Vacation worries
 

I have been on IP a month now and doing really well. I have managed to stay 100% and not all of that time has been under the best of conditions. I am going to San Francisco and Napa Valley the middle of September. I don't plan to stay strictly on IP but not sure how I should handle it. I am open to suggestions. I am devoted to getting this weight off once and for all.

Just a thought: Why not consider staying 100% while on your vacation? It takes a bit of planning, but plenty of us have done it. I spent 2 weeks in NYC and then a week on the road.

It really feels great to come home after a vacation and have a great WI!

There will always be some special occasion or trip.

You've been on the program for a month already. Keep it up and you'll see great results! You CAN do this and get the weight off once and for all!:):)

Originally Posted by Lotsahope:
I have been on IP a month now and doing really well. I have managed to stay 100% and not all of that time has been under the best of conditions. I am going to San Francisco and Napa Valley the middle of September. I don't plan to stay strictly on IP but not sure how I should handle it. I am open to suggestions. I am devoted to getting this weight off once and for all.

I agree with joysh. I stayed 100% for two weeks and lost 4 lbs. you can eat out, plan ahead. Rainbowsmiles called all of the restaurants ahead to check their menus. Subway has great salads. It will be good practice for the rest of your life.

I agree with the rest... try hard to stay on plan
 

I can't imagine how hard it would be to go back on this after straying off plan. Find a Ruby Tuesdays and have salad bar and a "naked" chicken breast. At any restaurant that you go to ask for the steamed veggies, side salad without cheese or croutons, broiled seafood, chicken, pork chops, lean steak.... they are all great choices... just ask them to do it naked meaning no seasoning or sauces.... bring your own salt, oil and salad dressing in with you. I have a little pack of stuff that I bring... including my scale and measuring cup! I brought my blender to the hotel and and Spinach with me and made two chocolate drink mix packets with a dash of cinnamon and blended in 2 cups of spinach..half for breakfast and packed the other half for lunch so that I could site see and have my lunch right with me. With a little planning ahead you can stick to plan. YOU Are WORTH IT!:)

Originally Posted by Reenie N:
I can't imagine how hard it would be to go back on this after straying off plan. Find a Ruby Tuesdays and have salad bar and a "naked" chicken breast. At any restaurant that you go to ask for the steamed veggies, side salad without cheese or croutons, broiled seafood, chicken, pork chops, lean steak.... they are all great choices... just ask them to do it naked meaning no seasoning or sauces.... bring your own salt, oil and salad dressing in with you. I have a little pack of stuff that I bring... including my scale and measuring cup! I brought my blender to the hotel and and Spinach with me and made two chocolate drink mix packets with a dash of cinnamon and blended in 2 cups of spinach..half for breakfast and packed the other half for lunch so that I could site see and have my lunch right with me. With a little planning ahead you can stick to plan. YOU Are WORTH IT!:)

Excellent advice!

Years ago when I did WW my coach gave me some good advice when I told her my worries about a cruise I was taking to Alaska. She said I was going there to see the sights and spend time with family and friends. So, I took meals out of the equations and mentally focused on the beauty of the land and the people. I ate (of course) and lost two pounds (have to admit being sick at sea helped a bit).

With IP the key is being prepared! You can do it and enjoy your holiday!!!

:hug:

IP friendly Applebees options:

-7oz steak, oil grilled (not butter grilled), with a double side of STEAMED spinach

- Shrimp & spinach salad, double shrimp, no dressing or bacon, drizzle with some EVOO and a squeeze of lemon wedge and salt!

There are PLENTY of ways to stay 100% and still treat yourself :)

I just came back from vacation and stayed totally op. with a bit of planning it's completely manageable. I admit there were a few times when I didn't always get exactly what I had hoped for, but as long as you choose protein and veggies, even if it ends up being higher fat, you'll still come out ahead. My go to meal at a restaurant when I'm in a pinch is a Chef salad or a steak with veggies.

There is NO way I'm risking having to go through carb detox again, it was not a fun time for me and that totally keeps me from carbing out!

