Cruise Suggestions

VeganAmandaJ

I will be going on a 6 day cruise and am looking for some advice on how not to gain 10 lbs.

My plan was to indulge half the time (which I know would still include possible gain) but I also plan to be very active whether it be walking around on the ship, at the two destinations, and/or taking advantage of the gym for sure-well,that's the plan anyway. I'm hoping being active will literally outweigh any possible indulgences.

I haven't been on a cruise in about 11 years and would like to enjoy myself and not freak out or be obsessed with food and counting but I would like suggestions from people who have been successful on cruises.

I pretty much know what to expect and I will choose veggies and fruits when possible; I suppose it's the same concept as going to a buffet?

Thanks for any help.

wkwebby

Absolutely! On cruises, you should definitely try to make the set meal times as opposed to the buffets though. You feel like you're in a restaurant and still can order any dishes you want (as many as you'd like), but it isn't all in front of you and it is already portioned out for you.

However, if you feel that is just too regimented, then yes, stick with healthier choices and see if you can stick to just the one plate. Alcohol is another secret calorie saboteur. If you are going to a tropical place, be careful of the fruity drinks you're consuming on the boat.

One night out of six won't make you gain weight, but six nights of 1000 extra calories could put you up a couple of pounds. Remember though, you are going on vacation, so a couple of days of letting loose won't hurt too badly. It is only when you go to the buffet every day and every meal and forget your food choices.

Have great fun and just don't sit still for too long!

brittk2013

I think you have the right mindset. I've been on a few cruises and have never gained more than a pound or two from any of them because even though there's food all over the place, I'm moving so much.

Keep in mind that just because food is there doesn't mean you absolutely have to eat it. Eat when you're hungry, pass when you aren't. Be somewhat mindful of your choices, but remember it's ok to indulge and enjoy a taste of the chocolate buffet or dessert at dinner. Balance it by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walk around the ship, walk when you can at port. We always go on somewhat active excursions and feel like we walk more on cruises than we do in regular life!

I think it's awesome that you're thinking about staying healthy while on vacation, but remember that it's just that, a vacation. Enjoy yourself!

SLHysell

Oh...I hate to say this, but I don't think I could handle a cruise if I was trying to lose weight. 90 percent of most cruises is about the food. It makes me hungry just thinking about it.

My advice is to eat it up and enjoy. Then make sure you get back on track when you get back. I recently gained 5 lbs on vacation and lost it quickly when I got back to real life. You have to live a little. One week won't destroy your weight loss plans. Just make sure you get right back into the groove when you return.

RGv2

If you gain 10lbs, 8 of it will be water. You'd need to eat 35000 calories above TDEE to gain 10lbs of fat.

I say, if you really...really...want to...watch your portions, but just go ahead and enjoy your vacation. I gained 8lbs on my 7 day cruise. I went back to my normal diet and exercise plan on Monday and lost all 8 by Thursday. Don't get discouraged by the scales in this scenario.

VeganAmandaJ

Thank you for the kind words! I don't plan to do much alcohol since I pretty much don't drink as it is now and I feel like it's a huge waste of calories without any nutrition, also it's expensive so I just opt out.

I will try to avoid the buffet though at least most of the time.

Thanks and I don't plan to sit for too long, unless to sunbathe a bit!

wkwebby wrote: »

Absolutely! On cruises, you should definitely try to make the set meal times as opposed to the buffets though. You feel like you're in a restaurant and still can order any dishes you want (as many as you'd like), but it isn't all in front of you and it is already portioned out for you.

However, if you feel that is just too regimented, then yes, stick with healthier choices and see if you can stick to just the one plate. Alcohol is another secret calorie saboteur. If you are going to a tropical place, be careful of the fruity drinks you're consuming on the boat.

One night out of six won't make you gain weight, but six nights of 1000 extra calories could put you up a couple of pounds. Remember though, you are going on vacation, so a couple of days of letting loose won't hurt too badly. It is only when you go to the buffet every day and every meal and forget your food choices.

Have great fun and just don't sit still for too long!

mom2nicknat

I have been on two cruises during this journey and did just fine. I would eat in the dining room as much as possible because their portions were much smaller. Have fun!

Chief_Rocka

RGv2 wrote: »

If you gain 10lbs, 8 of it will be water. You'd need to eat 35000 calories above TDEE to gain 10lbs of fat.

I say, if you really...really...want to...watch your portions, but just go ahead and enjoy your vacation. I gained 8lbs on my 7 day cruise. I went back to my normal diet and exercise plan on Monday and lost all 8 by Thursday. Don't get discouraged by the scales in this scenario.

Listen to this guy. Life is too short to worry about food all the time.

VeganAmandaJ

Thanks so much! Yeah, I just don't want to go crazy and actually, I ate a buffet yesterday and I just can't eat at the volume I used to- I can't. I also tend to eat slower and I get little bits of things. I don't stuff myself to sickness anymore (usually, very rarely do I get too full), it's just not a good feeling to be uncomfortable and I especially don't want to feel ill on my vacation so that is a huge motivating factor.

