Weight-Loss Vacation

Learning to Do a bad thing the best possible way is a Talent but can be learned.

A few years ago, I went on vacation in Cancun with my wife and three young kids (aged 6, 4, and 1 at the time).  The following is an account of how I tried to stay on track with food and exercise while on vacation. I’m as human and flawed as you are!  So this is really a diary of my trials, tribulations and successes.

MONDAY

Meal #1:   Quarter Pounder without cheese (and without half of the bun), Coke Zero with splash of Coke on top, small Peppermint Pattie.  

Meal #2: Quarter Pounder, no cheese and without the bun, Diet Coke, and chocolate chip cookie.

We arrived in Cancun after a four-hour flight and went straight to our hotel. By this time, we were all starving and the closest option was – what else? – McDonalds. When you have three small kids, and they’re all hungry, you usually pick the easiest solution. In this case, it was a repeat visit to the golden arches.
A poll done by 100 Nutritionists in the movie supersize me ask them when you should go to Mcdonalds and eat and 50 said never. Wow that’s pretty absolute and only sith’s speak in absolutes not Nutritionists

During our second visit to McDonald’s, I allowed myself a medium-sized chocolate chip cookie. Why? For one thing, I love chocolate, and, for another, I had a taste for a cookie. I knew that if I denied myself the treat, I would feel deprived, which would lead me to eating more later. Allowing myself to enjoy one cookie was my way of practicing moderation, keeping my metabolism working, and maintaining balance. My two initial vacation meals weren’t ideal, but I was paying attention to what I was eating and making the best choices make under these bad  circumstances.

Remember: The goal is not to be “perfect,” but to make the best choices in the given circumstances.

Doing  a bad thing the best possible way

Meal #3: ½ grilled chicken sandwich on a hard roll (with inner bread removed), diet coke, and Oreo cheesecake (to go).

Meal #4: Other half of the grilled chicken in the hotel room had a bit of the cheesecake and put it in the fridge.

TUESDAY

Breakfast It is always a Brunch gosh this is emotionally tough for me they had absolutely everything. Omelet bar, chocolate croissants (I love those), donuts, prime rib, sausages, everything. Okay time for some series internal dialogue( I can have anything i want within moderation i just need to plan and choose wisely so that i feel satisfied and like I enjoyed my vacation as this is the first one I have had in 5 years. I reminded myself that i have been doing very well and my goal is important so had an egg white omelet ( so i could have cheese a good trade off)with ham and easy cheese with half a chocolate croissant . I did eat all the chocolate though.
Workout: I did 1000 calorie burn (this was a struggle as I could feel i was dehydrated and unmotivated) and some weights the weight session was very poor but i did some biceps and triceps and shoulders.

Meal #5: Three grilled fish tacos with one taco shell, diet coke, and a half portion of rice and beans.  

Meal #6: Half portion of red curry chicken, protein bar, one scoop frozen yogurt.  

When you eat Thai food, it’s hard to watch your calories because many of the dishes are made with coconut milk, which is loaded with fat and sugar. My wife and I decided to share a red curry dish and appetizer dumplings, which I requested steamed rather than fried – but the result was soggy and unappetizing. Since I refuse to waste calories on food that doesn’t taste good, I dumped the dumplings – and instead ate a Zone protein bar (chocolate chip!). I always carry protein bars in case my restaurant meal turns out to be unhealthy or not enjoyable.

Evening Snack: a scoop of dulce de leche frozen yogurt + couple more bites of my Oreo cheesecake On the way back to the hotel, the kids wanted to stop for ice cream, and I remembered that I’d promised myself dessert when I skipped the pina colada at lunchtime. We stopped at a Ben & Jerrys and I enjoyed a scoop of dulce de leche frozen yogurt, which I thoroughly enjoyed. When I got back to the hotel, I had a couple more bites of my Oreo cheesecake – rounding off my dessert for the day.  

