Cruises = Weight Gain

fultimers
fultimers Posts: 153 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone,

I've been involved with MFP for about eight months and I'm still very happy with this site. However, my husband and I went crazy this past year and booked lots of cruises and as a result I've done 10 cruises this year (72 cruise days). In my mind, I thought I only gained about 10 pounds since last February but I just checked my weight progress report on here and the bad news is that I gained almost 20 pounds this year. I was kidding myself that because I took the stairs instead of the elevators much of the time and tried to eat some sugar free desserts that I could at least maintain my weight. I'm here to tell you, eating three large meals everyday with desserts is not the way to maintain one's weight, lol.

Also, I was visiting my family from June to September in Indiana (much cooler up there than Texas in the summer) and that didn't help either because of all the temptations with other people cooking meals.

I did it this myself and now it's time to promise myself that I will log in every day to MFP and log my food and exercise--even if I'm having a bad day. Obviously, I was not logging in very often in the last eight months.....

I've logged in every day for five days or so and have mostly been a little bit under my 1500 daily calories allowed. What I have not done yet is gotten back into exercise since I've returned. I did lots of walking on shore excursions (my feet were always killing me due to my weight) and no doubt I would have gained even more had I not walked so much. I have no excuses for not exercising in some way. I live in a community where a state of the art fitness room and a heated pool is included in the price of living here. If my feet hurt too much I could jump in the pool or ride an exercise bike.

Thanks for listening!

Replies

  • Angel87a
    Angel87a Posts: 113
    Cruises supply way too much food, of all hours of the day. Definitely hard to stay on track while on one. Time to get back on track and exercise as much as you can. Despite the gaining weight part, I'm sure you had a great time with your husband.
  • jenfactor
    jenfactor Posts: 124
    Wow! Good for you for having the time and money to do all that! Hopefully you will find a balance. But at least you have a ton of great memories to go along with those pounds!
  • skingszoo
    skingszoo Posts: 412 Member
    I had managed to loose 45lbs from Jan to May but I let it get to my head and thought I was invincable since I lost the weight. I gained 15lbs this summer and now I am back at this. My husband and I recently went on our 5year annivaersary/final honeymoon in November and I LOVED it but man the food will get you!!! I am going again with my mom the end of January and really concerned about the food. I know I need to make mindful decisions and I WILL go to the gym!!! Lucky you!!!
  • rvice2
    rvice2 Posts: 132 Member
    I agree! I went on a honeymoon cruise this year and then again in October for fall break. I definitely gained weight. And I hated the 'spa carnival' selections so I ended up eating the other menu items. I even tried working out, but I run and it was really hard for me to run on the treadmill while the boat was moving. I hated it. Needless to say, I gained weight as well.

    You know you have the resources so now there are no excuses! I actually chart out exactly what I am going to do/eat each week. It helps tremendously! Try it! Good luck!
  • lik_11
    lik_11 Posts: 433 Member
    The say the average cruiser gains 1-2# per day on a cruise. Only gaining 20# for 72 cruise days- you actually did do well!!!

    I agree, at least you have lots of memories!!!
  • Sweet_Potato
    Sweet_Potato Posts: 1,119 Member
    My family does a lot of cruises. I actually lose weight on them because I eat a lot of seafood, which is normally too expensive for me to be having everyday. And I'm a lot more active on the port days than I would be on a normal day at work; my cousins and I also go to the club and dance off a lot of calories at the end of the day. We also have a rule on the ship that we take the stairs everywhere.
  • ✰✰ajaks1229✰✰
    ✰✰ajaks1229✰✰ Posts: 107
    Leaving on a cruise in 27 days. It will be my 3rd. Yes cruises supply WAY too much, but it is all about self control. There is always salad and fruit available and most meals can be tweaked if you ask (I have only cruised Royal and they are always acommodating to my quirks :wink: ) I always use the fitness center and the outdoor track. If you eat sensibly during the day, get a little workout in, and watch the cocktails - you can enjoy the nightly meal. It is worth it. One more word of advice, I always take a Tervis Tumbler (24 oz) with me. That way I can sip water all day long - that really helps that nonsensical munching! in addition to fitness center, book an excursion that gets you moving: hiking, bike riding, etc. One of our ports is Labadee Haiti (Which is RCI's private section of Haiti) and I found on the website that they have a guide that will take you on a run/walk so you see the beauty and get a workout in at the same time.

    I :heart: cruising and it can be done if you set limits and stay within them.
    Have fun on your next adventure. I am mucho jealous that you have been on so many cruises this year alone!
  • fultimers
    fultimers Posts: 153 Member
    Thanks everybody for your supportive comments! I've been home from cruising for over a week now and after I posted this morning I took my first walk. What should have taken 20 minutes (1 mile around the "block") took over one hour because I stopped to talk to people and read community announcements but at least I did it and since my husband is always urging me to get more exercise he will pretty much walk with me anytime I want to. (Even he who walked for more than an hour on board the ship every day gained about 10 pounds this last year). Hopefully my cruise binging is over for awhile and I can concentrate on participating in the many activities available to me in our community. I just picked up a list from the office and here are some of the things I could do this winter in my neighborhood (high season here in South TX):

    Round Dancing, Square dancing, yoga, aerobics (beginning and low impact), golf, water exercises, line dancing, shuffleboard, darts, bowling, beginners tennis, water volleyball, walk to music, horseshoes, bean bag toss, attending a weekly dance, playing pool, swimming, table tennis, working out on machines, exercise biking, etc. None of these have any cost associated with them except the golf, bowling, or going to the dance. I've been self indulgent for too long and it's way past time to step it up and become healthier.

    I was reading the other day that Vince Gill took a look around and saw that not too many obese people live long lives. It woke him up and he said he's lost 25 pounds as a result.

    I hope to report back in a week or so that I am doing at least two-three of the activities mentioned above.
  • ✰✰ajaks1229✰✰
    ✰✰ajaks1229✰✰ Posts: 107
    I hope to report back in a week or so that I am doing at least two-three of the activities mentioned above.

    you have the right attitude! Best of luck!
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