Hi,
I've been Low-Carbing for 3 1/2 weeks, and doing pretty well, sticking to it, with a few exceptions. I'm going to visit family next week (by car). It's a good thing and a bad thing. I love my family, but there are a lot of emotional issues going on, including my brother being ill. And although I'm working on it, I'm extremely sensitive and reactive to things my mom says. Also, both my mom, brother and his family are overweight too.

So, I'll probably stay at my brothers, but I don't imagine cooking will be an option there-and there's no room to stay at my moms.

I'm thinking I'll plan on eating out a lot. I also figure I'll bring some things I can grab in case I can't get to a restaurant/diner/gas station. I've thought of bringing pork rinds, some kind of cheese slices, celery sticks...maybe I could cook some food and bring it with me to put in the fridge. I'm thinking maybe some tuna salad and some cooked burgers.

So, those are some of my thoughts. If you have any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it. I'm doing my best to keep to induction carb levels. I don't even want to get into thinking about desserts, I'd rather take a walk. If you've been on the road before and managed to stay LC, what are some of things you did/ate?

Greek restaurants are your friend: the more meat selections the better!

Order double vegetables instead of the rice/potato side

Order any sauces or dressings on the side, don't use them if they're sweet.

Places that serve breakfast any time are excellent, you can order 2 eggs and some bacon.

Bacon cheese burgers are wonderful, but check what kind of cheese, see if you can get swiss or provolone, and ask for extra lettuce, wrap it in the lettuce instead of eating the bun.

mmmm, Greek food. Last night I took the stuffings out of a gyro and put it all on a revolution roll. Along with a nice Greek salad. YUM, and I lost a pound and am in full ketosis.

Can you make some revolution rolls in a large batch and keep them available for all the legal food that is served by people and restaurants? I cart mine all over when I think I might not have a good choice available.

A tip to about restaurant omelets... sometimes they put non low carb ingredients in them... such as corn starch, sugar, etc... stick to fried eggs if you can, and be careful about bacon and sausage. I like to order steak and eggs.

One thing that I love about low carb is how much variety we can have usually... If something is prepared poorly (say, barbecued chicken with sugary sauce) rip of skins, 'peel' back a top layer.

Most important: ignore naysayers and if you go off a bit, don't kick yourself about it. Just get serious on your return.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

I've not traveled on LC. However, the famioy issues I really relate to. I found a product called Happy Camper. No Rx. It really does help! It won't take care of deep depression but it really helps with anxiety (my cause of eating). Maybe you would consider taking it for a few days. It's easy to go off and on, unlike Rx's.

Also, lavendar essential oil, just add a few drops to hand cream and it can help you stay centered...they've even done studies that show this works. And meditation of course, any time you are feeling you are going to eat the wall paper.

I wouldn't say anything about being on a diet,..if they aren't they will try to talk you out of it. I heard there are some salads at Jack In the Box that are legal, but the main thing I would try to take along are your own low carb salad dressings. You can get these litle 4 oz. "Take Alongs" by Glad Ware in the grocery, and put just enough dressing in each one that you don't have to lug the whole bottle each time you go in the grocery. This will also work to use as a dip for all kinds of fresh veggies. I've also discovered that squeezed lime and salt with some olive oil is wonderful on salads, all that "dressing" that is needed. And you can always use the excuse that "you have just eaten on the road" as a way to get out of doing major eating at someone's house.

I've found most waiters really accommodating about finding out what is in foods, and making substitutions when I've been other kinds of diets.

I agree with all that is said here. I know it's not suppose to be on induction but I kept some lc nuts (macadamian, almonds or brazil ) in my purse to help through some tough times. Better that than going off completely. I also took some Atkins shakes with me. They are only 2 carbs and I don't find they stalled me. Beware of cheese slices. They aren't as low carb as brick cheese since they are processed. I also took along pepperoni sticks. Be careful you check the ingrediants though as some have sugar in them. I had no problems getting legal foods in restaurants. My favorite is steak sandwich (leaving the bread of course) along with ceasar/greek salad. I also go for the appys...you can choose chicken wings, dry pork or grilled vegs. Order a side of fried mushrooms to go on the steak. yum! Many ideas and breakfasts are no problem in restaurants as mentioned by pennink. Have a nice trip
Leah

KFC has unbattered chix, should you be stuck for something out in the boonies.
all the fast food joints have salads now.
there are 24 hour breakfast places.

cans of tuna, packets of chix and tuna on the store shelves.
sardines..

if you can make yourself some burgers and pack them....
do it.
if you can make you up a batch of chix to take with you, do it.
you can always buy eggs in the 7/11's.. cooked or uncooked.

your only issue eating like this will be sodium.
you may end up retaining a lot of water.....
but if you stick to your program, retain water...
come home, get back on your schedule...
you'll lose that water in a couple of days.

if push comes to shove and you can't find veggies, or salads..
there's always canned veggies that you can eat from the can.

LC is very travel friendly.
good luck with your visit.

