I got back from a week in Texas last Sunday night. I had intended to stay on plan during the vacation, but it didn't quite play out that way. My host (best friend from childhood) is an excellent cook and plied me with her delicious food nonstop throughout the day. I'd say I averaged 3,000 cals/day during the week.

When I got home I decided not to weigh myself -- didn't want to get too depressed -- but to get right back on plan. So far so good and it's been 4 days. I may weigh myself this Sunday or I may wait a few more days.

In previous maintenance phases it was usually a trip that undid me, so it's important for me to prove to myself that I can rebound from this type of indulgence. I think I have this.

Freelance
www.englishgrammargripe.com

Good for you! I'm from Texas and I love the restaurants there. Everything is bigger in Texas though, so the portions are HUGE!

Good for you for not weighing yourself. I always think I won't but I do...

I've been undone by trips. You have this. People recover from Christmas every year!

Staying OP is tough when you're in a foreign house surrounded by delicious off-plan food! Good for you for getting back on track when you get home, though. My body always craves fresh veggies and fruits after the holidays spent in family members homes that have lots of high-cal goodies. I wonder if it's just our bodies way of creating a natural balance. After a period of indulgence, the body "knows" to cut back. Is that what maintenance is about? Balance?

Glad you had a nice trip and welcome back!

Nah, in my case it's my mind dragging my kicking-and-screaming body back to the program.

Freelance

Ditto this. LOL

Good luck with it, freelance. I visited family for a couple of weeks at the beginning of January, and I have yet to get completely back on track (I'll have a string of on-track days, but then fall off again). As of a month ago, I had not gained, but I this point, I'm pretty sure I've gained about five pounds but cannot face the scale again yet. Funny thing is that maintenance seemed so easy up until that January visit (and I had visited them a few times before and gotten back on track with no problem). I think, for me, what seems to work best is ridding the house of temptations and going shopping for foods that are healthy but that I also love (e.g., shrimp so that I can make shrimp cocktail for lunch, salads w/ lots of "stuff" that I love, etc.).

Good luck!

When I'm on a trip, I'm more wary of food than ever, if anything, and I don't let myself indulge. Consequently I often come back weighing the same or less.

My problem with trips -- if it is a problem -- is that I undergo a feeling of unrest after the trip for a few days. I find returning to my old routines difficult. If there were ever a time when I wanted to throw in the towel, this is it. I can't seem to just jump back in where I was. It's a mental struggle.