Is it possible to go to Paris for 8 days and not gain weight?

we spent 3 weeks in Paris this summer and did not gain or lost weight. The walking keeps it in check. And, that was with our daughter doing a "bakery run" each morning! Have fun!

I just got back from 3 days in London and 7 in Paris, and actually lost two pounds, despite drinking gallons of wine and eating daily doses of chocolate, pate, and bread. I think I probably walked a minimum of five miles each day, though, which I normally do when travelling.

I always eat whatever I want on vacation, and all the walking seems to burn off the calories I eat, and then some. I come home actually weighing less.

In Paris I can't resist tucking into cheeses, pastries, and patés no end, and I plan to do it again when I go this April.

But if you are concerned, try what I'm doing: losing a few pounds beforehand. I'm just eating a little less than usual in the ten weeks I have until my trip.

Good luck, have fun on your trip, and don't worry about your weight while you are there!

Don't worry, with all the walking and super small portions, you won't gain weight unless you double up on the pastries.

If it makes a difference, we are going at the end of April. I am hoping for more fruit, veg choices in the markets.

You guys don't understand. We are 50 and if I just look at a chocolate, it can make me gain. LOL. Your comments are helpful.

I went to Rome when I was 24. We ate like pigs, and didn't gain a thing. But I was 24 and we walked everywhere.

The times they are a changin'...

I do understand, Heavens. I'm 41, and I can't eat as I did when I was 30 in Paris. That's why I'm losing a little beforehand.

since no one forces you to eat poorly, just make the right decisions, eat in moderation and walk.

I was there last September, went off my diet by eating pastry, bread, chocolate, potatoes, etc and came home about 8 pounds LIGHTER. Of course, walking somewhere along the lines of 8-12 miles a day really helped.

I've lost weight since I moved to Paris. I'm living on cheese, wine and dessert.

Actually, I do consume fewer calories because I eat better quality food in smaller quantities and less frequently. The keys are: (a) no snacking; (b) no Anglo-American junk food (no McDonalds, no chocolate bars, no potato chips, no regular or sugar-free soda); and (c) lots of walking. Indulge in bread and cheese for your breakfast. Allow yourself a treat (pastry, cake, very good chocolate) for each hour you spend walking per day. Limit your paté indulgence to shared portions with your partner. Don't waste calories on food that isn't really good. And one not-very-French practice. Don't eat too late at night. This doesn't mean having dinner at 6 pm. But try to sit down to dinner by 9 pm.

I've been to Paris twice, and both times didn't gain any weight. Between the walking and climbing steps, I burned enough calories to offset the extra calories. The last trip, I had started the South Beach diet, and lost 9 lbs, so I didn't want to gain that back. I was able to make better choices, such as having a daily croissant or a glass or two of wine for lunch or dinner. I wouldn't have both in one day. My one big downfall was the "frits and mussels in wine & garlic sauce" in Normandy. I had to dip some bread in that wonderful sauce. We did so much sightseeing that we were really only eating two meals a day and some cheese for snacking. Have fun!

As a local, I think those "paté", "chocolate" things are a bit too much part of the Paris cliché. As the previous poster suggested, the key is moderation and balance in you diet.You can have a salad as your diner or your lunch. Eat vegetables and fruit! Drink water and wine with your meals, not soda!. Avoid the washed-down, dripping-with-sauce tourist versions of some regional French specialties.... Be careful with the ice cream, the pastries...and with all the walking on the top of that....

Over 50 ... 1 week; ate and drank really well! Lost about 6 pounds and I'm a tad plump to begin with...

I ate way too much in Paris and did not gain a pound. I'm a very picky eater so I really didn't eat large meals for lunch or dinner, but I had more than my fare share of chocolate, chocolate crepes, wine, pastries, and, well, you get the idea. As mentioned above, Paris is a great walking city. We walked everyone, so I wasn't too concerned.

