I am dieting for a week now, as I have to be in Paris in April. (Tell me I should not, please).
I am starving myself on Mondays and Wednesdays, the rest of the week - toss tuna salad once per day. So far 5lb gone.

What was your biggest traveling sacrifice ?

My biggest sacrifice is coming up. As of last week I'm officially a diabetic. Now how good am I going to be diet wise for 10 weeks mostly in France in Italy? No bread, no pasta, no wine? Right! The desserts I can do without. I've always preffered the cheese to dessert anyway.

you do realise that that's not the right way to diet, don't you? As soon as you start eating you'll put all the weight back on again! The slower the weight-loss the better - you should aim to lose 2-3lbs per week by proper diet (not starvation) and exercise - you're a million times more likely to keep the weight off if you do it the right way!

Patrick, watch out for those doctor's restrictions. Some of which not justified. You absolutely can have some wine and some chesses and even pasta. In moderations. At least I hope you do. Very much...
cailin, people do not know how to diet, period, so there aren't advise that is right. I need to lose weight by April, period. I can gain it back or not - who cares ! I need to be slim in Europe, this is what is it all about. I am gonna eat there, baby !

I am sure Patrick's doctor will refer him to a nutritionist. My best friend is now diabetic, and has lost beaucoup pounds over an 8-month period and has never felt BETTER. She can eat carbs but does have to 'count' them or balance them in a specific ratio with proteins, etc. She never has imbibed, however. I am sure Patrick's physician or nutritionist will advise on what can be allowed during a vacation vs. a daily eating plan (don't say 'diet').

Patrick, I'm sure you will be okay. But you need to get acclimated to reducing some of the things you aren't supposed to indulge in now, before you go.

One of the reasons (other than finally getting disgusted with my weight and realizing my 50th birthday was rapidly approaching) that I went on a lo carb diet a year ago that my older brother has been diagnosted as a diabetic and my younger brother as a pre-diabetic so I figured if I kept up what I was eating, I would also end up there. The first two weeks were terrible! But I vowed to stick to it. Once I got past those first two weeks, it was much easier -- almost like I had to go through withdrawal symptoms. I do allow myself small amounts of bread or pasta now but find that a small amount satisfies me and that sweets almost make me physically ill. After loosing almost 40 lbs, I look and feel better than I have in the past 25 years!

Hi Ziana,

So far, my wife and I have *lost* weight on our trips to Paris.

Hi Patrick,

Sorry to hear about your diabetes. Best wishes for controlling it.

Don't worry about me. Actually I've been following a pre-diabetic (Sugar-Busters) diet for three years now. My carbs are almost non-existent, my alcohol intake has been greatly reduced, and I'm on a pretty good exercise regime (can't been a couple mile walk on the beach every morning!) I'm at the weight I should be. In all honesty, now that I'm on an insulin enhancer, I should be better off and able to indulge a little more than I've been doing the last three years. Guess I was being dramatic with that first post. And my dry robroys give way to red wine in Europe anyway!!

Duh. I meant "cant' BEAT a couple mile. . ."

sorry - I was just trying to help. It's not healthy to starve yourself. Just make sure you're getting the right nutrients or take supplements at least.

and enjoy europe! you'll find the portion sizes tend to be smaller over here (I'm presuming you're in the states)...so you never know, you might be like ira and actually lose weight over here - depite all the yummy pastries, pastas, pizzas and gelato!!

i have always lost weight when in paris. you can't help it because you end up walking so much. we were there ten days over christmas and i lost 4 lbs. i actually ate and drank like a pig but ended up walking 5 miles a day.

Speaking of walking -- we always start getting used to the idea of all that walking by doing so here at home as much as possible. For me that usually means no internet for about an hour or so after dinner when we go out for a good hike around the neighborhood! (BTW it also helps with dieting. I've lost 40lbs using WeightWatchers and kept most of it -- currently am working on about 8 I put back on over Christmas -- but the big difference is that extra exercise. It really does work. And even doing 2 weeks in France last Spring, I didn't put on an ounce...and we ATE all courses and drank a bottle of wine nearly every night.)

I'm similar to you uhoh_busted. I lost 42lbs last year with weighwatchers. Now I just watch what I eat, but can treat myself a lot and I haven't put back on any weight.

I think ira meant financial weight

Is that what Ira meant? I have always amazed myself at how little if any weight I gain when traveling, and have been known to actually lose weight more than once. Walking an average of 10 or more miles a day (nope, I'm not exaggerating) goes a long way to curb the weight gains, despite excess eating patterns. But I will say, spending time in London does make me lose a whole lot of "pounds"!!

Ziana,
The best advice I can give you is to STOP doing what you're doing right now! I gave up smoking and gained 10kg, and became very unhappy, because I have always been slim. I tried all those drastic diets, got depressed because they are so hard, and you gain the weight back the moment you look at food. I went to a dietitian but that didn't work either, too vague. Then I joined Weighless, like weight watchers, and in 3 months I lost all the weight and feel so much healthier and it was EASY! It was just a matter of learning to eat a balanced diet. I am sorry if I sound like I am preaching, I'm really just trying to be helpful because I feel for you, because I know how hard it is and how you feel Joining a group also makes it so much easier because you have all those other folk to give you moral support. Good luck, I'll be holding thumbs for you
PS. I'll be in italy in April and plan on gaining a few pounds!!!! hehe!

Ha ! Wrong !
I feel so good, I can't tell.
I think going to Europe impact my brain somehow.
I've been looking at food and telling myself "haven't you eat this before? you did 100 times, so ... shut up now, we going Paris !" and it really works. I am communicating with my inner "softy" who gives up every time it sees food. And I am winning so far.
Honest to goodness I am not hungry. I am happy and playing the game !

Patrick, you are funny. Look what happened:

ira: So far, my wife and I have *lost* weight on our trips to Paris.
cailin: you might be like ira and actually lose weight over here
ziana: I think ira meant financial weight
Patrick: Is that what Ira meant?
ILMAO

Ziana, you really made me smile. Well I guess as long as you are healthy and happy, all is well. Good luck anyway and please let us know how much you lost before your trip.

Patrick- I too an sorry to hear about your diabetes.

Can I tell you when I go to Paris, I actually lose weight from all the eat in between. When I go home I realize that I usually lose about 5 pounds.