back on track: post-vacation weight management
This is my little solar-powered scale
. I’ve come to think of my scale not as an enemy, but a very honest employee. 🙂 Once I came to terms with the idea that weight management is important to me and will remain an ongoing process, it stopped feeling like a battle with myself.
Almost three years ago now, I got serious about dropping those 15 pounds that I felt were keeping me from looking and feeling my best. I did it mostly by following Weight Watchers, which (if you avoid theirs and other processed “diet” foods) is a good way to learn to eat in the real world. My weight now mostly fluctuates within a 3-4 pound range. I weigh myself weekly and if I’m creeping toward the top end of that range, cut back a bit, and usually get back to my comfort zone within a week or two.
I don’t monitor food or weight when we’re on vacation because….vacation. But both le Monsieur and I have found that our appetites have diminished a bit over the years; we just can’t eat or drink the way we used to. Generally when we travel we’ll keep two of our daily meals smaller, and even the one larger meal usually involves splitting an entrée (first course) and dessert, if any. Though one always hears that European portions are much smaller than here (and perhaps that’s true in many cases) I’m almost never able to “clean my plate” even in Europe. Add to that the exponentially increased amount of walking (and sometimes biking) we do on vacation, the lack of snacking, and I rarely find I’ve gained much, if any, weight when we return home.
This time is no different. I’m up a couple of pounds, toward the top of my range, so breads, desserts, that second glass of wine…all of those little indulgences I enjoyed on vacation… are all off the table. The fridge has been restocked with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. I rarely find I need to go back to counting points, but if the pounds don’t budge I’ll do that for a week or so to get myself back on track.
Do you find you gain or lose weight on vacation? How do you get back to your comfort zone?
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If a vacation includes restaurants, I’ll lose weight. Having someone cook for me and being served normal portions does the trick. But if I start self-catering, I’ll want to buy and taste everything and over-indulging. My solution for slimming would be to have a personal cook at home. Ah !!
Ah yes, eating less, Susan I know of what you speak. I enjoy my food but I can’t eat what I ate when I was younger and this is something I regard as a good thing, my body is telling me what I can manage and asking me to listen. That said I don’t always listen — a relaxed lunch, a holiday, something I really love can can tip me into “more than I should”. I am now more friendly with my own scales even if, as they do now, they tell me to “ease up” on food.
Finally, someone else appreciating the scale 🙂 I use my scale regularly and it helps me to keep my weight in check. Thanks so much for your post and your great blog!
I weigh myself every morning; after the potty & before taking my pills. I figure it’s the least I’ll weigh all day. I expect to fluctuate within a pound or two, depending on what I ate the day before. As I’m trying to regain control of my snacking habits and going to the gym, I don’t consider a new weight to be ‘real’ until it’s there for the third day.
” I don’t consider a new weight to be ‘real’ until it’s there for the third day.” This is an excellent mind-set, so as not to allow the scale to make me nuts! Thanks!
I’m not lucky enough to travel like you but even trips to visit family can cause some weight gain. I’m a lifetime Weight Watcher and a former WW employee. That system does work and it is a life change for sure. I weigh daily and, like you, my weight fluctuates a few pounds up or down from my goal. More than that and I become a bit more vigilant. Summers are easier with more fresh fruit and veggies available. I live alone and the frozen “diet” meals are convenient so I have to be careful to not be seduced by that convenience.
Lose, lose lose – vacation is great for dropping pounds but eventually I do come home and so do the pounds! Always hovering around the same set point but would love to see that set point be the vacation number. Perhaps I’ll give WW a shot – no more funds in my vacation account. Alas!
I have found that weight creeps up on me when I don’t weigh regularly. Fresh fruit and vegetables are my favourites but not so for my husband. I lose my motivation when I prepare two sets of food. I came back from my solo weeks in Mexico with greatly reduced blood pressure. Hot weather, lack of appetite and less wine worked miracles. Weight Watchers is a great way to lose those pounds. I need to get out my recipes and to get back on the scale.
As you do, Himself and I try to split entrees and treats. We are finding ourselves on cruises more these days, with family.As much as possible, we use the stairs and avoid the elevators, and that makes a huge difference.
I’ve just got rid of 3 or 4 that had crept on over the past several months of disrupted schedule and adjusting to a variety of changes. The daily scale is part of my regime as well, and I, too, see it as a positive tool rather than as a constant scold.
I weigh myself daily ,too ,and find it helpfull in maintaining desired and healthy weight. I am tall and during all my life I was slim ( yes,I know,lucky me), it runs in family and I have healthy eating habits,but it stayed so ,no matter what and how much I eat. And then….a couple of years ago: boom….I’ve got a lot of pounds in small amount of time,thyroid,age…..It was quite a shock for me. It took a great amount of selfdiscipline and thyroid treatment to be (not quite,still 4 pounds too much from my healthy ideal) back on tracks. So ,something I took as granted before,now is a regime. I’m not opsessed,I’m not hungry but I alone watch what I eat and have to eat less than before,as we ,femmes d’un certain age ,all have to do. When it comes to travel I always want to enjoy different tastes,new(or old) restaurants,different dishes.,different wines….and that is what I always do ,with(or sometimes even without) some little arangements like you ladies,splitting desserts,perhaps skipping primo piatto,depending of my desires at the moment . I don’t weigh myself ,I want to enjoy without regret. No “guilt after pleasure “games. And I don’t believe in replacements,If I have a great crave for something I’l eat it
And then,at home,perhaps take a two or three days very light. It is same after some special dinners at home(friends,family,restaurants…..)And this is the reason I respect my friend the scale
Dottoressa
I usually go by how tight my clothes feel. If they are getting tighter I then weigh myself and, if need be, cut back a bit.
