Cruise/Vacation... I am worried!

So I'm doing well, feeling good about myself, and along comes vacation...

I have discovered that I am the type of person who can either resist completely, or I have to have it all.  I don't want to be that person, so that's why I'm here for tips.

Anyone have any good advice for me while I am on a week long cruise?  I'm afraid that a) I will just go overboard (no pun intended) and eat everything that I can reach...  which is a ton, considering food is the main attraction of the cruise ship.  b) I don't have this site, so I can't even log in things to see where I am!

However, I plan on working out every day to keep in shape, which will help mitigate any negative effects (plus, when you are bored, you work out, and don't eat out of boredom... yay)  Once again, any advice... I leave in about 2 weeks.

Hi there!  How about trying to drink lots of water before and during meals and wear constrictive clothing so that you don't gorge?  And you could write down in a notebook what you eat to keep accountable.  But even if you do over eat, I don't think it'll be the ruin of you.  What about keeping to vegetables and broiled meats or something like that? I've thought about this (happy) predicament myself because I'd like to go on a cruise one day, too!  Where will you be cruising to?  bon voyage! Nancy

I love the buffets on board full of fruit and veggies that I don't have to clean.  I eat lots of that stuff on cruises and taste the other things that look good.  One time I called room service about an hour before dinner so I could have a salad before I got down to dinner.  It actually worked, I wasnt very hungry at all when I got down there.

Enjoy yourself, If food becomes a problem you can't control you will be home in a week and can beat yourself up then if you absolutely feel you have to.

Hey,
My tips are
*Keep active
*Be cheap
*Eat healthy

Basically you're on a boat. Think about it. At home, how far do you walk to dinner? On a boat its a LOT longer to the dinner table. And you do this 3 times a day!! Just getting around burns more. So feel free to let yourself go a little and maintain (dont add on weight) or lose at a slower rate, by giving yourself 100-200 more cals per day. Go scuba diving./swimming, or when you're nibbly, do a lap of the top deck (really windy so its hard to walk = work more = burn more)

By be cheap I mean if you think about the money more, you'll think less about the food. Cruises supply dinner, I know. But they also have ap izzeria, icecream shop and bar, where you pay extra. Just be cheap about food. Dont buy anything unless its healthier than what they give you.

Eat healthy. pretty obvious. These boats haev heaps of fruit at brekkie, and you can always ask for some at other meals. Make good choices (steamed, grilled, ask for no oil, rather than batteries, sauted, fried)and focus more on health - you can always go to the gym or pool and burn it off. Also see if you can apply for low-fat meals. ring the compnay and ask for dietary requirement details.

You can buy little cal counter books. Handy stuff. Take the fruit from the dining hall for snacks - dont go to teh morning/arvo teas - its all cake and sugar. Maybe even bring your own snacks.

Tyrdrop, thanks for posting this question; I'm just the same with the "all or nothing" response to eating well?either I stick to my cals perfectly or I go hundreds over. And, I leave for over a week of camping today (*yay!*); the problem already presented itself yesterday when I was making cookies and other sweets to bring along. Although I was hoping to be very strict up until we actually set up camp...well, I had one cookie, so then I had five. I'm hoping I "got it out of my system" and can now focus again on just enjoying myself and not making it all about food. Thanks to all for the tips...as for me, I'm just going to be as active and possible and shoot to maintain...

Haha, we're actually going camping today through Monday as well!  However, I'm really not worried about this little weekend vacation because we're planning on doing a lot of hiking, we bring healthy food, and since food is in limited supply since we are in the middle of nowhere, I don't even feel compelled to eat it all, because its kind of rationed out in the first place... (i.e. if I eat two bowls of cereal instead of one, well, it may mean that there won't be any cereal for the next day!)

As to the cruise though, I think that's very good advice.  I will write everything down still, so that I am still accountable for it.  I know that they have delicious desserts, and I don't want to miss out on that, but I may be able to split one with my brother... (he's on this health craze that does not include any transfats and mostly natural ingredients... its cute! He's 14... :-D).  Also, lots of fruit and vegetables sound great as well... or rather, just try to resist the appeal of empty, meaningless carbs in breads, etc. 

Thanks guys!

i've only been on one cruise, but one of my favourite things was to get up early and run the circuit on deck (no hills!).  also, if you stay on board when everyone else goes ashore, you can practically have the gym to yourself. 

as for the buffets, choose a small plate whenever you can and fill it with fruit and veggies; leave only a little room for starches and proteins.  make yourself wait twenty minutes after finishing to decide if you really want seconds or dessert.

watch the alcohol intake!  especially as your cruise three weeks, if you have a few every day, that can really add up.  maybe decide that you're only going to drink on particular days.

