Next week is my first "trip" while being on LA. I'm off to Las Vegas for a few days with my boyfriend..thank goodness for March breaks!

I was there last year..not on a program. I remember a lot of amazing buffets and tasty treats.

I'm wondering how other people have dealt with taking a trip like this. Do you let yourself slip up a bit? Should I forget the bars to compensate for the extra food?? I want to enjoy myself, but not gain a bunch of weight back.

I'd love to hear your advice and experiences,

Sarah

You have to look at it from a couple different aspects..
You've only been on the plan for a couple months, correct? In that time, you've been giving your body the things it needs, rather than the things it craves.. That's helped you drop 10lbs. But it's also given your body a healthy makeover...

If you go and give in to those tasty treats on the buffet, you'll be introducing bad things into your system too soon and your body will then kick into craving mode, making it hard to resist.

Then again, LAWL has always been about being "free to live" and the general thought is that you shouldn't have to kill yourself to be good..

My advice is for you to make the best choices possible.. If you give in to the bad stuff, do it early in the day. Make sure you make good choices through the day and get in all your portions of veggies, fruits and proteins. Add to that.. WATER WATER WATER...

Besides the fried junk and calorie laden food, the buffets have plenty of salads and fruits.

We have to remember that these challenges will come at us every day, not just the occassional trip to Vegas or wherever. The time will come that you can occassionally indulge in the bad stuff, but that time is not now.. You don't want to undo the good things you've been working so hard at accomplish.

Add to that.. Imagine how good you'll feel after you get home, knowing that you passed "the test", if you know what I mean..

Put a 20 on red for me!

Thanks for the tips Dan. I understand what you mean about getting the cravings back...it would be easy to fall off the wagon at this point.
I am going to work hard at sticking as closely to my plan as possible, with a few small treats. I will drink lots of water and walk a lot!!

Good Luck "Livingmybestlife" I myself have a one-day bus trip coming up that I am getting a little nervous about in which I need to try to plan for.

I am not sure if you go to a center but when I was going to one they were pretty helpful in helping me on vacation questions and when I went to things like weddings and holiday parties. Some of the suggestion my counselor gave me were many of what "DAN2112" gave you.

Also, please do not quote me I am not a counselor of LAWL and maybe "DAN212" or anyone else can correct me if I am wrong. But could you put yourself back on the Take Off during your vacation time which might allow you to eat unlimited amounts of protein and green veggies??? In which you would also have to drink tons of water. Again, this is only a suggestion I AM NOT a counselor just an out of the box thinker that's all. Hopefully someone else can give their thoughts or correct me on my suggestion.

Well, technically, you can do Take Off anytime, but I would imagine in Vegas, it would be REALLY hard.. Take Off is pretty strict as to what you can eat and when, so in my opinion, I'd rather just try to be as good as possible and then upon return from Vegas, spend the next couple of days eating light proteins and starches (while still getting in all portions)... Do a Take Off when you get back if you want, but remember this.. Take Off is not meant to be a crutch.. I found that out the hard way, thinking I could blow off the plan for a weekend and then spend Monday and Tuesday doing TO.. After a while, the TO became pretty uneffective.

Sarah,

I'm right there with you - Got a trip to Vegas coming up on the 17th, and I'm extremely nervous! I want to enjoy myself... but I don't want to come back 10 pounds heavier.

I hadn't come up with a strategy yet, so thanks for your posting. I'll be reading the replies with great interest. I just restarted my LAWL program 4 weeks ago, so this would be a bad time for me to blow it.

Hope you enjoy your trip! Have fun.

- Leigh Ann

I asked my counsellor what I should do this morning. Her only advice was
chicken and salad, chicken and salad...and make good choices..duh!

I will try my best..but I think I may stray a little from just chicken and salad.

Enjoy your trip too LeighAnn.

I went to Vegas last year while in Weight Loss mode. If we were at a buffet, I'd just fill up on salad first, then try to make good choices. The great thing about LAWL is that you really do have great variety-but just a warning. Anytime that I even had a bite or 2 of something extremely rich or fried, I was headed to the bathroom! There are some things that you body may not be able to tolerate anymore....

I just wanted to put my two cents in... Ha!
I have went on a couple of trips since on LA. I too was very nervous about them In some cases when they were really close to when I started I actually stayed on plan by limiting my portions.... but there have been other trips where I have ate things that are not on plan basically like Dan said you have to watch and compensate and just be aware of what you are eating. Usually after a trip for a weekend will be up about 2-3 lbs depending on my badness. ha! But then it will take me about 2 weeks to get it back off. So just keep in mind. The more Off plan you go the longer it will take to get it back off. Believe me it is very frustrating and you have to be ready for the results. Ha! Good luck to all of you taking a trip! Have a great time!

