Over Christmas break I am going to Germany with my family for two weeks.
Now most people tell me to just enjoy myself and not count calories while on vacation, but really, I do not want to undo all my hard work.
So, how can I keep losing weight on vacation? I won't have any internet access, no access to restaurants with healthy alternatives that I know of, and the whole foreign food thing will throw me off.
Does anyone have any tips how they stayed on track during their vacations?
Hmmm, thats a tough one. I always gain a few pounds on vacation, but I'm a "foodie" and a large part of how I decide where to go on vacation is based on the food/restaurants!
I would try to focus mostly on portion control. Eat the foods you want to but just a little of each. I would hate to go to another country and have to skip trying all the traditional foods.
Also, walk alot if you can.. exercise to burn off the excess calories.
It may be more realistic to focus on maintaining you rcurrent loss rather than to lose additional pounds during your vacation.
Just go easy on the beer. :) When I was in Europe I actually managed to loose weight... I also agree with what other people have said enjoy your vacation, try different cuisine. Just remember everything in moderation. ;)
UD, PLeasssseee...it's L-O-S-E not L-O-O-S-E!!! (ie: you "lose" weight and your pants get "looser")
Honest, I tried really hard to hold back from telling you this, but there are about 45 threads on this site based on the misspelling of this word.
Heh, well, I'm not a fan of alcohol, so I'm in the clear for that one. 
Original Post by gddrdld:
UD, PLeasssseee...it's L-O-S-E not L-O-O-S-E!!! (ie: you "lose" weight and your pants get "looser")
Honest, I tried really hard to hold back from telling you this, but there are about 45 threads on this site based on the misspelling of this word.
lmao.
as for the op, my advice to you:
- avoid alcohol, hot chocolate, and all other high-calorie drinks.
- don't order appetizers.
- walk alot, or maybe even go for morning jogs.
- avoid dessert, or just split the dessert with 1 or 2 other people.
- if you're not hungry, don't eat.
- and don't clear your plate if you're not hungry.
- maybe just try to avoid anything in a butter or cream sauce, anything covered in cheese, or anything deep-fried, etc.
I spent a month in Europe and I ate the traditional foods along with whatever I wanted. Included was one day in which the dinner where I was staying was a bunch of fried things, every week!
And I didn't gain anything. Why? Because I walked everything off while sight-seeing! I wouldn't worry too much. :P
Germany is wonderful!
I lived in Holland for 3.5 months, very close to the German border. The thing that really did me in was the alcohol, so if you're not a big drinker, you might be alright. You can find pretty normal, recognizable food (non-traditional stuff, I mean) pretty much anywhere, and they have smaller portions in Europe. Just use logic... If something tastes like it has a lot of butter in it, it probably does. If it's a cream sauce, you probably don't want it. If it has a ton of cheese in/on it, don't eat a lot, etc.
To be completely honest, I lost weight while living in Holland, right up until I started going out all the time with my friends.
Indulge in a Ritter Sport bar while you're there! They are delicious and definitely worth the calories (if only just once).
Will do sprk! =D
Well, I don't want to just maintain, but keep losing... I finally got in a good rhythm and I don't want to break it...
Original Post by gddrdld:
UD, PLeasssseee...it's L-O-S-E not L-O-O-S-E!!! (ie: you "lose" weight and your pants get "looser")
Honest, I tried really hard to hold back from telling you this, but there are about 45 threads on this site based on the misspelling of this word.
Well since you apparently have nothing better to do then correct misspelling on Internet forums, your mission is to correct the other 44 posts.
UD
I dont know where you are going, but in Berlin they have "free walking tours." The tours are amazing - they know a ton. They are totally free - just working on your tips.
http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/
Original Post by brandasa:
I dont know where you are going, but in Berlin they have "free walking tours." The tours are amazing - they know a ton. They are totally free - just working on your tips.
http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/
Ooooh, thank you! Hopefully I'll be able to go to Berlin, but we're mostly going to be down in Nuremberg - I'll see if I can escape and make the trip up there =D
my suggestion: eat what you want, when you're hungry... and dont over indulge.
from my experiences in europe, you will WALK WALK WALK! i spent a few months there as an exchange student... and probably walked at least 10 miles a day.
i went a little crazy with the food though- you MUST go to the eis cafes and have spaghetti eis, so good! dont hold yourself back because of your diet, or you might regret it later.
best of luck!! have a good vacation, i would love to go back to germany!
You will be fine in Germany. I've been living here for years now, and it is actually really easy to eat pretty healthily here. I don't know where you are staying, but most hotels will have things like yoghurt and fruit and cereal for breakfasts as well as ham cheese and salami on thier buffets.
If you are eating in Resturants there are always some sort of salad or something on the menu. Also there is always fish and chicken, etc. It is completely fine to leave stuff on your plate, but not so cool to ask for modifications to dishes, or to take left overs with you, though. German food has improved alot, and there are now loads of international options like sushi, thai, etc.
food from supermarkets all have nutritional information now. Brennwert (Kalorie), is calories, Eiweiß is protein, Kohlenhydrate is carbohydrate, and Fett, is fat.
Don't stress too much, have fun, walk lots, go to the christmas markets and drink gluehwein and eat bratwurst, food is part of the travelling experience.
Original Post by umneydurak:
Just go easy on the beer.
Impossible in Germany! 
The beer's just too good!
Anyway, I agree with gddrdld. You don't want to deprive yourself of the local flavor, but what you can do is look at your portions and try to take the time to "walk it off." Have a great time and don't worry about it!
When I'm on vacation, I try to have just 3 meals a day instead of snacking in between, since meals are always bigger than anything I would make for myself. The best part about vacations is that you'll be walking everywhere so you'll at least be burning calories!
Original Post by orangejumper:
You will be fine in Germany. I've been living here for years now, and it is actually really easy to eat pretty healthily here. I don't know where you are staying, but most hotels will have things like yoghurt and fruit and cereal for breakfasts as well as ham cheese and salami on thier buffets.
If you are eating in Resturants there are always some sort of salad or something on the menu. Also there is always fish and chicken, etc. It is completely fine to leave stuff on your plate, but not so cool to ask for modifications to dishes, or to take left overs with you, though. German food has improved alot, and there are now loads of international options like sushi, thai, etc.
food from supermarkets all have nutritional information now. Brennwert (Kalorie), is calories, Eiweiß is protein, Kohlenhydrate is carbohydrate, and Fett, is fat.
Don't stress too much, have fun, walk lots, go to the christmas markets and drink gluehwein and eat bratwurst, food is part of the travelling experience.
Ah, thank you so much! Knowing the words for calories will make things easier. =D I'm excited - I plan to stay somewhat on track but overindulge in the famous chocolate.
Figure out what type of eater you are and you might just find the answer to permanent weight loss.
Take the Diet Profile Test and learn to avoid the pitfalls and self-sabotage that often come with your personal profile.