Hello friends,

I have lost 39 pounds in 22 months, through 3FC support. I've taken up running and usually run between 10 - 15 miles a week (on a good week, at least) and eat clean (try to limit sugar, refined carbs, processed foods, and focus on whole grains, lean proteins, and balancing carbs with protein since I have insulin resistance). I don't count calories strictly but do read labels and am conscious of my overall calorie and carb intake each day. I have been losing slowly, but am content with the "slow and steady wins the race" approach.

Here's my deal: on October 18 I fly to Peru for two and a half weeks of vacation with my family. We're going with a travel agency and I don't know how much control I'll have of what I am served to eat. I'm not too worried about exercise as I imagine I'll be doing a lot of walking, and plan on running in Lima (staying in a wealthier district where it's safe) and can always do stretching and ab work type stuff in the hotel.

It's the food piece I'm worried about. But because you're never really sure if raw food (like salad, veggies) has been washed with clean water, they recommend you don't eat it. And I've read that rice and potatoes are staples of Peruvian cuisine - not happy news to someone who is trying to limit carbs! I'm planning on taking little packets of natural peanut butter and baggies with nuts so I have healthy protein on hand in case I'm served a super carby meal, and I'm planning on not drinking any calories (just bottled water - with the altitude in the Andes alcohol could aggrevate any altitude sickness symptoms) and avoiding sweets (none of the desserts I've read about in the guide books sound all that tasty, anyway). That's my plan so far.

I do want to focus on having a good time with my family and enjoying this amazing opportunity to visit such an extraordinary part of the world. But I also don't want to come home and find myself no longer in onederland. Ideally, I'd like to lose 1-2 pounds on the trip, or at least maintain. Any advice?

I travel pretty extensively, and can always manage to eat very well.

However, with a tour guide situation you are correct in that you may have limited options with no ability to ask for healthier alternatives.

Other than bringing food and watching portion sizes/sauces/etc there probably isnt much you can do. I would probably bring an entire box (or 2) of Luna bars. But frankly, when in Peru do as the Peruvians! If you actually like the good, it will be a rare experience and you should enjoy it in moderation without feeling too guilty.

I know you dont want to backtrack, but try to remember that your eating choices are (hopefully) for life and not a temporary fix. That means learning to enjoy unique experiences to their fullest, as that too is part of life

Have a blast!

Hey, blueridge! Have a wonderful time on your trip. I lived in Peru for work for six months or so a while back so I can give you some firsthand info. In Lima and along the coast, there are great seafood options. Ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime and chiles - much tastier than it sounds) is very diet friendly and there's lots of Chinese restaurants (with a Peruvian twist) with healthy stir fries. Yummy rotisserie chicken too. There are some big modern grocery stores if you need to load up on healthy snacks once you arrive. And ask at the hotel if they know of any nearby salsaerobics classes if you're looking for a local workout. I used to go to classes at the gym near my hotel all the time and it was a hoot.

I imagine you're going up to Cuzco at some point on your trip. There are lots of restaurants oriented towards traveler tastes there. I can't remember lots of specifics but I think I remember veggie-filled soups and stews.

Hope it all goes well!

ETA - I never had problems eating the local produce but my general rule of thumb (YMMV) is to avoid raw salads and unpeeled fruit for the first few weeks I'm in a country. If you go with cooked veggies and peelable fruit you should be fine.

I'm half Peruvian!

Dancerindenver is right. When you're in Lima, if you like seafood, you'll probably enjoy ceviche and that's a very healthy alternative. Pure protein.

The biggest thing that's recently become a staple of the Peruvian food scene is the rotisserie chicken that Dancerindenver also mentioned, so that will make it easier for you to pick protein, rather than carbs.

You don't have to eat the rice or the potatoes if you don't want to -- they will probably have vegetables and salads.

Don't be afraid of the raw salads in the nice restaurants -- just don't go to a food stand in a corner and take a bite of that apple without washing it first. But I think you wouldn't do that in the States either, right?

If you go to Cuzco and Machu Picchu you're going to find yourself with a lot of touristy restaurants which means finding healthy alternatives will be harder. But it's not impossible. Stick to veggies and protein and you'll be fine. Just avoid the fried anything.

The desserts can be delicious if they're made right (depends on where you're eating), but please, keep on believing they're not delicious because that's better for your diet! If you're eating in a group, just give your dessert to the person next to you. Or ask for fruit as a dessert.

Breakfast might be harder, but if you're in one of the bigger hotels, you'll probably have the choice of eggs or other protein at breakfast. There will probably be fruit served then too and take that instead of the bread.

And honestly, don't worry. This is a vacation, you'll be exploring a new country, you should enjoy yourself. Take some snacks (I do this when I travel anywhere) that help me manage my hunger. Either way, you'll hopefully be closer to a grocery store where you can buy snacks if you run out.

Also, you'll probably be walking a lot, so take comfortable shoes!

When you get back, get right on track and don't worry if the scale is up when you get back. Between the airplane ride, the sodium in the food, it'll take a few days to get back to a "normal" weight as your body processes the water out again.

Thanks, guys. This is helpful - I'll plan on having chicken and fish for my protein, cooked vegies and peelable fruit, will bring some Larabars (prefer them to Luna bars) and comfy shoes for lots of exercise.

BTW, great to hear from you, Dancer!