How do you manage IF (intermittent fasting) on vacation?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are going to visit my parents in a few weeks and our grown daughters will be joining us. I've lost a fair amount of weight (15 pounds or so) through IF and don't want to regain it. Just wondering how you all manage to keep to your IF schedule while on vacation.

[Anonymous]

Why can't you keep your same schedule?

If I'm in a situation outside of my window where others are eating, if I don't want to mention fasting, I just say I'm not hungry. Or that I don't eat breakfast etc. But if it were a special gathering like everyone going out to a restaurant, then I would just skip fasting for that day (or just allow myself a longer window). Never had an issue being able to get back on track the next day.

I also try to make sure I can get some exercise in daily if possible if I know I'm going to be eating more than usual and/or drinking.

[Anonymous]

I did it recently. I usually drink black coffee for breakfast and eat something substantial @11am. We were traveling for a few days, so I just skipped breakfast as usual. Problem is, DH wanted to push lunch until later (which I didn't plan for the first day) but the rest of the days I had a snack to tide me over. I usually eat my last meal before 7pm, so that wasn't a problem. I am also doing low carb as well, but I ended up eating more carbs than usual those few days.

My fear was that I would get sick to my stomach (not gain weight) and all was well. I got back home and I am back to my schedule.

[Anonymous]

I would just focus on maintaining the progress you've made so far. You are not automatically going to gain 15 pounds if you eat something outside your IF window - you will still have overall control over how much food you eat in a day. I eat outside my window a few times per week for various reasons and it has had no noticeable impact on my progress (35 pounds and counting). I'm not actually eating more food than usual on those days.

But it's your vacation. For me personally, I would rather enjoy dinner with my family than say "I'm not hungry" when I am, in fact, hungry, just because I think it's "too late" to eat. That sounds miserable, actually.

[Anonymous]

I treat IF as situational while on vacation. If everyone is running around in the morning and getting ready for the beach or hiking or whatever, then I skip breakfast like usual. If everyone decides to go out for waffles, I go and eat a waffle. Honestly, the funnel cake and fries on the boardwalk at 5 pm is more of an issue than than eating outside my window...

[Anonymous]

Black coffee, black coffee, black coffee. Available everywhere.