I'm 27, by the way. I'm sure this makes a difference, but its simple: if you burn more calories than you take in you won't gain any weight. Just plan on walking everything off.

Tracy

Hi H,

>Is it possible to go to Paris for 8 days and not gain weight?<

Yes, as noted - do a lot of walking.

We are in oour late 60's and always lose weight in France and Italy.

OTOH, we gain weight in the Germanic countries.

No.

I'm in my 50s and petite and I have to really work hard not to LOSE weight when I'm in Paris or France. Even if I allow myself to eat everything I want to I usually lose a pound or two. I suppose it helps that I'm not a chocolate or pastry eater, except in very, very small amounts. I do agree that a lot of people seem to think that while in Paris their diet is going to be full of high-calorie sweets; for me it's far more full of tasty fresh foods.

Gee, I wish we could get "tasty fresh foods" in America.

Heavens, I'm also on the other side of 50 and have experienced both maintaining my weight and gaining weight in Paris. I usually stay for 2+ weeks which translates to alot of restaurant meals. The time I gained weight I ate bread at every meal; I was able to maintain my weight when I ate bread only with dinner. I drink wine (too) freely and have dessert only once a day.

Hello, Heavens, I am in the same "woman of a certain age" bracket as you are, and have the same problem gaining weight just by looking at food.

For 2 weeks in Switzerland I had cheese for breakfast, ice-cream for snack, cheese for lunch, ice-cream for snack, cheese for dinner, glass of wine.

Guess what - my husband weighed me before the trip and after, and the weight was the same! This is the only reason he's still alive.

On a serious note, you will be walking even if you think you won't. Shopping, museums, to the bus stop, a river promenade, etc... So don't worry... and do try these fresh salads and fruit!

By the way, the red wine lowers your cholesterol.

I never gain weight in Europe (and I must be very careful at home).

I eat more rich foods but small portion sizes. For me I love the wine and that flows freely, but don't mind skipping or skimping on desserts or bread. And walk walk walk.

Plus staying at a hotel there aren't those little snacky visits to the kitchen cupboard.

Generally speaking I have found this true staying with friends who live in Europe. It is a very light breakfast plus 2 meals no snacks and it works out fine.

It is not a dumb question but if you keep you wits about you I don't think it is a problem either.

i would say it's not possible! but if you walk alot and eat your main meal at lunch without indulging too much in the evening, you might manage just a few pounds gain. But where would be the fun in that? Just go for it and enjoy.

Not a dumb question at all....but also doesn't really have to be a problem.

As others have mentioned, you will walk much more than usual. I also find that I don't snack as much (other than an afternoon gelato or pastry or something).

I eat a very light breakfast, then a good lunch and dinner. I find that the portions are more reasonable in Europe and the ingredients are fresh. In the US, eating out seems to mean tons of salt, fat, and "non-natural" ingredients...not so in Europe.

I usually only drink wine with dinner, but sometimes have a glass at lunch. I drink lots of water. DH and I will often split a dessert, but usually because we are full from a great meal, not for weight-watching. I never feel like I am depriving myself in Europe. In fact, to the contrary, I feel as if I splurge on delicious food. Neither of my trips in the last year have resulted in weight gain.

Moderation is the key. You are on vacation....don't miss out on chocolates, crepes, wine, cheese or bread. Have fun!

I ate chocolate, pastries, crepes, bread, other high calories foods every day of my 8 day visit to Paris but didn't gain any weight because, like the others have said, there is so much walking and stair climbing. I never gain weight in Europe, but unfortunately I do when I vacation here in the USA.

Heavens - My first trip to Paris for 12 days I came home 8 pounds thinner. Second trip, London & Paris 12 days I came home 6 pounds thinner. Most recent trip to Paris for 5 days I came home 5 pounds thinner.

I have always been a walker but about 3 months before my trips I start walking more than usual so when I travel I have unlimited stamina. I walk everywhere in Paris and eat whatever I want. It's the walking. And sadly, I'm no spring chicken either.

