Maintaining on Vacation

I'm new here, so first: a big HELLO to everyone out there!

Now on to my question, lol. I've been doing really well with my calories and exercise, and I'm really proud of myself for reaching my goal. However, I'm going to Italy next week, and I'm a little nervous to a) not be exercising and b) be spending 10 days in a country renowned for its pizza and pasta!

I want to maintain while I'm away, but I don't necessarily want to be stressing about food the whole time. The cuisine there is awesome and I'm excited, I just want to make sure I  can enjoy it healthily.

Any suggestions?

Italy's portions are not American sizes!  Many of the meat and pasta dishes are the smallest part of the meal.  Load up on veggies and salads as usual and don't forget to expericence your meal and taste.  You'll be fine.

my suggestions. expect to gain a few pounds and accept it before leaving. that being said, don't go crazy with food...eat until satisfied. don't stuff yourself but don't deprive yourself of novel food experiences either...it's not everyday that you get to go to a place like this. eat a lot of veggie alongside the more decadent dishes to keep your appetite in check. most importantly, have fun!! 

Thanks very much for the advice... I'm not sure how crazy I am at the thought of gaining while I'm over there, but maybe walking around the city all day will help keep things under control?

And I guess Italian women have lived on this diet for generations...and they look fabulous! ;)

• Have fun, don't worry about gaining weight
• Walk and climb stairs whenever you can--exercise is usually built-in to sight-seeing
• A lot of their pizzas/pastas are actually lower in calories than ones in the USA
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables whenever you can
• Drink a glass of wine here or there, but try not to overindulge....too often LOL
• Buffets and fast-food may not be as prevalent and not as tempting as it is when one travels in the USA
• Have fun, don't worry about gaining weight

I think most have told you not to worry and its good advice....I used to live in Europe and went to Italy several times a year...the food is fantastic...you will more than likely do a bit of walking when you are there so exercise might be different but you will probably get some in...also keep in mind the meals in Italy while you may think they would blow your diet out of the water its not the same as here...they generally eat at different times of the day...the meals (depending on where you will be) have seafood etc and the traditional meals arent as heavy.  So dont worry just enjoy in moderation and have a great vacation.

And then there's always portion control, too. Don't have to clean your plate to enjoy the food. We went on vacation this summer and ate out at a restaurant every night - I still lost one pound over 10 days, just by not pigging out.

Have fun! I am green with envy!