Support while in the UK

[travelingop]

Well, as many of you have arleady read.. I am in the UK on business. I did wonderfully in Philly working out every day and keeping OP.

Being in the UK has been harder and I am struggling to keep my head above water.. making me feel depressed. I am journaling, but no access to a gym. I have done some walking, but I am traveling the country having 3 hour train rides to my next work location just about everday. This isnt a trip to just see the sites.

For example.. last night.. went to dinner...thought I was being healthy and ordered a greek salad.. dressing on the side.. well in England they don't really have salad here as we know it. It was tomatoes, 3 large chunks of feta, olives and cukes.. I just about cried when I saw it! However, I was starving and ate the entire thing. I did journal it, but it took me over my lot for the day..

So, with WW I try to look at each day as a new one.. so I said to myself.. self.. tomorrow will be better..well working a trade show.. no time to get lunch only what is provided.. so I did the portion control thing.. which was ok, but dinner didn't come as fast as I had wished. In Europe, many people choose to eat very late. So, dinner was at 9pm! YIKES.. i am starving by then.. so I ate some smarties, chewed some gum and then finally broke down and had some of oatmeal. hoping it would fill me.

Dinner came and I tried to make good choices, but being veggie is hard sometimes.. so.. again porition control with risotto.

I am ready to come home!! I don't like feeling like I can't control my choices. I know that when I get home, I will be back to myself and right on program. I still continue to journal, which isn't the problem.. it is more the choices I am faced with are hard and limited.

Just venting!!
Thanks,
Elizabeth

[eyegirl]

Elizabeth--

So sorry to hear about your frustrations. How long will work keep you out of the country? I never made very good choices when I was in Europe (pre WW days...). Are you walking alot? or are you actually gaining? Sometimes your body handles it for a while with little damage done.

Stay smart, but don't be too hard on yourself. Just take it all in and think about the rest of us who'd BEG to switch places with you!! :) :) :)

-Lacy

[WholeWoman]

Elizabeth,

If you're going to be there a while longer, let me know and I'll advise. I find it easier to stay OP here then in Canada (where I'm from).

For lunches go to Boots and get their meal deal - great wraps and all the nutritional info is on the package.

You can also get light meals at all the grocery stores and Marks and Spencer.

For dinner - go for fish (not fish and chips, obviously), or Italian ands stick to tomato based sauces.

If you tell me where you're going next it would be easier for me to help.

As for Greek salads - I grew up in a Greek neighbourhood and have never known a Greek salad to bo anything but tomato, pepper, onion, cucumber, olives and feta!

Hope you're able to stay clear of London.

PM me. Tricia

[IceFae]

I'm from the UK, now living in Nashville TN. I found it easier to stay on points there than here. Most supermarkets will sell food in smaller portions than they do here for a start!

Marks & spencers and boots are both great for grab and run food with nutrician info. And the main stream supermarkets like sainsburys and tescos have a much bigger range of weight watchers produce there than here, including soups, beans, frozen meals, fresh meals.

And as for being vegetarian - my ex boyfriend was a veggie and there were always plenty of restaurants that catered for him. When he came to visit me here, before we broke up, it was a nightmare!

And London (as well as other cities) has plenty of health-conscious restaurants and ones that cater soley for vegetarians. Use the internet to do soem searches and I am sure you will find good options.

As for the salad - with the exception of an italian feta and tomato salad, most restarants will sell a salad that is identical to the ones you get in the USA with lettuce, tomatoes and loads of other non-point salad items.

Dont dispair, just look around! :D

[englishgirl]

If you have the opportunity you should try to attend a WW meeting sometime when you're in England and buy the Eating Out Guide. It only costs a few pounds and it has been a lifesaver for me since I've been on WW. I never thought that there would be so much difference in points between a sandwich from Starbucks and one from Subway! Also you would see already from the book that Greek Salad is lethal for dieting.

If you're eating out all the time this would be what you need. But if you go to the supermarkets too and get stuff for yourself, try Tesco. Their whole healthy living range has the WW points info printed on it and it's cheaper than WW products.
Just thought, you might be able to pick up the eating out guide from the WW uk website.
Kat

[travelingop]

Thanks for the help. I am back in the US now, but I may be going back to the UK in January again.

These are good tips!
Thanks,
Elizabeth