Dreading my vacation

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ZhivagosGirl
ZhivagosGirl Posts: 161 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Next week I'll be going out of town with my family for a 4 day get-away. If all goes well I should have just cleared the 60 lb loss mark. We'll be eating out essentially every meal and the thought of all those calories is making my head spin and my stomach ache. I've worked so hard since January and I don't want to blow things on this trip. I in no way am giving myself carte blanche to go crazy, I plan to make the best choices I can but as someone who has managed to gain 5 lbs from one meal in the past, it's hard to remain optimistic.
So - what's my best game plan or strategy heading into this? Feedback appreciated.
Lara
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Replies

  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,182 Member
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    What activities are planned? What food is planned?
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
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    Your best game plan depends on what kind of activities you will be doing and whether you'll be able to prepare some or all of your food (or if you'll be eating restaurant food 100% of the time).

    You have to keep in mind that when you increase activity and/or sodium, you retain water, so IF you see a bump on the scale immediately afterward, it's going to be mostly water weight which will resolve itself once you get back to your regular routine. Four days isn't long enough to really cause any significant fat gain. Just as an example, I was 2 pounds up after 1 full day at Disneyland last month, because I was eating higher sodium than I normally do and because I drastically increased my activity level for that one day. It was all water weight, as I expected, and it went away within about a week.
  • ZhivagosGirl
    ZhivagosGirl Posts: 161 Member
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    @JeromeBarry1 we're going to St. Louis and have so far planned for Grants Farm, Purina Farm, the Endangered Wolf Center, the American Kennel Club Dog Museum (our kids love animals), the Science Museum/Planetarium. No meals are planned, we are staying at a hotel, eating out at restaurants.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
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    So, lots of walking (not either sitting by the pool doing nothing or extreme trail hiking or things like that). If it were me, I would plan on packing some high-protein snacks with reasonable calorie counts (so I wouldn't be tempted by super high-calorie snacks), but I would enjoy my restaurant meals. I'd try to limit calories where I can (for example, eliminating any liquid calories or trying to choose lower-calorie restaurant meals), but I wouldn't go crazy. Four days really isn't enough time to do any significant damage if you just keep an eye on things.

    I also might wait to weigh in after I got back if I thought that seeing a high number on the scale would freak me out. Maybe give it a week while you're back at your normal routine before weighing in.
  • hello8642
    hello8642 Posts: 19 Member
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    Well, if we're eating out a lot, I tend to choose fish or chicken, with the sauce on the side. Just maybe try to avoid things that are 'buttered' or 'smothered in' or 'triple fried' - go for grilled instead. You know what your weaknesses are, you can still eat out and not feel like you've let yourself down. Enjoy your holiday!
  • melissajkxoxo
    melissajkxoxo Posts: 35 Member
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    I'm going to have this problem when I go to NYC in October for 6 days. So far my plan is to do my best at not going overboard, enjoy myself and I know I will be walking A LOT (can't wait to see what my Fitbit says haha).
    I think the most important thing will be to get right back to it when you return home.
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,449 Member
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    Have fun
    Walk a ton with the farms and museums
    Drink some extra water
    Enjoy your meals out
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
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    I felt and posted about that same dread last summer in the peak of losing my (60# at that point, 75# now). People said "relax. its a vacation. have fun".........and you know what? They're right.

    This is a life-long journey, you can reverse whatever happens in 4 days. Study the menus, make good choices and have a few things you enjoy. Walk a bunch and enjoy the time with your family. Please, please, please don't fret. And if you are flying, wait a few days to get back on the scale. And drink lots of water. You've lost 60#, so clearly you know what you're doing.
  • ZhivagosGirl
    ZhivagosGirl Posts: 161 Member
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    Thanks everyone for the tips and encouragement.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,982 Member
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    Noel_57 wrote: »
    Order from the kids menu or ask for child portions.

    Ya, an adult sized entree has at least double and often triple the amount of calories I want for a single meal.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,478 Member
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    It's just 4 days. How much can you overeat on 4 days? 1000 kcal per day extra? That's just over a pound gain. I don't know what kids portions look like in the US, but in the UK they often seem to be fried things, like fish sticks, fries, chicken nuggets and the likes. Doesn't sound interesting enough to enjoy with the family, nor particularly low cal. Just make somewhat sensible choices when you chose your meals, really. Anything with cheese? Request less, etc.

    And don't panic when you come back. Traveling, especially air travel, but also sitting in a car all day causes water retention.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
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    ZhivagosGirl wrote: »
    @JeromeBarry1 we're going to St. Louis and have so far planned for Grants Farm, Purina Farm, the Endangered Wolf Center, the American Kennel Club Dog Museum (our kids love animals), the Science Museum/Planetarium. No meals are planned, we are staying at a hotel, eating out at restaurants.

    Hey guess what - I am a bit of an expert here. Not only am I from St. Louis, and managed to lose 35 lbs in about a year while living in this city, I am maintaining that loss while still living here AND I recently got back from a 7 day vacation in Florida in which I gained exactly 1 lb of water weight which is already gone 2 days after getting back.

    So trust me - the others are right. You actually can't do permanent damage to your weight loss results in only 4 days. You may have a temporary increase from water weight and may in fact gain 1lb of fat (any more would require you eating >1000 cals OVER MAINTENANCE for each of the four days) but really, that's it. And 1 lb? 2 lbs? So what, you obviously know how to lose the weight successfully, so you'll knock that out in no time, if it even happens. Perspective...

    Now - on to the fun stuff. You've got some good things planned but I don't see the zoo or botanical gardens on your list - two of my top recommendations for people visiting (and living in) STL. Both are amazing destinations and provide lots of opportunity for walking. I also don't see the City Museum on your list, depending on how old your kids are, this is another one of the things that is considered a must see when visiting. It's a truly unique destination.

    Lots of good food options as well, depending on where you are staying there will be local neighborhood choices. If your hotel has a continental breakfast you may want to take advantage of something calorie friendly there, saving room in your financial and calorie budget for other options later in the day.

    Enjoy - hopefully the humidity won't be too unbearable!

  • CMNVA
    CMNVA Posts: 733 Member
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    The meals that you can do well on are breakfast and lunch. Breakfast especially. You do not need pancakes/waffles and bacon (unless you want it). When I go to Disney (and we eat out a LOT), I generally try to stick to a high fiber cereal in the morning. But you could do oatmeal, or eggs, or yogurt. Whatever floats your boat that keeps you on track.

    Lunch is a great place to adhere also. Just about every fast food place has a moderate-calorie option. Always get something in that category.

    For dinner, let yourself go and enjoy. Eat something good but just don't be a glutton. Have one dessert. I did all this on my last Disney trip and, combined with the walking (and sweating), I lost almost 5 lbs. I normally gain on those trips.

    The other option is to just let it go for 4 days and get right back on track when you get home.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,985 Member
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    Noel_57 wrote: »
    Order from the kids menu or ask for child portions.

    Except the kids menus at most restaurants are generally: Hamburger, hot dog, chicken fingers, mac & cheese, or spaghetti. Not very interesting/very bland choices. That would be a sad vacation indeed.

    Just make sensible choices, enjoy your vacation and don't overdo it. You're unlikely to gain much, if any, actual fat. When you get back, return to your routine, drink lots of water, and wait a week before weighing yourself. You'll be fine.

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