Talking to a friend yesterday about the upcoming trip to Spain. I told her I'd lost 3st (42) and she actually said, well done! She finds it hard to compliment me when I lose weight, because she struggles with weight too, although she's currently at a very healthy weight through much effort.

Then she said, 'When you go on holiday, don't diet. Enjoy yourself, you're on holiday.'
It felt like she'd suddenly started speaking Klingon. So I said, 'There's no way I'm going to regain what I've worked so hard to lose.'
'Yes, but you're on holiday. Enjoy yourself.'
'I WILL enjoy myself but I don't need to stuff myself to do that.'

We moved on, she was getting edgy; but I was really pleased - and grateful to the chix here - that I've truly moved from thinking of my weightloss efforts as something I can pick up and put down, something to be unhappy about. I'm SO happy with how things are going, while I can imagine eating the 'wrong' thing accidentally because I can't work up the Spanish for ?how many calories in That? I completely can't imagine choosing to eat the pounds back on.

So woohoo! and thankyou for nudging me into the light!

Yay! That is awesome for you! I would tell you the Spanish if I knew it, but instead I took the oh so useful Latin in high school and college.

:kiss:

hey, don't knock the Latin, I wouldn't be without it!

Carpe diem!

Yes, enjoy yourself! By all means. Isn't that what a holiday is all about? But why oh why do people think that the ONLY way to enjoy oneself - is with caloric food? I just don't get that.

Good for you for realizing this.

Me neither, although I appreciate I'm at the enthusiastic convert stage.

I went on holiday with this lady in 05 and prob won't again, I've very fond of her but we have different vacation expectations. For example, the hotel we stayed in was all inclusive, including alcohol, so she and her mate got deeply tiddly every night, like it was their duty. Odd.

I gotta admit though, back in the day, food absolutely WAS one of the most appealing aspects of a vacation for me. Given my weight, I certainly wasn't capable of doing very many "outdoorsy" and activity laden things. There weren't many things that gave me pleasure or that I could partake in at that weight - and eating heavily WAS sadly enough something that I could participate in.

"deeply tiddly"! I love it and will use it.

Strangely enough, I've never gained weight when on vacation in Spain or Portugal. It has to be the salads and skipping most desserts. We also used to just do tapas instead of dinner because we were usually ready for bed at Spanish dinner hour.

Enjoy your new weight AND your vacation.

What a wonderful moment of recognition.
Have a fabulous time!

Well done, Ailidh, on your response! You WILL have a great time, I can tell!

Have a fabulous vacation. It's going to be an extra good one--I just know it. Way to recognize the food issue--good gosh, it's just food--NOT the vacation itself!

My friend just got back from a cruise with her mother to Alaska. She was pleasantly surprised, she said, that the food was really very well proportioned and not set up for massive over eating. It was a great relief for her. Said she enjoyed her time.

Recently, I went to a favorite (though not often frequented) restaurant with my husband on our date night. I always get the grilled vegetarian plate (it's a famous grill and seafood place). I would carefully choose what I would need to NOT eat so I can plan my doggie bag. I'd have to eat food immediately that doesn't keep well for re-heats. What kind of dinning experience is THAT?

We were very happy to find that the size of the meal for both our dishes had really been reduced. I ate the whole darn plate because it was proportioned right.

The change is more a factor of the restaurant business and the economy than nutrition. We didn't see relief on the bill but certainly were very relieved gastronomically.

That`s awesome You WILL go and enjoy yourself and you will NOT let it derail you. You are awesome... did I mention that.

What a wonderful moment for you!!! You and Thighs Be Gone had the right idea. If it was just about food, we could stay home, eat, and save ourselves a trip!! Can't wait til you get back and tell us all about it!

Well done!

Oh, I get it. I thought that way too long. Changing that mind set was (is) imperative to me.

Ailidh - way to go!!! Changing attitudes is a huge deal!