Stay on track during vacation!!!

I am going on a cruise in a week with the free beverage package, so I share your anxiety. I plan to keep tracking, sticking with portion control and planning to work in a glass or two of wine. I also plan to keep exercising. I just hope I can stick to the plan!

You do the same things on vacation as you do at home.
Hydrate. Watch portion control. Make smart food choices.

"should I drink alcohol with dinner? "
Whether or not you SHOULD is up to you.
You COULD have a glass with dinner if you plan for it.

help. how can I stay on track during vacation. should I drink alcohol with dinner? please I need help.

Thanks! That is ANOTHER great suggestion to ask for special preparations. They don't seem to mind that on cruise ships.

Cruise, vacations anywhere or just eating out in your home town - whatever you're doing - do not hesitate to ask for special preparation as most places will accommodate, including cruise ships. Don't hesitate to ask questions about preparation either.

Some of my friends tease me because I'm notorious for both of the above! Hey, if I'm paying for my meal and I can get them to do something healthier ...

Big picture: Plan to move, and pay attention to your body!

1. Plan to buy or bring some go-to healthy snacks to keep on hand.

2. Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full, even if it means leaving food on the plate. You're paying to get a meal that fills YOU up, not the most calories for every dollar.

3. Drink a full glass of water before every meal.

4. Be intentional about your food - keep two meals simple, and splurge (calorie and cash) on only one per day. If you can, cook where you stay - one reason I love things like Air B&B and kitchenette hotel rooms - the extra cost is easily made up by using the space to prepare at least two meals per day.

When DH and I were on our honeymoon (which was planned to involve excellent food), we brought everything to make oatmeal and french-press coffee every morning for breakfast (old-fashioned oats, plain greek yogurt, brown sugar, nuts, raisins, cinnamon, the french-press, coffee, cream, and sugar). We were staying in a little condo on the north shore of Lake Superior in June. We planned to eat a really nice brunch the morning that we left. Our lunches were just a simple soup and sandwich from a local shop, and then we'd find someplace fun and/or fancy for dinner. Mixing that in with lots of hiking, and we both ended up losing a little weight!

Honestly, I'd stay away from chains - use this vacation to choose foods you can't get at home! Trying local cuisine can be a great adventure, and a way to discover new things to cook when you get back!

Note to the person going on the cruise:

You're paying to have a great time, not to eat as much as you can! Enjoy all the other things on the ship, not just the food! Choose the foods you absolutely love, choose the drinks you really enjoy (and intersperse with plain soda water with lime!), and leave the rest. Pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods - part of "enjoying" a food is also enjoying still feeling good afterwards! I can't "enjoy" a doughnut on an empty stomach, or "enjoy" french toast dripping in syrup for breakfast because I just don't feel good from the sugar rush and crash. So I don't choose those foods in those situations, even on vacation! I'll have a doughnut paired with some scrambled eggs after a morning hike, or french toast for lunch after a long bike ride, but not on their own for breakfast!

That is great advice! Thank you! I think I will be able to stay nutritionally focused with the tracking.

Just because it is free does not mean you need to indulge or overindulge.
You practice portion control, and eat at the high end of your calorie range. Going a bit over will not ruin things either.

Any thoughts on how to survive eating on a cruise especially with the free alcohol package? I am hoping I will be able to use spark on the ships wifi.

Plan a vacation that involves walking. Warning: If you have kids, they might not like this!

If you have a companion, split the meal. A friend of mine and her husband do this. You can also ask for the meal to be cut in half so you can take home the rest. Find tips on eating out and apply them to your vacation.

" I will be staying at a hotel so any ideas for food for the room and mini fridge"
Stock snacks and beverages that you stock at home.

"and ideas for eating out (what chains are best and what to do when it is a local spot) will help!"
We cannot help you there, as we have no idea what restaurants are available to you.
You can look up nutritional information on the chain's website.
Do you best guesstimating for a local spot with no information.

Are you driving or flying? If driving, you can pack a cooler with perishable items and a bag with non-perishables. On my last road trip in late September, I brought some egg dishes for breakfast and yogurts and such.

No matter your mode of transportation (plane or car), if you are close to a grocery you can get a lot to help keep calories and such in check. As for restaurants, if you can check menus online ahead of time to help make the best choices. The more local restaurants maybe aren't as easy to track but you can do the best you can. Also, since it sounds like you have a fridge, you can bring home leftovers and save for the next meal.

Planning a vacation soon. I would love any ideas for staying on track. I will be staying at a hotel so any ideas for food for the room and mini fridge, and ideas for eating out (what chains are best and what to do when it is a local spot) will help! Thanks.