How to not gain weight on a cruise - low calorie choices

[ptcbass]

On our last vacation/cruise I gained about 5 or 6 lbs and I didn't even eat that much (and can't seem to lose it!). It was a 3 night cruse & 3 days at WDW with dining plan. I have never gained that much in my last WDW trips so it must have been the cruise that did it. I don't even think I really eat that much. Although I am at a age now that I gain easy and can't seem to lose it but thought I'd ask if anyone else might know what foods to avoid or would be safer to eat on a cruise. I figure even the veggies are bathed in butter. Anyone been in my shoes and how did you handle it? Oh and we did take the stairs most of the time.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Did you drink many adult beverages on your cruise? Those calories can really add up.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

On our last vacation/cruise I gained about 5 or 6 lbs and I didn't even eat that much (and can't seem to lose it!). It was a 3 night cruse & 3 days at WDW with dining plan. I have never gained that much in my last WDW trips so it must have been the cruise that did it. I don't even think I really eat that much. Although I am at a age now that I gain easy and can't seem to lose it but thought I'd ask if anyone else might know what foods to avoid or would be safer to eat on a cruise. I figure even the veggies are bathed in butter. Anyone been in my shoes and how did you handle it? Oh and we did take the stairs most of the time.

We've really never had an issue with weight gain on our cruises. We just basically watch that we eat "normally". That is, we don't eat 3 or 4 courses for 3 meals a day at home, so we don't on cruises.

We eat a "good" breakfast. And then, maybe, eat something small mid afternoon (like just a sandwich or salad, although my personal favorite is the chicken tenders). Then usually just have an appetizer and entrée for dinner. Sometimes only an entrée, or a couple of appetizers.

And we tend to take excursions onshore that involve a lot of walking. As well as using the stairs a lot.

 

[xlxo]

My fitbit helped me on the last cruise... 10000 steps minimum of daily deck laps.

A HAL fitness coordinator told me the average cruiser gains 1lb a day.

 

[mmcxiiad]

I never use the elevator. Take the steps for everything. Do very active excursions and other activities.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, it takes a week or longer of continued overeating to gain a pound of actual fat, so what most people see and feel by the end of a weeklong cruise is just water/bloating. It's 3500 calories OVER what your metabolism needs each day, and the creation of fat isn't immediate (that's what takes several days if those calories aren't burned off). Go back to how you normally eat, and it should be gone fairly quickly.

Dh and I can both get really psyched out, and continue vacation-eating once home and that will solidify a weight gain into a FAT gain. That's not what we want to do anymore.

So we try to make sure that we have tasty food at home for when we get home. Snacks for bedtime when we get home, breakfast and lunch for the next day. Dinner, too, hopefully. Things that will appeal to our oversalted and overbuttered palates, things that are easy, so that we don't get tempted to just keep on spending that vacation money and buying those vacation calories.

 

[xlxo]

Well, it takes a week or longer of continued overeating to gain a pound of actual fat, so what most people see and feel by the end of a weeklong cruise is just water/bloating. It's 3500 calories OVER what your metabolism needs each day, and the creation of fat isn't immediate (that's what takes several days if those calories aren't burned off).

I am so weak..... I go to the main dining rooms for meals to better control my portions. The buffets are so tempting to eat my cruise value. Sometimes the main dining room is not enough.... the buffet is great opportunity to reload before they close. It's so much easier to "extra size" instead of exercise.
http://www.amazon.com/Beat-Anorexia-Mens-Tee-Shirt/dp/B00C0X037K

Got myself a digital scale.... I can see my weight go up and down throughout the day. The FitBit Aria even graphs it!

Yes, those excursions are great to get some movement when in port.

 

[tinkerone]

My fitbit helped me on the last cruise... 10000 steps minimum of daily deck laps.

A HAL fitness coordinator told me the average cruiser gains 1lb a day.

my fitbit went for a swim in the hot tub . may she rest in peace. lol.

 

[Dug720]

my fitbit went for a swim in the hot tub . may she rest in peace. lol.

Wait, a device that is intended to track activity - which involves sweat, which is liquid - cannot get wet?? Thank you for confirming that it would be a total waste of money to bother with one.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Increase activities walk more, swim more, cut the real fatty stuff off, ie select carefully bacon and cut the fat off, take care of sausages, breakfast can be the killer, go for the healthy options of fruit as you will not have a full English breakfast every day at home. Pull the skin off chicken, do not order more than one entree of the same thing, ie do not order three lobster tails, as you can, but slow down and enjoy the one. Soda go for zero only, and coffees take care on the creams in cove cafe.

You can still enjoy but don't go silly.

One moment on the lips, is a lifetime on the hips.

 

[Bree]

Wait, a device that is intended to track activity - which involves sweat, which is liquid - cannot get wet?? Thank you for confirming that it would be a total waste of money to bother with one.

Nope, they can't get wet! I bought one for my DH for Xmas and asked why he took it off in the shower and the pool. He said it wasn't waterproof. I would have bought him something else if I knew that. I just assumed it was

Increase activities walk more, swim more, cut the real fatty stuff off, ie select carefully bacon and cut the fat off, take care of sausages, breakfast can be the killer, go for the healthy options of fruit as you will not have a full English breakfast every day at home. Pull the skin off chicken, do not order more than one entree of the same thing, ie do not order three lobster tails, as you can, but slow down and enjoy the one. Soda go for zero only, and coffees take care on the creams in cove cafe.

You can still enjoy but don't go silly.

