Tips for managing weight on a Cruise

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As a travel agent I get asked a lot of interesting questions regarding travel, but the one that surprised me the most was “What’s the average weight gain on a cruise?”  Thankfully I was asked in an email because my first reaction was, “Why?  It’s a cruise and half of the fun is the food.”  But then I looked at my own life and realized how important that question really is.  The first cruise I went on I dieted for a year and lost 50 pounds.  I came home from the cruise 20 pounds heavier.  So I basically undid everything I had worked so hard for.  Over the years I have gained and lost more weight than I care to talk about, but I have developed some tips that have curbed the weight gain immensely.  On my last cruise I only gained 3 pounds and I ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.

 

Tip #1:  Plan To Be Active

You work hard all year long so why not play hard on your vacation?  Many ships have a gym on board; however, I can’t think of anything more depressing than working out on vacation.  So what do I do?  I walk…everywhere.  I take the stairs and never the elevator.  On shore excursions we do something active like kayaking, zip lining, snorkeling, or walking around the city.  I made my husband walk around the ship with me.  Many ships have a promenade deck where you can walk around the entire ship outside (some ships will even post how many laps equal a mile).  If your ship doesn’t have a promenade deck, then explore the ship from top to bottom and from stem to stern.  It’s a great way to get to know where everything is located on the ship not to mention great exercise.  I was given a fitbit for Christmas a couple of years ago and I get a kick out of seeing how many of the challenges I can complete each day, especially on vacation.  Because I am not tied to a desk all day, I get more of the challenges done on vacation and most of the awards I have received from fitbit have been while on vacation.  It sounds silly but it keeps me moving and that’s the important part.  Make sure you do something active for at least an hour every day.

 

Tip #2:  Eat a Good Breakfast

This is nothing new.  If you are like me, you have been taught your entire life that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  It’s true!  There are several places to get breakfast on board a ship.  The one you want to be most careful of is the buffet, or as we like to call it, the trough.  There are some simple rules to keep in mind while getting breakfast.  First, lean protein is your friend!  Many breakfast buffets will have made to order omelet bars as well as eggs prepared in every imaginable way.  Just be careful with the cheese.  Second, pastries are not your friend!  That’s not to say I don’t eat them, I do!  I just limit it to one per breakfast.  Third, whole grains can be found in a buffet.  I personally fell in love with muesli while on a Scandinavian cruise (much better than oatmeal!).  I ate it every morning along with eggs and fruit.  I stayed full for hours.  We often didn’t eat lunch because we would be out on excursions all day.  Last but not least, eat fresh fruit instead of juice.  While you’re at it take an apple for later in the day when you are out having fun for a quick pick me up.

 

Tip #3:  Explore

Be adventurous!  Do and try things you would not normally.  This is a vacation and a break from the normal.  Many ships now have activities on board that would be challenging on dry ground let alone on an ocean.   You can find things as crazy as a rock climbing wall and rope courses and as sedate as shuffleboard and checkers.  It’s not uncommon to find basketball courts, putting greens, running tracks, and of course swimming pools.  Try them all!  It’s a vacation after all!

 

Tip #4:  Be Mindful of What You Drink

I am a water drinker.  It’s not that I don’t like juice and soda and other beverages; because I do, it’s just not worth the calories.  I would much rather save my calories for dessert at dinner!  It is easy to get carried away with the yummy drinks with umbrellas in them.  They are loaded with calories and sugar.  I’m not saying to stay away from them, just be mindful of how many calories you are taking in by drinking them.  It can be an eye opener and leave you with too much baggage around the middle.

 

Tip #5:  Portion Control

On my last cruise I had french fries for the first time in many, many, many months.  I enjoyed it!  The difference is I didn’t eat an entire plate of French fries and then go back and get more!  I probably would have done that in the past.  There is a reason we have given the buffet the nickname of “The Trough”.  It is so easy to take way too much food.  I have started filling my plate with vegetables and protein first, then I go back and get the things that sound good but I probably shouldn’t have a large serving of.  I do leave room for something sweet.  I think cruise ships have refined the art of making dessert available 24 hours a day.  I do love dessert and I make sure I get to enjoy every bite!

 

Tip #6:  Expand Your Horizons

I don’t often eat at restaurants so when I do, I tend to order things I know I will like.  In fact, I usually have a favorite dish at each restaurant and I will order that same dish every time.  I want to know that I am going to enjoy the meal because I am paying for it!  Yes, you do pay for your food on a cruise with your fare; however, on a cruise, if you don’t like something, they will bring you something else!  I usually order items off the menu that I have never had before.  I had lamb for the first time while on a cruise.  I had crème Brule for the first time on a cruise as well as many, many other foods.  If you want to hear a funny story, ask me about the first time I had wasabi!  Yes, that too was on a cruise.  The nicest part about dinner on a cruise is the experience.  I love the opportunity to try foods that I might not otherwise try.  The portions at dinner are a normal, realistic size.  The same with dessert, it is a normal realistic size that leaves you satisfied and not stuffed to the gills.  You will not get a mountain of chocolate cake that will take a family of five to eat in one sitting, rather you will receive a beautiful work of art that tastes a little bit like heaven.

 

I hope this helps you.  Let me know your travel weight management tips?