I just came back from a 2 week vacation in spain italy and greece. No problems at all. I only had protein though. I had a box of bars in my carry on and a bag of protein in the checked bag. I moved that to my carry on after a while though. I was on 5 flights total and the only thing that got looked at was a stainless steel water bottle I was carrying.
I was just relying on protein supps to curb hunger. I dont know about the contries where you are going but where I was the portions were tiny and expensive. If you are carrying any amount of LBM at all you are likely to lose some of it. Just enjoy your vacation and gain the weight back when you come home. I don’t even think supplements are necessary to be taking unless you are dillegently following your nutrition plan and workout schedule.
And I also think absinthe is over rated and not worth the potential problems that can occur by getting caught with it.
[quote]skohcl wrote:
I’m going to be going to Africa in September and I have the same concerns, I wanna take some HOT-ROX and protein powders with me… maybe some fish oil and multi-v as well.[/quote]
Take Superfood! Seriously, that was a real winner for travel, especially outside the main cities of the drier countries. In Niger this last June I couldn’t find a fresh fruit or vegetable anywhere outside of the capital city, and even when fruits and veggies are available, it can take a little while to adjust to local gastric bacteria. Superfood is a 3rd world traveler’s dream, and it was the only powder can that was never questioned by local police or border guards. You might get a few chuckles because of a common belief that anything powdered made from plants is an impotence potion, but that’s all, and it looks innocuous, the label is easily understood, and it smells like fruit if anyone does open it up. Vitamins and capsuled fish oil don’t arouse suspicion, and I brought HOT-ROX without any problem, but protein powder will get looks, including genuine suspicion and the attention of an officer looking for a ‘dash’ (small bribe) aka ‘un cadeaux pour moi?’ (a gift/bribe for me?). Don’t dump the stuff into plastic bags, keep everything in its original package with original seal, and if you’re going to a non-English speaking country make sure you can easily state what it is in the local lungua franca. The problem is less with actual smuggling concerns than it is giving an excuse for less honest police or customs officials to push for a bribe. That, and as illustrated by my story above, people will not treat your property with respect in the sanitary department.
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
I dont know about the contries where you are going but where I was the portions were tiny and expensive. [/quote]
That’s not gonna be a problem for me as i know what prices to expect and such. A whole pie of pizza (even though smaller) will cost me about 6.50$. That’s just one example, and yes I AM gonna eat pizza there as the ingredients are superb (read: not shitty bleached american flour, and other highly processed meats)
Can you give me an example of something you bought? I’m wondering.
Yeah, i’m gonna enjoy it but I also plan on actually staying on my “pound per week” goal. I’m gonna have so much unprocessed pork around me that it’s not even funny.
I disagree. The real absinthe is the shit. I don’t even like alcohol but a shot of that every now and then is awesome, whether it’s done with the fire or with the ice cup
[quote]jCaesar88 wrote:
BONEZ217 wrote:
I dont know about the contries where you are going but where I was the portions were tiny and expensive.
That’s not gonna be a problem for me as i know what prices to expect and such. A whole pie of pizza (even though smaller) will cost me about 6.50$. That’s just one example, and yes I AM gonna eat pizza there as the ingredients are superb (read: not shitty bleached american flour, and other highly processed meats)
Can you give me an example of something you bought? I’m wondering.
BONEZ217 wrote: Just enjoy your vacation and gain the weight back when you come home. I don’t even think supplements are necessary to be taking unless you are dillegently following your nutrition plan and workout schedule.
Yeah, i’m gonna enjoy it but I also plan on actually staying on my “pound per week” goal. I’m gonna have so much unprocessed pork around me that it’s not even funny.
BONEZ217 wrote: And I also think absinthe is over rated and not worth the potential problems that can occur by getting caught with it.
I disagree. The real absinthe is the shit. I don’t even like alcohol but a shot of that every now and then is awesome, whether it’s done with the fire or with the ice cup
[/quote]
Well obviously some places were better than others. In Madrid I’d get a cured pork/cheese on a croissant with coffee for 2 euros for breakfast. But that is one paper thin slice of pork. In two weeks the only time I felt full after a meal was in Sicily when I ordered a whole sea bass. It cost about 13 euros if I remember correctly. Obviously I could have just spent more money to get more food but I didnt have the luxury of a bathroom nearby while walking around sightseeing. There were also a few times where I spent 15+ euros and didn’t feel like I ate at all. After three days I got used to the small meals and didn’t feel hungry all day long.
Greece was different. Gyros were about 2 euros and two of them at a time were quite satisfying. One place served up a huge piece of lamb for about 8 euros. It will be worth it if you can find out in advance some places that give generous portions.
Good sources of protein were hard to come by. They don’t drink milk in Spain or Italy (in the cities I was in). Only had warm cream/milk for coffee drinks. Carbs were easy to come by everywhere. Buy walnuts and almonds and pecans.
And good for you if you can keep gaining weight. I didn’t mean to imply that enjoying the trip was impossible to do while paying attention to your diet. I just couldn’t be bothered because I knew there was no way for me to get close to 4000 calories while walking around all day in 90+ degree weather. If I had unlimited funds it may have different but it is what it is. I went on vacation with my gf and didn’t think it was right to take away from the trip by worrying about food. But then again, I didn’t mind losing some weight because I knew in the back of my mind that worst comes to worst I can just run a cycle and gain more weight than what I had before I left. As shitty as that sounds, it’s true, although I don’t plan on going back on until I gain at least the 12 pounds that I’ve lost. I didn’t even think about the gym until 2 days before I came home. Not eating actually proved to be a good thing. I’ve already put down over 2500 calories today before 2pm. My apetite is back with an intensity that I didnt have before the “fast”.
I studied abroad in London the past semester. When my dad came to visit me he brought me two 10 pound bags of ON protein from the US, creatine, fish oil and a multivitamins without getting searched (supplement prices in England are pounds for dollars). Granted everything was unopened. However, when i first left for London i did bring opened containers and bags of protein with me with no problem.
Also, while i was there i backpacked for 3 weeks with quite a bit of protein powder and some shitty protein bars. I flew into Spain, Italy, Greece and Germany with absolutely no problems. Like Bonez said, getting protein in Spain and Italy is basically a joke (2 thin slices of ham on a huge roll are basically unavoidable and terrible), Greece is a different story gyros are everywhere and can be had with grilled chicken.
So if you are gonna be worried about protein intake, just bring some powder you really should be fine. Oh and i flew back from London to Jersey with quite a bit of opened powder with again no problem.
I even had a military guard dog sniff my bag in Grenada.
Oh and i didnt see one supplement shop anywhere that i traveled (apart from London) and protein bars are not dime a dozen like they are here in every super market and 7-11, so dont bank on that shit.