Maintaining away from Home.

Hello...I'm 31 years old. Female. 5'3" (160cm). 53kg (117lbs). I lost 35 kilos over a period of 2 years. My average calorie intake now is 1000 cals per day. I do a moderate-vigorous 15 minute workout on my elliptical trainer at high intensity. At one point I wanted to lose more weight and have been living on 500-600 calories a day for a very long time, but after joining here, I realized how wrong that was. I am now trying to up my calorie intake at the moment to 1200 calories to remedy this issue, but I am doing it gradually. In other words, I changed my goal from wanting to lose weight to maintaining my current weight.

In a few days I will travel to Paris to visit my brother. I will be staying there a minimum of a month and half to three months. I won't be able to exercise, although I do intend to walk alot, and I will be staying with friends; so most likely I will not be able to preplan the food for the day.

If you kindly have any tips that will help me eat right and not gain, I would be grateful. The reason why I am asking for help is that I usually am successful in my diet if I eliminate temptations completely from my surroundings, but tend to get weak when I'm not in control, such as when I'm on vacation in other people's homes and the food they cook is so good. And of course since my metabolism is so bad, I gain VERY easily. I understand it's normal in the beginning if you're upping your calories, but I only understood all this information and what I have been doing wrong recently. In the past, I would freak and go back to starving myself. I do not want to do go back to this behavior there, since in the past I would try to go back to that when I feel that I am not in control of my diet and when I am in a vulnerable situation (lots of good food around).

I appologize for the long post and thank you for your help in advance.  

Unfortunately, 1200 calories still represents chronic undereating for someone with your stats and who is reasonably active.   You may think you're 'weak when I'm not in control' but I would have thought that it's not weakness you're experiencing as much as malnutrition. A body that is starving and which needs more energy & more nourishment will make you seek it out whether you like it or not. 

You need to work on getting your body used to a more normal amount of food ongoing.  For you, I'd suggest that is around 1800-1900 cals a day.  You may not be able to speed up a metabolism that has been seriously suppressed in just a few days but I think if you don't at least make a start then you're always going to have this problem.

There will be some weight-gain short-term... that's the inevitable result of crash-dieting, unfortunately, but it's something you have to work through.

Thank you kindly for your reply :)

I lived in France for a year in 1979, and had no problem maintaining my weight there, in fact, it was easier there than when I returned to the US.  My suggestions are as follows:

1. Eat the traditional French way -- my understanding is that has been eroding recently, but I am sure it is still possible.  That means eating a light breakfast, a 3 course lunch (starter, main, cheese or dessert), and a light supper (light main like soup or an omelet, fruit for dessert).  The portions will be small.  In a big city like Paris, there might be a tendency to have the bigger meal in the evening rather than at noon, the key is to avoid 2 big meals.  Eat slowly, enjoy conversation.
2. Eat at the "proper time" -- lunchtime is noon to 2:00, dinner is 8:00 to 10:00.  Don't eat between meals.  Don't eat at American-style fast food joints.
3. Use public transportation (the metro and bus systems are great), and walk a lot.
4. Many people substitute plain yogurt with sugar for the cheese course, they won't think you are weird for doing this.

Once in a while, splurge on a fancy restaurant meal that includes many courses and wine (un restaurant goumand) -- you are in Paris, after all!