Cohens while on Holiday....tips and advice

[lessfatty]

Well as of today I have lost 30KG...wow .

Last night I tried on my old "fat guy" trackie pants they just fall down, the only way tokeep them from falling down them was to fold the waste band and clip it down. I asked my wife, "Was I really that fat" to which she replied "yep, your stomach was that huge!".

In about 10 days I will be off on my winter vacation, maybe adventure around London/Paris or a big relax in Hawaii (still in discussion), but what ever I choose it will be bad news for me following the diet. So it looks like I am going to have to take 3 weeks "off" from following the diet. My plan will be to eat the yogurt breakfast in the hotel room but otherwise just eat with my family. I dont want to drive my wife and kids crazy with the "I cannot eat this, I cannot eat that, I dont want to eat hear there is nothing I could eat".

Any tips on how to survive a holiday without driving your family crazy?

[asy]

I drive my family nuts at the best of times so this is a difficult question!!!

I think, if you're going to stop following religiously, then just do the best you can. Try to choose things like "Greek Salad" whenever you can, as this is very similar to the 'feta and salad' option. For dinners, try to get a greek salad with steak and try to limit your quantities.

Don't forget to take your Crispbread with you, so you're not forced to snack on junk.

I think the main thing is, steer clear of alcohol and sugary drinks. In the UK you should be able to stick to iced tea, which should be OK (without sugar in it)...

asy

[Faithie]

Congratulations on the weight loss.

So how did you go on your o/s holiday? Also are you now at your own goal?

I'm interested to know if you made it to refeeding.

Thanks
Faithie

[Kannadew]

Hi All... I have been on Cohens for a month now and doing really well... and loving it! The structure suits me perfectly!

My dilemma is that I am about to go on Holidays to see some friends in Adelaide where they will be doing most of the cooking... I have told them about Cohen's and they have been hesitant as they think WW is the best way to go..... but I think I will be ok with most of the food cos they have been losing weight themselves...

HOWEVER.... My friend has already told me that she is planning to go to the Pancake Kitchen for her birthday dinner on my first weekend there!! arrrhghh ALARM BELLS for me.... I had figured that I could handle most other restaurants because I could just order plain steak or chicken etc... but Pancake Kitchen!

If anyone has been there (We dont have them where I am)... and know of some Cohen friendly options please let me know! I was really really hoping that I could make my holidays deviation free!!! As I have not deviated once or even wanted to deviate!!!

THANKS in advance
Kath

[Kohinoor]

Hi Kannadew,

Feign sickness on the day:-

My friend has already told me that she is planning to go to the Pancake Kitchen for her birthday dinner on my first weekend there!! arrrhghh ALARM BELLS for me....

"I have SUCH a headache - but I don't want you to change your plans - I'll be OK. Go and have a great time. I'll grab some Panadol Forte, and I'll be OK. I think I'd just like to rest a while..."

Sorry, I can't help with "pancake kitchen" knowledge,

K

[Kristine..]

Hi Kath

'If you really loved me' ......

Good friends will support you in what you are doing. You don't have to eat at the Pancake Kitchen, you can eat before or after and just enjoy their company and sip water or a long black coffee or whatever.

There really is no need to deviate and 'if they really love you' they will respect what you are doing.

Remember that you have paid Good Money for this, and your body is running in a specific mode at the moment. One of the main problems with other weight methods is that deviations don't matter.

With Cohens' deviations really do matter. A lot. If you were diabetic you would not mess with your dietrary requirements, and right now the food is your medicine.

Your respect for yourself and your committment to the program is what is important, not what you put in your mouth to avoid offending your friends.

Actually, it is they who, by their lack of respect, would be offending you!

So be strong. Take your food with you if need be. At social functions the best way to get around the situation is to hold a crumpled napkin and a plate which has some smears of sauce or a few crumbs on it 'Thanks' I've just had one' is a good response when food is being passed around.

And do you know what? No-one really cares what you eat or what you drink, provided that you laugh at their jokes and otherwise participate in the social occasion.

When they see how much weight you have lost they will be amazed!

Have a lovely holiday and come back lighter than when you went

Cheers

Kristine

[asy]

I agree with Kristine...

If your friends really supported you, they wouldn't mind if you took your own food with you to the function.

