What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

[partytrouble]

Hi yall,

I am very excited for upcoming family vacation to VA Beach, but very nervous....my mom is a great cook and lots of our family gatherings center around food. It is hard to be the only one who can't eat pasta, bread, etc, and I don't want the focus to be on my 'special' way of eating. It is embarrassing enough to be the only overweight person in my family of atheletes, let alone calling so much attention to my diet.

What things do you guys take on vacation with you or try to eat so you don't inconvenience the people you are staying with? I am going to pack some string cheese and pau's breakfast muffins for the flight, and thankfully my dad and brothers LOVE to grill out, but I am very WORRIED I will be stranded at some point with no legal options. It is not like I can just run out to the grocery store, especially on the days I am staying with relatives. And nuts cause me to crave like crazy, so I can't eat them.

Also, what strategies do you guys employ to stay strong on vacation and not throw in the towel 'because I am on vacation'. I have had some big losses last few weeks and I don't want to rock the boat in any way.

My mom will be supportive and will try to make meals for everyone that work for me, but she is one of those 'oh, it's just a tiny amount of breading on the chicken, it won't hurt you', and 'you are thin enough' and 'i made this just for you...' types. I love her and it is hard to refuse her food, as she cooks out of love for our family.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Alexa]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

Hmm, it can be tricky - but it is possible.

As you said pack as much portable stuff with you as possible. When you are there and no-one else is cooking for the time being you can add to your stash by preparing salads, harboiled eggs, tuna mayo etc to put in the fridge. A cooler is a good idea.

Perhaps also you should call the relatives before you go and explain that you'll be bringing some food, you hope that's ok and say it is very important to you. This is what I do when I stay with my parents or sisters and they are used to me turning up with a load of food and making my own meals alongside them - though often some of what they have is fine, like the meat or the veggies. You could ask your Mum, inparticular, not to bread all the chicken, but leave some pieces plain for you.

I hope it goes well. Also it is good to take a legal treat for when others are eating their desserts so you don't feel deprived.

[Outback Jess]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

Hey girl, I agree with Baarb on the things she would take..If you can't go to the store, where is the food coming from? Your Mom, well I'd get with your mom, and give her money to bring in the foods you can eat. I'd be pretty proactive and explain how well you are doing, and how great you feel and how much you need this alliance with her...I'd get in the car and go find the store, and bring in my own things. I'd cook on the grill and or the kitchen, and eat right along side of everyone.
I've done it alot this year. I've been to many dinners and birthday parties, where I called ahead, asked permissioned, inquired about the menu, and still showed up and eat different foods but was with all my people.
It may be ackward, but YOU AND YOUR WAY OF LIFE ARE WORTH IT!
You are one good looking girl, and headed right towards better places with your body, and you are going to really have to fight for this way of life, in many ways! Many times you will be forced to find a way, since it's a lifestyle...You can do this!
LOOK AT HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU HAVE LOST ALREADY, and THINK ABOUT THAT SAAB. I'd make a collage of pictures of that Saab, and take it with you, and keep them near by. I'd plan great exercise and very structured eating, and you will sail right through this, 51 lbs is a huge accomplishment

[Sheepie]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

I wish I had some good advice, but I don't really, so I'm eager to hear what others say. We're going on vacation soon too. It's a special trip to visit some very special people and I do not want to put them out one bit. I know it's awful of me, but I know that I will not be totally legal, although I'll try to be most of the time. I won't be sitting at a desk all day,so I know that I'll get lots more exercise, even so, I'm going to make a point of adding some bike riding or walking during the trip. I'm also going to keep some legal food in the house, but I know there will be some tricky restaurant meals. And frankly, a few local favorites that I probably won't refuse! I want to keep the damage to a minimum and hope that I'm not chastised too harshly when I return! I hope that we both can keep it low carb, because because if we're successful now, it will prove that we can do this anywhere!!

[Outback Jess]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

I love it, "BECAUSE IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL NOW, IT WILL PROVE THAT WE CAN DO THIS ANYWHERE.
Yeah! Baby, if you are successful now, you will be so much stronger on the other side. Ya'll know sooo many people don't come back here after vacations....They just don't make it and then they can't get back on the Atkins way of life....

[partytrouble]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

thanks you guys for the ideas!

baarb and jess, you hit the nail on the head about driving the point home to my mom that i just am not going to eat carby food. and to be honest, my mom would be more than happy to throw some eggs and tuna into the cart. it's just kind of embarrassing to have to ask and to make such a big deal about it....but i will have to swallow my pride and do it, because jess as you said, i have come a long way and i am WORTH it. plus, gimme a break, it's my MOM. it's not like she will be judging me or criticizing me, to the contrary she would support me as long as i really MAKE IT CLEAR that is is what I WANT. she doesn't try to sabotage my efforts, she just has this idea that it is 'beach week' and everyone should be laid back, diets out the window, ice cream every night, etc...sigh.

and i think my anxiety about calling attention to my WOE stems from the fact that it then points out the fact that i am overweight. but, guess what....that fact is out there, ha ha!! duh, it's not like it is a secret that i have some pounds to lose!? who do i think i am, the invisibly overweight woman, ha? plus, i can be proud of the weight i have lost, and knock everyone's socks off (jess thanks for the reminder)!

the good thing is...this beach trip is with my FAMILY. they love me no matter what and they really won't care what in the heck i eat, so this is all in my head i think.

