Vacation Week!!
tec9goo
Posts: 119 Member
Things to know before you read the post
My family and I are big *kitten* eaters and have huge appetites.
Therefore, when we are on vacation for 8 days, every dinner is an all you can eat and lunch and breakfast are pretty big as well. There is no gym and I wont be able to get my steps or morning walks in either so even less calories expended.
What so I do?
It's sort of hard to not only moderate myself but also tracking calories at buffets and AYCE
I'm currently trying to LEAN bulk but I'm afraid that I'd gain A lot of fat since I'm not working out but eating more than when I DO workout.
Should this be considered a deload week?
From previous experience a deload seemed to have made me weaker.
It would also be a waste of all those excess calories because if I dont workout, those extra cals wouldnt go to the muscles (muscle building) since I wouldnt be tearing the muscle fibers to allow that MPS thing or whatever.
I know I'm nerdy
My family and I are big *kitten* eaters and have huge appetites.
Therefore, when we are on vacation for 8 days, every dinner is an all you can eat and lunch and breakfast are pretty big as well. There is no gym and I wont be able to get my steps or morning walks in either so even less calories expended.
What so I do?
It's sort of hard to not only moderate myself but also tracking calories at buffets and AYCE
I'm currently trying to LEAN bulk but I'm afraid that I'd gain A lot of fat since I'm not working out but eating more than when I DO workout.
Should this be considered a deload week?
From previous experience a deload seemed to have made me weaker.
It would also be a waste of all those excess calories because if I dont workout, those extra cals wouldnt go to the muscles (muscle building) since I wouldnt be tearing the muscle fibers to allow that MPS thing or whatever.
I know I'm nerdy
2
Replies
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If working out weren't a possibility then I would simply switch to maintenance calories and log as accurately as possible. Even if you're not exact in your counting you won't gain a significant amount of fat in one week. Just find entries as close as you can to what you're eating and if you're eating at buffets then try to find the high volume, low calorie foods.1
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Teabythesea_ wrote: »If working out weren't a possibility then I would simply switch to maintenance calories and log as accurately as possible. Even if you're not exact in your counting you won't gain a significant amount of fat in one week. Just find entries as close as you can to what you're eating and if you're eating at buffets then try to find the high volume, low calorie foods.Teabythesea_ wrote: »If working out weren't a possibility then I would simply switch to maintenance calories and log as accurately as possible. Even if you're not exact in your counting you won't gain a significant amount of fat in one week. Just find entries as close as you can to what you're eating and if you're eating at buffets then try to find the high volume, low calorie foods.
I wish but they have none. Like kbbq and carnival foods1 -
Either find a way to moderate your intake (ex. small or no breakfast, save up for one meal, eat only foods you love, don't go crazy every single day, ease up on the alcohol etc) or enjoy whatever you please and when you get back once the water weight wears off if you feel like you have gained too much do a small mini cut and then get back to your bulk. However most likely you will be ok.4
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Either find a way to moderate your intake (ex. small or no breakfast, save up for one meal, eat only foods you love, don't go crazy every single day, ease up on the alcohol etc) or enjoy whatever you please and when you get back once the water weight wears off if you feel like you have gained too much do a small mini cut and then get back to your bulk. However most likely you will be ok.
The thing is it's already scheduled to like either buffet,bbq,kbbq,festival ayce and all that EVERY NIGHT. Also considering that I wont be able to workout...1 -
This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.10 -
Nobody will be pointing a gun to your head telling you to eat or they’ll pull the trigger. You’ll be making a decision each meal about how much you’ll eat and will have to own your results.
Reading between your lines, there’s an above average chance you’ll eat an amount that doesn’t align with your goals.
If you ate an amount aligning with your goals and did some simple walking, you’d probably lose weight while on vacation.
Looking forward to you giving us a post-vacation “executive briefing” of how it turned out.6 -
This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.
There are no veggies,fruits, or lean choices in sight ...3 -
This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.
There are no veggies,fruits, or lean choices in sight ...
And you’re eating at festivals for all three meals?
Why not just do OMAD, or skip whatever meals in the day that aren’t gorgefests?3 -
This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.
There are no veggies,fruits, or lean choices in sight ...