What I'd do is this: Ring the "Pancake Kitchen" and ask to speak with the manager. Ask them whether they serve anything along the lines of steak and veg (The old "Pancake parlour did!) and if they do, organise with them your quantities and what you can have, and you're done. If they don't, explain the situation, tell them you'll be coming to the function but will be supplying your own food. Ask whether they'd be OK supplying you a plate (tell them you'll happilly pay a small 'service charge' for the plate) and they should be fine.

Most people are happy to accomodate you if you are up front, honest, detailed and explain what you want. There really should not be a problem.

I have done quite a bit of travelling on the programme (as you can imagine in a year!) and this is what I do to make sure I'm accomodated. NEVER would I put myself in a position where I had to eat pancakes. Mind you, the friends I stay with wouldn't take me somewhere without either making sure I can get food, or giving me the option of ringing the place and working things out.

And, on the topic of your friends thinking WW is best, the simple answer is "This is working for me, and I'm sticking to it". Thank them for their opinions, nicely, I'm sure they're just trying to help, but again, up front, honest answers are best.

Have a great time!!!

asy

[Ecogirl]

Hi Kath
Don't stress about the dinner. I have recently had my folks down and also been out with the girls quite a bit - I have either been eating beforehand and drinking a long black while they eat or I take my food with me - it depends on the circumstances. Let you friends know and they really won't care - mine have been impressed with my commitment and my weight loss.

My sister is on WW and loves the program. We compare notes on weight loss and how we're going. At the moment she is losing the same as me a week - but she's become a gym junkie and I don't exercise (apart from touch football). Horses for courses and we respect each others decisions.

I took cheese and crackers to the Pink concert and ate them during the concert! I also take my dinner or peeled fruit with me to the movies so I get to eat when others are eating popcorn. With a bit of planning you'll be fine.

Good luck
Amanda

[Kannadew]

Thanks so much "guys"! Those are suggestions I would probably normally have done anyway here at home.... but I guess when you think about going and staying with someone else... you dont want to make a big deal about everything and put them out and you just want to fit in etc. I did find their website and found that they do make a garden salad as a side order.... so I might do what I did the other night and thats make my chicken and take it with me and just order the salad.

I was a little "peeved" that even after explaining everything to them about my new plan and lifestyle etc... that the first place she wanted to go to was the Pancake Kitchen... but Hey... its her Birthday and maybe she has been "hanging" out to go there for a treat herself!

Again! Thanks for everyones suggestions and Support! I am totally loving this new lifestyle and the changes I am seeing in my body and my thinking. One month down only.... hopefully... 6 to go!

Blessings to all!

[ConnieK..]

Ok guys,

My hubby and I go to Fiji every year for our anniversary - long story but when we got married we couldn't afford anything more than 1 night in the local motel.

This year we are jetting off on the 10th March (1 month away), I told the clinic this before I started and they told me they will give me some guidelines to follow while I am there and I just go back on the program when I return.

I was wondering if anyone else had done a holiday at a resort while on the plan and how did you cope?

Connie

[ropemaha]

hi connie, i just returned from one month holiday and while it wasnt at a resort all i did was stick to the foods, even if i couldnt weigh the food. i made sure i kept the timing about right and i didnt eat carbs or sugar, except for the wine i also made sure i had crackers, fruit and a couple of tins of tuna on hand for those difficult moments.

seems to have been ok cause i came back with a loss, admittedly only 2kgs but better than a gain.

if you just take it easy you will be ok.

good luck pen

[ConnieK..]

Thanks Pen,

We have a choice of 7 restaurants at the resort so hopefully there will be some good choices available. I like the idea of the cans of tuna thats a good idea. I thought I might take some saladas as well. I am OK on the wine front as I don't really drink very often so it's not a worry for me.

Connie

[ropemaha]

one thing i would add connie, i ordered several meals in restaurants that were supposedly just meat and salad no dressing, but i often got some type of carb added, like chips, or potatoes, or carrots in the salad.

my advice, be very specific.

cheers penny

[ConnieK..]

I figured I will try to do the buffet meals when I can so I can pick and choose I think people just forget to listen some times.

Thanks again Pen.

[Delta]

Hi Connie,

I just added to my original question about eating out while on hol's on this board and all I can say is be really specific when ordering and explain about the need to get your insulin balanced and people will be really good about ensuring you get only what you've specified.

