinking lots of water, start each day with a good, healthy breakfast, and pack snacks that are full of fiber, lean protein, and other healthy alternatives. Keep the alcohol in check, you don't have to say "no," but don't fill up on wasteful alcoholic calories beyond a really good SAVOR.

    Keep your portions in check, and you'll be fine. Enjoy!
  • jillsjourney
    jillsjourney Posts: 167 Member
    My family is going on vacation in 3 weeks. Our first one in 5 years. I am not going to log anything, heck I am not allowing any smartphone, laptops or ipads to be used during vacation, but I will be mindful of my choices.
  • spally2
    spally2 Posts: 22
    don't watch what I eat/drink on holiday as I'm on holiday but I do do lots of walking around when I'm away and might do a bit of swimming. Plus given that I will be going away in June to Portugal the nice weather means I will eat more fresh fruit and veg/salad and fish anyway
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I honestly don't. Its a vacation, you deserve a break!
  • paulbear75
    paulbear75 Posts: 44 Member
    Thanks so much for your stories :) Enjoy your summer
  • nehushtan
    nehushtan Posts: 566 Member
    I do.
  • Allyice
    Allyice Posts: 122 Member
    I didn't really log properly or weight myself for 2 weeks over christmas, I ate so much, but came home to weight myself and I'd lost 2 kg lol. It's like my metabolism is working alot better these days. Now I give myself the weekends/holidays to relax and not log as long as I can get myself back to eating healthy eating at the end of it. I only learnt how to manage to do this after 4 months of very strict logging though.
  • ajfc1971
    ajfc1971 Posts: 258 Member
    Hi,
    It's a sort of yes and no answer. I don't deprive myself of anything but I don't go overboard either. I tend to log in once a day around lunch time and log my cals at once. That way I am still checking in so it keeps me in check but I am not obessed with it either. I usely go away camping on my hols so tend to cook for myself most of the time, its the alcohol that goes with it lol.
    The other thing is usely I am on a site in the middle of nowhere with very limted signal so logging in all the time is not available.
    Just remember this has to be a life thing so make it suit you.
    Enjoy your vacation.
  • clobern
    clobern Posts: 341 Member
    I am teaching myself to live a new life, not dieting... so yes, I watch what I eat. I don't go all out simply because it's a vacation, I learn to enjoy myself with my new lifestyle.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    Depends on the internet access :wink:

    I'll have hopefully reached my target by the time we go away, but I will still be aware of what I eat - not depriving myself, but checking if I really want something/want that much of it before I eat it. But it is a holiday, so I would say don't stress about it, just go easy on the puddings and second helpings.

    We were away over Easter and the first day we skipped lunch because we'd had the big breakfast in the hotel. The second day - not so good :ohwell: But I solved that problem by getting the winter vomiting bug on the way back:laugh:
  • Athena53
    Athena53 Posts: 717 Member
    We were in Paris 2 weeks ago. I'm on 5:2 fasting and didn't do that. I enjoyed a lot of good wine, cheese and bread but was careful not to overdo anything and I don't consume mass quantities anyway. The 3 days the weather was nice I went out and ran after our sightseeing and according to my FitBit it was a 41-mile week.

    I hadn't planned to weigh myself but had a doc appointment last week and according to her scale I didn't gain an ounce. Woo-hoo!
  • jessicabillman77
    jessicabillman77 Posts: 39 Member
    its vacation enjoy yourself! odds are you wont gain a massive amount of weight anyway as long as you keep doing some physical activity
  • TammyS327
    TammyS327 Posts: 134 Member
    I took a mini vacation last month and I logged everything. I hadn't planned to, but I wanted to see just how bad my eating habits were. Between all of the walking I really did good. I lost a pound that week.

    I leave Friday evening for 5 days at the beach and I will log everyday. That way if I gain a pound or 2 I will know exactly why, however I suspect I will lose at least 1 pound by exercising, swimming in the ocean, walking on the beach and site seeing.

    Whatever you decide to do will be the right decision for you. Have fun with your family.
  • Rachielous
    Rachielous Posts: 80 Member
    I do not log a single thing when I am on holiday - holidays for me are all about eating as much as I possibly can!! (and yes, I know - MFP is supposed to be about a 'lifestyle' change as opposed to a diet BUT that is a section of my lifestyle I am not willing to sacrifice!) I never gain too much when I am away anyway, just think about how much you actually have to eat to gain a 'real' pound (as opposed to a water weight pound).. My advice would be to just enjoy your break with your family - if you can and want to log then do it but if it is going to get in the way of your time with them then just let it go for a week or so and enjoy! Just make sure you can get back on the bandwagon when you are done!
  • casmithis
    casmithis Posts: 216 Member
    I'm so glad you posted this. I have a cruise booked on the 14th and I have completely freaked myself out over eating. I read an article where a girl gained 17 pounds while cruising. I'm so nervous about gaining that kind of weight but I think because I'm so freaked out I won't. I truly hope I can let my hair down and enjoy the food (within the MFP limits). I've already phoned the cruise company to make sure the gym is adequate so hopefully I can get some work outs in. My last trip I was told there was internet and turns outs it was hit and miss (more miss). So my logging was disastrous. I hope I'm able to log on this one.
  • WhitneyT586
    WhitneyT586 Posts: 279 Member
    I usually am careful but not strict when I'm on vacation. I pick my battles - if its going to be a great dinner place, I eat lighter the rest of the day. Everything in moderation! If you gain a bit, don't stress. It's gonna be okay! Have a great trip!!
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    i always lose weight on holiday cos its way too hot to eat and im always doing better things
  • Pearsquared
    Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
    I suppose it depends on what you mean by "vacation". I won't track on travel vacations, but if I'm just visiting family for a day or two on holiday, I will track. It all depends on how accessible healthy food is and how comfortable I will be with only eating just enough.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    I'm so glad you posted this. I have a cruise booked on the 14th and I have completely freaked myself out over eating. I read an article where a girl gained 17 pounds while cruising. I'm so nervous about gaining that kind of weight but I think because I'm so freaked out I won't. I truly hope I can let my hair down and enjoy the food (within the MFP limits). I've already phoned the cruise company to make sure the gym is adequate so hopefully I can get some work outs in. My last trip I was told there was internet and turns outs it was hit and miss (more miss). So my logging was disastrous. I hope I'm able to log on this one.

    don't panic, you wont gain 17lbs, that person obviously ate EVERYTHING in sight and didn't walk much...just don't over fill your plate, be aware that they add an awful lot of salt to everything so drink loads of water - just be aware of quantities and make good choices ok - just enjoy it, its the best holiday experience you can have on a cruise ship and the food is outstanding :-D
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Yes, I still log my food. I don't log physical activity unless it's a planned training session. It pretty much all evens out.

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