Enjoy yourself. How often do you go to Paris? when you get back you have to let us all know how you did with your weight. I'm sure you will be fine.

ditto on what the others said. I lose weight - because of all of the walking AND because there is so much to do we "forgot" to stop and eat until we were ready to crash. That's when all the sidewalk cafes come to the rescue. I never had a bad meal in Paris - and only ate at one "guidebook" restaurant in the city. Noticed it was the restaurant shown in the Bachelor TV show . There are lots of "foodies" on this board, but I eat out on expense account a lot in the States and would rather spend my time soaking in the sights of the city than planning around restaurants and menus. Enjoy the Croque Madame sandwiches, the nutella or chocolate crepes, the beer and wine, the bread, cheese, and Laduree chocolates. Don't worry about gaining weight. I doubt you will

Heavens:
How is your college kid doing? OK I hope!

I generally have no problem losing a couple of pounds and the longer I stay, the more I am likely to lose. There is so much walking to do, the meals are BALANCED and snacking is non-existent for me on vacation. Also, I tend toward two meals daily; not three.

I ate like a pig the first time I went to France and Switzerland and lost 7 pounds. I thought it was because I was 17. The second time, I was 50 and I lost 13 pounds in the 8 days I was there. It is definitely the walking. Don't get on that bus, climb those hills, climb those staircases, walk everywhere in the "Old Towns" - then eat, eat, eat and enjoy! Losing weight is purely a matter of math. It is never more true than when traveling.

Thanks all, you are very encouraging. It is good to hear that fresh items will be offered. It seems that the cliche of French food is that everything comes covered in a white sauce. I don't think that is the case.

Wliwl, OD is home from college and going to local JC, has a job at a new restaurant and is happy as a clam. We are glad to have her home. One of her suitemates had to go home last week so she could go back into meth rehab. We are kind of glad that she is out of there, if you know what I mean.

Suze, thanks for encouraging me to post over here on the Europe board. I will admit I was a little intimidated at first, but everyone is SO nice, there was nothing to worry about. Thanks for pushing me out of the US nest...

Heavens.

Heavens,

Let me provide a voice of caution. I am 41 with weight issues (up and down, up and down) I gained weight (about 8 lbs!!) when we were in Paris, even though I must have walked at least 5-7 km a day (not kidding!!) I still haven't lost the gained weight, a sore subject for me. I am up a size.

Next time, I will do the following:

1) Add some protein in the morning -- eating a croissant was great, but I was hungry within 2 hours
2) LIMIT THE NUTELLA. It is my kryptonite. There is a reason I stay away from it in the States.
3) Incorporate 1-2 sessions of exercise class. Not only do I get to see health clubs in Paris, but I love spinning, and it would be great to experience a French spinning and perhaps meet some people!

I actually looked classes up and had some nearby, but the 20 E+ a class turned me off. Well, it would have been worth it, if only to stay aware of the body.

Anyhow good luck - but if you have a cruel metabolism like I do, realize that even miles of walking won't help -somewhat watching the intake must occur as well, if you want to maintain!

Omigod, I love the way I lose weight when we go to Paris!
I eat everything at meal time, we rarely eat between meals because we are walking all over the city and or we are in museums, etc. French portions are more sensible...and I walk everywhere all day long.
After a week or more, I come home thinner, every time. It is known around here as Scarletts French Diet and I recommend it to everyone.
A pain au chocolate in the afternoon is part of the diet..

Heavens,

This thread made me laugh. As a student in France more than a dozen years ago I tested this theory: If you eat two chocolate croissants every day, drink wine almost every night, indulge in chocolate as you wish and don't really exercise much can you gain weight? Well the answer was YES, about 20 lbs. My French mother told me that I had gained weight in French. I was not familiar with the verb "grossier". I had to look it up. It was embarassing, to say the least.

