Travel Health and Fitness - Losing weight when traveling?

does anyone else tend to lose weight when they travel?

after 8 nights in Rome, pretty much eating everything in sight, I got back and weighed myself this morning, and I'm down about 5# (my body fat is down considerably, about 4%).

I did workout a little...ran once (just 4 miles), weights twice, swam almost every day, but most of it was just putzing around in the hotel pool (1500-2500m). Then again, I'd guess I walked at least 2 miles a day, probably more some days.

Although I ate a bit, it was mostly just 2 meals a day. We'd have a big breakfast at the hotel before heading out (the advantage of hotel status), grab a snack in the lounge in the late afternoon, then a dinner around 8pm.

I was remembering when I was in college. I did a semester abroad (in the Netherlands) and lost 20#, and did another during grad school (to Japan), and again dropped about 15#.

I'm sure I'll be back to normal in the next week, but was just wondering if this happens to anyone else too.

I tend to notice this as well but it normally goes back *very* quick. I almost wonder if the effects of the trip aren't completely "in" your system yet. I'd be curious to see what you weigh in 2-3 days.

On vacations, I tend to see the same effect, but as you noted, I believe it's almost entirely from walking (though I'd add that the last time I was in Sydney, I walked something like 25-35km/day). As magiciansampras noted, it generally seems more like a quick flux than anything sustained, and I'm back to normal weight a few days later.

When I'm in UK/Europe on holiday or at FT Dos I eat/drink more. However, in those locations I do a lot more walking than I do in the US (I'm not talking exercise walking), so I invariably come back even or less. Actually on holidays I'm happy if it's even ;)

Cheers.

I lost a lot of weight (I mean a lot) when I stopped eating on airplanes.

does anyone else tend to lose weight when they travel?

after 8 nights in Rome, pretty much eating everything in sight, I got back and weighed myself this morning, and I'm down about 5# (my body fat is down considerably, about 4%).

I did workout a little...ran once (just 4 miles), weights twice, swam almost every day, but most of it was just putzing around in the hotel pool (1500-2500m). Then again, I'd guess I walked at least 2 miles a day, probably more some days.

Although I ate a bit, it was mostly just 2 meals a day. We'd have a big breakfast at the hotel before heading out (the advantage of hotel status), grab a snack in the lounge in the late afternoon, then a dinner around 8pm.

I was remembering when I was in college. I did a semester abroad (in the Netherlands) and lost 20#, and did another during grad school (to Japan), and again dropped about 15#.

I'm sure I'll be back to normal in the next week, but was just wondering if this happens to anyone else too.

It could well be dehydration. Let's say one pound = 4500 calories. If you ate nothing at all, you might lose 1 pound per day if you were say exercising 2-3 hours per day.

I lost a lot of weight (I mean a lot) when I stopped eating on airplanes.

I eat almost everything given to me, even on planes, within reason. There was some mystery appetizer dish on the CLT-PHX leg that I don't think a single person in F touched.

Going to Europe, I had a glass of wine PHX-CLT, then the FA kept refilling it...eventually I had to tell her to stop. Same thing started on CLT-FCO, then I gave her the glass. Coming back I just had water.

It could well be dehydration. Let's say one pound = 4500 calories. If you ate nothing at all, you might lose 1 pound per day if you were say exercising 2-3 hours per day.

I think that happens some of the time. But this trip I deliberately carried a water bottle around with me, and filled it up quite often. The nice thing about Rome is all of the fountains (well most) have water that is potable; even saw a UPS driver fill up at one.

I eat almost everything given to me

I know the feeling. :D