Vacation help!?!

I think it's awesome you're thinking ahead and trying to pre-plan, but remember what it is: vacation! In my humble opinion, it's ok if you enjoy yourself and put your weight loss on the back burner for a few short days. Personally, if I didn't allow myself those breaks once in a blue moon, I don't think my weight loss would be sustainable.

Enjoy the beach!!

You might not be able to choose the entree but can you volunteer to make a salad each day? Or start the week by cutting up a load of veggies and then grab the tray and set them out with each meal. That way you can have some of the entree and then balance it out with something else.

What are some things that people have cooked in the past? It seems like there would be fresh seafood considering the location.

What Maz said... a week off is NOTgoing to destroy your good habits... just reduce portions when you can... leave food on the plate... and take a little "me time" to get in some extra exercise... a lifestyle change allows for an indulgence here and there... go a little easier on yourself. have fun

I usually find that I can maintain my weight easily on vacations, even while indulging in food and beverages, simply because I'm so much more active on vacation than I am on my normal, desk-bound days.

The Outer Banks give you lots of fun ways to stay active... walks on the beach, swimming, surfing, hiking the dunes at Kitty Hawk.

Sounds to me like these people are your friends. I'd be totally fine with someone saying to me that they are trying to be healthier/lose weight. You may find that it inspires them to go a little healthier too

Failing that, I agree with the poster who said offer to bring a salad each meal.

And finally...try not to fixate on it too much; you're on vacation.

Have an awesome time

Thanks for all the advice. I plan on a lot of walks on the beach and chasing kids in the surf. The food is the only wild card. I will do my best to both let my hair down and watch a little. You are right I am going on vacation and I am going to enjoy myself. It has also been asked of me to make homemade ice-cream, something I used to do every year, anyone know a healthier way to make ice cream?

Ice cream isn't inherently healthy or unhealthy. If people are requesting your home made ice cream, then they like it the way it is and won't be happy with a "diet" alternative. Just make what people are like and eat a portion that fits into your macros.

You could eat at your calories maintenance level for the week.

I'm in a similar boat: about to leave for our annual trip to Maine, where we rotate dinner duty each night.
My plan is to cook the first day that I get there (since I'm LCHF, I'll make a bunch of sides that will last me through the week and that I can use to replace any starchy sides that are offered instead...i.e. chicken curry over white rice? I'll just nuke a little cauliflower "rice" instead for my portion; steaks and baked potatoes? I've got a tasty squash casserole to share, if anyone would like some...).
I'm also cooking pre-departure, so that I'll have tasty treats that still fit into my WOE (I'm bringing cheese crackers, flax bread, PB cookies). This way, I can still eat eggs & bacon every morning (or a smoothie- also bringing my stick-blender, or low-carb pancakes- bringing almond flour, SF syrup & my appetite!), sandwiches and crudité at lunch time, have a cocktail and some crackers pre-dinner, enjoy a meal with my extended family and perhaps even impress some of them with my faux-rice pudding or pumpkin cheesecake desserts.
I understand that one doesn't _have_ to count calories while on vacation. Feel free to live it up, if that's your thing or if you feel you need a break. But I am not going to backslide and gain back the weight that I've worked hard to lose over the last weeks and months.