Hi folks, I'm current in the USA on business for 2 weeks...... first week in Florida, now in Boston. I'm struggling.

I had my first fill just 1 week before I left, and much to my surprise, seem to have some good degree of restriction. I'm struggling for 2 reasons:

1. I haven't learned yet what I can eat without problem, how much and when to stop. Its hard to get into a good routine, because the food I'm eating here is very different to what I would eat at home in Australia. I'm spending a lot of time with that dull pain radiating from around my pouch, which I'm sure means I've eating too quickly, too much, or not chewed well enough.

2. The second problem is the food. With all due respect to my american friends, the food here in the US is just diabolical (especially when you are living out of a hotel). I hate to say it but the food is just so unhealthy and processed. Of course, we have junk food in Australia too, but it seems even the junk food in america is more unhealthy than the junk food in Australia.

On the plus side - I'm having a ball in my free time hitting the clearance racks. I'm coming home with 20 kgs of extra luggage. Great clothes in 1X (14-16) for the coming Sydney summer, and great clothes in 2X for the current Sydney winter. Last time I was in US, some 3X clothes didn't fit me, so I'm pretty happy - so very very cheap compared to what we pay. I got 3 great jackets for winter at $15, $20 and $30, and some really cute argyle cardigans for $12 each... woohooo. Several shirts for $10 a piece. Basically, I spent less than $350 for complete winter and summer wardrobes, that will see me through as I drop sizes. Plus sized clothes are so plentiful and inexpesive here in US.

Welcome to USA! You can find chicken, fish, beef, or pork anywhere along with salads. Yes, we do have junk food at every corner, but we all don't eat it just because it's there. Try so grilled chicken or fish, then some fresh veggies that are grilled, or even some good Soup until you get home.

Tell us what kind of food you eat back home and maybe we can point you in the right direction to what you are used to.

Again welcome!

Wow it sounds like you are having a great time in the shops. Are there supermarkets nearby where you can by ready-made salads? A lot of the take away places often have healthier options, just make sure you walk straight past all of the donut shops!!

Bring me back some clothes lol! You could always ask for your food to be cooked with no oil, no butter and no salt to help overall with the food or you could ask for just more vegetables, I know what you mean about the food though, you watch shows and see how they have a McDonalds or Kfc on every corner and it does look a bit too much, but they also have good varieties of organic food in america so if you see an organic shop and you have a small microwave in your hotel room you can always fix yourself something up - sure it will be a little more expensive but at least you know what your making, how your cooking it and what goes into it right? Have fun on your trip!

When out, if you werent a bandster, you'd be looking for a freshly made salad roll or sandwich - all fresh salad ingredients - avocado, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, sprouts etc. I'd imagine there are salad and sandwich bars just like here - and you know, you can always ask for the salad to be put on a plate, I often do that, skip the roll. They also have made up salads, of course, um, sushi hand rolls.

Hi there... well I'm back, with an extra 20kgs (of luggage). Perhaps my shopping kept the calorie intake evened out. I did manage to gain 3kgs in 10 days in the US. No doubt a lot is just excess food in my system, and Water weight - and it will come off quickly now I'm back to healthy food options.

No doubt there are good places to eat - I suppose you just need to know where to go, and I didn't really have the resources to find those (and don't drive when in the US). I guess it also depends on where you are. Had a fab time though - I love my friends over there - makes business a lot of fun.