How to handle 15 nights on a cruise ship.

2»

Replies

  • HawkeyeLite
    HawkeyeLite Posts: 22
    I gained 10 lbs on a 5 night cruise - right when I had hit my goal weight too. You definitely have cause to worry - but here's the thing - you're making a plan, which is AWESOME.

    I did run once - but obviously that healthy path didn't continue for me. I got lazy. You can do better. There is a gym and a running path, and you SHOULD totally take advantage of both. Make it a part of your daily routine on the ship. You're on vacation, yes, but this is not the time to stop your workouts. If you're usually a morning workout person, go ahead and keep doing it then. Get it done, then get in your bikini and enjoy the rest of your day.

    If I were you (or if I could go back in time and change things with me! ha!), I would be committed to making two meals healthy a day. Or at least measurable and trackable options, so you know how many calories you have left after you eat your breakfast. Dinner is obviously the big one of the cruise - you eat well. Maybe ask the waiter if she could portion your meal ahead of time (give me half the meal instead) before she lays the plate in front of you.

    I know it's your vacation, and you want to take a break and rest too - but just remember, this change and diet and workout plan for you is not a DIET, it is a lifestyle change. And your lifestyle should continue on the cruise ship.

    Drink lots of water too - and have fun. You'll do great - you're going in with a plan.
  • koshkasmum
    koshkasmum Posts: 276 Member
    I lost a bit of weight on my last cruise. I ate most meals at the buffet. It really makes a difference how you view a buffet. If you have to eat some of everything, or if it is just an opportunity to stuff yourself on things you like, by all means avoid them. I like to treat a buffet as an opportunity to select healthy, low calorie options. One egg, one slice of whole grain toast and a nice bowl of fruit for breakfast. A salad with a variety of veggies I could never manage at home and complete control of the dressing quantity and a simply prepared protein for lunch. A choice of a bunch of salad ingredients and fresh cooked veggies at dinner and a nice slice of the carved roast of the evening. And more wonderful fruit - stuff I could not get at home. What's not to love? Oh yeah - lots of exercise options too!
  • djfriedman81
    djfriedman81 Posts: 125
    Try to eat as healthy as possible (read high protein and fiber), but enjoy yourself. Limit your carbs to your boozing and deserts, as sandwiches, pasta, and pizza on the ships suck anyway


    I find that most cruises have many (active) activities like ropes courses, rock climbing, hiking, plus all the swing you can handle when you are at your destinations. When you are between ports, enjoy the fitness center, walking track. If your plan is to lie out all day try to only do this on the days between ports and still try to get to the gym, track, or water aerobics classes.
  • LucyT4dieting
    LucyT4dieting Posts: 284 Member
    Life is for living. Vacations are for enjoyment. I went to Key West last year for a week and gained 4 pounds upon my return. I was so upset over it only to find that three days later I had lost three of those pounds, so the net gain was only a pound. I got right back to my normal routine and lost that and more. Most of the weight you will gain will be water weight. So enjoy yourself! It's not like you go on a cruise every day!
  • fatsnacker
    fatsnacker Posts: 209 Member
    Enjoy your cruise, enjoy the food at every meal but don't overfill your plate and don't go for seconds.

    if you don't want to go to the gym, make sure you walk on deck everyday.
  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    I go to all-inclusive resorts at least once per year so everything is all-you-can-eat and all-you-can drink. I generally eat what I want and end up gaining only a couple of pounds which I just work off when I get home.

    Here are a few things I do to minimize the damage:

    1. avoid super high calorie sugary drinks - stick with wine, or alcohol in lower calorie mixers. Even though they are fun on on a vacation, Margaritas, daquiries, etc. are super high in calories.

    2. If you go to a buffet, fill a good part of your plate with salad (the healthy kind!) or steamed veggies and fill the rest with what you want to eat. Try not go go back for seconds.

    3. Again, if it's a buffet, choose one desert or use the smallest plate possible.

    4. This one is big for me: don't eat the stuff you know is garbage and really doesn't taste good. At the resorts I go to there are tons of places to pick up snacks - greasy frozen pizza slices, plates of french fries, jalepeno poppers, nachos with fake cheese sauce, and other beach food It's easy to just mindlessly grab these foods. I try to remember that I don't eat them at home and I don't even like them.

    I see so many people eat way more than they should because it's there in unlimited quantity....people carrying two dinner plates and two dessert plates at at time without realizing you don't have to eat it ALL just because it's available.

Categories