How do I handle vacations?

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:
But I just don't feel right with my bathroom schedule all messed up. So, I do the best I can to eat plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegs, and beans.

What an elegant way of putting it!
I tend to get all messed up on vacations too.

My vacation motto up until now has generally been: Go for it now, then do damage repair at home. But since I haven't travelled in the past year while this weight loss project has been going on, I don't really know how I'd handle things. I don't see myself carrying high-fiber rye bread on a plane just so I can have a "proper" breakfast. Sensible portion sizes sounds doable, and fresh fruit, limited alcohol intake and focus on water are doable things too.

I think if I were to go on vacation and think calories all the time, it would be a wasted vacation. Besides, damage repair is easier at home. I just need to get back on track immediately.

This probably falls into the category of TMI...

But MANY, MANY of my vacation changes are driven by the fact that I don't like getting "off schedule". It is bad enough being in the car or a plane for X hours... and that tends to mess me up...

But I just don't feel right with my bathroom schedule all messed up. So, I do the best I can to eat plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegs, and beans.

I generally eat oatmeal every morning... even on vacation. I buy fruit at the groc. store.

I like eating oatmeal because:
1. I don't like sitting in restaurants all morning and want to get up and get out and doing stuff.
2. I'm cheap.
3. It is healthy. And has fiber.

When I go skiing... I take a can of beans and a can opener and salsa and guacamole and tortilla chips and make Nachos and have that for lunch every day.

We do often go out for dinner while on vacation... but if we have a microwave... sometimes we will eat frozen dinners with extra vegs.

I haven't come back from vacation up in a while... but also as Dawn and Puck pointed out... getting back on track right away is really important.

Somehow I missed this question.

Vacations – We don’t take a lot of vacations. It really depends on the vacation and what else we’re doing while on vacation. If we are overseas, I’m probably not going to really watch what I eat. If I’m in a location where there are certain foods I can really only get there, then I’m going to sample the local fare. So, I guess I would say portion size, is about all I watch. Mostly, that would only be at dinner though. I still try to watch and eat healthy at breakfast and lunch, or if lunch is the main meal, then a lighter dinner.

If we’re in the U.S. I’m more mindful of what I’m eating, particularly if we’re at a restaurant that doesn’t have anything “special” about it.

Typically, we’re also active when on vacation. If we’re in a city, we’ll do a lot of walking sight seeing. If we do a beach vacation, we scuba dive, snorkel and walk the beach a lot. The next vacation I know of that we have is going to be Key West in April. We’re going for a wedding. I imagine there will be food and alcohol involved with the wedding. I do know that Key West is a lot of walking around, and I’m sure we’ll try to plan some dives. Aside from the wedding, I will probably try to eat a lot of fish and seafood, and keep things light. I will probably also indulge at least one time in some REAL Key Lim pie.

I would say though the biggest thing for me with vacations, is cutting off the vacation mindset as soon as we get home.

This weekend was a mini-vacation of sorts. I knew what the food was going to be like, so I had a plan ahead of time. I stuck to it...mostly. I ate less on Saturday than I'd planned, because the party was at our house, and I get a little wrapped up in making sure everyone else is getting what they want and need and tend to forget to eat.

But I think, overall, planning ahead of time will be key for me. Making my plan known to others helps me a lot, so that will be necessary, too.

quote:

Originally posted by Brie:
How do I handle vacations?

Afterwards

Usually on vacation we spend a LOT of time walking or biking, but also a lot of time eating dinner out in restaurants. If we stay in a beach house or somewhere where we can actually cook meals I eat much better because we shop and buy fruits/veggies, and plan meals. Because of the walking(usually in the sand which is a great workout) and walking to places rather than driving I come home most times either at the same weight or a lb or two heavier which is easily lost because at home we don't eat ice cream every day! While on my last trip(which was less vacation and a lot of travel time) we walked a LOT, through airports, the military base, outside the hotel, etc. I ate less meals than at home and although we ate in restaurants all the time the walking counteracted the food. I came home weighing 3 lbs less!!

Jill

PS: I agree w/Brie in that instead of focusing on food I try to focus on the non-food aspects of vacation and have a great time, regardless of the food.

Vacations? Would you define vacation please. I haven't had a vacation in over 5 years and am wondering how they work?

Seriously, we don't get to get away unless it's business, which is a very sad state isn't it?

But when traveling, I plan ahead. We usually know where we will be staying; I will check them out for room service, inhouse restaurant service, and on site restaurants or continental breakfast. I ask for what I need and want just as I would any restuarant. If they can't accomodate, then I bring my own fruits, dried foods for the hotel. I go on line for the places we will be eating at, and if they have menus published, pick and choose from on line. If not, I call ahead and ask for suggestions and/or ideas from their menus for what I need or want. Seriously I do. I offer to pay more if this is going to be a problem, and always, always ask the waitress for help, and the help of the kitchen staff. Then I will leave a tip commisurate with what I have asked for, making sure that they know that the wait-staff, kitchen staff are to receive equal amounts.

We shouldn't have to do this, but it does help to do your homework. Don't ever try to wing it.

Here's my general vacation plan:
-exercise every morning alternating between running and strength training just like at home.
- walk whenever and where ever possible
- eat mindfully and slowly at each meal, stopping when full
- make good, better, best choices
- eat picnic meals from local outdoor markets whenever possible
- choose 1 - 2 dinners that are going to be splurges
- focus on the the non-food aspects of the vacation