how can I prevent weight gain?

trailingspouse

Hi

I'm happy with my weight (9 stone 3, height 5'8"), but at the end of this month I'm away on business for a week. I'm going to be meeting up with lots of people that we used to work with, and there's going to be lots of eating and drinking. On one evening, we even need to meet up for an early dinner with one person and a late dinner with another, just to fit everyone in!!

Although I've never had a problem with my weight, I've recently had a hysterectomy, and one of the potential side-effects is weight gain. I'm worried that if I gain weight during this week, I'll have trouble shifting it.

What tips and tricks are there for making sure I don't eat too much? I've thought I could just not have dessert, and I don't mind drinking mineral water (although we'll be going to the land of the Guinness...), but I'm not sure if that'll be enough. We're 'out' for pretty much every lunch and dinner for the whole week! And in between meals we'll be driving, so exercise won't be easy to do. Help!!

peachyprice

Choose things from the menu that are more healthy like a nice mixed salad, grilled fish, grilled chicken, go for steamed/boil potatoes salad as a side rather than chips, choose fruit or sorbet as a desert or go without. Drink spritzers rather than straight wine. And avoid the hotel cooked breakfast!

cherryblossomzel

I don't know if you're one of the "clean plate" brigade, but restaurant servings are often far too large. I'd say try to eat slowly and pay attention to when you're full. Once you are, put your knife and fork down, or ask the waiter to take the plate away. No need to mindlessly eat everything put in front of you.

wannabeslim

Stay away from Bread, Rice, Pasta and Potatoes, no alcohol, minimal sugar, so really very low carbing, if you have to eat late (after 8pm) then don't eat until after 12 the next day, nobody said it was easy, but it does get better after the first few days

newthrift

Try to stick to the healthiest options you can, and if the portion sizes look big you could ask for a smaller verison OR once you are full leave the rest!! Either avoid alcohol or restrict it to one drink an evening and keep away from the puddings the best you can or opt for something like a fruit salad. I wouldn't recommend skipping breakfast althogether, even if you eat late, as breakfast kick starts your metabolism the next day - just go for a piece of fruit or an equally healthy small option.

lostinrates

trailingspouse wrote: »

. On one evening, we even need to meet up for an early dinner with one person and a late dinner with another, just to fit everyone in!!!!

On this evening I'd go for a starter with a side salad at sitting, instead of trying to go for two lightest main courses. I'd have a coffee (or herbal tea) for 'pudding' at the first meal and drink lots of water. I'd be trying to leave this meal 'unsatisfied' rather than just 'not full'.

Fluff15

By doing it just for one week, it's doubtful you'll put on any real weight if your diet is normally good and you exercise regularly anyway. Any weight you do put on is likely to be water retention, which once you get back home and resume normal habits will come off in about a week. Personally if I were you, I'd just go and enjoy myself!

Drink plenty of water, before, after and during the meals. Eat slower so you know when you're full. Opt for porridge if possible (and if you like it) during breakfast as that'll keep you full - most places do it, even McD's! Failing that, a nice big portion of fruit. During meal times you'll probably find you'll feel a bit pants eating greasy food the whole time if you're used to cleaner portions, so no doubt you'll gravitate to healthier options anyway. But I don't think you should worry too much about indulging, it's only one week.

jetplane

What is your normal eating pattern, how much exercise do you do and does your weight usually fluctuate? Also how do you manage your weight when you go on holiday? I would think the answers to some of these questions would be a good starting point.

Mixer drinks for alcohol with a low cal drink in between. If its wine with dinner ask for a jug of water and a spare wine glass, you could even get away with the one glass of wine, and remember to refuse automatic top ups. If its 3 courses ask for either a starter size main or skip the starter have coffee for desert. Try to at least go for a walk at some point during in the day even if it is around the hotel block a couple of times.

If your usual eating habits are well regulated then any change may cause your weight to rise so don't obsess and enjoy yourself and if the worst comes to the worst you can do a detox when you come back and that will shift any extra pounds.

trailingspouse

Very many thanks for all the ideas. I like vegetarian food, even though I'm not a vegetarian, so will try that option (as long as it's not too cheese-heavy). I'd thought about going without breakfast, but you're right, I should have a little something. One of my downfalls is the bread they bring at the start of the meal, I do have a habit of filling up on that before the meal even arrives!! One thing in my favour is that we won't have time for tea and cake in the middle of the morning or afternoon.

I normally have a healthy diet - unrefined carbs, no fizzy drinks, not a lot of coffee (although I do have a fairly serious tea habit...), mostly cook from scratch, not too much alcohol (a couple of glasses of red wine on a Saturday night, maybe a can of cider at some point in the week). I live in a house with 3 staircases, so that keeps me fit, plus I do Pilates once a week.

My weight doesn't really fluctuate - or at least it hasn't so far. But as the hysterectomy was only 4 months ago I may be more prone to weight gain than I have been in the past.

jetplane

Ah the complimentary bread. The way I avoid this is by wondering how many hands have touched that bread, how many unwashed hands and has it been on some other diners table first

wannabeslim

jetplane wrote: »

Ah the complimentary bread. The way I avoid this is by wondering how many hands have touched that bread, how many unwashed hands and has it been on some other diners table first

Lol, great tip