But that said, everytime I go to Europe I lose weight too. My mom, who is 57 and has been unable to lose anything for a decade, came with us to England for 4 weeks last summer. We ate like pigs, had daily teas with cakes, ate out all the time, and had no scales. She was THRILLED when she got home and found she had lost 8 lbs. It was really all the walking. She said she wondered how much she could have lost if she didn't eat like she was trying to gain weight!!! On average though we walked 3-4 miles a day. And even though we ate a lot, the food was much healthier there.

You already have great advice, but I do agree with others, enjoy yourself, indulge, and then walk it off. And if you do gain a few, c'est la vie. Bon voyage.

At home I eat two meals a day, dessert once a week, and one bottle of wine over the weekend.

In Paris I eat three meals a day, dessert twice a day, and one or two bottles of wine/champagne every day.

I usually lose 3-5 pounds each trip.

liz

Well, I can only hope to report back to you all that I lost a few pounds on my trip. I am praying that it is so. Thanks all for sharing your stories with me. I can't wait to go, and the food, I must admit, is a big reason for my excitement. More than that, the vino...

I agree about the losing weight. We stayed in Montparnasse area and walked to all the sights instead of cabbing (sometimes cabbing home). These are long walks! We figure we averaged 8-12 miles a day. We all lost about 6 lbs while living on brie, bread, full fat everything, wine, hot chocolate and even desserts here and there. Probably less snacking though, mostly ate only at regular meals.

I ate whatever I wanted and lost 5 lbs.

Yes it is, first let me say I had lost 55 lbs for my trip to Paris and Brugge (15 days)and my goal was to gain no more than 5 lbs-but 3 would be preferred. Unfortunately I go by the hey I on vacation... yes my sister and I ate our way through our vacation, pastries, waffles, ice cream, chocolate etc. etc. plus meals. My luggage was lost for the entire trip except for the last 4 days, so when it arrived with my new smaller clothes in it, I told my sister well this will be the icing on the cake if now they don't fit. Well they did fit and we continued to eat. Bottom line, I did gain only 3 lbs on trip, and we came to the conculsion all we have to do is to quit our jobs so that we can walk 15 hours a day and we will never gain weight again and can eat all we want Have a great trip and just get back on the weight control wagon when you return home.

I always lose 2 or 3 pounds while on vacation in Europe. We eat 3 meals a day and lots of pastries or gelato in between but we walk so much that we never have problems with weight gain. Eat what you want. It is unlikely that you will gain weight if you are active.

We ate well, skipped meals in favor of baquettes and butter and jam... but had wonderful meals.. usually two a day, and lost 2-4 pounds each. You walk a lot, climb a lot of stairs. We had a ball.

Heavens, my pleasure (urging over to the Europe board since it's Paris you wanted to know about)!

And I have to say I don't lose amazing amounts of weight like others mention, but can stay stable (sorry Scarlett for me no daily chocolate croissants).

Gambader- next time why don't you try those classes? Certainly you spent 20 euro on lots of other stuff on your trip. i've taken step classes in Mexico (Spanish), aerobics classes in Switzerland (French)... not so much for the exercise but it is a great way to get a peak at local life!

Others, I have to disagree with the "eat what you want" people posting here, I am guessing they have not had weight issues the have fought and won. There's no reason to go wacky just because you're in Paris. You can enjoy things in a modest way without depriving yourself experiences.

Yes. Walk a lot! I usually lose weight even though I'm eating all kinds of foods that are fattening. But we walk constantly, and I think that makes a big difference.

http://www.mireilleguiliano.com/press/sipress.htm

The cartoon is perfecto. Thanks for the chuckle...

On my first trip to Paris I lost just over a pound a day.

Suze,

I agree -- in retrospect, if I had just missed one of the many restaurant lunches and worked out instead then bought a crepe jambon/fromage, then I would have saved money AND had a good workout!

I do wonder if those who lose weight on these trips don't have a huge issue (no pun intended!) with weight as I do!