I do plan to enjoy myself, just in moderation, thanks!

brittk2013 wrote: »

I think you have the right mindset. I've been on a few cruises and have never gained more than a pound or two from any of them because even though there's food all over the place, I'm moving so much.

Keep in mind that just because food is there doesn't mean you absolutely have to eat it. Eat when you're hungry, pass when you aren't. Be somewhat mindful of your choices, but remember it's ok to indulge and enjoy a taste of the chocolate buffet or dessert at dinner. Balance it by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walk around the ship, walk when you can at port. We always go on somewhat active excursions and feel like we walk more on cruises than we do in regular life!

I think it's awesome that you're thinking about staying healthy while on vacation, but remember that it's just that, a vacation. Enjoy yourself!

cwolfman13

There's pretty much no way you could actually gain 10 Lbs of actual fat in 6 days even if you just said to hell with it and went to town.

Personally, cruise...vacation...whatever...I pretty much just enjoy those occasions and events and try to be reasonably mindful of what I'm doing, but more or less I'm there to enjoy myself. I don't think I've ever gained any actual weight (beyond water and waste) on a vacation...

I took a trip to California a few weeks ago for a week long vacation...I was 182 when I left and 190 when I got back home...I was back to 182 by the following Thursday as it was all water and waste weight, not fat.

VeganAmandaJ

Haha, true! I never said I was trying to LOSE weight while on this cruise haha. I just don't want to go overboard. (pun intended)

Thanks and I definitely plan to enjoy the food but I guess I will just Basically I plan to stop eating when I'm feeling full even if I want more food and to be as active as I can to counteract any possible overeating.

SLHysell wrote: »

Oh...I hate to say this, but I don't think I could handle a cruise if I was trying to lose weight. 90 percent of most cruises is about the food. It makes me hungry just thinking about it.

My advice is to eat it up and enjoy. Then make sure you get back on track when you get back. I recently gained 5 lbs on vacation and lost it quickly when I got back to real life. You have to live a little. One week won't destroy your weight loss plans. Just make sure you get right back into the groove when you return.

middlehaitch

Have a visit to this thread on Cruise Critic Lose Before you Cruise.

I find the amount of activity on the cruise and ports of call counterbalances my extra calories.
Remember stairs are your friend; elevators your enemy.
Go easy in the buffets, but allow treats.
When eating in the main dining room you don't need to eat every course, I usually chose 3 out of the 4 - one always being desert (I am on holiday after all. Seperate your main course as soon as it arrives putting aside the amount that you don't need to eat. Ignore the bread put on the table.

As already mentioned a lot of the gain is water weight because of the salt in the food.
Weigh youself out of curiosity when you get home - then ignore that weight.
Weighing 1-2 weeks after the cruise will give you your true, if any, gain.
I am usually 7-10 pounds up when I get home but I am back to normal +or- 2lb after 2 weeks.

Enjoy your cruise, it isn't all about food and drink; it is also about making new friends and visiting new places.
What cruise are you doing and which ship?

Cheers, h.

indianwin2001

I'm doing a 2 week cruise in Dec. and I plan on enjoying it. I am at my goal weight and BF% now,so I am still eating below TDEE-10 and I figure I should lose another 5-7 lbs. and have the wiggle room,BUT I plan on enjoying the food and eat what I want and if need be,I'll lose any gain when I return.

kr1stadee

We went on a 5 night Disney cruise in March. I gained 8lbs. The whole idea of savoring each meal, enjoying things I don't usually, just flat out enjoying myself made the vacation so much better.

Within a week, I had the 8lbs gone. No problem!

Unknown

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sydneydeb

What works for me is do not eat at the buffet at all, only eat in the restaurant where the portions are controlled and much better food. Before breakfast walk or run (which ever you prefer) at least two laps of the top deck of the ship. If you do any shore tours do as much walking as you can or try to pick ones that involve some type of activity. Most of all have fun and don't stress about it too much, life is meant to be lived.

50sFit

ASLJH83 wrote: »

I will be going on a 6 day cruise and am looking for some advice on how not to gain 10 lbs.

My plan was to indulge half the time (which I know would still include possible gain) but I also plan to be very active whether it be walking around on the ship, at the two destinations, and/or taking advantage of the gym for sure-well,that's the plan anyway. I'm hoping being active will literally outweigh any possible indulgences.

I haven't been on a cruise in about 11 years and would like to enjoy myself and not freak out or be obsessed with food and counting but I would like suggestions from people who have been successful on cruises.

I pretty much know what to expect and I will choose veggies and fruits when possible; I suppose it's the same concept as going to a buffet?

Thanks for any help.

I gained 7 pounds in 7 days eating anything I wanted, but after every meal, I walked the entire ship up and down every deck. It took an hour.
I ate 4 huge meals per day...and walked 4 hours. I was not on a cruise to diet.
And once I returned to regular life, I cut the weight in 2 weeks.

arditarose

I went on an 8 day cruise and didn't gain an ounce. I worked out in the gym about 5 days of the week. My excursions were horseback riding, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling.