I bought fruit and vita-wheats in NZ from the supermarkets and kept them in a 'chilly-bin' - easy when your on the road. In your case you'd be able to get what you need and keep it in your bar-fridge!

I managed to avoid alcohol, though I intend to go back in a few yrs and sample - I've been told I missed out some beauties. Never mind it just means a return trip with my hubby.........

Hope you have a lovely time on your hols,

cheers,

Dee.

[heavenlylamb]

I had to go on many business trips and holidays whilst on Cohens, and it is a major challenge. I think when taking a resort style holiday it would be almost impossible not to deviate in a major way. I'm not wanting to give you an excuse to deviate... but more to prepare mentally for how you are going to manage the various temptations that will come your way almost constantly!
Certainly take crispbread, because you won't get any allowed carbs any other way. Salada's don't travel well - you'll find them squashed all through your bag! Vitaweats are the only crispbread that I found i could travel with and survive.
But if you are deviating and eating lots more than you should, then you probably don't need the crispbread as well!!
One of the things I did was to set myself a day later in the trip where I would allow myself to deviate, if I needed to. I just found I could resist the challenges for several days, but then I would begin to deviate, and once you start its difficult to then go back to only eating the correct foods. But at least if I had delayed a few days, I had not eaten badly every day!! and knowing that the option was available later in the trip meant that i could more easily resist the temptations early on.
I would actually avoid buffets like the plague. There is just TOOO much temptation and you have too little control over what you are eating, and its too easy to eat way more than you need. I would go to a restaurant, but think and maybe even contact them beforehand and let them know what you can eat and get them to plan some meals for you. I think amounts are less important than trying not to get into the habit of eating chocolate, icecream and bread!! We went on a cruise just after I finished cohens' and I started the cruise with nice sensible meals from the buffet, but by the time it had finished, I was eating enough for about 5 post refeed Cohen's meals! With restaurant meals, you can be more specific. "i want one poached egg with mushrooms" or "i want a steak with salad, no chips or potato".
Salad is more likely to be Cohens friendly than cooked vegetables - just avoid the carrot.
If you are going to deviate, think carefully about what you are going to eat... make sure its EXACTLY what you feel like and you eat it slowly and don't eat all of it. Don't eat chocolate if you really feel like icecream or hot chips etc. Otherwise you'll just keep eating until you find the thing that you are craving.
Thats the other problem with a buffet... you see food and think it looks nice, but its not really what you feel like, but you eat it anyway. normally the food is also lower quality and more fatty.
and then you have to be determined to get back on the program when you get back. I normally gave myself a day of deviating after the day I was travelliing, and then back on the program. But once you have tasted the bad foods, its hard to get the motivation to get back on the program 100%, so it can be a fairly slippery slope. That's where the forum comes in!! Make sure you work out some accountability when you return.
Good Luck and have a great holiday!

[ropemaha]

heres an idea...

order yr meal being very specific and once ordered ask the waiter if they know cpr. when they ask why just tell them if they dont get yr order right then you may go into anaphalactic shock and they will need to resusitate you .... that oughta work.

i'd love to do that....

clearly feeling a bit cheeky today....

cheers pen

[ConnieK..]

I know this will sound crazy but I am really stressing about the thought of the holiday. I think it's because I am not sure of what will be available, the girl from my clinic has said they will give me the maintenance guidelines to follow so I won't gain so bad, and I can just go back to ohens when I get back so that helps.

the problem with Fiji is that the regular fruit is replaced by tropical fruits and the fish is all local.

I actually don't have a problem with the buffet and extras, I am pretty strong willed and went to fiji last year while on my 800 cal diet. didn't go over board at all.

[SassyK]

You'll be OK Connie. You know what you need to do and that deviations aren't worth the pain. Even if you do go off track, you'll know what you need to do to 'get with the program' again. Mangos and pawpaws are tropical fruits, and you can have those... so maybe it won't be that hard to find the right foods.

You are STRONG. You CAN DO THIS.

[ropemaha]

i actually felt the same before i went away connie.

i actually didnt want to go and normally i cant wait to get out of alice at the end of the year.

then when i got back and saw hexi i thought sh@#$T but now its all faded into the distance and means nothing.

it was all just a reflection of my commitment to finishing. might be for you too.

just do your best, make good choices and before you know it you'll be back and losing.

most importantly have fun.

cheers penny