I always struggle with my weight at home and I'm 44, not 24. Nevertheless I lose weight whenever I go to Europe for all the reasons mentioned -- walking walking walking; eating fabulous foods that are so satisfying, I find I don't need a second helping; sitting and eating leisurely meals so I have time to digest and realize I'm full; no "emotional" eating, that is, eating because I'm stressed and/or bored (happy, ectastic, yes, but apparently that leads to less overeating for me!).

But there's one more reason, I've pinned down. I'm not sleep-deprived when I travel. Even with all the touring, we make it a habit to get an afternoon nap in (NOT something we can pull off in real life), and I swear that makes a difference. When I'm sleep-deprived, I tend to make unwise food choices (no will power) and want to eat more because I feel bad for my exhausted self.

Now, I gain weight in the Caribbean. Too many pina colads and just sitting on the beach. So while I nap in the islands, too(!), I do think the key is the walking we all seem to do in Europe.

Heavens, in case you missed this one when I posted it long ago.

http://www.mireilleguiliano.com/press/lorenz.htm

The New Yorker cartoon isn't current. Obesity in France is increasing. "The reason for France's growing waistline could be that the country is simply becoming more Americanized." Here's a link: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Atio/story?id=1548281

It still applies to Paris. In France profound there has always been overweight people as here.

Four months ago, we spent a week on the greek island of Samos, and whilst there I lost weight, mainly because of activity and greek food. Bread from the backery (without butter), greek salads, olives, wine, and LOADS of swimming, walking (weight bearing of course, uphill), and cycling.
As for obesity.....its a problem in Australia. Any Doctor can tell you, that people only have to be more ACTIVE, eat healthy sensible foods (no fast food), drink lots of water, and your weight will reduce, and so will your blood pressure, your risk of type 2 diabetes, and other related diseases of obesity. Everything in moderation they say. I have found that cycling, walking & swimming each day, has given both myself & my wife a new lease on life. Each day we swim, cycle & walk FURTHER than we have done before.

I was not quite 51 on my last trip and I have always been overweight. I will be more specific on how I lost weight. I had a simple economics problem; I didn't have much money to spend on food. So I booked myself into a hotel whose price included a breakfast buffet. Every morning, I ate: 3 slices of various breads, a brioche, several slices of meat and cheeses, a carton of fruit yogurt, a croissant, orange juice and two cups of coffee with sugar. My lunch consisted usually of one bowl of 2 scoops of Moevenpick vanilla ice cream. Mid afternoon, I'd drink an Orangina or a Henniez. My dinner was usually a trip to a Manora (a big buffet) where for 7 Swiss Francs, I filled a 9 inch plate with a sausage or some baked piece of meat; plus either a couple of salads or sides or a big slice of quiche; and then a roll. Some days for dinner, I'd get a big hot dog or a McDonalds filet of fish or a meat pie from somewhere. Sometimes at night, I'd have another bowl of ice cream or a chocolate bar. The rest of the time I was walking or visiting museums. I slept about 8 hours a night. I lost 13 pounds in 8 days.

Wow, Sheraulei, that is amazing! I admit to being a total pig at the hotel's breakfast buffet and still coming home pounds five pounds lighter. We're talking three croissants or danishes, a couple of slices of brioche spread with butter and jam, three links of sausage, an egg or two, a bowl of granola and yogurt, gotta try a wedge of each of the cheeses offered, can't resist any form of potato within view . . . . and cups and cups of sweet. milky tea.

I love all these accounts about losing weight in the gastronomic capital of the world. We should compile them into a book: _French Women Tourists Don't Get Fat_.

LOL!!

The French Women Don't get Fat book tells about this soup that they drink for days , a cup an hour for days!! before they eat solid food~~shudder~~
Perhaps those of us who go to Paris and eat and don't get fat do so because we are not fat to begin with?
I don't know anyone who is overweight and mentioned gaining or losing..anyone know?