I ate off of the healthy menu a few nights of the week. Ordered what I wanted a few nights. Always had at least 2 glasses of wine with dinner. Didn't eat much for lunch because that food is not great anyway. Basically if something tasted awesome, I ate it all.

ShellyBell999

My biggest concern for my upcoming cruise is hitting my protein macros. Everything else will balance out on its own.
Have a great time!!

jgled

I think you got some great advice. I never gain during holidays but a recent cruise did me in. Swelling from salt and very high blood pressure.I usually don't use salt.but it can't be helped on a cruise. Drink lots o f water and get the exercise. Buffets are not best choice I think restaurant is t he better way definitely but do the buffet once to not miss the experience just make sensible choices. Bread is a big calorie taker .you can always have bread but you don't get some of the other choices every day. So I would go with A or choose B, whichever Will satisfy my craving with the best result. AND ABOVE ALL, LOG YOUR INTAKE you will be sorry if you don't. HAVE FUN

arditarose

jgled wrote: »

I think you got some great advice. I never gain during holidays by a recent cruise did me in. Swelling from salt and very high blood p pressure.I usually don't use salt.but it can't be helped on a cruise. Drink lots o f water and get the exercise. Buffets are not best choice I think restaurant is t he better way definitely but do the buffet once to not miss the experience just make sensible choices. Bread is a big calorie taker .you can always have bread but you don't get some of the other choices every day. So I would go with A or B whichever Will satisfy my craving with the best result. AND ABOVE ALL LOG YOUR INTAKE DON'T you will be sorry if you don't. HAVE FUN

I disagree. I did buffet for lunch and had salads or pieces of meat. Dinners are sauced up, served with bread. Any anyway, you won't have service probably. If you've been measuring all along you'll have a good idea of what "maintenance" feels like. Eat that.

ffswmn

I just got back from an 11 day cruise and only gained 2 lbs. and I ate what I wanted; I didn't do much drinking so I'm sure that helped. Make sure to always take the stairs and not the elevators. Drink a lot of water. If you do eat in the buffet peruse it before you start loading anything on your plate. I ate A LOT of fresh fruit and salad bar from the buffet. In the dining room I only ordered a starter (usually a salad), a small side (the most amazing fettucine alfredo I've ever had in my life), and then a main coarse, then it was off to the buffet for PB cookies. On past cruises I would usually order 2 entrees just because they looked so good.

All of our excursions were active; we hiked a lot.

Tigg_er

kr1stadee wrote: »

We went on a 5 night Disney cruise in March. I gained 8lbs. The whole idea of savoring each meal, enjoying things I don't usually, just flat out enjoying myself made the vacation so much better.

Within a week, I had the 8lbs gone. No problem!

^^this right here, enjoy your self, when you get back to the real world just work a little harder for a little longer. Have Fun with no worries

VeganAmandaJ

Thanks everyone! Appreciate everyone's feedback and I got the memo: enjoy and try not to worry about it, take the stairs and be as active as possible, and have fun. Okay, noted! I'll come back to update with the caveat of remembering to do it

SonicDeathMonkey80

Norovirus cleanse

SlimSonic

Enjoy your cruise....I have just returned from one and only put on 3lb in the 7 days. I gave in to the treats & decided I was on holiday after all, but somehow never actually ate as much as I used too!

The weight has come off since returning and I feel like I actually had a holiday and let my hair down a little.....

Liftng4Lis

Make conscientious choices, use some moderation and most important: Enjoy your vacation!

ljashley1952

Frankly, I'd just enjoy the cruise and repair the damage when you get back. I would not do a lot of drinking, which would help. I would think about my food choices each meal and do my best, but if I'm in Hawaii and looking at a breakfast buffet with lovely tropical fruits and fancy stuff, I'm not likely to choose the oatmeal. But that's just me. I do something like that so rarely that I would enjoy myself. Not to say I wouldn't try to peel off a few extra pounds before going to make room for indulging.

There's also plenty of exercise equipment on a cuise. You can use it and give yourself a few hundred extra calories to play with each day. Plan activities in port that require a fair amount of walking. There is often an upper deck for walking laps around the ship. People run or walk up there all the time. When I was on a cruise a bunch of us participated in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure event onboard. It was awesome. Other than just making conscious choices, I'd just have a good time and worry about it when you get home.

d6melanie

Honestly, I've been a few cruises and have usually (without trying) lost weight. But I'm pretty sedentary in my normal life and pretty active on vacation. I love food and "food experiences" so I eat in the dining rooms and order all the fancy courses. I pretty much don't snack though, because I don't want to pay for it and I only drink occasionally for the same reason.

I think if you spend the time having fun, drinking water, and playing your heart out then you won't have much to "lose" when you get back. Also the gyms tend to be pretty empty most of the time, and I've seen many a sun rise out the windows of a cruise gym on a treadmill.

kjm3579

Those ships are pretty large -- figure out how many laps you need to run each day to burn off those wonderful calories.

deevah62

Just finished a 15 day cruise and was back to before cruise weight within a week! We walked at least a mile after every meal and took the stairs all the time, not the elevators. I always had fresh fruit with breakfast, a lot of seafood entrees and I enjoyed one glass of wine with most dinners.