I've been to Napa and SF a bunch of times, as well as Sonoma. You will have no problem eating OP out there, especially since their produce is so fresh and seasonal. The meat is also local out there in most cases. The problem for you will be the WINE...and staying away from it. Not sure how to handle that.

Originally Posted by Lotsahope:
I have been on IP a month now and doing really well. I have managed to stay 100% and not all of that time has been under the best of conditions. I am going to San Francisco and Napa Valley the middle of September. I don't plan to stay strictly on IP but not sure how I should handle it. I am open to suggestions. I am devoted to getting this weight off once and for all.

I, too, am going on a trip this Fri to do some whale watching and will be staying overnight at a B&B. My husband wants to treat this like a mini-break (he's going to eat the served brekkie) but I'm hesitant to go totally off the plan, especially since I'm actually losing weight now, compared to the minimal losses the first 3 weeks. However, I also don't want to disappoint my husband (I think he's bothered that he'll be eating all this rich food without me) so we talked about it and have reached a compromise. I'm going to try to contact the B&B and request a protein rich breakfast (instead of a high carb one), something like a meaty omelette. I'll also tell them to minimize the olive oil used and give my allowed seasonings. That way I won't totally go off the plan and my husband and I can still enjoy breakfast together.

Maybe you could check the restaurants in the area and do the same. Tell your friends/family, too, as it helps when people are actually helping you to stay OP. Your food intake may not be as strictly 100% but at least it won't set you back either. Besides, I don't think you'll completely enjoy the "cheats" if you know what they're costing you. I actually had to explain that to my husband during our talk about the breakfast.

When all's said and done, have a wonderful vacation!!! :)

I too am going on vacation soon and am wondering....if it is totally impossible to have IP at lunch.... what would I order at a restaurant? Just lettuce and veggies? Not sure how I would survive without protein! I think that bkfst would be easy OP and supper would be OK at a restaurant. But if I have to eat at a restaurant two times a day...what do I do? Sorry about butting-in on your thread but I was hoping this may help your question and dilemma too!

I just got back from vacation and it didn't go as well as I had planned. I called restaurants and got incorrect info which threw my meals off. I did the best I could though, prime rub with salad and veggies, egg white omelette with veggies and little ham. I had my drinks because I brought a blender with me. I did stray a little and had a bit of bacon and a breakfast sausage, but I'm hoping that was canceled out because I did a lot of hiking and swimming in the mountains. People weren't as accepting to dietary restrictions as I was wishing!

Originally Posted by iwiggy58:
I too am going on vacation soon and am wondering....if it is totally impossible to have IP at lunch.... what would I order at a restaurant? Just lettuce and veggies? Not sure how I would survive without protein! I think that bkfst would be easy OP and supper would be OK at a restaurant. But if I have to eat at a restaurant two times a day...what do I do? Sorry about butting-in on your thread but I was hoping this may help your question and dilemma too!

You can trade the dinner meal and lunch if that works better for you.

Originally Posted by iwiggy58:
I too am going on vacation soon and am wondering....if it is totally impossible to have IP at lunch.... what would I order at a restaurant? Just lettuce and veggies? Not sure how I would survive without protein! I think that bkfst would be easy OP and supper would be OK at a restaurant. But if I have to eat at a restaurant two times a day...what do I do? Sorry about butting-in on your thread but I was hoping this may help your question and dilemma too!

What might make it easier would be to plan having your restricted at lunch (bars, cheddar ridges, etc) - stuff that's easily portable - or use some of the Ready-to-drink stuff. For lunch, just plan on a salad, salad bar or veggie sides and have your restricted/RTD either before or after you leave the restaurant. I've done that many times since starting the diet. Dinner at a restaurant is just a matter of asking for the right preparation of dinner so that you get what you need :)

Originally Posted by AnnaBoBanna:
I just got back from vacation and it didn't go as well as I had planned. I called restaurants and got incorrect info which threw my meals off. I did the best I could though, prime rub with salad and veggies, egg white omelette with veggies and little ham. I had my drinks because I brought a blender with me. I did stray a little and had a bit of bacon and a breakfast sausage, but I'm hoping that was canceled out because I did a lot of hiking and swimming in the mountains. People weren't as accepting to dietary restrictions as I was wishing!