It sounds like you already know exactly what food is available at all the places where you'll be eating, so why not pre-log what you're going to eat? That way you'll know in advance how you want to manage your calories.7 -
You can do this! I went on a food-intensive vacation for a week and I'll share the strategies that ultimately proved successful:
1. *Prior* to my vacation, I banked calories so I had more to spare
2. I didn't eat until noon (typical for me; I do IF every day), which minimizes the daily calorie intake
3. I ate at maintenance during vacation
4. I tried to prioritize my splurges- decided I didn't need to use the trip as a license to eat everything, but still made a point to enjoy favorite foods
5. Logged every single day, even though it was mostly guesswork
6. Didn't freak out when I got home and weighed! And got right back to my normal plan
Good luck!6 -
Hilogirl2018 wrote: »You can do this! I went on a food-intensive vacation for a week and I'll share the strategies that ultimately proved successful:
1. *Prior* to my vacation, I banked calories so I had more to spare
2. I didn't eat until noon (typical for me; I do IF every day), which minimizes the daily calorie intake
3. I ate at maintenance during vacation
4. I tried to prioritize my splurges- decided I didn't need to use the trip as a license to eat everything, but still made a point to enjoy favorite foods
5. Logged every single day, even though it was mostly guesswork
6. Didn't freak out when I got home and weighed! And got right back to my normal plan
Good luck!
I know theres a thing called weekly calories but fif that's a thing, could monthly calories be a thing? Yearly? Sounds a bit insane4 -
This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.
There are no veggies,fruits, or lean choices in sight ...
Really? There are no fruits or vegetables at all, ever? I find that very hard to believe.
Also, why can't you get your steps in? You can walk anywhere...6 -
Eat it. Enjoy it. Log it.
Ultimately it comes down to your choices. You make the choice, you accept the consequences.0 -
Is there a grocery store? Apples, baby carrots, bananas, pre cut celery literally requires no utensils to prepare/eat. Then opt for the leanest options you can when out.
Why is there no way to take walks or put in some body weight exercises?
It seems like you want to hear "well if there's no way, then just enjoy!" Which is fine. If you want to take a vacation from your diet and deal with the setbacks, do it. But IMHO there is always a way. We always have our feet and the ability to make our own decisions.11 -
Either find a way to moderate your intake (ex. small or no breakfast, save up for one meal, eat only foods you love, don't go crazy every single day, ease up on the alcohol etc) or enjoy whatever you please and when you get back once the water weight wears off if you feel like you have gained too much do a small mini cut and then get back to your bulk. However most likely you will be ok.
The thing is it's already scheduled to like either buffet,bbq,kbbq,festival ayce and all that EVERY NIGHT. Also considering that I wont be able to workout...
Then either moderate your intake or deal with it when you get back. It's only 8 days. Whatever you do enjoy your vacation. You are very lucky to be able to have this special time with your family, many people don't have that privilege.5 -
This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.
There are no veggies,fruits, or lean choices in sight ...
When is this vacation 40 years ago? Are you absolutely sure there are no "lighter" choices or is it possible that in the past you never looked for any? I find it very difficult to believe there will be zero poultry anywhere. Even if it is fried you can remove the skin and breading to make it more like roasted calories.
If there really are no fruits or vegetables buy some apples and eat a couple before you go to wherever you will eat.
If you want this situation to be "impossible" because you want to eat all the foods just embrace it and drop the pretense of wanting to moderate and enjoy yourself. If you really want to moderate/mitigate you will find a way.
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This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.
There are no veggies,fruits, or lean choices in sight ...
-No fruits and veggies
-Cant work out
-Cant get your steps in
-Cant buy food outside of the restaurants
-Cant limit your intake...
Sounds to me like you really want to be told that it's okay to take advantage of the buffets offerings and not worry about physical activity. So, I guess I'll be one to say eat whatever you want, dont work out, assess the damage when you get home and go from there. Problem solved.11 -
I just gotta know: where IS this place? How can anyone eat like that for 8 days. Is it just like ribs and potato salad every night?4
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I'm sorry but I have to ask. Are children involved in this food fest?0
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I just gotta know: where IS this place? How can anyone eat like that for 8 days. Is it just like ribs and potato salad every night?
