Vacation Panic. NO
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nowine4me
Posts: 3,985 Member
I know when starting out with MFP, I often looked at the Maintenance Board for inspiration and hope, so that's why I'm posting this here......
I see so many threads about people panicking or being nervous about being out of their routines, especially going on vacation. Tis the season, right? This was me in the past. Even a long weekend would be enough to throw me into panic mode... where will I eat? How will I exercise? What if there's drinking involved? What if I gain a pound or two? Will I starve to death on a plane for 4 hours?
People on MFP would say "it's just a week, enjoy it an get back on track" or "it's a vacation, relax and have fun." I'd think, ......"you have no idea what I'm, going through".
Now, with three years in the rearview, I must say, they're RIGHT. Raise your hand if you remember the lady that was spending two weeks on a private yacht in the Mediterranean and all she could focus on was not being able to lift weights. She used the word "terrified" about gaining weight.
So here you go.......it's a vacation, have fun. Treasure time your friends and family. Walk a bit more. Don't drink TOO much. Make sensible choices. And if it goes a little sideways, get back on track. There is no train, or bus, or wagon, its just life. Enjoy it.
There you have it. Vacation thread 2019. Done.
I see so many threads about people panicking or being nervous about being out of their routines, especially going on vacation. Tis the season, right? This was me in the past. Even a long weekend would be enough to throw me into panic mode... where will I eat? How will I exercise? What if there's drinking involved? What if I gain a pound or two? Will I starve to death on a plane for 4 hours?
People on MFP would say "it's just a week, enjoy it an get back on track" or "it's a vacation, relax and have fun." I'd think, ......"you have no idea what I'm, going through".
Now, with three years in the rearview, I must say, they're RIGHT. Raise your hand if you remember the lady that was spending two weeks on a private yacht in the Mediterranean and all she could focus on was not being able to lift weights. She used the word "terrified" about gaining weight.
So here you go.......it's a vacation, have fun. Treasure time your friends and family. Walk a bit more. Don't drink TOO much. Make sensible choices. And if it goes a little sideways, get back on track. There is no train, or bus, or wagon, its just life. Enjoy it.
There you have it. Vacation thread 2019. Done.
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Replies
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Completely agree. Going on vacation next week and am super looking forward to a day or two of stuffing myself like a little pig, but also - bringing some TSA-friendly supplements and gonna work out a few days while I'm there too just because fitness makes me happy and a great way to take in a new place is going for a jog for a few miles.6
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That’s the spirit!!2
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I just came back from a week at a gourmet beach all-inclusive. Experienced friends on here really helped my perspective. I went with a loose plan and relaxed. I am so glad for the 'veterans' on MFP
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Love this post and completely agree
I am blessed to enjoy several great holidays/vacations each year where I eat all the foods and stay active - once I'm back home again and in my usual routine any small weight gain is gone in no time. Vacations rock! 7 -
Going to an all-inclusive in Mexico in about 12 weeks and plan to have the time of my life (drinks and food included)!
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Oh yep in the beginning of my counting I've freaked out crying because some friends last minute wanted to go out to have dinner with us and I didn't really have the calories and the menu wasn't posted online so I ended up not going! I really regret that and it's no way to live.
I'm much better/more relaxed now, for example last summer I went to a metal music festival for a weekend, drank, had too much beer, enjoyed myself and ended up not gaining any weight, just water weight which I lost in less than a week so I just stayed at maintenance for the weekend and was right back on track with my deficit the week after.9 -
Honesty, I am not much of an all inclusive kind of guy. I dont like the idea of being locked in to a place. So, cruises are out. I prefer backpacking. I go to a city and explore it for a week or so. I am cheap and low maintenance. Hostels usually have kitchens so prep is just easy. I walk and use public transport quite a bit, so my steps stay up. I still lift usually, but if I dont get it in that day, oh well. I am farr more relaxed with tracking and will go out for a meal and a drink at the end of the day. Lol I guess I am a little rough! Lol11
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I just went on a cruise! I indulged for five days. My re-entry plan is not to weigh myself, spend the next two weeks on a small deficit, then check in. Cheers!9
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Great post OP.