I'm only 19, and while I do indulge in a few drinks ocassionally (when I was at college) my mom doesn't really approve I don't think :-D My dad doesn't care, but I don't think I've got to worry about the alcohol.  I usually drink unsweetened tea, diet coke, or water, perhaps with some lemon in it, and maybe some propel to mix it up a little bit.

hey tyrdrop.  I don't know what cruise line you used but I went on Royal Carribean.  They had a line of food options at every sit down meal called "ship shape meals".  They were lower in calories and fat and ususally was fish or chicken.  I ate them everytime and loved it.  The one thing I allowed myself to do was order desert every night. But they had a sugar free option each night.  They were wonderful.  I had key lime pie, chocolate mousse etc and I couldn't tell a difference.  It felt wonderful.  Also, like everyone else says you will be walking, walking, walking everywhere.  We only found on some days we ate 2 meals because we were just so active.  I think you will be fine.  Have a great trip!

Tyrdrop- A) this is my first post here and B) I too, am going on a cruise! I leave july 23 for the caribbean. Now I am at a healthy weight, but a bit loose everywhere- been working on toning up. My sister is a gazillion times smaller than me, so I"ve been a bit nervous about being next to her in a swimsuit! However, I am with you on the "all or nothing" business, except with me it's usually "all". I am also a big fan of trying new things, and quite frankly, I've eaten most fruits and veggies. However, I think that if we remember to eat some broth (or any non-cream looking soup) and drink lots of water, and exercise, and only eat what we truly desire, than the both of us will be ok. I find myself eating things sometimes just because it is on my plate- if your mouth is not watering for it, don't eat it!

Hope i helped some!

PS, everyone else who responded was so helpful!

tyrdrop, Enjoy! Don't come home with any regrets. It's just 7 days. If you put a few pounds on. They'll come off when you get back. I'm trying to get in shape for our third cruise. In February. YOu do walk your but off when in port. Plus I'm sure you'll be snorkeling and swimming alot. I'm not saying go hog wild. But don't drool either, it's not becoming, especially on formal night. Cruises are so special and elegant, live a little!!! And oh yeah, we'll all be here when you get back. Have a ball!

well.....I am also going on a cruise!  Like munsey says...enjoy!  It's a vacation!!  Now, I do hope to exercise, but if I dont' then that's okay. 

Have fun !!!

It's a flippin' vacation!  Enjoy yourself, enjoy life.  I would eat whatever you want by try to limit the portions. 

Have fun!!!  We went on a cruise in March.  The buffets offered plenty of salads and fruit.  The dinners offered a lighter sided menu - less calories and the meals were as good as everyone elses.   We also indulged in drinking.   Walked around the deck and used the spa/gym everyday.  I think I gained 2 pounds in total, which wasn't bad.  What was hard, was coming back home and getting back into my workout routine.

The last cruise I went on I ate all day long and never gained a lb. They have such a variety of food that it is easy to go overboard I'm sure but we basically snacked on fresh fruit, salads and lighter stuff during the day. We would also pop into the buffet, grab a plate of pineapple or melon, and then go do something and then a little while later, stop and have a muffin or slice of pizza. Every time we went we only took a small portion of one or two items and we never felt hungry so it was easier to control. Dinner was a little harder because it is usually a 6 or 7 course meal, you have appetizers, salad, soup, the entree, dessert...

Of course, if you go on Princess you should avoid the Princess Love Boat Dream. I became addicted in a week and went into withdrawal when we left the ship. LOL.. we are going on another cruise in December and my husband said, you know you could order them from room service every... before he could say evening I blurted out EVERY HOUR!!! He just shook his head adn said NO NOT EVERY HOUR.

Hope you have a great cruise.

I went on a cruise a month ago and my experience was that while I intended on working out everday, I only made it there once.  However the cruise ship had a "walk a mile" activity twice a day, where you walked laps on the ship.  My husband I did it at least twice a day, but not always with the organized group.  Also, the ports are great places to get fun exercise from walking and hiking. 

I made sure I never took desert twice in one day, and tried to limit to every other day.  My goal was to not gain weight, which I succeded at.  I've been at the same weight ever since I got back though, but that's a rant for another post.

Good luck!

I just recently went (end of April) for 7 days and the weight I gained was water weight.  I ended up dehydrating my self and so I pack on the water.   Even though there is temptation everywhere, there are also some very healthy choices - such as the fruit and salad bar.  I took extra apples and banana's at breakfast to pack around as a quick snack.  The dinners also had very healthy choices such as salmon.  I ate salmon every dinner!  Loved that.  I also ate the "Warmed Chocolate Volcano"  OMG it was soooo worth it.  Like everyone said.  Have a good time and try not to worry about it.

Well, I got back and only gained 2 pounds.  some of that might even be water weight I have yet to shed.  Thanks for the great advice!