This time of year is filled with the promise of easy summer days, reading books, and vacations. Some people will tell you, “Just try to maintain your weight on vacation,” others will say, “You’re on vacation – why worry about a diet?” and still other people encourage you to “Lose weight on vacation!”
I was obese for 10 years, and during that 10 year period we went on vacation many times. Not fabulous vacations to the shore, or overseas, but generally the free vacations. You know, the ones where you go stay with friends and family! Even though the vacation was “free,” the food issue weighed heavily on my mind. As a continual dieter, I used vacation times as not only a break from reality, but also breaks from any attempt at healthy eating.
One time, I had joined Weight Watchers (for the 82nd time), and had lost a couple of pounds. I had told all my friends who would listen that this time was the time I was finally going to get rid of all the excess pounds I was carrying around. But, life got in the way, and summer rolled around. Off we went to visit John’s Mom. While driving up to the coast, I ate and drank:
- 1 bag of pretzels
- 2 bags of peanut M&M’s (from the gas station)
- 1 32-ounce half diet & half regular coke (you gotta cut down where you can)
- 1 Big Grab bag of Cheetos
- 6 Oreo cookies
And that was just on the drive up. Something about packing the car, loading the kids, and leaving town made me overeat. It was as if I was free from worries and cares. Once we arrived at John’s mother’s house, the food fest really began in earnest. Cookies, chips, huge dinners, and new restaurant meals called my name, and I willing answered. Every time she asked me if I’d like ________ ( you fill in the blank), I said yes. The continual eating, and complete lack of exercise meant that during that 5 day vacation I gained back the 6 pounds I had lost. And to make matters worse, I also lost any incentive for trying to complete my weight loss journey. “Oh well,” I reasoned, “I’m just meant to be fat.” Every vacation during my obese years was handled the same way. Utter lack of planning, contempt for healthy food choices, and complete abandonment of any eating plan, sabotaged my desire to lose weight, and get fit.
The year I finally lost the 150 pounds also brought vacation plans. That year we went out of town three different times, and one of those visits was to John’s mother’s house. At that point, I had lost about 100 pounds. When John’s Mom opened the door I thought she was going to fall over with surprise. The last time she saw me I weighed close to 300 pounds. Here’s a picture of me right after we got there!
I handled the vacations that year much differently than I had in previous years. Here are some things I did to help me press forward in my weight loss journey rather than step back.
- ♦Packed healthy snacks – I know this seems obvious, but I obviously had never tried this one before!
- ♦Kept exercising – I walked around my mother-in-law’s apartment complex for half an hour each morning
- ♦Enjoyed her food, in moderation – I ate what I liked, in small portions, and what I didn’t like, I politely refused
- ♦Went out to eat carefully – When we ate out, I made the same choices I made at home. Fresh salads, grilled chicken, and potatoes were on the menu at most restaurants.
- ♦Kept my goals firmly in my mind.
That year, on each of the three vacations we went on, I came back home with a small loss. It wasn’t as much as I might have lost had I been at home, but it was a loss just the same. Some people recommend just trying to maintain on vacation, but I recommend staying focused on your goal of losing weight. What do you have to lose by going on vacation with the “loser” mindset rather than the “maintainer” mindset?
Each person needs to decide what their vacation goals are, and follow their own plan accordingly. Now, all these years later, I love going on vacation, and I still follow my own advice. I exercise while there, eat small portions of foods I love, and bring healthy snacks.
I’d encourage you to not lose sight of your weight loss goals just because you are going on vacation. If you can’t control your choices during a vacation, how will you learn to control your food choices after you are done with your “plan?” Remember, the goal of weight loss is to be healthy for life – not be healthy only during your the time you are trying to lose weight! Diane
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Diane I am so glad you posted this – thank you thank you thank you! I am also relieved I decided to check your blog for one more entry before I leave on my vacation
I hope you don’t mind that I printed this blog entry to carry with me in my food journal while I am away
I read your post and came away with this: Why can’t we lose weight on vacation? We can, and maybe we should expect to, instead of just being happy maintaing our loss! Thank you for this.
@ Running Girl – Thanks for the link on your site! Have a wonderful vacation and good luck on the race!
@ MaryAnne – I’m glad you liked it. It’s different for every person, but for me, I too think expectations of weight loss aren’t unreasonable.
Thank you for a timely post for me, too. As I mentioned on my blog, last night’s blunder helped me realize that I need to keep my eyes my my prize (good health) and not blow it all away in a free-for-all. I now look forward to reporting my intake once we’re home next week. Thanks for the inspiration, as usual : )
I followed the link from ‘A girl running’ Its always good to be remnded that sensible eating pays dividends.
@ Pam – Good for you! I will catch up with you when you get back. I bet you will have good news to report!
@ Sally – I love a girl running’s site. Thanks for the comment!
Do you mean to say I don’t have to gain 5 pounds when I go on vacation? LOL! Thanks for this great reminder of real life weight loss.
Great post. This can easily be applied to holidays as well!
@ Tina – You are too funny! I’ll say it again – you don’t have to gain 5 pounds on vacation!
@ Lori – Good point about the holidays! Thanks for visiting the blog. I loved your triathalon posts recently.
