First vacation since surgery and food struggles

 I love being in complete control. At home I can make exactly what I want and its all healthy. I didn't realize how much it bothered me to not be at home cooking my own food until the last few days. My mother in law took my husband and me to the beach for a few nights. We ate out for every single meal and it was REALLY hard to make good food choices. I have to admit there were a few times when I made really bad choices. But even when I felt like I made good food choices I still made bad ones. It was hard because we were on the boardwalk and everything is so unhealthy. I got a salad here and there which sat well but it was so hard to get in all my protein. I got wings that I thought would be a good choice. I didn't realize they were soaked in a butter garlic sauce and I got really sick. Breakfast is also a really hard one for me because I don't do eggs and I had so much yogurt starting out that the thought of yogurt now makes me gag. When I'm at home I eat leftover dinner or a protein shake. I don't do breakfast food.

It was an interesting experience though and it taught me a lot. In the future I think I will be a lot more prepared. I will try my very hardest to have less of a "party vacation food" mindset. It was not fun getting sick on vacation.

I did lose a lb though which is nice!

Wow, three days of eating every meal out must have been so difficult for you. What did you order and relfecting back on it, what do you think that you should have ordered instead? I haven't eaten out much but this is an interesting exercise as to what to choose. Just curious, did your familly take into consideration your needs when choosing that places where y'all had dinnero out?

 I agree it is hard, I just got back from a short trip and everything on the menu is so fattening.. even the healthy choices said 500 calories (this one menu had calories listed) but I figured I'll only eat 1/2 of that but still I felt blah after and I actually ate almost that entire meal and all I kept thinking is did I really just eat 400ish calories in one sitting? yuck.  Thankfully nothing I eat makes me sick so I don't really worry about sauces on things and such that must really suck to not know what's going to make you sick especially when you are trying to enjoy a trip!!  Hope you had fun!

I would not say I eat out a lot, but I do it at least once a week.  When I am strong in my commitment, like 3 weeks out of the month, I choose things that are high in protein and I just don't eat the rice or potatoes that come with it.

I find sharing to be a pain in the ass.  First you have to share what the OTHER person wants.  One time I did that and my friend ordered chicken fried ste *** that isn't going to work.  Then the food came and she offered me the veggies.  We later had a talk about my diet, so now when I go with her I can share because she is willing to get the fish with veggies instead of potatoes.  But there are times, like last night at happy hour, that I give in and get something I know I should not or I know I can make a better choice.  But that is life.  We are going to take vacations, we are going to eat out.  If we every now and again make a bad decision that's ok!  Don't spend any time really beating yourself up over it.  Yeah, it is good to reflect and think about what you could have done different, but don't dwell on it.  I had pizza last night so I am trying to do this every same thing myself right now.  

Difference between you and me, the bad foods don't make me sick.  They may make me feel over full or uncomfortable, but not sick.  I wish they did sometimes so I would never eat them, but then other times I am super glad that I can still have a few of the food I enjoy, I just eat WAY less of it now.

I hope your vacation was fun! 

Good job on losing while on vacation!  That's great!  Eating out is a tough thing.
I was out of state on work travel for a week, stuck mostly eating from a limited
menu at the hotel or walking blocks to fancy restaurants.  Every morning I had
a soy latte for breakfast.  Lunches were tough, but I looked for soup or a tuna
sandwich (ate half and took off half the bread).  For dinners, I ate salad or
minnestrone soup.  One night we ended up at a Spanish restaurant and
it was perfect....very mediterranean spices with smoked paprika, saffron,
basil, thyme and garlic.  They were sampler plates so I had the chance to
try bites of this and that from lamb and veal to eggplant and tapas. I just
tried to focus on healthy foods and I always took a small bread plate and
put my 1-cup portion on it...being careful to not over-eat.

You might want to consider making a short list of pack-in alternatives that can help you balance excursions like this. Whenever goign on the road these days I pack a survival kit: powdered milk and protein for coffee so that the day always starts off right, a couple of packs of those mini-can tuna lunch kits with spices and crackers so I have a few sure, protein rich, easy meals available. I bring cheese sticks or jerky bits, crystal light, and sometimes some snack-puddings if I think I will need some kind of good sweet option. Even if you don't bring enough for every meal, having a few on hand will help you just shrug off a restaurant when it doesn't have good options to pursue.

KT I have to say I eat out a lot with work and my small dtr always on the run. But If I can not get to a Wendy's or Chick Fil A. I will usually try to wait to find a convenience store where I can get yogurt and cheese. I am also known to eat a bad bad thing in the morning occassionally. A half of sausage and cheese biscuit from Hardees. Awful I know but protein rich (a little) still. At work I have a tiny crock pot I cook meat balls, steak, hanburgers, or chicken in when I get in in 3 hrs after my rounds are done, I have a great hot, fresh protein rich meal that I did not have to order ot go out for. Steal tonight. Whoopee!!!!Keep up the good work.

I have been away from home for 2 - 3 days twice since my surgery.  I packed protein powder and protein bars the first time.  The second time I also packed a cooler with yogurt,  hard boiled eggs, drinks.  It is much easier than eating out.  When I did eat at a restaurant  I had a hard time.