Resume The Regime
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| “A Proper Breakfast” |
As in le regime, or the healthy eating habits I’ve worked so hard to establish over the last few months. I do my best to not go overboard while on vacation, however it is a vacation, so I do ease up a bit. Two weeks though of beers, breads, occasional desserts, big traditional Scottish and English breakfasts (see above, YUM, though indulged in only every 3-4 days) and less walking than we normally do while on vacation, and I’m certain I’ve reacquired a few pounds during our trip. C’est la vie. However the Better Angels of those healthy habits were always on the other shoulder, whispering encouragement to choose fresh fruits and veggies whenever available and to be mindful of my portion sizes, all of which probably helped to keep gains in check.
I was tempted to jest that it’s back to black coffee and carrot sticks pour moi, but that isn’t healthy and it isn’t true. Once upon a time I would have overindulged on vacation, beat myself up about it then launched into some serious deprivation upon my return home. But sanity and moderation are a much better way to go. So it’s back to packing (lunch) and tracking (intake), both far more sustainable than trying to live life as an over-caffeinated rabbit.
Do you follow your regime while on vacation, or do you give yourself a break? If the latter, how to you get back on track?
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I definitely give myself a break. Eating the local food is, after all, one of the great pleasures of travel. I often walk so much, however, that I even end up LOSING some weight. Going back to the same habits one had before the trip is the way to go. The weight will come off gradually, but likely stay off. It’s going back to the old regime that works, not dieting! (Like the idea of a caffeinated bunny!)
I realize that, at all but 65, I can’t indulge “because I’m on vacation”. It’s ever harder to lose the weight. And, since I live in a very diverse, large city, there are few treats I can’t get here, should I wish. Okay, maybe not Chez Whatever’s specialty, but I now sample a bite. Getting back on track feels good, I’ll bet!
This post is very timely! We just returned from a week in Spain. We too left behind some of our healthy eating habits while traveling. We vowed, with the other couple who came with us, to do a three week Health Challenge upon our return. The health challenge is not a caffinated rabbit routine, it includes all the things we know we should do but sometimes don’t (fruits, vegetables, water, exercise, limited alcohol, sleep…). Although, even though we indulged in Spain, none of us gained weight and two of us lost significant pounds! Maybe what my diet is missing is more wine and dessert….and walking many, many miles every day!
Timely for me too, as we’re getting ready for a week in Manhattan. We both relax our standards while on vacation, and I do drink a bit more alcohol : > We try to walk it off, and manage to keep our weights steady. Now, if I were in Paris, who could say . . .
A ha, so now you know the secret between a Scottish and an English breakfast!
I can’t put either in my mouth, I struggle to eat meat and force it down once a week or so but it has to be chopped up and hidden under yoghurt or bread. I lost weight in Italy, I think I deserve a medal for that.
A ha, so now you know the secret between a Scottish and an English breakfast!
I can’t put either in my mouth, I struggle to eat meat and force it down once a week or so but it has to be chopped up and hidden under yoghurt or bread. I lost weight in Italy, I think I deserve a medal for that.
I am new to the tracking of food and embracing weight loss!
It will be a challenge eating wisely when on vacation. I think that a little extra food does not hurt you if you get back on track when you return home.
Our vacations tend to include a LOT of walking — miles and miles along the Thames in London two years ago, 5-6 miles around the Right Bank in Paris on that same trip, a loop around Uluru while in Australia last year, hiking at the Grand Canyon last year…
Knowing that I’ll be getting lots of exercise, I don’t worry about hitting a gym. I just pack good shoes and enjoy what I’m doing.
As for food, I do indulge more, but in small doses. If my daughters want crepes near Notre Dame, then I might have a small bite of one of theirs. Or, my husband and I will share a small gelato. If we get pub grub in London, then I’ll order a salad with my steak pie, eat the salad first, then have a part of the main dish.
In other words, I enjoy myself, but I do eat well and I move a lot. I usually come back from vacation having lost a couple or more pounds, even though our time in Paris could have been called “The No Carbs or Chocolate Left Behind” Tour.
Normally we do walk much more on our vacations, so this hasn’t been an issue for me in the past. But this time due to a combination of more inclement weather and more remote locations that necessitated riding rather than walking, our activity levels were definitely far below the norm.
Incidentally, I gave myself a couple of days for my body to “normalize” (I often bloat during long flights) and stepped on the scale this morning. Only 3 pounds up, not bad.
Being a Pescatarian, I had to look away from the plate, but I do cut myself dietary slack while on vacation. I try not to go crazy, but definitely indulge more than I would at home.
