Yeah, you should be fine. If you weren't walking around the city doing stuff then it could potentially be a problem. Besides, you will be so distracted with being in a new place and seeing things that food won't be on your mind unless you are genuinely hungry. Just watch portions. Smart move with the Bacardi and diet coke. Oh, when you plan to go out for dinners out just eat light during the day... save the calories for the evening. Thats what I did when I went to Italy were we ate out every night for a week and I only put on a pound : )

You are going to have so much fun!

Not sure if you drink coffee but Costa Coffee makes great Skinny Lattes... only 55 calories if you use artificial sweetner. Their lattes are the closest in taste to the ones in Italy... super yummy... and I'm not even a coffee drinker!

I always find it astonishing that people from the US panic about putting on weight by coming to the UK. Coming from the fattest nation on earth it should surely be easier to lose weight anywhere else in the world than where you come from?

You may have a point - but don't hold our breath. The UK is right behind us.

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/thebigissue/news/health/obese-britain-$1151528$1151528.htm

So you have no need to be so astonished any more.

Oh, I'm fully aware of that thanks - it's all the crap food we import from the US! I'm astonished because I presume that overweight Americans who are changing their habits have worked out that grilled salmon, boiled potatoes and broccoli is better that a big mac, fries and milkshake. It kind of works like that all over the world so keep your basic "dieting wits" about you and you'll be fine. Have a good trip - Manchester has a seriously good night life.

Am I the only person who hates manchester ?

That aside it doesnt matter which country you are in, if you have lost weight in America and have common sense when it comes to food then you'll be fine. If you don't know the nutritional info of something - its simple, dont eat it. (I'm sure thats what you'd do at home) Have fun!

It really depends what part of the US you are referring to. The majority of people in LA (where I am from) are into the healthy lifestyle and many women are between a size 0 to size 4. Same is true for Miami and many other places. So in comparing the lifestyle from London to LA... LA is far healthier. Restaurants their always have healthy options for diners. And, its not unusual to go to a bar their and order water or soda... you get strange looks here for doing that.

I find the food and drink here to be very heavy which is why I gained so much weight when I moved here. I've lost and still losing by living more of the lifestyle I had in LA.

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Britain being on a socialist healthcare system, you would think they would limit the amount of fast food restaurants or make it mandatory for restaurants to list the nutritional values of their food... like in NY.

Fast food was never a part of my lifestyle while in LA or here. It does upset me that these crap chains have appeared all over the world. They take one of the worst things in America and spread it all over. If people wouldn't go to them then they wouldn't be in business; it's a shame.

Oh, I dunno if this is your first time out to the UK...but when I came here in december 2005 from Chicago, I didn't eat properly for about 3 or 4 weeks at least.

Its not that I didn't like the food or anything, I just didn't want to be a pig compared to my boyfriend and his parents...that and I genuinely wasn't able to eat much, I just wasn't ever hungry!

(spoz, you aren't alone...I hate it too <3)

But this is by buying and cooking and food available here I presume.

I think you're absolutely right in a lot of what you say and I do accept that some parts of the US are very health conscious. My only point is that anyone who is fat is fat because they put too much of the wrong food in their mouths repeatedly and it doesn't matter which country you come from. I get irritated (this next point isn't aimed at the original poster or anyone on this site) when England-bashing goes on re this subject. I was very recently stuck on a plane next to a huge american who was whining on about how he hates going to the UK because he always puts on so much weight with "your fish and chips and battered sausages" - so grill some trout then, it's not hard!

How do you make a country responsible for you weight problem? I'm overweight because I eat too much crap. In the same restaurants I order steak and chips there's griled swordfish and salad on the menu - depends on what you choose. There may be more choice of bad foods in Engand than in e.g. LA but you don't have to eat them. It's a choice.

Sorry original poster - I am probably too late as you may well be on your way now. As others have said - go for the 'dry' curries if you do go for a curry - leave the rich creamy ones. Probably best not to have a starter - cetainly not an onion bhaji!! Deep fried madness! Also try to avoid shop bought sandwiches unless you can get it made from scratch that is. I hate shop bought ones with all the mayo and other wet dressings that make your 'sarnie' gloopy.

Oh and by the way I have seen 'your' Kraft mac and cheese in a packet over here. Dear God. We also have those God awful Oreos.

Anyway, it is all about enjoying yourself. I hope you have a good time!

indian , salad and tika , should be ok . Keep with the salad and chicken , and veg . Also not forgetting fruits , strawberrys are coming down in price now , they will be good for you . Also plenty of barbies .

Hey!
If you go out to eat, try to stick to salad I guess. If you do end up at a kebab place at 2 in the morning then have a small cicken kebab with plenty of salad and no sauce, drink vodka and diet coke, or gin & tonic, stay away rom the beer!
If your into a curry then have a veggie tomato based one with boiled rice, stay away from the nam bread!
There is plenty to see, so try to walk the city, view the art galleries, that will help keep down the excess levels too!
Also Manchester has a great nightlife of gigs and clubbing, so how about dancing off some weight as well & of course there is always to option of staying in and making sweet loooooovvvvvvveeeee!