I think I gained weight in Paris and lost in Rome because I was too hot to eat a lot!

It sort of made me mad actually in Paris. I think they eat a TON! Why aren't they as fat as Americans? I think it's because they don't drink supersized softdrinks! When we got to JFK I was sitting in the food court looking around and EVERY table had about 5 gallons worth of soft drinks on it. It struck me as so different from Europe, where you just don't see that.

I don't have statistics, but I expect that most people will lose weight on a trip to Europe, simply because it involves a lot of activity (including a lot of walking) and not much eating. The exception would be people who are very interested in eating and make that a significant goal of the trip. For most people, though, the goal is to eat fairly quickly and cheaply, and then continue with sightseeing, and this almost inevitably produces some weight loss.

In my first visit, as I said, I lost over a pound a day. I found that hard to believe when I returned home, but then I did the calculations: I had been walking about 16 hours per day straight, with only one fast-food meal. The daily deficit had been around 4000 kcal, which works out to just over a pound a day, so it was a real weight loss.

That's a bit more extreme than most visitors, but I think most people are still eating less than they burn while they are on European vacations.

This is in contrast to something like an ocean cruise, where many people spend the majority of their time eating and sitting around, and they may not get much exercise.

They did have something on the news where I live about how French people are concerned about more overweight people and there is a current campaign about that (I saw the ads and the woman they interviewed). I don't think it is just soft drinks at all -- many other drinks would have as many calories as soft drinks, for example. I think it's a lot more eating in general, including lots of snacks and fast food. Soft drinks may play a part if you drink the regular calorie ones. One thing I notice in the US is that people seem to need to eat a lot all the time. For example, you go to the movies and lots of people don't seem to be able to watch a film without eating lots of candy and tons of popcorn. I don't really understand this as I never eat in the movies because it is either just before or after dinner, usually. I've seen some of these people and they are already eating their popcorn and candy in the lobby and before the movie even starts. They even sell candy, etc. in some theaters and places like that (plays, ballet, etc.). A lot of people do eat a lot while shopping, also, in the food courts. I guess if you are shopping for eight hours you might need lunch, but I can't believe all those people are at the mall for the entire day.

Anyway, this is obviously a very personal thing that can't be predicted. I am kind of amazed at some of the posts above about how people say they lose weight eating amounts that I rarely eat in a day and would be big as a house if I ate like that, on vacation or not, and walking or not. I don't gain weight in Paris, but don't really lose any either, and I just eat moderately and am walking probably the same as anyone else. I do have occasional desserts and foie gras, but other than that, don't really overload.

If you look up the amount of calories walking burns, you couldn't really lose the amount of weight or expend calories as much as people say they've experienced. Just walking doeesn't really burn that many calories to account for an extra couple thousand calories a day. It only uses up about 200-300 calories an hour. Also, I've known some people who were very sick and maybe fed intravenously or sort of fasting and they might lose a pound a day (a lot of which is just fluids), but I don't see how it is possible to lose a pound a day as Anthony says he did, because that would be a 3500 calorie a day deficit to lose a pound. That is more than a man probably should eat normally in a day, so to lose that amount, you'd have to normally require maybe 5000 calories a day and have cut back to an amount that would be very minimal for such a person. Maybe if he wasn't eating hardly anything at all, that could happen.

Well, I honestly think for those of us who are overweight a bit pre-Paris, with not-so-great diets and little activity that all that walking and then eating smaller amounts and not snacking all the time does shake things up.

And, of course, people can experience a pound a day loss without being on an IV. Anyone who is bloated over the holidays and goes on a strict diet right after drops a lot of weight fast, especially if they are on the heavy side (5-7 pounds is a much smaller percentage of a big person). Water weight and all that. You can't (shouldn't) keep losing at that pace, but it's not unusual when you really shake up your eating and exercise patterns -- and you're just talking a week or so -- to see a significant change in your weight. I think it works the other way, too. Just like I can put on 5 pounds in a week when I go the Caribbean and sit on my duff and drink high-caloric pina coladas.

