Before I went on vacation August 18, 1999, I had lost 70 pounds. My weight loss before summer vacation exceeded my expectations. I was 14 pounds lighter than my goal when I left for summer vacation on August 18, 1999. My goal was to drop 2 pounds a week; my actual average weekly loss before summer vacation was 2.5 pounds.
I was on vacation from August 18 until September 6, 1999 and wanted to keep my vacation weight gain to 5 pounds. Unfortunately, I gained 9 pounds during my vacation. Although I had hoped to keep my weight gain during my 3 week vacation to 5 pounds, a gain of 9 is understandable considering that all meals are eaten in restaurants and you tend to eat more "forbidden" foods on vacation. It took me until November 5 (two months), but I finally lost the 9 pounds that I gained while on vacation.
My weight had plateaued at 2 to 4 pounds above pre-summer vacation weight for about 5 weeks; however, I still had lost 5 to 7 pounds of the weight I gained on summer vacation. I had not reverted to "old habits"; otherwise, I would have consistently gained more weight since I returned from summer vacation, not lost 5 to 7 pounds. I was following most of the pre-summer vacation behavior modifications; however, I was not as "faithful" in following all my changes as I was before summer vacation. I would have an occasional ice cream and snack that I would not have had before summer vacation. As indicated in the preceding paragraph, I finally did loose the 9 pound summer vacation weight gain (but it took until November 5, 1999). Unfortunately, I only lost 1 additional pound from November 5, 1999 to December 22, 1999, the date I left for winter vacation. I was only 1 pound lighter when I left for my winter vacation than I was when I left for my summer vacation.
I gained 16 pounds on my winter vacation, about 9 pounds more than I expected. I was disappointed, but not devastated. I enjoy myself on vacation and eating and drinking what I want is part of an enjoyable vacation. I went to Montreal during my winter vacation and enjoyed it very much. Click here for info on Christmas in Montreal. I spent a lot of time indoors due to the abnormally cold weather and obviously, I spent too much of that time eating. I do intend to spend next Christmas in Montreal as well; however, I hope to minimize the weight gain while I am in Montreal next winter.
Between December, 1999 and July, 2000, my weight plateaued between a total loss of 52 to 71 pounds. Although I am happy that I had not gained any significant weight before my summer 2000 vacation, I was somewhat disappointed that I had not lost any substantial weight since returning from winter vacation in January, 2000. I know the reasons: I am snacking more, having more desserts, and eating bigger portions. I have to refocus and get "back in the groove" that resulted in loosing 14 pounds more that my goal between February and August, 1999.
I will not let the vacation lapses keep me from meeting my goal of loosing a total of 100 pounds. Instead of "giving up" because of the vacation weight gains, I will try to utilize the vacation weight gains as incentives to "get back on track" and, hopefully, learn from the eating related mistakes I made on the vacations. My goal is to immediately (May 1, 2001) resume loosing 1 ½ pounds a week and reach my long term goal of loosing a total of 100 pounds by the end of 2001.
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