Weight Loss and Your Environment

At our Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Centers we have many patients who travel extensively as part of their jobs. Frequently, they will come in for a followup appointment and only minor weight loss or even some weight gain occurs. Most of these patients will then describe how the travel/being out of their own environment presents a huge challenge to following the dietary plan that is part of our program. When home, they can shop for the "right" foods, prepare and plan their meals, exercise on schedule, etc.

I certainly agree that it is much easier to be "structured" when home, and when conferences are attended out of town, the meal choices, snack choices, etc. become the domain of the sponsoring group, not the individual. The nighttime activities at out of town meetings/conferences also usually involve social interactions and mingling that inevitably revolve around alcohol.

Here is the scoop: If you have an occupation that involves business travel and you do not plan on hitting the lottery for 10 million in the next 6 months, then your enviroment will not be controlled. Moreover, that environment will NOT adjust to you and your goal to lose weight. YOU need to adjust to that environment. I am not saying this is easy, but I am saying this is reality. Almost every hotel and conference center has a workout facility. Set that alarm clock 30-45 minutes early and get to the gym before the day's activities begin. At breakfast, bypass the croissants, bagels, etc. and head to the protein choices that will be available. Consider bringing a good protein bar as your snack as opposed to the cookies and donuts they will put out. Similarly, at the lunch and dinner meals, seek out the protein and vegetable choices. And at nite, when people gather for more social interactions, do not get caught up in the downing of drinks that seems to be an integral part of most out of town business functions.

Once again, you have to be your own advocate and take control of the environment that presents itself to you. If you are able to exert this control, your weight loss goals will be reached more easily.