I recently went on a trip where I ate out 6 times in 3 days and I maintained my weight while I was gone. It can be done. You just make the best choices you can and let the rest go.

I ate things like baby-back ribs without sauce (had my own SF BBQ sauce in my purse), steamed brocolli and plain sauteed veggies and a side of ranch to drizzle on the veggies. Grilled chicken and greek salad. Steak and salad with blue cheese dressing and steamed asparagus. Italian sausage. Bacon-wrapped grilled grouper.

As far as what to eat when you're in someone else's home, that all depends on the situation, so I'll leave that to you to figure out what's apprropriate and what's doable.

I LOVE this!!! did anyone see you haul it out???

did you double "baggie" it in case you ended up smelling like a cookout if it wasn't sealed?

Any tricks on how to slyly use the sauce? Boy, mother of invention isn't just necessity, it's low carbers!!!!

Maybe if you go to a restaurant where you find low-carb friendly foods, you can ask for several meals "to-go", have them wrapped up, and keep them in the fridge. Tell your host family that you don't want to burden them with extra cooking, since you're a picky eater (you're not, but who cares!) Keep some cans of tuna on hand. Not sure how old you are, but you could ask if you could stop at the store, so you can fill up on "your" type of foods to stock in their refridgerator so you don't eat their food (aren't you kind), and again, don't want to hassle them with eating, etc.

I wasn't sly about it at all, but I don't think anyone saw me!

I just had a brand new bottle of KC Masterpiece SF BBQ sauce in my purse, and when the server walked away, I pulled it out and poured out a little, & popped it back in. It actually stayed in my purse 2 days--wondering why it was so heavy--with no leaks!

I had really asked questions of several things and had already sent back the veggies (they didn't taste "plain" and turned out they weren't) so I'm pretty sure she already knew I was either diabetic or on a special diet. I don't think she would have cared.

What do you do with your rev rolls? I'm sure it's much the same, right? I'm not "sly" about my rev rolls when I go to Bonefish (olive oil dipping), and if someone asked I'd just say I can't eat wheat.

yeah, I usually don't use the rolls in a restaurant, though... but I'm thinking I will. I'm usually at a take out type place (horse shows and all).

I would say, though, the rolls would be a far sight lighter!!!!

Thank You for these suggestions!!!! I'm going to make a list and pack up a bag or cooler with all your different ideas.

Koalaty, I've pulled off the bun of a hamburger before, but never thought to wrap it in lettuce, ingenious . And I love Greek food, and there is a store close to my mom's that's kindof like a greek deli.

Pennink, I've never made the revolution rolls, although I read about them. I'll have to try a batch this week. I hadn't thought about them putting other ingredients in omelets...sneaky...and I'll keep your words in mind, "Most important: ignore naysayers and if you go off a bit, don't kick yourself about it. Just get serious on your return." as I usually beat myself up when I mess up, and then that just leads to a big binge.

Grannyscat, I've never heard of Happy Camper, although I do have some rescue remedy and lavender oil. Perfect idea. Along with the "Take Alongs and lime dressing.

JustLeah, After I wrote the post I thought about nuts, usually I go for sunflower (oops, those are seeds), but I love the nut idea because they don't have to be refrigerated.

PilotGal, I didn't realize KFC had unbattered chicken, and I know there's one on the road between my mom's and brothers. Fantastic. And I can pack my own can opener and bring along some cans-again another thing that doesn't have to be refrigerated. I figured sodium might be an issue, but if that's the worst of it, I can deal with that when I come home, like you said.

ElleH, was that a packaged SF BBQ sauce or home made? (oops, I just saw your latest post) I looked for some a while back in the store close by and I didn't see any, but maybe I need to shop around in some more stores. It's dinner time for me and the foods you listed got my mouth watering .

Almost all of what's eaten at my family's homes is not low carb, so I will be eating differently than them regardless and I'm usually pretty okay with that. There were times in the past when I was on one kind of food plan or another and ate differently than them, so they're used to that. I just haven't done the LC thing around them before. In some ways, without having to weigh and measure, something I'd done before, LC is a lot easier, I just need to think it through and plan ahead.

Planning is the key to this diet. (And most actually)

you know the old nugget... when you fail to plan, plan to fail!!!

I look forward to hearing about how you did when you come back!

Oh, I'm sorry, I must have misread about the gyro on the rev roll. I thought for sure you were at a restaurant. Well, I have been known to carry them with me, if I'm going to a place that serves a dipping oil I like, like Bonefish. No one has ever said a word. If I'm with friends they may ask, but the staff has never asked. And if they did, as I said, I would say that I can't eat wheat. I would dare someone on staff to say something to me about it after that! I would give a very sweet lecture about being able to meet the needs of dietary-challenged patrons!

Speaking of vacay...

I have a week coming up and I have NO idea what to do. Camping and cottages are out (for a couple of reasons) and I really don't want to sit in a car for a trip...

Truthfully, I'd love to just stay home and relax!!! Maybe some day trips or something.