Just curious as i have a two week trip to europe coming up and am planning to pig out -- so how much weight did any of you gain and how long were you in Europe?

You won't, unless you stop at every bakery/patisserie or eat 5 gelati a day. Portions are much smaller and you will walk more than at home.<BR><BR>Now, when Europeans travel to the US it's a whole different story.

Although I always enjoy myself immensely at mealtime, I’ve never gained weight while visiting Europe. Probably because I tend to eat better, i.e., higher quality food, less fat, etc. and because I generally spend the days walking my *#$ off. I was in Europe for 3 weeks this past spring and lost 15 pound!

sorry! Even though I walk all day I put on about half on stone on holiday!!What the heck- holidays are meant to be enjoyed!!

We were at Oktoberfest last year for 4 days then flew to French Riv for 6. I lost weight in Germany (not a fan of pork & other bavarian food) and gained it back in france so the answer to your question is: None

I am a huge eater and always come back a few pounds lighter. It's great, I eat what I want and come back skinnier. It's definately all the activity.

This is a very American question. I lose about 5 pounds a week and reach maximum 10 pounds total on longer trips. I also take the tightest fitting clothes when I leave the USA. They become just right in few days there with no conscious effort to lose weight.

Coming from the U.S., I agree with those who say they either break even or lose weight. Portions are more balanced, there is a lot of walking and essentially zero snacking.

I lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks in Italy. No fried foods, no beer and no fast-food. We did eat pasta at least once a day and had wine everyday. I didn't have gelato everyday but close to it. We also walked mile after mile, as you all do I'm sure. We also drank lots of water.

I'm amazed that everyone's saying they lost weight. It really must be a cultural difference between the US and Europe. <BR><BR>I'm from the UK, and having just had 8 days in Italy I've EASILY put on weight. I put it down to eating proper lunch and dinner (with starters and dessert) every day, whereas at home I'd have a sandwich for lunch and one course in the evening. I can't see how I could possibly lose weight on holiday, even with all the walking.

Our trips are usually 8 days to 2 weeks. I always lose about 3-5 pounds

As an American who works out everyday and doesn't eat fast-food except for pizza, I don't see the major losses others talk about. I eat more while on vacation, and while I do walk more, I never get the big cardio workout I would get in the gym. I usually stay the same weight or gain 2-5 lbs. <BR><BR>Since my eating at home is almost all homemade and fresh, I don't feel like I get the switching to a "good" diet benefits. I think that would be why most Europeans don't seem to lose weight on their inter-Europe holidays.

It's usually people who are overweight or normally not very active that lose weight on vacation. I, too, work out 6 days a week, and while I'm not a stick insect, I'm in good shape and eat right. So when I go on vacation, the physical activity I do is not as intense, I drink a lot more, and tend to indulge myself more. So I put on a couple of pounds. But it comes right back off when I get back to my routine.

Sorry-I am not overweight and also walk and keep in shape. I always eat on holiday and always lose a few pounds.<BR>Even though som people work out a few hours a day or week, that is not the same as walking for miles every single day for a week or two. It has to have a better effect on you than 30 minutes on the treadmill!

I think if you don't gain any weight, you haven't really been there! Cheese, pates, pastries, 3-course lunches and dinners lead to an average 3-5 lbs gain, in 2-3 weeks. I normally don't eat like that. <BR><BR>A lunch diet of jamba juice for a couple of weeks when I come back, and a return to my aerobic routine takes it off in 2-3 weeks time.

Last year, while in Paris for 12 days, I lost 8 pounds and didn't even try to. Didn't make any effort to eat "light". The clue as with the others here was all the walking. I didn't snack in between meals like I normally do.<BR><BR>JANE - I am of a very normal weight, work out all the time. You shouldn't say that it's the overweight and inactive people that lose weight. Because you gain weight don't go saying the only reason others are losing is because they are overweight and inactive.

Uh, Pam, in case you want to balance out your pigging-out.... recommend you do lots of walking in Europe. Say, for instance, after dinner, you go out and take a solid stroll around the old town of whatever city you're staying in, do lots of window shopping, zip through a park or two, and by the time you get back to your hotel, you'll feel like you've worked off your dinner. Just in time to pig out on a late night dessert? Mais non! Abstain just a little and you know what? After two weeks you'll go home having LOST weight.

xxx, please note that I said "usually". Sorry if you are so unique that you don't fit the profile.<BR><BR>Sstone, walking "miles every day" does not come close to my workout. I run about 6-7 miles everyday (about 7.5-8 minute mile pace) on a somewhat hilly path, then workout with weights for about 45 minutes-1 hour. On the weekends, I'll usually do a long run of about 20 miles or a 50 mile bike ride. And please, I don't use the treadmill or weight machines.<BR><BR>Walking's a good exercise if you're older (my apologies to older athletes), but unless you're walking up a lot of hills/mountains, it really doesn't do much in terms of fitness.<BR><BR>Even though I do a ton of walking when I'm on vacation, I definitely lose a measure of fitness.

I think if you loose weight is because European food is more balanced, you can eat much but you don't have so many calories as in America.Now, come on, you can't say European food isn't great because it is great!

<BR>I never gain weight on Europe trips because I walk so much and eat well without gorging myself. <BR><BR>By the way, in a report issued by the National Academy of Sciences last Thursday they, for the first time, added an exercise recommendation to their usual dietary advice.<BR><BR>"To reduce some of the main killers of America, we will have to increase the level of physical activity," said Dr. Benjamin Caballero, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.<BR><BR>The report recommends at least one hour of moderate physical activity daily, such as walking, slow swimming, leisurely bicycle riding or golfing without a cart. <BR><BR>That's twice the latest government guideline recommended by the surgeon general in 1996.<BR><BR>