I personally LOVE to eat, thus, the overweight problem , and don't at all skimp on good food or go cheap on meals when I'm in Europe. Yet, I lose weight. Again, it's the quality of wonderful, satisfying food in smaller portions, the drop in snacking and the big increase in activity -- exactly what experts recommend we do at home all the time to reach and/or maintain a healthy weight.

You know what amazes me is how much people eat at ball games. Have you ever notices? Baseball, football, it seems like some people only go there to eat. We went to a game last summer and some people in front of us had a different snack in their mouths every inning. I couldn't believe it. And I know what you are saying about the HUGE portions of soda and the Huge bags of popcorn. How can people eat all of that! Pretty incredible.

But my husband and I are not big eaters. We LOVE food, but we cannot go to a resaurant and eat an appetizer, then a salad, the bread, then the main course, and then eat a dessert and order a cafe au lait to finish. Many people can eat like that. I can barely finish the main course, in fact very seldom do, and no room for the extra courses. Oh well, different strokes.

We can't eat at Ruth Chris or those kinds of places either bc the portions are so generous and unless we can race home and put the remains in the frig (which we can't) we just don't feel like it is worth it.

Just some thoughts on American eating habits. And some places, like Cheesecake Factory give you a serving that could feed four people, IMO. Who can eat that much food???

That's the beauty of food in Europe, generally speaking. They haven't mega-sized things and use fresh natural ingredients.

Heavens, I think you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find in Paris food-choice-wise.

It is entirely possible to lose more weight on vacation than the deficit in calories would account for. First, depletion of glycogen stores causes loss of water as well. Second, depletion of fat stores causes loss of water from fat cells. Third, eating less means a smaller mass of food in the stomach and intestines than a person might normally have. And, finally, the rigors and strains of traveling often leads to dehydration, especially if one does not take care to consume enough fluids. Walk off a long trans-Atlantic flight in a dry cabin after days of walking constantly and not eating and drinking as usual, step on a scale, and one could easily be surprised at the poundage lost.

Heavens, we just returned from eating at a restaurant and I agree with the portion control issues. Until pretty recently, I've been pretty averse to taking doggie bags (a culturally-based distate - nothing wrong with it), but now we usually take food home and make at least another meal out of it! It makes eating out "almost" cost-effective....

REgarding walking lots and losing weight in Paris - probably the reason why it had no impact on me is that I already live in a city and walk at least 2-3 miles a day. I'd say we walked twice as much daily in Paris (strollers are such a pain on metros that we walked everywhere with our son) - so maybe my body wasn't shocked or fooled into separating with some of its excess adipose tissue!

Sandykins and Scheraulei, if I ate as what you lucky ladies did, I would have gained even more!! My idea of a treat was a (ONE!) croissant for breakfast and then a crepe nutella every few days as an afternoon treat. Our dinners were pretty simple - perhaps a jambon/beurre sandwich or some cheese/baguette and fruit. Our lunches were usually the "big" restaurant fare - perhaps a pizza and dessert! I envy you your wonderful metabolisms...may they keep humming!

Walk, walk and walk some more! Its the best way to burn the calories. Also, it may help to have your larger meal in the afternoon.

Reading this made me wonder if travelers who don't usually work out or walk at home are the ones who lose weight on a trip.

I think it may be due to changing to a more active schedule that makes some lose weight.

I never lose on a trip and I work out all the time at home and walk, etc.

Who wants to think about losing weight or amintaining weight on a trip, you go on trips to get away from all that and just relax and do sinful things!!

Hmmm,good point, as long as I can still button my pants near the end of the trip, I'll go along with that.

SeaUrchin, i noticed that too. that at least some of the posters above who report larger weight loss on vacation specifically mentioned that they don't get much exercise at home.