How to minimize weight gain?

[BACK DECK]

I'm leaving for my 6 cruise in a few months, going on the explorer of the seas. I'm really excited!

On my past cruises i've always gained about 6 or 7 pounds. Any tips or tricks on how to combat this.

I found a website made by a former crew member with some pretty good trips. www.skinnycruising.com

But please feel free to let me know your secrets.

[Kamloops Cruiser]

The best thing we found to eat normally and not over eat. We didn't diet but just ate sensibility and ate our normal diet . On our 22 day cruise we gained about 2 lbs on the ship and 6 lbs on shore in the restaurants.

[colorcrazie]

1. Diet before you go. Much easier than trying to diet after being spoiled on the cruise.
2. Build as much exercise as you can into your days. If possible, use stairs on the ship, and walk at a good pace. Lets you pack more fun in if you get to things faster!
3. Choose fish and veggies whenever you can at meals. Got my DH hooked on fish thanks to cruising.
4. Eat a protein loaded breakfast, very light lunch. Not good advice in general, but those cruise dinners are too good to miss, so I prefer to
"save up" for dinner. Skip late night buffets. Yes, even the chocolate one!
That's my approach, anyway, except for the stairs, which I can't do anymore. I have health and increasing weight issues.
Cut yourself some slack. It is a vacation!
Marty

[blueskies]

Just remember...you don't HAVE to eat EVERYTHING

[Mike M]

Actually visit the fitness center. You don't have to be "hard body" to use a treadmill or elliptical. Fifteen or twenty minutes at 2.5 or 3 mph will do a world of good and the view is usually one of the best on the ship. Just make sure you don't have any medical issues that stop you from doing this.

Use the stairs when you can, even if it's just going "down".

Sit as far away from the buffet as you can. You'll be less likely to go back for seconds.

Scope out the buffet before you load up your plate, don't just dive in. Be selective.

If you REALLY want a second entrée see if someone will split it with you.

Also, remember: There is nothing wrong with not cleaning your plate. Your mom is not watching.

Take care,
Mike

[wincy]

The best advice I found while taking steroids (prednisone) was "don't eat whenever you're hungry, or you'll eat all the time."

Eating "very carefully" will help. Really -- what's often termed 'rabbit food.'

The weight will eventually come off, though. Exercise does help, but there aren't any specific ones.

[snorklr45]

There are mirrors all over these ships and what i did was look in the mirror before meals and ask myself..."Do you want cheesecake going directly to your thighs??"

Also, fill up on salad first..You wont be able to eat a lot afterward if you do this.

[aerospace]

Try everything, finish nothing.

Creme Brule yes, Ice cream yes, butter and rolls yes. It's about portion control.

5 weeks on ship, 2 weeks overseas shoreside and came home to found I lost 3 pounds