Clean diet while on vacation

Hey everyone , I leave for Wisconsin Dells on June 20th which is about a month away. Ive lost 37 lbs so far and currently weigh 178 pounds. I would like to be down to 170 by the time i go which may be unrealistic because I am down to my last 20 pounds which some say are the hardest.

Anyways , i REALLY don't want to break the rules while on vacation. The fancy eating and late night desserts and drinks may get to me while being in Wisconsin. We are mainly going for the water parks and rides so i know i will be on my feet most of the day. Any tips for keeping a clean diet while on vacation??

Replies

  • tillerstouch
    tillerstouch Posts: 608 Member
    Break the rules... just do it in moderation I'm from Wisconsin and we love our beer and cheese curds here just enjoy it! What park are you going to?
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    Don't worry about it, it's vacation. Enjoy your vacation and when you get home pick up wherever you left off. I always gain about 8 lbs on vacation and lose it after being home a couple days.

    This^^ Have fun for pete's sake. I return a couple of pounds heavier and lose it within a week or so. You will be fine.
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,186 Member
    If you don't REALLY want to break your rules, then don't do it. It is up to you. You can still enjoy your vacation without stuffing yourself with heavy meals, desert and drinks. Use your will power and common sense and take it from there. You are the only one that can decide what is the best approach for YOU.

    I personally never understood the thinking that enjoying a vacation means to eat and drink everything on site and came back home with 5 or 10lbs extra weight with the hope to lose it later. That is like yo-yo dieting.
  • kissedbythesunshine
    kissedbythesunshine Posts: 416 Member
    I say enjoy your vacation. That doesn't mean you have to eat everything not nailed down but I certainly wouldn't be worried about staying under goal. It's a vacation. Have that cocktail and enjoy.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    You have a month before you go. Really home in on your portion sizes so you can carry those images with you. You won't have to go without a y of the treats, you can just chose a portion size that suits your calorie goal.
    You can also decide which meal on a day is your high cal meal and make the other meals fit around that.
    Big waffle breakfast =salad and grilled protein for lunch, and a light-ish dinner.

    Wonderful fru-fru drinks are calorie laden. Try to limit them to one a day. If it is hot and you are out a very light beer or a gin and 0 tonic can be refreshing.

    It is surprising how many extra calories you can burn just walking around all day when on holiday especially if you have a sedentary job. Take advantage of that and allow a few treats.
    Maybe work out how many cals you burn per hr walking then keep a running tally for a cushion.

    I rarely gain more than 2 lbs on a 14 night cruise because I am active on port days. It goes in days once I am back home in my usual routine.

    Eat and drink within reason and have fun.

    Cheers, h.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    edited May 2016
    What rules are you following that you wish to follow during vacation?
  • DaniCanadian
    DaniCanadian Posts: 261 Member
    I'd say do Jillian Michaels 30 day shred level 1 or 2 (free in YouTube) religiously till you go. You may not lose 8 lbs but you might see a bit of a difference in tone.
    Also, it's a frickin vacation, take a vacation from trying to lose weight too. When you get back to routine, so will you're eating.
  • IceBaroque
    IceBaroque Posts: 10 Member
    I went on vacation last year and are normally (not crazy by any means) but didn't work out the whole week and didn't watch my calories religiously. I came back and my whole routine was lost! I didn't remember to work out and I stopped eating less...
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    Don't worry about it, it's vacation. Enjoy your vacation and when you get home pick up wherever you left off. I always gain about 8 lbs on vacation and lose it after being home a couple days.

    It's a lifestyle...except for vacations, weekends, cheat days...????
  • kylegeldmaker
    kylegeldmaker Posts: 21 Member
    I just got back from vacation (Colorado), I ate what looked tasty, drank tons of water and I actually lost weight. Sometimes the shake up in routines can trigger a positive response. I will say we did lots of walking and climbing, however, for me I'm very active anyway so I don't think that had much to do with loss. I set MFP to maintenance and went and had a great time.
    I suppose the key is be sensible and have fun. I know for me I came back ready to hit the gym and ready to get back to eating my normal diet.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited May 2016
    I don't think I've ever actually gained fat weight on a vacation...mostly just water weight attributable to air travel and maybe a little beer bloat...My last trip I came back 8 Lbs over and I was a little concerned, but it was off within three days...all water.

    I'm way more active when I'm on vacation than I am at home stuck behind a desk most of the day so it's never been an issue. I leave for Colombia tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the beach, good fresh fish and fresh fruit, and beer and rum...and doing a whole lot of site seeing and walking around and frisbee on the beach....and more fish and more fruit.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    What rules are you following that you wish to follow during vacation?

    Yes, @AmandaJuneFit for us to best help you we need to know what a clean diet means to you.
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
    Remember you're on the long-term Journey not a short trip. I went on vacation at the end of March. I ate too much I drank too much but I had a great time. Since then I'm down an additional 15 pounds. When I left for vacation I was 250 now I'm about 235.

    Remember for this to work you have to enjoy it. going on vacation and trying to figure out exact calories and can I have this or is this going to blow my cal limit is going to make you miserable and in the long-term it's going to make it a negative experience. enjoy yourself

  • Rogstar
    Rogstar Posts: 216 Member
    Actually, last time I went to Noah's Ark (3 yrs ago now) I ate a cheesesteak sandwich and got food poisoning. Missed kayaking the next day, and I was not happy. That was one vacation that I did not gain weight though!

    Your experiences may vary.