I do relax a bit on vacation, but I have some fairly decent habits entrenched that help balance a bit, so the damage is never too bad. Wine is perhaps the biggest problem, and it’s just too hard to say no consistently. I also really enjoy a Leffe in the afternoon sun while people-watching . . . but we walk a ton on vacation and if we rent a place with a kitchen for part of the time, we can balance those less healthy meals out with some veggie-heavy meals in . . . that’s what I really end up craving.
As Duchesse says, it does feel good to get back on track at home, doesn’t it? (she says, before she’s even left . . . 😉
I usually do well enough on vacation, the absence of a kitchen full of snacks counterbalances bigger than usual meals.
I don’t know what portions are like in Britain; In my travels to other European countries the portions and availability of food has been much more restricted than what I’d find in the U.S. – a help when traveling and eating out a lot. I imagine it’s a different situation if you drink, as there does always seem to be a bar available abroad.
I am really quick to give myself a break…but I think that is one of the reasons the tire in the middle hangs around! I am going to attempt to do my trip to Chicago the healthy way…but I might have to have one Chicago pizza…just doesn’t seem right to go there and not partake! You look great…I think it was fine to put your diet on vacation as well!!
Very timely for me, as we are going on a 10-day trip to the UK on 8th June! I am actually trying the 5:2 diet before we go away, as I would like to be a bit slimmer for my niece’s wedding at the beginning of our holiday! We usually do a fair bit of walking while we’re on holiday, but we also relax and enjoy ourselves food and drink-wise, so I may very well gain a bit of weight again. I usually eat healthily as I enjoy fruit and vegetables, but it’s the desserts and extra glasses of wine on holiday that are my downfall.
Haven´t traveled for ages, but I think that counting calories on a vacation is no vacation at all.
What no Heinz baked beans?
In recent years, we have rented flats on our vacations, so we fix our own breakfasts in our kitchens – saves on money and helps avoid the calories. In Paris, a quick morning walk to a boulangerie makes it feel worthwhile, too! And in Venice, the produce market was right at our door, for fresh fruit.
On our last trip to Mexico City, however, we were in a hotel with a breakfast buffet. Oh, my chilaquiles!!! Each morning! I couldn’t resist.
Ohhh, chilaquiles! I remember those from Mexico City too, have never seen them here in Mexican restaurants.
Oh, dear. I get back on Tuesday and I will need to start a new regime. The food on the Danube cruise was delicious but we didn’t eat excessively but we did drink more and ate some desserts. At 61, the weight just sits there at my middle. It isn’t helpful to beat oneself up.
I don’t ever seem to be gaining weight while vacationing in Europe. Maybe it’s the portion size as someone mentioned up thread, maybe it is the fact that I walk so much more. Daily moving about is part of our culture there.
When on vacation I may eat/drink a few more glasses of red wine then I would normally but it isn’t that much of a problem, what is, however, is getting back into my workout routine. Cardio, weights and Yoga, starting at 5:30 each morning. I’m still trying to get back into the 5 day a week routine from our October vacation!
I know what you mean! I do find that without constant vigilance, the pounds start creeping up on me (and it’s not because I’m super skinny – size 14 UK (size 10 US, I think).
Lots of walking does help, but only to a point. I do find sore feet stop me after a few hours. Then it’s time for something from a cafe to rejuvenate!
Have you come across MyFitnessPal? It’s a free calorie and exercise tracker. I swear by it (although I’m failing a bit in my willpower at the moment…)
I don’t gain on vacation really as I tend to eat two meals rather than 3 due to schedules and portions, and snacking is not that available. Too much to do and no fridge on hand generally. Its when I come home that I need to be careful and not eat just anything – to get out of vacation “mode”. Its a weird trick, but I tend to be lax on the replenishing of the fridge when I return from a trip. Being lazy and not on top of that actually keeps my waistline in check.
During the week I always have either a big portion of Müsli with fresh fruit, oat flakes, joghurt, raisins and nuts or a kind of porridge with fruit.
When I am on vacation I do have a break and just go with the local dishes and try out everything.
Annette
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I’m a little embarrassed to say that I can mostly eat what I want without repercussion, but I forgot to bring my packed lunch today and that photo almost has me DROOLING….yikes 😛
I am vegan, so I do the best I can when on vacay. I find travelling in SE Asia really easy, as they survive on fruits, veg, rice, noodles, and fish. Europe can be tricky….especially the Alps in winter. Everything cheese. When my back is against the wall and there are no options and nobody is willing to make me a veggie dish, I have the occasional piece of fish. I don’t usually gain, but then, it not the food…..it’s the DRINK that gets you….