Cruising soon...What to do? What to do?

Went on a cruise many moons ago with my husband and neither of us gained weight (I think we both lost a pound or two). The food wasn't all that great. It was copious, for sure, but just ok. Just because the food is there doesn't mean you need to eat it (-:

Yes, yes, yes! My hubby, my daughter and I always come back from a cruise (usually 7 to 8 days) lighter and darker! It so can be done. If you simply don't look at it as a food fest and instead embrace the healthful food that's there. My big helper is really the big "salad bar" style area that starts with tons of fresh fruits. When in my life do I ever have that kind of wide-ranging choice of fresh, already cleaned and prepped, fruit which typically includes the exotic yummy fruits that aren't always "in season" in Texas? I fill up on those and do the same on the salad bar (skipping dressing ... I'll go for good quality balsamic vinegar every time!).

For cocktails, I bring my own crystal light packets to make drinks with. I buy one of the cruise line insulated cups for my cocktails and sodas and if I want a cocktail, I'll mix up some water and some crystal light and add a shot of coconut vodka. The bartenders are more than happy to just add a shot to your mixed up juice. Then my cocktail has only about 70 calories instead of 700 for the special of the day!

Hubby and I are early risers and we like the feeling on the ship decks before EVERYONE gets up and about so we typically get up there and if there is a running track on the ship, which there usually us, we'll do a nice run in the cooler morning air. Of sometimes, we'll hit the gym EARLY before it gets crowded and use the treadmills facing out to sea. That balancing act makes running a little more interesting (and probably better for us too).

In the fancy-pants dining room, we always order from the spa menu so that our meals are both yummy AND low calorie. And we basically walk a lot. We're not the types to lay in our room or sit at a bar all day long, so we're usually more active than usual. That combined with the abundance of fresh foods, we're usually at least a couple pounds lighter. And no, we aren't tracking on vacation. Just making the best of the yummy stuff there and staying busy.

Good luck. And most of all, enjoy. If you are up a bit when you get back, it'll come off again. Such is life. Enjoy it!

if you want vegetables with your meal ask or you will get non, most have free gyms and remember to enjoy your self!

Walk everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've always manage to maintain my weight on a cruise by avoiding the elevators as much as possible! Usually only take them late at night when I can't do that final 5 flight climb from the casino to my cabin!

There is always lots of fresh fruit and salads for breakfast and lunch! Then enjoy your dinner and even a dessert or two!

Have a great time!!!!

Hi
We cruise each year and I'm yet to put on when I'm cruising, I seem to get a weight gain when I come home, but I think that's due to boredom at work!!!
Make use of the salad barsas previously mentioned and dependant on which cruise line you are going with, some offer healthy option choices. I think the majority of the people who do put on weight when cruising, eat for eatings sake and because it's free. I've seen plenty of people in the buffet bars piling their plates high like they're gonna miss out on something if they don't.
If you are walking about sightseeing that soon builds up spare calories also, so I wouldn't worry. Plus it's usually a trek from one end of the ship to the other and there's thousands of stairs if you want give the lift a miss.
Just enjoy yourself and have a fantastic holiday.
:glasses:

I just did a two week cruise to Hawaii. I maintained. I worked out on the sea days, did relatively active excursions, and ate in moderation, although I did have dessert and ice cream every day!! . It can be done, especially if I can do it over 14 days! Good luck, and enjoy!

Have a great time !!!! Eat lots of salad and fruit. They will have plenty of seafood for you to choose from too. The amount of walking you will do will burn it off.....the ship is going to be HUGE. I'm jealous ....think it might be time to plan my next cruise :-)

Have a great vacation!

About logging - you can keep track of things in a notebook and then enter the days retroactively. You may also be able to purchase minutes on board to use the ship's interwebs.

About exercising - I worked out in the fitness center on the ship. I had to get there extremely early or around when other activities were planned in order to be able to do so though. Also, we didn't do many of the planned excursions. Instead we walked all over the towns. We met a really nice lady in Cornerbrook who told us about a trail which was free to explore.

Bump!! I will reply to this later but yes I have went on a cruise and maintianed.

I'm cruising in 1 week!!! But in the past when I cruised I did manage to lose or maintain, never gained. For one, the food is okay, not the gourmet cuisine you may be thinking of. And like everyone else has mentioned, there is so much opportunity for walking amongst other activities, that you will burn more calories than usual anyway. As far as drinking water, it's expensive and not my preferred brand on the ships so I always bring a case with me and my cruise line allows me to bring one case, you can check with your cruise lines rules. Stay hydrated, bring sun protection and have a blast!!!!!!

It's been almost 8 years since I went on a cruise, wasn't watching weight, but they do have lots of healthy food choices. Also, lots of opportunity to exercise (without appearing to do so). On excursions, go snorkeling (swimming exercise), walk along the beaches, walk from ship to destination (if within walking distance), walk through shops at different stops, we even went golfing (in Jamaica), I have never been a good golfer, so I walked more than I rode. After golf, my new hubby says, it's not that far to the ship, let's save the $4 each (what we were told cab fare would be) and walk back - about 45 minutes and 10 miles later we went and collapsed in our cabin It was a fun walk though.

Night life on the cruise will have dancing too.

There is plenty to do to exercise off the extras. Just remember, go have fun!