SOOOO, yes i will just ask my mom to stock up on some tuna/eggs/string cheese/celery when she does the shopping for the trip and have her pack it all in a cooler so it is waiting for me at the beach house. it is really not that hard, breakfast food is mostly legal, i can have salad/veggies/tuna for lunch, and i guarantee no matter what my mom prepares for dinner the meat item will be grilled...so i just need to stay away from good ole' southern sides like potato salad, succotash, and desserts.

if it was a shorter trip not involving air travel, i think a cooler packed with goodies is the way to go.

you guys are the best, thanks for the support!

[tmn]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

I don't know if you can eat cream cheese but it is stable on Atkins. Celery filled with cream cheese is a great snack that my mom loves to make. Green pepper strips or chunks are good, others will dive in for them, too. Remind your mom about the difference between salad dressing and real mayo for the tuna salad. Oh, you could have stuffed tomato = tuna salad in tomato. If you and your mom went shopping together, you could find something like jicama and introduce the family to it! And tell your mom how you can use cooked cauliflower as a sub for potatoes, if she is willing...

Julie has a beef jerkey that I want to try and have ready for trips... Maybe that's something you could have ready for yours? http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=36358

Wishing you all the success with this!

[Kawispice]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

I take canned meat with me, chicken etc and depending on what rung you are on, protein pwder, it packs real light and all you have to add is water. Take it in your luggage, don't count on other people to look after you, I never could. Go grocery shopping when they go and also offer to help prepare the meals and make your chicken unbreaded while they make theirs breaded. Just say you like the taste like that. And if they try to force you to eat something illegal, pretend to get sick, at least you are sick about the idea, so it's real.

Good luck, you can do it. You have to plan, plan, plan. Think out what you will eat and when each day you are there.

[SandyL2002]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

You know..if you were diabetic you Would say..Mom I can't eat so and so and she would totally support you because of your health.. This is the same thing..and when she sees how well you have done I am sure she will back you up I would just tell her you need to eat kind of plain..and Salads are great

[Theperfect10]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

I feel for you. My family so dont get this diet for me. So when I visit its always a difficulty. But recently I've found a way around it. I told my Mum that I'm allergic to sugar and she responded to that in a very Mum way and tries her best to help me out. I always pack loads of food myself an dI hink they are ready for me now, when I arrive its usually with a big bag of groceries. Best of luck with it!

[partytrouble]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

thanks so much, guys. terry, the jerky looks delicious, a good idea. and i LOVE celery with blue cheese or cream cheese, that will be an easy thing to fix and we will certainly have cream cheese since EVERYONE ELSE will have bagels for breakfast.

kawispice, the tuna is a good idea, too. unfortunately, my mom and and dad will be doing a BIG grocery run and the beach house will already be stocked when i arrive, and my mom takes particular pleasure in preparing all the meals. so i really have to just be specific in what i want them to buy and then be sure to eat ONLY THOSE THINGS. i don't think anyone will twist my arm to eat something i don't want to eat...i think the control (or lack of) will be 100% mine. i just need to stay focused and stay on plan and be sure there is enough legal food that i want to eat so i don't get hungry and cave in to the margaritas, ice cream, and watermelon (still on extended induction).

sandy, you are absolutlely right. it is the same thing. these decisions affect my health and support my good health.

the perfect 10, not so easy to arrive with groceries as being picked up at airport, but i think i can give my mom a specific list and she will help me out.

my biggest challenge will be the after dinner ice cream...there are actually few 'legal' desserts that i actually enjoy, baarb, so i will just have to have some delicious smoked cheese or something for dessert.l actually, if my mom will bring the ingredients, i will make those pau breakfast quiches and have something for a snack. i lOVE those things!!

thanks to all for the suggestions. nice to know i am not the only one who gets stressed about this stuff.

[annRN]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

I just got back from vacation myself. I stayed with my best friend for a couple of days. She loves to cook and so I emailed her Linda's website and she chose some recipes off of there that her husband and kids would also eat. She does weight watchers, so knows how important it is to stick to plan. It was great.

Maybe you could pick out some recipes for your mom to try. The recipes are usually so rich, no one will even know they are "diet" recipes. I also packed Beef Jerky and plain almonds for snacking in the car. Most of the trip I had no problem sticking to plan. I was in an amusement park for two days, though, and decided that I was just going to let the diet go on those days. I still didn't go crazy --- ate in moderation and when hungry, but still not legal foods. I was gone 11 days and came back at exactly the same weight I left at. Since being back I have lost over 2 pounds.

Good luck!

[partytrouble]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

ann great job!! i like the idea of sending my mom some recipes. i talked to her a few days ago and let her know how firmly i needed to stick to my diet, and of course she was like 'honey, it's VACATION, let it go...', but i was pretty insistent with her.

aaargh, relationships with mothers and daughters are never easy. i feel super lucky though that ours is a very loving, supportive one. in her own way, my mom thinks she is being supportive of me by giving me 'permission' for me to go 'off the diet' for a week.

hmmmm, but who am i to think i can analyze my mom, ha!!??? maybe i need to get a psychology degree next!!!

[partytrouble]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

Leaving today, wish me luck!! REALLY want to maintain and not gain....and cheating is NOT AN OPTION!!!!!!

[harmony3098]

Re: What do you guys do when traveling/visiting relatives to stay legal?

sending you positive non cheating vibes party!!