On the Weigh: Vacation

Ahoy!  Vacation success!

We just got back from our little mini-moon trip to Florida.  It was glorious, let me tell you, GLORIOUS.  I will be posting about it at length very soon, but suffice to say it was a fantastic trip and we're already planning a return visit for next year.  Seaside has that affect on you.

I was excited beyond belief to go on the trip, but also slightly nervous.  I have been doing well with WW, and I didn't want a few days on the beach throw a wrench in being OP.  When we went to Seaside three years ago (also my most recent vacation), it was a free-for-all resulting in a gain of seven pounds.  Holy crap, but I did not want to repeat that.  Every fiber of my being was stubbornly set against falling into that trap again.

With the help and advice of some WW girls, I went into the vacation with a plan.  I am elated to report that it was a success.  My official WI is Saturday (and with it there will be an official update), but as of this morning, I am up less than two pounds.  I weighed myself four times this morning just to be sure, and yes, my eyes did not deceive.  Knowing my body, even just a couple of days of being really OP might remove even that small gain, which is pretty badass, if you as me.  I survived vacation.   I feel like a WW World Champion right now.

A Guide to Surviving Vacation:

• Eat mindfully - listen to hunger signals.  Portion control is key.  This was actually very easy, considering portions at the restaurants we chose were very reasonable.  There was only one meal where I felt like I was served an exorbitant amount to start, and it was the last dinner we ate there.  I was not tempted to snack much either, which saved points for richer meals. 
• Be balanced.  Not every meal can or needs to be special.  If we planned a heavier dinner, I ate lighter breakfasts and lunches.  Mr LikesIt and I shared a lot of things, which allowed us to try more, as well as watch those portions.  
• Limit alcohol.  If I still drank the way I used to, this would have been harder.  However, alcohol just wasn't a priority for me on this trip.  I was much more inclined to use those points at the cupcake truck after dinner than for wine with an entree.  That was the balance I chose, and I know it was a key factor.
• Be active.  I think this was far and away the most important aspect of why this went so well for me.  While we had more than our fair share of laying around, hot tubbing, and sunning, we also made the most of the beautiful weather and pedestrian-friendly locale.  I earned 29 APs between Saturday and Wednesday, close to what I average in a week at home.  We hit the nearby trails for a 4 mile run, rented bikes and took a 10-mile ride, strolled the beach for a 4+ mile walk, and wandered the beach at sunset to catch the perfect view.  We maximized the experience, really, and we got to see a lot more of the area than if we had spent the time sitting. 
• Track everything.  I wrote everything down, tracked every meal.  I had no reason not too, but I think it was also a major help.  A vacation didn't mean a vacation from WW.  My body tracks even when I don't.
• Remember the goal.  Sure, I was more relaxed than when I was at home.  Sure, we had cupcakes and sushi and burgers.  But at the same time, I didn't forget that it was just a short-term situation.  I knew the scale would be waiting when I got home.  I was actually excited to step on this morning, to see how it went.  I never forgot it for a second while we were in Florida, nor did I forget the smaller sized pants sitting in my closet, or the race in April, or the drawer full of two-piece bathing suits that didn't get packed.  They didn't get me down, but they were just in my mind.  I made my choice before we even left: I wanted to enjoy this trip, but my overall goal of losing weight and being healthier was more important than whatever would be on the plate in front of me.   

Sounds easy enough, right?  It really was.  It was fun to get out and run around town.  It was fun to go out to eat and really savor whatever we ordered.  Spending a few minutes looking up point values didn't inhibit the enjoyment of the trip in the least.  I wanted to come home and feel good about the week, and I really do.  I know I did my best, and I did not let circumstances get the best of me.  That is a huge success, something I have failed miserably at in the past.  Really, these are tactics that I can employ on everyday life too.  The same things that foster consistency and success for a "special" event, are the things that will get me to goal.  It's amazing how long it took me to connect those dots, but I am happy to move forward from here.  It seems so simple, right?  Such a face-palm moment, but of course these are the things I need to do to be successful when I am away on vacay ... they are the very same things I've been doing all along.

On a related note, I thoroughly enjoyed running with Mr LikesIt.  Bless his heart for having such faith in me, but he thought I was running four full miles at a time, not doing the walk-jog intervals that make up the Couch to 10k training.  He did really well on our run, in spite of having crappy shoes, and he wants to continue to train with me.  He maybe, just maybe, will even do a couple of races with me, if I ask sweetly enough.  I love having a running buddy!

What are your tactics for surviving vacation?  How do you get through without gaining a ton of weight?