Above graph is from my last vacation, even more extreme than normal for me as I squeezed in one of the best (but hardest) cycle rides of my life.
I have a real chuckle the first morning back home when I see I've gained a pound a day while I was away.
My rule of thumb is that the water weight whooshes away quickly when I settle back into my routine but a small deficit for a couple of weeks takes care of the "real" weight gained.
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my son had to have surgery earlier this month so we were homebound for 5 days straight. I wasn't able to exercise and i really didn't feel like tracking either. It didn't harm my progress at all lol4
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I think the more secure we become in our progress, the easier this becomes. I know when I first started losing weight, the thought of vacation would have scared me more. Even when I had made some progress, I still took a lot of precautions on my vacation. I'm travelling again in May, and I think I'll be more confident to let go and live a little. That doesn't mean I still won't try to make smart choices where the opportunity arises, and working out makes me happy and feel good so I'm going to try to incorporate that. But I will definitely indulge more than I would have felt comfortable with when I was at a higher weight.
I would love to go on a cruise again. I haven't since my honeymoon, but it was so much fun. We have all of one cruise that ports out of my country, so my options are somewhat limited. But if I was to go again, I would absolutely enjoy the indulging and just try to stay active.2 -
I think the more secure we become in our progress, the easier this becomes. I know when I first started losing weight, the thought of vacation would have scared me more. Even when I had made some progress, I still took a lot of precautions on my vacation. I'm travelling again in May, and I think I'll be more confident to let go and live a little. That doesn't mean I still won't try to make smart choices where the opportunity arises, and working out makes me happy and feel good so I'm going to try to incorporate that. But I will definitely indulge more than I would have felt comfortable with when I was at a higher weight.
I would love to go on a cruise again. I haven't since my honeymoon, but it was so much fun. We have all of one cruise that ports out of my country, so my options are somewhat limited. But if I was to go again, I would absolutely enjoy the indulging and just try to stay active.
Thank you OP!
Thank you @MikePTY
I had a steady decrease in weight for over 2 years, but as I’ve neared GW, my weight has gone up & down, especially around social eating and weekend trips.
Mike, I know you are right. Each time I reset & successfully reverse a gaining trend, I feel more confident about maintaining long term.
I’m not planning to go overboard, in a free for all, as I haven’t the past few years, since I don’t want to reactivate that beast & I HATE dieting!
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Part of the reason people “panic” is that it can be hard to get your head back in the game after a disruption in routine. This is definitely the case for me. After a week or even a weekend of vacation and eating what I want , it is VERY hard for me to get back into the discipline of weighing, logging and being strict about my nutrition. More often than not I fall off the wagon completely and all my hard work was for nothing. It’s not always as easy to get right back to it as some of you make it sound. On the other hand, I am looking forward to my vacation in France later this year and eating all the cheese and pastries.5
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I'm currently in the middle of a short break away, and experiencing anxiety about not having any scales with me!
I officially went into maintenance the day before we came away so i have nearly 300 extra calories to play with but its still tough, adding a couple of drinks uses that up straight away, and my fella will only moan about drinking on his own on holiday!
Thank you for this thread and reminding me that its impossible to put on more than a few pounds in 4 days, mostly which will be water retention anyway! I'll try to relax and worry about it when we get back 6 -
I COMPLETELY agree OP! I am now beginning my 5th summer of maintenance. I'm up a few lbs. right now but we schedule all-inclusive vacays 3 times a year, next one is in 6 weeks and I get back to fighting weight every time, before we go. So I can wear my cute bikinis and dresses. haha
And while we're there? (Mexico) the dark-side of too many calories everyday is noted in my mind, but not freaked-out over! If I start to freak, I get another Gin & tonic to wash those freaks away. Party on.