Thank you for a great blog! I am really enjoying reading your thoughts — you are a great inspiration. On vacation, I try to stay very active (even more active than I am normally). My husband and I love hiking and biking, and I find that I can actually eat a bit MORE when I am doing these kinds of activities for a day or half-day (but only a bit more — can’t go too crazy!). And it’s lots of fun to hike or bike in a new place — it gives you a different sense of the place than simply sitting on the beach, driving around in a car, or hanging out in the town.
I shoot for a stalemate when I’m on vacation. I try to incorporate outdoor hikes, hotel fitness centers or pools and plenty of other moving about with at least a sense of moderation at mealtimes, but the whole purpose of vacation is to break away from the routine and experience new experiences. I don’t want to completely stress myself out about calories and carbs… but I don’t want to come home to a 10-lb. gain either.
@ R – I’m glad you are liking the blog! Your vacations sound like fun. Ours were usually a bunch of sitting around trying to decide what to do!
@ Jack – It’s all a matter of balance isn’t it? What makes you feel like you enjoy the vacation, but still come home in control of your weight. Thanks for the comment.
This is a great post! Thanks for the insight! I’m going on vacation next week and instead of staying in a resort type place, we rented a house on Lake Michigan so that I can prepare healthy meals most of the time. I plan to get as much exercise as I can in and eat with the goal of losing weight instead of maintaining.
Great points! It’s all about planning: snacks, where to eat, places to exercise… And then enjoying everything in moderation!
@ monnik – That vacation sounds fun. I loved it when we rented a beach house once. It did make eating healthy a lot easier!
@ Andrea – Thanks for the comment. I love moderation – that way I can still have chocolate!
Your posts are so motivating. I’m leaving for a long vacation in a week and will definitely keep this in mind while I’m gone.
I find that incorporating lots of activities on vacation tends to offset the slight excess I might consume. On one of my trips I’m relying solely on a bicycle as transportation once I get into town. I also inevitably walk a lot more than usual on trips.
However, I think a big part of traveling and learning about your destination is enjoying local cuisine (in moderation!). I love eating out and really love the challenge of finding something both healthy AND delicious at restaurants.
I remember a very thin friend of our coming out to visit my family when I was about 13 years old. The first day she was there she asked my mom to drive her around the neighborhood so she could map out a mile or two for walking every morning. I had never heard of this before and was, “Okay. She’s different.” She got up every morning and went for her walk while she was vacationing with us. I remember her telling my mom that if she didn’t keep up with her walking she would gain weight. (Especially when she was helping my mom learn to make a chocolate cheesecake!!)
It didn’t mean anything to me then, but now I see the great importance of that lady’s mindset and it makes sense why she was always able to control her weight.
I confess that I have a horrible mindset about vacations and weekends that I’m working on changing. I hope to be like you and this friend of our family’s in my thinking from now on.
@ Jenelle – Active vacations are awesome, and so is local cuisine. It sounds like you have a firm plan for your upcoming vacation. Have a great one!
@ Leah – I love this story. When I was overweight I never would have dreamed to ask for a good walking route. Now I do everytime we go somewhere. It’s fun to exercise in other places!
Such a great post!!! Great thoughts & great ideas to carry through with you whether you are on vacation, travel or a road trip.
I usually lose a little weight on vacation because not only am I usually pretty active , we tend to go to Hawaii if we can afford a vacation, BUT I really prefer to feel good while I am on vacation & when I eat too far from my normal routine, I start to feel bloated & UGH. I also do a very modified workout routine. I jog in the beauty there & bring exercise bands.
It is not that I don’t enjoy.. I just plan for & pick those times or things I want to enjoy. I just tend to eat healthy most of the time, bring my own snacks & food with me as we travel the island & enjoy & then pick & choose a few times when I want that little something extra. Even when I visit the grandkids in Idaho, I plan for my food so I don’t feel like “you know what”. I want to enjoy my time & of course they keep me active!
Great post! Right after I reached my initial goal we went on vacation to South America and the Caribbean (all you can eat-all inclusive). I was so nervous about what I would eat and making sure I would not gain any weight back while on vacation. I took protein powder and protein bars (stuff that would travel ok), dried fruit and nuts. I was careful while I was there, but did enjoy the food in moderation. I tried to walk a lot. At the all inclusive I made sure to eat fruit and protein for breakfast, veggies and protein for lunch and then I ate whatever I wanted in moderation for dinner plus a small dessert. I came back from vacation 1-2 lbs lighter!! I couldn’t believe it (well I believed it because my jeans that fit good at the beginning of the trip were loose on me at the end of the trip!). Anyway, that’s when I knew I could do this for life if I could make it through vacation without deprivation–just being focused.
@ Jody – Of course you lose weight on vacation – you are totally disciplined and fit. Hawaii sounds lovely; I’ve just seen pictures! Planning is important not only at home, but on vacation as well. Thanks for the great comment!
@ Sandrelle – Your story just shows what planning and dedication can do! And for a newly minted “loser” it probably proved to you that you had made a lifestyle change! I loved your blog yesterday and today!
Diane, this is a great post. I have often wondered why people always assume they are going to gain. The only reason you should gain is if you make a decision that you are taking a break from eating healthily. Again, great post.
I am very active on vacations and always lose weight! I walk everywhere more than I do it at home. And being busy all the time also means I don’t particularly have time to eat. I never eat at restaurants. I shop at farmer’s markets and grocery stores.
@ Cristina – That sounds like a really wonderful vacation – one where you have a great time, walk a lot and lose weight! Good for you. Thank you so much for visiting the blog, and for the comment!