Curious as well... I've done quite a bit of travelling and never encountered a buffet that didnt have fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish and/or a salad bar.2 -
Is there a grocery store? Apples, baby carrots, bananas, pre cut celery literally requires no utensils to prepare/eat. Then opt for the leanest options you can when out.
Why is there no way to take walks or put in some body weight exercises?
It seems like you want to hear "well if there's no way, then just enjoy!" Which is fine. If you want to take a vacation from your diet and deal with the setbacks, do it. But IMHO there is always a way. We always have our feet and the ability to make our own decisions.
We used to eat one big meal a day on vacations. The rest of the time, grocery stores. Dry cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch. Apples, oranges, bananas, etc for snacks.
Many motels have coffeemaker in the room. Heat water in coffee pot for instant oatmeal. When you get to the buffet, make sure to get some good protein and some really good tasting stuff to go with it!
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Redordeadhead wrote: »This is not that hard. It is and always will be food choices. If you can eat 4 plates of food make the first 2 fruits and vegetables only, the third one leaner proteins, and the fourth can be anything you want.
Or eat like crazy and just deal with any minor setbacks when you return.
There are no veggies,fruits, or lean choices in sight ...
Really? There are no fruits or vegetables at all, ever? I find that very hard to believe.
Also, why can't you get your steps in? You can walk anywhere...
Driving a lot. For some reason there are friends, relatives but they live like 7-8 hours away and we drive so basically sitting 8+ hours a day. Not used to it ughh3 -
Teabythesea_ wrote: »I just gotta know: where IS this place? How can anyone eat like that for 8 days. Is it just like ribs and potato salad every night?
Curious as well... I've done quite a bit of travelling and never encountered a buffet that didnt have fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish and/or a salad bar.
Bbq places
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Teabythesea_ wrote: »I just gotta know: where IS this place? How can anyone eat like that for 8 days. Is it just like ribs and potato salad every night?
Curious as well... I've done quite a bit of travelling and never encountered a buffet that didnt have fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish and/or a salad bar.
Bbq places
Well, since you apparently already know exactly where you're eating and what they have then pre log it all.
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Teabythesea_ wrote: »I just gotta know: where IS this place? How can anyone eat like that for 8 days. Is it just like ribs and potato salad every night?
Curious as well... I've done quite a bit of travelling and never encountered a buffet that didnt have fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish and/or a salad bar.
Bbq places
Even for breakfast?
From my view in the cheap seats, it looks like you're looking for justification to eat whatever you want. California and Vegas certainly have produce and other options available. But you don't want to pick other options. So go eat whatever you want, and deal with the aftermath.
You could make different decisions and choices, but if you don't want to, you don't have to.
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You have made up your mind there is no way to make this work. If you are looking for permission to eat like crap I am not sure you will find it here. There are a million ways to moderate given what you have stated. You need to find a way not just admit defeat before trying.
IF - little to no breakfast. If you are eating heavy dinner it might not be impossible. Stop at fast food or waffle house for breakfast? Have a coffee and maybe an oatmeal or plain grits. Bring some sensible snack with you in the car so you do not feel the need to overeat at the buffet and BBQ. At BBQ places, aim for low carb. Get BBQ chicken platter with cole slaw and green beans. Korean BBQ, focus on the meat and don't eat the rice. Eat all the pickled vegetables. Festival food? look for things like street corn or even a taco (but just one or two not 4).
Not able to go to the gym? Find a calisthentic routine you can do at rest stops or first thing in the morning. Push ups burpees running in place. Take a loop around the parking lot when you do a rest stop.
Your approaching this very black and white and missing a ton of opportunities to make healthy choices.6 -
OP the problem is not what you do for 8 days. Not really. You might gain a little weight and if that happens it will be easily correctable once you return.
The problem is you feeling like you have no choices or it is impossible to limit the overfeed. That kind of mindset should only apply to really temporary situations like a meal at a friend's house or for longer periods it should require being in a hospital where you can't move freely and can exert no influence over what you eat.
A simple exercise would be to ask yourself what would you do if this wasn't 8 days but 80 or 800. Would you just accept that you would balloon up in weight? I doubt it. You would get creative.
I think it is perfectly fine to make an adult decision to act like a kid for 8 days if that is what you want to do. Just don't buy that you have no choice because that could be a slippery slope.
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