Originally Posted by Dancinintherain (Post 5075874)

My husband and I have done a lot of overseas travel while dieting and have kind of come up with a compromise that works for us. We bring our 2 IP unlimited snacks and 1 limited snack for each day of the trip and use them. We pack most of that in a checked bag. We also have taken WF dressing packets. If we are staying somewhere for a few days and have a fridge, we will get salad greens so we can make our own lunch salads. If not, we do the best we can.

For dinner, we pass up the carbs (yup, no nummy bread or starchy veggies) but allow ourselves extra vegetables and more variety of meats and some cheese. We keep it low carb but don't stay necessarily on plan. In Italy, we had a hard/impossible time getting a good green salad but loved the Caprese Salads with buffalo mozzarella & tomatoes and are glad we didn't pass them up. In Rome you can almost always get antipasto for your first course which is a nice low carb option. We also loved the fresh cooked spinach there and had some amazing Zuppa de Verde (when it was wonderful vegetable soup). We passed up the pasta and sought a meat/veggie option for a main course even if we had to ask for something to be changed a bit to get that. It should be easier on ship board to ask for what you need.

I've found I really need to plan for the over seas flights because I can almost never eat what is served on the flights and if I don't plan ahead I'm really going to blow it which sets me up to blow it for the rest of the trip. I take extra IP bars and low carb jerky (you really have to check because some of it is sweetened and higher carb). I also usually do a deliberate cheat by taking a Baggie of nuts so I have something crunchy/munchy for when they are passing out snacks. That way, I haven't starved or been hungry even on long flights to Europe, Austrailia & Japan. If it works, timing wise, I have also taken a big salad in a Tupperware container so I have one good veggie meal in flight. Sometimes that's more hassle than it's worth though and I make sure I get a good bunless burger or salad in the airport before the overseas flight. if I pack my own salad, I take dressing in a packet so I can get it through security.

We usually end up doing so much walking on these trips that if we plan ahead with our IP snacks and plane food and then keep it low carb, we really haven't gained weight on trips. The worst advice we were ever given was not to take tennis shoes to Italy so we wouldn't end up looking American. We ended up having to buy them there because our feet were such a mess after the first day. We easily walked 5-10 miles a day.

I know it's not the best idea to get off plan and is not the right choice for everyone, but by planning ahead about how exactly I'm going to handle the food and what choices I'm going to make, and packing my IP snacks/proteins, it keeps me from gaining the 10 lbs or more that used to be more standard for me when I was eating three meals a day and eating higher carb foods on a trip.

Originally Posted by GraceRev (Post 5075973)

Dancinintherain, thank you for your insights, especially for Rome! I think your approach is a great one. I am also anticipating a TON of walking so I hope that will help.
Just over 2 weeks until I go and my to-do list is growing by the day!

Originally Posted by Dancinintherain (Post 5075842)

Hi,

I thought I'd introduce myself. I started at 245 and my first goal is 145 but I may want to loose more. I'll have to see when I get there. I lost 50 lbs on IP in 2013 and have spent the months since then battling major GI issues. I haven't been able to eat veggies or really anything with fiber without total misery. Cottage cheese has been one of the only foods I could eat without getting sick. With months of eating too much cottage cheese and almost no veggies, which I normally love and depend upon, I'm up 20 lbs. I finally seem to getting back to the point where I can tolerate some veggies as long as it is with quite a bit of protein so I am starting again at phase 2 and hoping to loose those 20 and get back on track to my goal.

Originally Posted by Sgrealtor1 (Post 5075939)

Perfect timing for me...I just got finished 10 days in Disney on plan with a loss of 2lbs for that vacation followed by a swoosh week! Probably held onto some water for that first WI after vacation but was thrilled.... Anyway we are heading off to California in a few weeks and I am actually writing out a food eating list for myself. It is for a wedding so I know there will be lots of choices that night for dinner and I can make something work, but my issue is that this is the first time on a long flight (leave NJ at 4pm and arrive in cali 10pm pacific time) so basically up way past my bedtime so I am planning a late lunch and late snack at the airport on flight #1 then the second flight dinner will be served so I am planning some IP snacks at that time too and my DH & DS will give up their salads to me LOL.. I also think I will need a snack when we land and then have an hour drive to our first hotel. I am bringing a snack just so I don't go to be hungry! My biggest challenge is Sat & Sun & Monday hotel ... no fridge! Ugh! I will go with a written plan and allow myself and indulgence if necessary at the wedding. When I went to disney I said the same thing to myself....2 indulgences were allowed for that 10 Day family vacation and I never did indulge.. LOL

Originally Posted by Kdmom2 (Post 5076259)

I really enjoy this thread as I also have a lot to lose!
One thing I've noticed as a return IPer is that when I had taken a break after 5 months due to hair loss and my food demons taking over, all the food that I had thought I'd missed really wasn't all I remembered it to be. So, I remind myself that now that I'm back on track so that if I ever get tempted, to remember that it really won't be as amazing as I think it would be. The taste just isn't the same us knowing I'll feel crummy afterwards help keep me in line. In a weird way, my "break" from IP earlier in the year was good in that it did help me realize this and helps me stay on track this time around!

Originally Posted by Miss_Andi (Post 5076355)

I just can't help noticing as I read through all the posts and threads, how many people are IP'ing a 2nd time around. I know a lot of people had to stop for medical reasons but there are some who have just "fallen off the wagon." Reading all the successes that people are having with IP, I just can't figure out why someone (without health reasons) would just go back to their normal eating habits. I know I'm just a newbie with IP but I have been on many diets in my life time. I also know, first hand, how easy it is to go off a diet and eat normal again for some time before I realize, once again, I need to lose weight. But it baffles me that this diet is so very successful for so many and they must learn proper eating habits along the way..why do they so easily go off it? I suppose I know the answer really. It's because we're only human. And years and years of eating unhealthily is really all we know. It's really a little upsetting though, when you think about it. That being said, I truly want to wish everyone the best with this journey we're on. Whether it's your first or second time around.

Originally Posted by canadjineh (Post 5076367)

Just reading Chef Daniel Verati's preface to his maintenance cookbook...
He was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2007 when he weighed 293 lbs at 5'8". He lost 100 lbs in 5 months doing IP while still teaching at Le Cordon Bleu - Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute. After losing the weight he quit his job there and went to work for IP.

If anyone is worried about eating good, tasty, fun, easy to make food once they've lost the weight on IP they should get Chef Verati's book. "Taste The Freedom - 250+ Ways to a Better Lifestyle"
You should be able to get a look at it next time you go for your weigh in at your clinic...:chef:

Healthy eating doesn't have to be boring or bland! It IS for a lifetime!

Liana

Originally Posted by Kdmom2 (Post 5076259)

I really enjoy this thread as I also have a lot to lose!
One thing I've noticed as a return IPer is that when I had taken a break after 5 months due to hair loss and my food demons taking over, all the food that I had thought I'd missed really wasn't all I remembered it to be. So, I remind myself that now that I'm back on track so that if I ever get tempted, to remember that it really won't be as amazing as I think it would be. The taste just isn't the same and knowing I'll feel crummy afterwards help keep me in line. In a weird way, my "break" from IP earlier in the year was good in that it did help me realize this and helps me stay on track this time around!

Originally Posted by Briael (Post 5076531)

I do know that my body is WAY happier on ketones than it was on carbs. My energy levels are through the roof and I feel good.

Originally Posted by Miss_Andi (Post 5076767)

When did you start feeling your energy level going up? I'm only 2 1/2 weeks OP but seem to have no energy at all. Can't wait till I do get some energy.