    Anyway, are you staying in a hotel or in a rental home? Every other year or so we'll rent out a large house up there for the extended family on the lake. We buy up some groceries and cook for ourselves & pack lunches. Oh and plenty of beer. We end up only going out to eat 2-3 times during the week. Even if you're in a hotel/motel, you can probably fix yourself a breakfast/morning meal to help with the calorie counting and your preferred foods.

    Try not to worry too much if it will detract from a relaxing vacation. You can still log, maybe set yourself at maintenance for your stay, and get back to business with a rested body, mind, and soul.

    Oh, and not sure if you've ever been to the Dells, but I don't think I'd term anything I ate there "fancy" as many of the eateries cater to families. Lots of buffets, places with huge portions, and delicious frozen custard. After living here for 10 years (and marrying one; my family is from Maryland), i've found Wisconsinites are rather wonderfully laid back and as unfancy as you can get!

    Ok, the more I think about it, the only reason we ever go to the Dells is to have an excuse to sit out on the lake and drink beer. Why do we go there? There are thousands of lakes in this darn state! I've got one a mile away from me!

  • kirstinethornburg
    kirstinethornburg Posts: 300 Member
    Have fun. you can check online nutrtion information for certaqin foods and restrunts but if you have a few extra caloires in moderation do not worry about it to much just enjoy your vacation
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    Gisel2015 wrote: »
    If you don't REALLY want to break your rules, then don't do it. It is up to you. You can still enjoy your vacation without stuffing yourself with heavy meals, desert and drinks. Use your will power and common sense and take it from there. You are the only one that can decide what is the best approach for YOU.

    I personally never understood the thinking that enjoying a vacation means to eat and drink everything on site and came back home with 5 or 10lbs extra weight with the hope to lose it later. That is like yo-yo dieting.

    Yeah, but vacation is meant to be enjoyed. There's a difference between relaxing a little, and "eating and drinking everything on site." It doesnt have to be that extreme, nor has anyone suggested that.

    OP: Nothing wrong with enjoying yourself in moderation, plus you dont want to be "that person" in the group who constantly says "We can't eat that because I'm on a diet!". Go, have fun! I'm so jealous of everyone going on these wonderful vacations! :p
  • koslowkj
    koslowkj Posts: 188 Member
    As a Wisconsin native, I say eat the cheese curds (making sure the fresh ones squeak), drink the beer, and enjoy (in my totally not biased opinion) the best state in the country.
  • williammuney
    williammuney Posts: 2,895 Member
    What did you weigh in your profile pic? Doesn't look like 178 to me!!
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Hey everyone , I leave for Wisconsin Dells on June 20th which is about a month away. Ive lost 37 lbs so far and currently weigh 178 pounds. I would like to be down to 170 by the time i go which may be unrealistic because I am down to my last 20 pounds which some say are the hardest.

    Anyways , i REALLY don't want to break the rules while on vacation. The fancy eating and late night desserts and drinks may get to me while being in Wisconsin. We are mainly going for the water parks and rides so i know i will be on my feet most of the day. Any tips for keeping a clean diet while on vacation??

    If you know your big eating times will be in the evening, then during the day hold off eating as long as possible.
    If you do eat, just eat fruit to hold you over...
    Drink water during the day (or zero calorie drinks), not juice and other things that have calories
  • mappeal67
    mappeal67 Posts: 28 Member
    I think the earlier suggestion about setting MFP to maintenance is a good one. Don't aim to lose while you're away, but maintaining should enable you to have a good time without feeling like you're missing out.
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    edited May 2016
    Hey everyone , I leave for Wisconsin Dells on June 20th which is about a month away.

    Anyways , i REALLY don't want to break the rules while on vacation.

    Eat at maintenance and have a drink here.

    nigs-bar.jpg

    And eat breakfast here.

    paul-bunyan-cook-shanty-sign.jpg

    That is the only rule.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    Don't worry about it, it's vacation. Enjoy your vacation and when you get home pick up wherever you left off. I always gain about 8 lbs on vacation and lose it after being home a couple days.

    It's a lifestyle...except for vacations, weekends, cheat days...????

    Yep, it's a vacation. I work out and eat well all year round, but when I'm on vacation I don't really worry about it....because it's vacation. I gain 8lbs of water weight and lose it in a matter of days after.

    That's my lifestyle, and doesn't put any dent in my weight and fitness goals.

    I never said anything about weekend and cheat days, those are your words, not mine but can be part of a healthy lifestyle as well.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    Buona Vacanza Amanda :)
  • AmandaJuneFit
    AmandaJuneFit Posts: 134 Member
    WOW you are all awesome !!! Super cool that some of you live near or have been to the dells ! I am for sure going to be spending my days kayaking , horse back riding, go-carting, riding the roller coasters and water slides! I am looking so forward to this vacation. My diet right now is pretty clean. I mean im not all greens and protein but i do my best. I avoid junk food as best as i can and when i do have a treat it is small and i don't over do it. I don't eat the same thing everyday like i know some people do.

    Today i have eaten
    -3 egg whites with mushrooms, onions, and marble cheese
    - .5 of a premier protein yogurt peanut crunch bar
    - 1 cup of shreddies ( as a snack without milk)
    - origional hummus with crackers.


    I am staying in a hotel while on vacation so i will most likely hit a market/ grocer when i get there. The hotel has a fridge and microwave so i can always stock up on fruit and packaged salads ? We will most likely be eating out for dinner 4 or 5 times.