Going to be going on a cruise... oh no

Alright, so who doesn't love a good cruise?
Wonderfully relaxing, and all that food.

Wait. All that food. Lots, and lots of it.
And that little voice in the back of my head saying that if I don't eat it all, I'm wasting money. After all, I did already pay for it.

Any advice on the food aspect of it all? I'm going on a week-long cruise leaving next week, and I know that I can hit the gym on the cruise or take walks/jogs around deck, but the last time I was on a cruise, I ate every bite of the 3-course lunch and dinners.

Maybe I should skip appetizers and deserts and just eat the main dish? Or maybe I can eat the appetizers and split the main dish and dessert?

I don't know what to tell you, but I'm worried about the same thing!  I'm going to Mexico for a week with my mom - it's the whole reason I started coming to this site last week.

I'm thinking, it will be ok to eat the fabulousness, as long as every item is in a small portion.  Maybe ask for half sizes?  Not sure.  Hope someone comes up with something!

(my last cruise had a chocolate buffet night..)

I know all about the never-ending food on cruises.

If it were me, I would enjoy myself.  I'd accept that I'm going to gain a bit.  Vacations are special times, and I work out and eat right nearly ever day so I can enjoy the special times.

But - I wouldn't go hog-wild. I would try to get solid cardio activity in twice a day - once in the morning before breakfast and once in the late afternoon or evening (depending on itinerary. Dancing the night away counts, as does a good run on the beach).

I'd fill up on all the plentiful fresh fruits and cut back on things that I can eat a lot of at home (if I wanted to) and already know how it tastes, like a brownie. I'd save my calories for eating new and/or unusual foods without guilt.

I wish I knew the answer so I'm watching this thread.  The whole reason I'm on this diet right now is that hubby just surprised me for my aniversary with tickets for a cruise in 15 weeks.  (Is it possiblle to loose 82lb in 15 weeks?)  I've never been on one so I have no idea how the meals work.  I've heard stories of endless buffets and four course dinners.  The cruise is a great incentive for me (I've lost 6lb already) but I'm very afraid that it will throw me so far off the wagon I won't carry on dieting when I get back.  I am realistic enough to know I won't be calorie counting on board ship.  Tips Please! 

never been on a cruise but I live in Vegas (the land of exceptional buffets, among other things).  My strategy is to start with the good stuff first, big green salad, fresh fruit, and lean protein to fill up.  Then I let myself be a little tempted but keep portions small and try to stay away from the nutritionally empty calories unless it's *really* worth it, like ice cream or bread pudding - oh my!  When I indulge I savor every bite.

Hi Xuraiya!

Don't worry about your cruise, but look forward to a fantastic vacation!!

Regarding the food - you've learned by now which foods are healthy for you and how to control portions. It'll be a test but you'll do just fine.

On cruise ships there are always great buffets with wonderful fresh fruits, yoghurt and cereals for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, choose fresh salads, chicken, steak and fresh SEAFOOD! That's heaven on earth and you don't have to cook...

Get up in the morning, hit the gym, jump into the pool or walk a few rounds before breakfast. Just be active throughout the day and don't forget the excursions... You can get a lot of exercise during a cruise, so enjoy and have fun!

Have a great vacation!

Sunny

I had a practice run at the all you can eat buffet in Souplantation today.  Taking the above advice I started off with lots of green salad, especially the raw broccoli salad.  I had no room for the breads or pastas but was sorely tempted by the deserts.  I found the smallest dish they had and took the tiniest portion.  I was so full of broccoli that I could barely finish even that.

I went on a cruise this past Feb with 6 of my girlfriends.  We ate like pigs, drank and danced all night, then hit the midnight buffets and ate like pigs some more.  I worked out exactly ONCE!  When I got home I was about 5lbs heavier than when I left, but I expected MUCH worse.  When I say we ate like pigs, truly, I mean it.  But that was totally me not caring.  There were so many healthy choices that I just ignored.  I was in the vacation mindset, and had decided I wasn't gonna deprive myself.  Needless to say, that won't happen again.  Granted 5 lbs isn't too bad, but the eating wasn't 5lbs worth of fun!!!  Now the dancing and drinking...........! : )  But seriously, there is such a selection that you won't have a hard time finding something that will work with your diet.  Have fun!

Hmm... well, I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I'm going on a 7 day cruise to Alaska and sooo looking forward to the AYCE, but not totally looking forward to possibly overeating :P My suggestion to eating would be...

- Stay hydrated, thus not mistaking thirst for hunger

- Stay physically active, while still managing time to relax and enjoy the VACATION!

- Eat a healthy breakfast (fruits, tea, yogurt, granola)

- Do some dancing :)

- Avoid high-sugar foods... and if you do plan on having dessert, try to stick to one. Since you will be cruising for a couple days, try to have 1 different dessert each night.

- If snacking in between meals, break the snacks into halves and throw out the other half (i.e. throw away 1/2 a cookie, 1/2 a brownie, 1/2 a scone) so you won't be tempted to "finish what's on your plate"

- When choosing entrees for lunch and dinner, follow your normal healthy eating habits. Choose the steamed and roasted entrees over the deep fried ones.

- Another tip for any meal would be to order ONLY foods that you would never eat normally... i.e. why eat a hamburger on the cruise when you could eat that any time of day off of the boat?? why not choose the steak, lobster, escargoe or some other classy, uncommon dish

- Try not to over think what you're intake should be... relax and enjoy the cruise, eat when you feel hungry and take your time during meals. There's no need to hurry and scarf down the meal. Sit and talk with the people at your table, exchange stories and eat slowly.

- Eat everything in moderation... actually, the cruiselines are pretty good with this ... especially with their set menus. The portions are nice and small, but just enough to fill you up!

- For those "can't resist" desserts, why not split them with a friend?

- Avoid the all-you-can-eat section of the cruise... but, if you can't then limit yourself to using a small plate and only visiting the buffet line ONCE! Scout out the full spread first, and then go back and select a few of the foods that peak your interest and that you've never eaten before. 1/2 of the plate should be filled with fruits/veggies, 1/4 protien, 1/4 carbs.

- If you're worried about overeating on the daytime "shore-excursions", why not grab a couple healthy foods from breakfast to make a nice lunch? My family does this all the time... we'll snag some fruits, some buns + jam or meats, hard boiled eggs... and there you have a wonderous, healthful lunch for the day (it also saves you some moolah, so you can barter and buy that knock-off handbag from the local market :P)

That's all I can think of for now, hopefully some of it was helpful and not completely useless :P

Go, have a good time, we'll be here when you get back.  Don't let the food part mess with your vacation.  They are going to have great selections, many healthy.  Use this as an opportunity to try new things instead of filling up on what you are familiar with.

Stay active.  There is plenty to do.

Enjoy it. Eat what you wish, drink your thirst away, ponder on things past and future, and so forth. Worry about excercise and calories when you return back to the monotony (if you so wish to call it that) we call every day life. If you let it seep into your consciousness you can always enjoy the on deck pool and of course the gym equipment which I think by now all cruise lines offer and thus you can stroll down the galley at night worry free, with the moon up above and the vastness of the sea spreading before you as you giggle on memories that play in your mind as timidly as the music and laughter coming from within the saloon behind you. I want to go!

enjoy though!

Don't eat everything on the plate, estimate and eat as much as you need, after a few months of calorie counting that should be a reflex