I found that HOW you present what you need to your server can make all the difference. Two phrases have saved my butt - "gluten allergy" and "Dairy allergy" - it's not necessarily the truth BUT it's the terms most people will understand to help make sure we get the right foods/preparation when we eat out. Plus they are more likely to be accommodating if they think you're allergic as opposed to just dieting :)

I have traveled SO much on this diet - twice to a small town in Iowa - the first to visit my father-in-law, the second for his funeral - then to Florida - Pittsburgh, Philly - Detroit - SO MUCH and have been OP the whole time. If possible I get a hotel with a fridge and microwave - I have warm chocolate shake for breakfast or my evening snack, and a bar at lunch - I go to the store and buy veggies - but if you don't have a car - I order wherever I am for an extra side of veggies - for lunch I would get a salad and bring my own dressing - dinner varied - but usually a steak w/out butter or burger w/out a bun, or seafood - my fav! I always start by telling the waitstaff I am on a very restricted diet - sometimes they ask why and then I get to brag about my success :) It is SO worth it and so doable - and the cost of ordering a salad or extra veggies doesn't come close to the cost for going off program. I've also been to weddings and other celebrations - again, all OP - I never have been a drinker, so that does make it easier - Good luck.

I'm glad this thread came up. I am facing two vacations, one weekend break, and one longer trip, in the coming months. I have already been stressing about it. Especially the part about getting all my veggies in.

I've also traveled. I found that the RTD drinks are great for lunches in restaurants. I bring the drink in my purse (with salad dressing) and ask for a tall glass of ice. Then order a salad with a side of steamed veggies. I pour my drink into the glass and sip away with a straw. Then I enjoy the company and the fact that I'm staying OP.

When I ran out of RTDs, I actually brought my shaker and mixed up a drink in it. Then, poured it into a glass of ice and all was fine.

Ditto on the restaurants. There is usually at least one or two things on the menu that will work. You can be kindly assertive. You can do this!

And yes, switch up your lunch and dinner if it works better.

I also found that some days I ate 4 oz protein at lunch and 4 oz at dinner and just had my IP drinks or puddings in between when I could. On days when you have to eat 2 meals out and are hungry, that works just fine.

I've also traveled a lot on IP, and generally I did a combo of phase 1 and 2. San Francisco and Napa will bring some big challenges as it's foodie heaven there with some of the most amazing restaurants in the world. I know - I spent the first 52 years of my life living there. I have found I can eat at just about any restaurant while on IP, as I can generally find something. Of course in Napa, wine will be the problem. Truthfully only you can decide if you can handle going off for your vacation and then be able to get back on especially since you have only been doing this for 1 month. I stayed on IP while I traveled for the first 8 months because I didn't fully believe I would go back on the diet. I even stayed on while on a cruise (the most difficult). I did phase off for the summer for some of my trips, but I also had been at this for a long time, and by that time I knew I could get back on phase 1.

We can all advise you, but only you know what's right for you, and what your strength is. For me loosing the weight was more important than what I ate, but that is a decision you will have to make for yourself.

It is definitely possible to stay op while on vacation. But, it's up to you. Once you cheat, it's hard to get straight again.

I recently went on vacation and stayed 100% OP. it was admittedly no fun to watch everyone eat fun food. I would do a shake for breakfast, have a peeled cucumber in my purse for lunch, (yes I packed a peeler), maybe order a salad so I cold eat with everyone, then my protein and steamed veggies for lunch. Pack extra IP food. I stayed an extra day and had to scramble to find alternatives.
The best part.....when I got back I had lost 6.2lbs (9 day WI). It was hard but worth it.

Sassy

I've had 2 weekends "away" now. The most recent one included a tailgate at a college football game and beach time.

For both, I PLANNED. I took extra veggies, I pre-made omelets and potato puree "buns". I took extra packets so I would have choices based on unanticipated activities.

Twice I had half my meat protein for lunch and half of it for dinner. But I stayed on-plan.

Losing the weight is my priority. There will always be special occasions for which to make excuses. I'm either in or I'm out. I'm in.