WEDNESDAY

I woke up feeling parched and quickly downed 1.5 liters of water.

Breakfast (Meal #7): Again, we hit the buffet for breakfast.  Several bites of a chocolate crepe and my usual egg-white omelet, with a coke light. Today, the chocolate crepes were calling my name. I knew they were probably loaded with fat and sugar, but I also knew if I didn’t allow myself to have a portion, I’d feel deprived and would probably overeat later in the day. I had a few bites, felt satisfied, and then ordered my usual omelet – reminding the chef to use just a little oil and complimenting him on his cooking.  

Workout: After breakfast, I headed off to play golf. To get in some exercise, I decided to walk the course. While walking doesn’t usually raise my heart rate, after nine holes I felt as if I’d burned up a lot of calories – because I was starving and it was only mid-morning. I listened to my body and stopped at a café on the golf course for an early lunch (see Meal #8).   

Meal #8: Half of a turkey sandwich I felt satisfied. I was hungry enough to eat the whole sandwich, but wanted to join my kids back at the pool and didn’t want to be too full.

Workout: After swimming for a few hours with the kids, I opted to stay away from the pina colada for now as I knew we were hitting a restaurant called chocolate city. I hit the gym for 40 minutes of weights and a workout on the stepper, where I burned 1,000 calories. This was a deal I made with myself that I would burn 1000 calories and then  Afterwards, I would treat myself to a massage. I was really enjoying this vacation!

After everybody was showered and changed, we headed out for a special treat – a family-friendly restaurant called Chocolate City. From what I’d heard, the place served superb desserts, and I wanted to enjoy one (or two!). So I suggested to my wife and kids that we walk on the beach for the two miles to the restaurant – and get some exercise and enjoy the ocean breezes (and exercise our calves with some deep-sand walking). It took us about forty minutes to walk to the restaurant, and by the time we arrived all of us were good and hungry. I had an extra workout as my kids took turns on my shoulders. Those little rug-rats I love them like crazy so of course i did. Extra calorie burn right?  

Meal #9: Burger wrapped in lettuce, shared brownie and chocolate fondue. Since I had my heart set on a sumptuous dessert, for my main course, I ordered a burger wrapped in a large lettuce leaf. Now it was time for my chocolate fix. We ordered a chocolate brownie and chocolate fondue and shared them. It was a great way to have fun with my family – and enjoy a great carbohydrate without overeating.
Internal Dialogue:  

I can have the pina colada… but I choose Chocolate City!

     vs      

Snack: Zone protein bar, three bites of cheesecake.

After walking two miles back to the hotel, I was feeling some hunger pangs and decided to eat a Zone protein bar to balance out the carbs I’d just eaten. A little later, I had a few more bites of my Oreo cheesecake. While I was getting ready for bed, I realized I was at the halfway point in the vacation and decided to weigh myself. I had lost a pound! After the kids were asleep, my wife and I enjoyed some intimate fun for about a half hour – burning off at least 100 calories each.  

THURSDAY  

Meal #10: Cup of fruit salad and egg white omelet.  

The kids were especially excited on this day because we were going to Xcaret Park, a beautiful site that allows people to explore the area’s unique environment and learn about its living systems and inhabitants. Once there, we jumped into the underground river, where I swam for miles with my daughter on my back. It was fun and educational – and burned calories, which meant I was hungry and so were my wife and kids.  

Meal #11: Half of a burger, Diet Coke.  

Meal #12: Ceviche and chips, plus grilled Mediterranean lobster.  

I decided to enjoy some shellfish and while waiting for my lobster enjoyed some ceviche (fish marinated in lime juice) and a few chips. The food was delicious and the service was friendly – and, best of all, the kids had a blast in the play area.  

Evening Snack: Zone Perfect protein bars.  I finished off the day with a few more bites of my Oreo cheesecake and 1.5 liters of water. By the time we got the kids safely tucked into bed, I felt tuckered out – but hungry. I zipped over to my supply of Zone Perfect protein bars and picked a caramel flavor, which I enjoyed immensely.

