Gaining weight on a cruise?

[KBinCO]

I am definitely planning on taking advantage of the gym on board every day.

 

[ImDMous]

I usually gain about 5 pounds per cruise. Last cruise was the WBPC and we got up and walked every morning and did excursions with lots of swimming or walking so that we could eat what we wanted. 5 pounds for 15 days wasn't bad at all and now it's gone again.

 

[Ariel484]

First cruise in September I came home weighing exactly the same. I was shocked.

For me, any rise on the scale is just that. It's not a gain, it's not fat. It's just a temporary upward rise on the scale. It represents water, it represents extra food in the body...but a short cruise isn't even enough time to create fat let alone gain many pounds of it.

Like others have said, it's what I have done or not done AFTER the cruise that changed the results. If I get right back into my normal food habits, it all drops off. If I don't, uh oh.

Just got home from cruise #2 last week and I was up 2.4 pounds. One pound is gone already, and I'm expecting the rest to go away quickly as well. Clothes still fit and all that.

 

[jetskigrl]

I usually gain a few pounds but nothing major. I think it is because I sit 9 hours a day for work so all the extra activity on the ship boosts my metabolism a bit.

But my last cruise was a little 2-night cruise with friends. They are all runners so we never took the elevators anywhere (only the stairs). I came home 2 pounds lighter after that trip

I already told my kids that on our cruise next week that we will put their grandma in an elevator and then the kids and I will take the stairs to meet her each time. If we do that, plus all our walking excursions, I don't think I will gain too much. The hard part will be the 2 day train ride home. We will have to do a lot of walks back and forth on the train

 

[cyndisun]

So much depends on your age. We have been cruising with DCL for 12 years. In my 30's, I didn't even pay attention. Now, at 46, I workout more on the ship, watch what I eat and I gain more than I used to. It's just a fact that as we age our metabolism slows.

But to one of the previous posters who said they want to be able to run at 40...I took up running *after* I turned 40 and I'm still going. It's been great and I feel better than ever. I'm doing the 5k on Castaway Cay (even in the heat) and DH and I are going to sign up for a half marathon (Disney, of course) as soon as DS is off to college next year.

 

[algae]

Lost a few in the Med recently. All those all-day walking excursions and using the stairs all the time burned up all I could eat and then some. Argh, now I am thinking about the Shawarma again.

 

[Phillips Family]

we went on the 7 day a few weeks back, both my wife and I came home the same weight

Here is what I suggest-

1) Constantly drink water. Tons and tons of it, it helps curb your cravings

2) Bring a powder fiber supplement on the cruise with you, such as metamucil. A spoon of that into a glass of tap water, chug it every morning. This will keep your stomach regular, and keep things moving in your digestive system

3) ALWAYS take the stairs! Going up and going down. Not only will you save a TON of time, you'll burn calories too. The elevators are always packed, and take forever anyways. Take the stairs up, and take the stairs down

4) Go easy on carbs (breads, pasta, rice, etc). Carbs swell your body up, it takes a TON of water to digest carbs, and it spikes your blood sugars which make you put on more fat. If you can stick to proteins and veggies during your meals, it's no problem having the desserts.

Make a choice - rice/bread/pasta or a delicious dessert

I'll take the desserts!

Egg & Bacon for Breakfast (500 calories)
ice cream dessert (200 calories)
Chicken Salad for Lunch (500 calories)
Ice cream dessert (200 calories)
Dinner (700 calories)
Dessert (300 calories)

Substitute those ice cream desserts for alcoholic drinks if you want to.

I'm not a nutritionist by any means, nor am I "Mr 6 Pack". But if I had to choose between a bun for my chicken sandwich, or an ice cold refreshing beer, I'll take the beer! Both are 200 calories!

Lots of walking, lots of stairs, lots of moving around, drink lots of water and drink the fiber shake in the morning. You'll be alright!

 

[quickcat]

I gain about 5 - 7 pounds. I always take the stairs, I even went to the gym twice. My problem.... I don't eat desserts at home and yes, I eat them on the cruise and boy, they really do me in. I also eat more than just fruit for breakfast. Its my own fault, I should learn to say NO to the 'good' food but no will power for me

 

[sweetpee_1993]

So much depends on your age. We have been cruising with DCL for 12 years. In my 30's, I didn't even pay attention. Now, at 46, I workout more on the ship, watch what I eat and I gain more than I used to. It's just a fact that as we age our metabolism slows. But to one of the previous posters who said they want to be able to run at 40...I took up running *after* I turned 40 and I'm still going. It's been great and I feel better than ever. I'm doing the 5k on Castaway Cay (even in the heat) and DH and I are going to sign up for a half marathon (Disney, of course) as soon as DS is off to college next year.

Yay! <3 <3

 

[swooshbear]

Will be on the Wonder in less than two weeks and I know I will be spending a lot of time at the Cove Cafe, I love the chai lattes and might get two per day. I have recently cut soda out of my diet but it will be hard to resist when it's so readily available 24 hrs a day. But a week after the cruise, I will be at Disneyland for the half marathon so I will be training on the boat. So overall, I'm hoping everything cancels out and my weight stays the same.

 

[Mousesmom]

I said neither gain or lose. I tend to eat more and make less healthy choices (salt!!); however, we almost never take elevators and we wear our pedometers as we do at home.

A typical day for us will be 15-18,000 steps and 75 floors of stairs. At home it's less but we go around every deck, every day to see all the door decorations.