But when I come back - so far - I immediately go back to my deficit eating plan (and it's REALLY HARD!!!!) but I do it anyway. I sure have enjoyed maintaining a normal weight and that fuels me. And my mantra -- "Never Give Up" is meaningful every day!7 -
I am jealous of this on so many levels (see bolded content)! Congrats on your ongoing success. Hoping to be there someday too.Kelleygirl79 wrote: »I COMPLETELY agree OP! I am now beginning my 5th summer of maintenance. I'm up a few lbs. right now but we schedule all-inclusive vacays 3 times a year, next one is in 6 weeks and I get back to fighting weight every time, before we go. So I can wear my cute bikinis and dresses. haha
And while we're there? (Mexico) the dark-side of too many calories everyday is noted in my mind, but not freaked-out over! If I start to freak, I get another Gin & tonic to wash those freaks away. Party on.
But when I come back - so far - I immediately go back to my deficit eating plan (and it's REALLY HARD!!!!) but I do it anyway. I sure have enjoyed maintaining a normal weight and that fuels me. And my mantra -- "Never Give Up" is meaningful every day!
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I don't do all inclusive vacations just like I don't do buffets, and I don't cruise either. On the other hand, I don't agree that going on vacation is an excuse to pig out, and that is the only way to enjoy them.
In my book it is OK to try new foods and have occasional treats, without going overboard. I don't weigh or count my food when on vacation, but after being in maintenance for nine years, I have a pretty good idea of how to "regulate" my calories. No drinking alcohol helps a lot.
An approach that has worked for me in the last few years is to decrease my CI and/or increase my CO for a month before going on vacation (especially if I am gone for several weeks), and I try to keep my weight at the lower maintenance level or even try to lose a pound or two. So any weigh that I gain on vacation would mostly be water weight and shred it in a couple of days. I noticed that this approach has reduced any weight gain anxiety, and when vacation is over is very easy to get back into my normal routine. I also do as much walking as the places that I visit allow it, and some light calisthenics and light yoga to keep my body happy.
I understand that not everybody will like or follow this approach but is something that has worked very well for me and it has reduced those awful up and own vacation's fluctuations and worries. And by the way, I enjoyed the places that I visited too
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I’m in maintenance and when I have a vacation planned, I usually eat a a deficit for a few weeks before the trip and try to lose 1-2 pounds. It’s totally unnecessary, but it makes me feel better about eating what I want on the trip.6
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I don't do all inclusive vacations just like I don't do buffets, and I don't cruise either. On the other hand, I don't agree that going on vacation is an excuse to pig out, and that is the only way to enjoy them.
In my book it is OK to try new foods and have occasional treats, without going overboard. I don't weigh or count my food when on vacation, but after being in maintenance for nine years, I have a pretty good idea of how to "regulate" my calories. No drinking alcohol helps a lot.
An approach that has worked for me in the last few years is to decrease my CI and/or increase my CO for a month before going on vacation (especially if I am gone for several weeks), and I try to keep my weight at the lower maintenance level or even try to lose a pound or two. So any weigh that I gain on vacation would mostly be water weight and shred it in a couple of days. I noticed that this approach has reduced any weight gain anxiety, and when vacation is over is very easy to get back into my normal routine. I also do as much walking as the places that I visit allow it, and some light calisthenics and light yoga to keep my body happy.
I understand that not everybody will like or follow this approach but is something that has worked very well for me and it has reduced those awful up and own vacation's fluctuations and worries. And by the way, I enjoyed the places that I visited tooSuzySunshine99 wrote: »I’m in maintenance and when I have a vacation planned, I usually eat a a deficit for a few weeks before the trip and try to lose 1-2 pounds. It’s totally unnecessary, but it makes me feel better about eating what I want on the trip.
@Gisel2015 & @SuzySunshine99
Thank you! I hadn’t thought of that, but what a perfect solution! Hard enough to leave a beautiful & energizing vacation, let alone have to lose wt too!
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Love this post!! I just got back from Vegas and I’m up a few pounds (a few above maintenance range actually) but it’s no big deal. I know most, possibly all, is water weight. My plan is to re-*kitten* after a week and if I’m not back in my range I’ll return to a small deficit until I am. It was a great trip and worth every calorie consumed 😃4
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