FRIDAY

I woke up thirsty and chugged two liters of water. This is getting to be a habit. I only wish I’d brought some electrolytes with me. At the breakfast buffet, I’d finally maxed out on omelets and was pleased to find grilled chicken on the menu.  

Meal #13: Grilled chicken sandwich.

Exercise: After a quick swim with the kids, I headed off for eighteen holes of golf – again walking the course. But after nine holes found I was ravenous and ducked into the café on the grounds for a quick bite.  

Meal #14: Salsa, chips, half burger and pickle, Diet Coke. After ordering my meal, I realized I was craving salty foods – trying to replace the electrolytes lost through perspiration. After eating part of a burger and some chips and salsa, I drank 1.5 liters of water – leaving me feeling refreshed, hydrated, and ready for nine more holes of golf, again walking the course.

Workout: When I got back to the hotel, it was mid-afternoon and my wife and kids were taking a nap. I decided to hit the gym and got my heart rate up on the stepper – burning off 600 calories.  

That evening, we decided on a steak place called Harry’s for dinner.  

Meal #15: Half portion of Tuna Tartare, Mediterranean salad, filet mignon, slice of bread with red pepper sauce, half slice of chocolate cake.   The meal was amazing – by far the best we’d enjoyed during our vacation. I even indulged in half of a giant slice of chocolate cake. The downside was that after the big meal I felt bloated and uncomfortable. I really regretted overeating and decided to walk a mile back to the hotel hoping that it would help me digest the meal.
I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel because I wanted to immediately hit the gym, work off the heavy food, and get back to feeling normal. I was frustrated to find the gym closed for the night. Overeating and feeling digestive distress made me feel bad and out of control. All I could do was ride out the stomach pains and promise myself to make better choices the next day. Remember: You are human and will make bad choices sometimes. Don’t get down on yourself. Just get back on your program and move forward. Tomorrow is a new day with new chances to make better choices.  

Finish each day and be done with it no-doubt so absurdities have crept in begin the day well and not to be cumbered with your old nonsense. I remember this as it applies to be often

SATURDAY

I woke up and hit the H2O – chugging down 1.5 liters as soon as I got out of bed. I vowed to make this day a good one in every way – and that meant making good choices about my food and activities.  

Meal #16: Egg white omelet, one pancake with light syrup.   While my mind told me to only eat an omelet for breakfast – to make up for my overindulgence the previous day – I knew I needed at least a small amount of carbs to feel satisfied and prevent overeating later. I tried a cranberry muffin, but it was dry and unappetizing. Instead, I ordered one pancake from the chef and drizzled it with light syrup. Satisfied with my carbs, I ordered my usual egg white omelet. When I finished eating, I felt satisfied and not overly full – the way I feel most comfortable.  

Exercise: I swam with the kids for a while, then headed off for a quick workout – managing to burn 450 calories on the stepper in just 22 minutes, a record for me. I finished off the workout with a weight circuit of chest, shoulders, and abs.  

Around noon, we walked a half mile to the dock and boarded a boat for a fishing excursion. We had an exciting couple of hours where we caught seven fish, including a 60” barracuda that the captain helped my son reel in.

Meal #17: Ceviche and jumbo shrimp.   On the boat, we celebrated our catch with a tasty lunch of ceviche and jumbo shrimp. Food never tasted so good.
Meal #18: Half a salad, 1/3 of a steak, slice of bread with olive oil. Later that afternoon, we headed for another steak restaurant for dinner.

Was it a successful weight-loss vacation?

That’s the question I asked myself on our last evening. I mustered up my fortitude and stood on the scale – finding that I’d lost 2.5 pounds. Now that’s a great vacation!   

Thank you for sharing in this with me… the point is obvious that you can use your tools when needed to be successful when you can’t be perfect or the regular system, schedule or routine  is not available.

You have to learn to do bad things the best possible way!