Travelling for work.

I have to travel often. For ME (ymmv) having a plan, a fairly strict plan, helps. I've been maintaining for 14 years. When I travel, I aim for lower carb, and higher fiber. And the rest takes care of itself.

If you can go to the grocery store, and you have use of a microwave and refrigerator, not to mention food available at the hotel, you should be able to do this with a little creative thinking!

I hope we can keep this thread going with great ideas. I travel for work freqently, but most of my trips are 3-5 days in duration. Some of what I do include taking ziplock bags with 1/2 cup of oatmeal that I can microwave in my hotel rooms. I also try to pack two sandwiches which get me through the time on the plane, plus lunch the next day.

A big struggle I have is that the industry I'm in is based a lot on relationships, many of which are fostered in the happy hour time period. This for me is a large part of my current weight gain, too many beer and chicken wings while on the road consistently. It may sound silly, but when traveling and trying to eat better, the thing I do try to do is stick to scotch since I tend not to down it like beer and to make sure I make a point of getting in a good work out each day at the hotel gym so I'm at least partially offsetting the more limited meal options.

I'd love to hear more ideas that I can hopefully borrow/steal.

You might also want to travel with a sandwich press/jaffle maker and make pizza pockets, grilled cheese/tuna/tomato, baked beans and have those with soup.

I am in a similar boat as well. What I do after I check into my hotel and get a 'lay of the land' so to speak is then hit the grocery store. I have found these Sandwich Thins that have been perfect to put a little deli meat in, whatever I am feeling and then if I want it warmed nuke it in the microwave. I also get granola bars and a couple of bananas for snacks. I buy bottles of water/flavored water so I am not tempted to get a large soda.

I am relationship based when I travel so I do have partners that want to take me out to dinner/happy hours. I try and pre-log as much as I can. I go to my markets frequently so I know almost all of the restaurants and their menus and can pre-log from there. When it comes to happy hours sometimes I just do a mocktail (diet soda with a lime, club soda with a lime) so I'm not drinking calories. However if I do have a beverage, I make up my mind before I order on a whim, and I pre log that.

There will be times where it is fast food or pizza--it happens with road warriors! There is a lot of information out there on how to eat this without derailing everything. I have actually learned that if I must go to a fast food place or quick service place that kids meals are satisfying without the calorie overload and subsequent guilt.

Also--make time to exercise. Every hotel has a fitness center that you can utilize. I also do things in my room and outside if weather permits. Sometimes I find myself in the fitness center at 9:30 at night because that is the first time I'm in my hotel all day, or I have to wake up an hour or two earlier to get my workout in before it is time to work.

Travelling for work is hard, but with some creativity you can still lose weight while travelling.

I bring the tuna and crackers combo, protein powder, quick oats, Luna and Larabars, nuts, and when I eat out, I always chose soups, chilli, or salads. I even bring cucumbers and peppers since they don't need to be refrigerated and you can cut them with a plastic knife. Loading up on frozen burritos, kale, cauliflower, broccoli and sweet potatoes to be warmed up in the microwave might be good too!

I travel for work, typically by car leaving Sunday and returning Friday afternoon. I stay in extended stay hotels in my regular travel locations like Homewood Suites which have a kitchenette. My sister has a trick in other hotels that typically don't offer all rooms a fridge or charge for it. She tells them she needs a fridge for medication when making reservations or by calling concierge before arriving. They will provide a fridge for free and not question her.

Homewood Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott both provide grocery shopping service for no charge above the cost of your purchase. You drop the list by a certain time and they get your stuff and leave it in your room or fridge. Being as specific as possible for brand/size of items helps, but to get fresh fruit/veg or things like those shelf stable Indian lentil or curry meals, it is pretty convenient when you don't have a car or much free time.

I can pack at least 4 Atkins shakes in my large suitcase even when flying. However, when driving I can take a whole case from Sam's Club if need be to cover me when I have no free time. Hotels have ice machines, so taking my own Ziploc bags allows me to fill the sink or a gallon bag with ice and chill shakes when nothing else is going right for food choices.

Lots of hotels have breakfast items which include yoghurt, boiled eggs, oatmeal packets or meal bars. I have a coworker who brags that he has never paid for a meal out while traveling for more than 30 years. He gets extra eggs or other items at breakfast then takes those to the office and to his hotel room. He gets a free lunch packed by the hotel at Homewood Suites in one location because he is a regular customer staying one or two weeks per month, and he was bold enough to ask. They serve hot dinner Monday-Thursday from a great grocery that has things like roasted chicken, salads, vegetables and more on addition to a full breakfast daily. As he is willing to eat the leftovers from the previous dinners, the hotel is fine with keeping a happy guest fed from what might otherwise be wasted or eaten by staff.

The provided hotel oatmeal, breakfast bars, fresh fruit and things can be easily packed for later if you travel with meal prep containers and Ziploc bags. A pack of oatmeal made with hot water from the office/hotel room microwave or coffee maker with nuts and dried fruit you brought from home is healthier than many fast food or vending machine snacks. Taking a good brand of low sugar/fat replacement bars in your suitcase or having them purchased by a hotel service along with your fresh fruit and vegetables and more if you can cook just requires doing a little research and planning. My brother in law is a mulitary officer who is gone for weeks or months in hotels, so he cooks full healthy meals in kitchenettes.

I keep a large canvas bag for car travel stocked with an heat-resistant glove, plastic wrap, can opener, cooking spray, multiple sizes of Ziploc bags, Gladware microwave storage containers, paper plates/bowls, plastic utensils, tiny condiments/seasonings, small dishwashing liquid, dish sponge, dish towel and oatmeal. The hotel has cookware, dishes and utensils but nothing portable for packing lunches for work days. When I pack my suitcase, I pack the food items for the week that don't need a fridge in my kitchen bag. Once at my destination, typically I hit the grocery Sunday night or after work on Monday.

In addition to taking workout clothing and swimsuit, I take a small portable speaker to use with the music on my phone for exercising in my room or in the pool. The gallon Ziploc protects my phonecand speaker poolside while I do water aerobics. I take a flashlight for walking and emergencies. If I take a laptop, I take a couple of exercise DVDs. However, using hotel wifi in recent years there are plenty of things on YouTube for exercise.