going on vacation....how do I stay AWAY from the buffets???

Hello everyone!  I'm leaving for vacation on Saturday for a week all-inclusive.  I know there will be lots and lots of food at this resort.  I already feel nervous that I will give into temptation....any suggestions?  I dreading stepping on the scale once I get home *sigh*...

Oh lord, an all inclusive? Is this one of those vacations where everything is handled, and you're greeted with food at every turn?

Honestly, the thought of going to a buffet scares me - can you imagine trying to log ALL THAT FOOD?  You'd be on your computer for half your vacation just trying to find the "mystery green stuff that I had two helpings of" :D

I don't know how helpful this advice will be, but the fact is that you're on vacation - you're going to treat yourself.  You're probably going to drink (if you drink), and you're going to eat interesting things.  My thought would be to attend all the regular meals you can on vacation.  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - all of them.  This way you've already eaten when the "brunch buffet" starts, and you've already made your choices without having hunger in on the decision making process :) 

I hope it is not a disaster for your diet.  the hotel may have an excellent gym and pool, so get lots more exercize.  i hate buffets,  i always binge and get sick,  i have not learned to just have a taste,  Its the reason i dont go on all inclusives really. I am terrifies of buffets.  its the one time my boyfriend can comment on my eating,  he will just say "chris,  i think you have enough" and i will look at my plate...feel disapointed for  a second but grateful. at the end. 
maybe do something like try the really awsome breakfest for like 800 cals one day,  next day have totally healthy breakfest and try the lunch for like 800 and eat the other meals healthy,... that way you get to try the food and treat yourself but keep your two other meals very healthy and small.  just a thought, its what i would try to do,

Buffets are survivable if you don't show up starving hungry.  It's a matter of making wise choices and turning a blind eye to the foods that are high cal.

First, drink only water.  Do not eat the bread.  Pile your plate high with raw or steamed vegetables and fruit and eat that first.  Then go back and choose one small portion of protein.  Stay away from the desserts.

At breakfast, stick to whole grain cereals, fruit and low fat dairy products.  Don't eat the bacon, sausage, or waffles.

Plan one treat a day and select it carefully.  that way you won't feel so deprived.

Above all - HAVE FUN!  There will so many things to do besides eat!

I have a different point of view.  You are on vacation, right?  You know, a special time when you are supposed to have fun, de-stress and splurge?  How can you have fun and de-stress if you consider half your splurging to be binges? 

Relax about it.  Yeah, eat 3 meals a day and start each one with 2-3 servings of salad or steamed veggies and fruit.  Then luxuriate in whatever you want.  And savor it!  How often do we have the time to linger over quality food and enjoy the aromas and textures and tastes.....knowing there will be no dishes to wash, no pots to scrub and no bill to pay?!!??!!  Just you and somebody special to chat about what to do next?  Like go rock climbing or on a bike tour!  Which is NOT exercise.  It's fun!  Fun that you deserve and worked very hard for!!!

And if you come back with a pound or three added to the scale, that's OK, because you were ON VACATION.  And now you are back and back on track and lucky you shook up your metabolism so it is pretty easy to lose that little bit you gained over a weeks time.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thanks....great tips!!  I do know that I will be swimming alot and the resort has a fitness center that I hope to use:)  I will definitely watch what I eat...and I don't drink so alcohol isn't an issue....I'm good with water only and of course some morning coffee.  I didn't work this hard to fall apart for 1 week, right???  I will try to keep active, that's important....my kids definitely won't let me lay on the beach all day (even if that's what I REALLY want to do!!)

I'm leaving for vacation in a month.... I have been eating extremely well, I haven't been drinking and I have been going to the gym 4 times a week.... I can't wait to get down south and not worry about a thing I am going to eat or drink.... I feel that this will be a treat week that I really deserve!

I wouldn't stress about anything on vacation... especially eating!! My mentality is, is if I gain a few pounds... no big deal! I'll go back to my regular healthy eating when I get back and work extra hard at the gym...

I don't know if this is the answer that you were looking for but it sounds good to me :)

I go to all-inclusives once a year, and from vacationing with a few naturally skinny girls, I learned to treat the buffet not as a taste-everything, but as a visual menu. Instead of trying to pile a bit of everything, I decide, tonight, I will have spaghetti. then I fix the plate as though I made the spaghetti myself or ordered it from a menu- with one serving of spaghetti. All meals follow suit-  one plate of entree, and one salad/vegetable side plate, and then whatever dessert fits into my calorie plan for the day. I don't keep going back more than one time. I know that I have a whole week at the buffets, so it keeps me from trying to eat everything at once, but helps me get variety or traditional dishes as well. Good Luck, enjoy! 

i went to a beautiful all inclusive resort in Rivera Maya Mexico this past summer. After a long summer of bike rides and runs and watching my diet i was too was worried about what to eat at the resort. that was all fixed when i got there and realized they had no vegetarian food! i went from a complete fear of overeating to a fear of starving all week.

 i (very literally) lived off of guacamole, salsa, refried beans every other day (cause every other day they put meat in the beans), and all the alcohol/mixed drinks i could handle (starting first thing in the morning). i thought all the alcohol would sink me, but somehow i managed to lose more weight on the trip! i doubt it would work for everyone...but i was highly amused. i thought about starting a fad diet. any diet that included all you can drink alcohol would have to be a sure fire hit ;)

I went to an all inclusive resort for a week during the summer too. It was awesome :)

Yes, I ate a lot and enjoyed the buffets immensely. But I better - paying nearly $2000 a week.... its my vacation and I'm going to enjoy it and avoid freaking out over every meal.
I don't exactly go on vacation every month, so I can allow myself this I think.