vacation tips

I'm overweight, so I guess take this with a grain of salt .. but I say indulge a little. It's a vacation! Try not to lounge around the whole time though .. Go swimming, hiking, bike riding, etc if you're into it.

A few days does not have to be a big deal. You could choose to just have anything you want, and do anything you want, and get back to "on plan" when you return.

If you choose to stay on plan, or to be mindful about your trip, I would say, plan ahead.

Mindful that this is in complete absence of knowledge of your usual eating habits, here are my suggestions:

Arm yourself with knowledge of just how many calories and how much fat is in anything available at a drive thru.

If you can, pack a picnic cooler to take with you that has your usual foods.

If you go to restaurants, research what they have or plan what you will order, and be mindful of the portions and preparation method.

What works for me:

I keep a small cutting board (actually, a bar board) and a sharp knife with me so I can cut vegetables, etc.

I have spoons with me so I can get/bring yogurt for breakfast while traveling.

Mostly, I plan ahead. I know what's available where I will be, and have a plan in mind for what I am going to eat, and whether I will choose to stay within my calorie guideline (and whether that guideline will be modified by activity). I actually stayed under my limit for the day the day I went to Ruth's Chris for dinner, despite choosing to have a cocktail and having dessert.

On the other hand, over a couple of weekends, the choices available have been erratic and unpredictable, so I made the healthiest choices I could with what was there. And if I didn't, I didn't beat myself up about it. I stayed at a hotel with a hospitality room, and enjoyed a (very small) slice of the cake each night.

You can have it all, just not all at once, and not every day.

Can you go back to tracking what you eat when you get back?

If so, make mindfully aware choices - including mindful indulgence, if you choose - while you are on vacation, and don't worry about it, then get back on track when you get home. I've done that for three or four days several times since I started.

If you think you will feel like "I blew it, so I might as well give up" then you probably need to be a little more careful.

just try not to go over on a daily basis...vacation is a vacation...

Go, eat, play, have fun.

I went to Disney last month, had their full dining plan and ate more food that week than I ever would have thought. I gained 1 pound.

Yes, we walked..A LOT...but still, I have memories of the trip, not of me spending all my time worrying about what to eat or not eat.

Go and enjoy yourself.

I have to eat gluten free so I have to plan things for vacations as well. Here are some things I do:
- pack some food that can be made w/ hot water from the coffee pot in the hotel room or eaten in the car ex. individual packets of plain oatmeal, granola bars, almonds, beef jerky (for protein)
- stop by a grocery store when you get there and pick up some apples, baby carrots and maybe yogurt if you have a mini-fridge in the room. I also get a few cans of soup if the hotel has a microwave I can use. I use the mugs or cups in the room to heat it up.
- For restaurants, pick the healthiest option, I get plain protein & steamed veggies about anywhere. Grilled fish and steamed veggies or grilled chicken. You have to be sure and say NO BUTTER though because even grilled fish several times has come drowning in butter. But we went all around Europe & never had a problem. Grocery stores are your friend.
- Have a great trip! : )
- And also, none of that diminished my enjoyment of my travels. I almost feel better sticking to my plan, allowing indulgences when I want or feel like it. But you can control 80% of your food and make it healthy, then splurge when you want and I think the whole trip is more enjoyable with no guilt.

Just be conscientious and use moderation. You're on vacation, enjoy it!