Lots of great advice here. Here is my 2 cents.

I just got back from my trip to Florida. I didn’t stay perfectly on plan, but I kept my weight loss goals in the back of my mind and adjusted things WAY more than I ever have in the past.

I did gain a bit, but it was back off in less than a week so I think it was mostly water weight associated w/ all the extra salt that restaurants pour into their foods.

Here are some of the things I did to stay in control.

1. We walked ALOT. In the airports we speed-walked between gates instead of using those moving sidewalks.
2. Always carry water with you.
3. Eat your bigger meals early in the day and avoid late night snacks.
4. Don't fear the buffet. I found that it was easier & less expensive to get a more balanced meal from a buffet. Make sure your plate is properly proportioned. At least ½ of your plate s/b fresh fruits and vegetables, ¼ starch & ¼ protein. Don’t go back for 2nds! You really don’t need them.
5. If you really want something off plan and fattening, split it. We did this almost every day. For example, at lunch one day I really wanted a burger. So my DF ordered a burger and I ordered a plain Caesar salad w/ dressing on the side. We split it up right away, portion sizes are so out of control these days anyway - nobody needs all that food. This helps save $$ also!
6. Don’t starve yourself in order to “save up” for a bad meal later. Continue eating small, nutritious things throughout the day. This will help you from binging and keep your metabolism up.
7. Did I mention drink a ton of water? Helps flush out all the alcohol too.

Here's the kicker - the most damage I did to my weight loss was after I returned from vacation. It took me over a week to get back on plan. I slipped badly back into my “old” ways. The foods that I haven’t craved for months were suddenly in the front of my mind again. It is REALLY hard to get back on track. Contact us and your COD as soon when you return.

Enjoy yourself! I love Vegas and am going there again in May.

Living my best life - I was in Vegas in October, and as Jill said, I found we did a LOT of walking. However, unlike Jill, I personally found it best to stay away from the buffets, for me there is just way to much temptation there. Plus, we were not afraid to spend a little more to eat at the "big girl" restaurants, that was our "entertainment" for the evening - well, that and Toby Keith's Bar and Grill - but that's a whole other story. The item that was my downfall (it was only item, but repeated many, many times) was the alcohol. I found I ate very, very well through the day, but when we got out the alcohol was a whole other story! I can't remember the name of the place, but there is a cigar bar in the Shops at Caesar's Palace that makes an absolutely delicious tangerine Mojito.

Anyway, to make a long story short, enjoy yourself, but just make better choices where you can - go to Margarativille and have the Cheeseburger in Paradise, but have a salad instead of the fries, and watch the alcohol!

Have fun!

Back from Vegas!

wow..3 days goes by so fast! We had a great time and I did ok. I made a decision not to record what I was eating, but try to make good choices. I had one buffet, which wasn't the best for me. But ...we walked a ton! I'm a little frightened to weigh in and might give it a few days!

Saw the Cirque shows "O" and "Ka" both amazing! The highlight was the David Copperfield show and my boyfriend disappearing at the hands of the best magician in the world! very cool.

Wish me luck with my weight

For all of you that have been to Vegas - DBFand I are going in a couple of months. Probably May/June. We've never been and I'd like to know where you stayed and what all there is to do besides gamble. Did you find something to do that was off the beaten path? Any insight would be a great help. Thanks.

I have found that there is so much to do in Vegas, its hard to fit it all in during a 3 or 4 day trip. I have stayed at Treasure Island and MGM Grande Signature. The signature at MGM was the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. The only downfall we found was that you have to walk through the entire MGM hotel ...plus more walking to get back to your hotel...about 15 min. To us it made a difference when were trying to get to a show on time or were just tired and wanted to make it back to our rooms. Treasure Island was also very nice and didn't have the walking issues.

I have seen 3 Cirque du Soleil shows - O, KA and Mystere. I enjoyed all 3 but I would have to say KA is my favourite. We also saw David Copperfield at MGM and that was also fantastic.

You can do a lot of shopping there. There are outlet stores that you get to from a short bus ride. Also, indoor malls all over the strip.

Walking through the different hotels/casinos is also something to do, as all the lobbies and set ups are different. A lot also have attractions to draw people in. MGM has lions that you can see, Flamingo has birds.

You can also hang out at the pool of whatever hotel you choose. We unfortunately didn't have time for this, but I would've enjoyed for a day.

I really enjoy Vegas, I think you'll have a great time and I can't wait to go back myself!

Sarah

Thanks Sarah. I'm not a big gambler, more of a people watcher. Sounds like whatever your interests are there is always something to do. I appreciate your input.