I am a fan of the Weight Watchers Points system, having been to their classes with a friend many years ago. We went running together at lunch-times then she saved her extra points for going out with friends at the weekend, whereas mine were spent on a glass of wine with dinner! We both reached our target weights.
My OH and I usually do a lot of walking when we’re on holiday, so don’t usually put on much if any weight.
My scale keeps me in check. I fluctuate 4 to 5 pounds when I don’t eat healthy whole foods or I’m vacationing and enjoying that extra glass of wine or dessert. I’m 5’8 and have a small frame, and my target weight is 135. When my friendly scale says 137 I know it’s time to incorporate more walking and exercise. Or when my favorite pair of jeans get snug, well that is another nudge to get back on the healthy band wagon.
I don’t gain or lose on vacations…mostly because I don’t take enough of them. 😉 I do keep an eye on the scale about once a week though and adjust accordingly to keep it under my top desired weight. It gets harder as we get older I hear.
I am with you that I tend to indulge when I am on vacation. I don’t stress about it and just focus on getting back on track when I am home but I must say it’s a lot easier to gain the weight then lose it.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion linkup.
As someone else said, I go totally by how my clothes feel. I’ve never really had a weight problem, but of course, the pounds have crept up after 50. But…I also exercise every day, including weight lifting, so that does add a few pounds. LIke you, I don’t really gain on vacation: lack of snacks, always on the go, splitting portions (“on peut partager?”) etc.
I am betting it’s hard getting back to real life, no?
I don’t gain weight on vacation, despite the amount of bread, wine and dessert I consume, because I walk so much and rarely snack. The difficulty is breaking the bread, wine and dessert habit once I get home. I usually gain a few (or more) pounds after a trip.
Leslie k, that’s my challenge as well!
The constant availability of snacks at home is a problem for me as well.
I don’t gain weight on vacations either, no matter how much I eat, drink or walk. Snacks at home are my downfall. It is an awful habit, this mindless eating. What can one do about it?
I handle the whole system of weight management pretty much exactly as you do:).
The first word that comes to mind is DISCIPLINE. Arghhh… so tough when there are so many delish indulgences available to us. Your advice is seriously RIGHT ON. I’m up a couple–the couple that get between me and my ability to “feel free to wear anything in my wardrobe”. Thank Susan for the straight talk. It helps 🙂
I pretty much stay the same on vacations – I have more desserts and more wine than at home, but rarely have anything other than at a meal and walk a lot. But my weight stays consistent at home too, so I think I’m mostly lucky.
I don’t worry on vacation because I stay active. At home I weigh myself regularly. I always use the “Lose It” app on my smart phone as my food journal. I’ll switch from maintenance mode to diet mode on the app when I feel I’ve gained too much weight, which for me is around 5 pounds over goal.
I think I need Weight Watchers!
What a wonderful way to think of the scale. Merci !
I have a great system. I own a horse facility. When I need to weigh, I just saddle up Playboy and sit down. If he turns around to look at me, I am too heavy. If he trots off without a care, I’m within the usual range. : )
Oh- P.S. What he is saying to me when he turns around is hereby unprintable……………
I weigh myself weekly on Tuesdays because I was born on a Tuesday. No matter how life whirls about me–and I am a 49-year-old busy wife, mother to two sons, and business owner–I reign in my focus each Tuesday, and pay attention to self-care, going over my self-developed “protocol” for a healthy life, and stepping on the scale. The scale gently reminds me whether I should be extra mindful or if I can relax a bit, but by paying attention weekly, I’m guaranteed that the “relaxing” won’t go on for months, or even years, which happened in my 30’s, during those childbearing years when I was afraid of the scale.
Now I think of it as my own personal, kindly, old-fashioned physician. A Dr. Hauser-type (if you know who that is), who only has my best interest at heart and wants me to experience the joy of vitality.
Ah, yes .. trying to get back to portion control after a month long trip to Montana and eating mom’s home cooking ( lasagna anyone? ).
Monica.
I threw away my scale twenty years ago, and don’t knop my weight. Haven’t breen on a scale since. Why should I, it’s only numbers and I hate the thought of beeing depressed by a lousy pound. I have a mirror, and I have trousers, it’s easy to see when something has to be done.
I believe in having a good time on holidays/weekends, and strict routines in everyday. In Scandinavia we have something called “knekkebrød” from Wasa, Swedish stuff. It works, noe week after a serious splash out the clothes fits as usual.
Get rid of your svalestup!
And sorry for the bad spelling, Norwegian autocorrect…. Svalestup should be scale! 🙂