Going on a cruise...

ivygirl11

I am going on a cruise on saturday and if things would have played out the way i wanted them too i would have lost like 50 pounds by time we left. I totally had enough time to lose a good ammount of weight (although i have lost 20 pounds this year), but i just got lazy and was not motivated enough. Well the time is now here and im totally bummed (im the only one to blame here).

Anyhow it is SO important for me not to gain a crap load of weight on this cruise. I went on one in 2008 and i lost like 40 pounds before i went and i only gained like 2 pounds on the cruise. I was totally cautious of what i was eating and tried for the better option with the choices that were given to me. I was with my cute skinny sisters so i had alot of motivation to stay on track. Well this time i am going with my husband who can pretty much eat anything and not gain a pound and he is totally looking forward to just EATING!!!

I cant afford to gain weight. I have been doing good the past couple of weeks with my eating and trying to at least not gain any before the cruise.

I need help with what to do on the cruise. What are better food options and how do i count calories on food that i am not preparing myself? please help!!!

lilchino4af

I don't know what cruise line you're going on, but when my husband and I went on a cruise earlier this year it was with Royal Caribbean, and they had a "weight watchers" type menu. Healthy, low-cal options that looked delicious. Depending on your ship, you should also have a gym and pools. Don't be afraid to workout or swim, especially on sea days where there's not much else to do other than sleep or eat! And at your ports, if the ship isn't too far from the town for site seeing, walk; don't take a cab. We took a bus at one of our stops because we were on an excursion, but we got dropped off in town and the shops were probably a mile long, and the walk back to the ship was only 3 miles so we just walked the entire way! Also, on board, take the stairs all the time (with exception for boarding/disembarking w/luggage)! Staying active like this will help, especially if you watch how much you eat. Don't get the unlimited soda package; take a nalgene or similar water bottle and at any bar they'll give you glasses of water (sanitary reasons) that you can transfer to your water bottle. Limit your alcohol if you drink to 1 per day. Minus the alcohol because I don't drink, this is what I did and I only gained .5 lbs (I didn't pay money to use their internet cafe to access MFP). Hope all this helps!

miss_chriss

I am going on vacation at the end of November and aiming to lose 20 lbs.... I feel your pain with wanting to look good on a vaca!! I definitely agree with the other poster's reply. I plan to use the (free) cardio room in my hotel for my 5 night stay. That way, I know I'm putting energy into looking & feeling good, and I won't feel guilty having ANYTHING to eat on vacation. It's easy to think of a vacation as a "eat whatever you want, let's celebrate!" type of occasion, but as I can tell by your post both of us know that can sideline all the hard work you've put in! I actually have my bathing suit hanging in my room to motivate me! Is there a picture of yourself from your last cruise that you can keep with you on this one, to motivate yourself? My boyfriend is the SAME as your husband, he can eat and eat... he does gain, but he's a tall/muscular guy who can lose easily (grrr... lol). So it's tempting to order the same thing or split what he's getting because it looks so good ("Oh, I'll get a burger too...", etc.). BUT I have to tell you, the last few weeks I have gone to the grocery store and have been making healthy meals, and he has been making changes just following my footsteps! So if you make those changes for YOU, he may just follow suit. Now instead of fast food on work breaks, my bf actually told me he ate a tuna sandwich, yogurt & celery, and loves not spending all that extra money on fast/bad food every day. Also, it helps to go grocery shopping together to pick out healthy foods you both like. I found that my boyfriend and I especially like snack foods late at night (bad, I know). Instead of something bad like candy or sweets, we decided to get hummus and Wheat Thins - yum! Now we are addicted So, some things that have helped me would be, keeping up working out despite you being in a vacation/fun environment, order what is best for YOU instead of going with what your hubby orders (not saying you do this, but I know how easyyy that is to do), and grocery shop together to pick healthy foods. Do it little by little and you will be amazed. We are now eating turkey burgers instead of beef (delicious, and much better for you!), cooking on the George Foreman now that the weather is cooler out, snacking on fruits, veggies, yogurt, etc.
Some options for good foods that most places have: a salad with grilled chicken, grilled chicken wrap (without dressings), turkey burgers or mini turkey burgers, grilled chicken, and lots of soups! I also split my plate in half by separating it with my fork, and when I'm done with the first half I evaluate if I'm actually hungry enough to eat the second. Most of the time, I haven't been. So those are a few things that help me...hopefully they will help you on your vacation! And a 20 pound loss is amazing, don't get down on yourself - just keep it up!

miss_chriss

Oh, and I also think you should get a hot dress to fit your new figure and to wear on the cruise... something that flatters you and that you feel great in. You deserve it! Then you and your hubby can go dancing at the clubs on the cruise, AND that counts as exercise (plus bonding/fun time)!

4lafz

One of my MFP friends asked me to respond - I just returned from a British Isles cruise. Here is what I did - although I did gain 4 lbs that I believe was water weight because I lost it in four days. By the time a week was up I was down two additional lbs.

I never went to the main dining room for breakfast - ate casual buffet - oatmeal, fruit, yogurt - healthy. Lunch was sometimes on an excursion and I just watched what I ate - more veggies - no starches/bread. Dinner in the dining room I ordered seafood choices - more veggies and no starches/bread. They had a low cal dressing for salads. I did order dessert but found myself eating a bite or two and savoring it.

The drinks will kill ya! Order something light like white wine and sip! I think the martini's are what caused the gain!

The ships have a great gym - work out at least every other day. I joined two spin classes on "at sea" days. Skip the show and go dancing after dinner! Take the walking excursions. If you are going on a warm weather cruise - swim! I swam two days only because of the weather and excusions we went on.

Most of all - have a great time and enjoy every bite!

ivygirl11

Wow thank you everyone for your input. i totally appreciate it!!! i will repot back in about a week when i return...