One moment on the lips, is a lifetime on the hips.

Fat does not make you fat. Too many calories makes you fat. One can lose weight eating nothing but donuts, ice cream and McDonald's.

Anyway, the food onboard is terribly high in sodium. Drinking a lot of water can help with that. However, I couldn't drink the ship's tap water. Many people are fine with it, but it made me puffier and had a funky taste. I ended up buying bottled water.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Nope, they can't get wet! I bought one for my DH for Xmas and asked why he took it off in the shower and the pool. He said it wasn't waterproof. I would have bought him something else if I knew that. I just assumed it was



Fat does not make you fat. Too many calories makes you fat. One can lose weight eating nothing but donuts, ice cream and McDonald's.

Anyway, the food onboard is terribly high in sodium. Drinking a lot of water can help with that. However, I couldn't drink the ship's tap water. Many people are fine with it, but it made me puffier and had a funky taste. I ended up buying bottled water.

Fat and the wrong fat can make you fat and in your bloodstream then hurt your heart and vital organs. I agree too many calories make you fat.

You cannot loose weight on McDonald's that is not true a burger and fries will be 1,000 calories half the normal daily intake of an adult and full of salt that gives water retention, if someone lived on McDonald's every day they will get fat, they would loose health they will get spots, greasy skin and become ill rather quickly. If you didn't have diet soda then there would be seven teaspoons of sugar in that soda on a medium meal. Donuts with the sugar content if eaten regularly could cause diabetes

Hard ice cream is full of lard, soft scoop ice cream better as its full of air.

The water on ship is purified water from the sea and safe to drink and tastes ok to me.

 

[Bree]

Fat and the wrong fat can make you fat and in your bloodstream then hurt your heart and vital organs. I agree too many calories make you fat.

You cannot loose weight on McDonald's that is not true a burger and fries will be 1,000 calories half the normal daily intake of an adult and full of salt that gives water retention, if someone lived on McDonald's every day they will get fat, they would loose health they will get spots, greasy skin and become ill rather quickly. If you didn't have diet soda then there would be seven teaspoons of sugar in that soda on a medium meal. Donuts with the sugar content if eaten regularly could cause diabetes

Hard ice cream is full of lard, soft scoop ice cream better as its full of air.

The water on ship is purified water from the sea and safe to drink and tastes ok to me.

Look, I'm going back to school to be a registered dietician and will be getting my personal training cert. I didn't say eating that crap was good for you. I'm just pointing out that fat does not make you fat. It's a fact that if you eat less than your body's baseline need of daily calories you will lose weight. Can't argue with thermodynamics.

 

[ptcbass]

Now that I think about it I did drink more sodas. I usually drink good water at home but on the cruise I didn't want to drink just water and tried not to drink too much caffeine so I eneded up with sprite a lot. that could do it! I wonder if they have decaf tea.

I did have my fitbit (fitbit one) and walked a ton. I loved seeing how many stairs I climbed I even reached about 25 to 30k steps everyday at WDW before the cruise. One day though I got on the bus and realized it wasn't on me. When I got back to the hotel I found it laying in the parking lot. It had laid there all day in the hot sun. I'm lucky I found it. I have also put it though the washer and dryer. It still works

Yeah I did have soda and one (or 2) small icecream cones, a cookie and milk before bed (room service - just cause I can ) and some of my desert at every dinner (I usually go the small sample plate). I also did eat 3 meals a day and at home usually don't. Wow in typing that out I realize how one could easily gain weight! I think my DH and DS could eat anything and not gain but 1 or 2 lbs!
I just need to come up with a substitution for when my family has milk and cookies, Mickey bars, etc,.. I wonder if there is a room service fruit tray.

I also need to figure out how to tell the server I am fine and don't need anything else with them pushing me to try more.

Did I mention I do love to eat!!!!

 

[janiebubble]

Wait, a device that is intended to track activity - which involves sweat, which is liquid - cannot get wet?? Thank you for confirming that it would be a total waste of money to bother with one.

They can get wet, at least mine can, I have the fitbit flex, I wear it in the shower daily ... the only time I don't wear it is when it's being charged. They are classed as water resistant however not waterproof ... don't put them in the washing machine or go swimming in them. Any other activity seems fine!

 

[paddles]

The strategy that works best for me on holiday is to pick one meal per day where I can indulge. So, I try and eat a healthy (normal portion) breakfast and lunch, and then enjoy dinner (but still being careful not to scarf down bread and dessert - and enjoy those in moderation!). You'll do great!

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

my fitbit went for a swim in the hot tub . may she rest in peace. lol.

Awww...poor fitbit. Mine has survived the washer and dryer, twice! And that was worth 1500 steps, if anyone wants to know.

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

My cruise mantra is to taste everything, but finish nothing, and then take the stairs. I find I do gain some weight, but it's quickly shed once I get home, I can tell its water weight because I'm puffy not fluffy. And DH always loses weight because he's on the go, and not sitting watching TV and snacking on chips and his soda consumption goes down. Totally not fair, right?

 

[lmhall2000]

Yes! Puffy not fluffy..love that description! Cruise food is higher in sodium/sugar than most foods we eat on a day to day basis..those two items along will cause the 'bloat' weight. One year, I lost 3 pounds (food poisoning I suspect)..one year I gained 4 pounds, but all of it was gone in a week of eating lower sodium, no sugar...so I attribute it to water retention.

If you can avoid no sugar on the cruise, you likely will not gain at all But, it's a cruise, we go through a 5 pound bag of sugar in about a year in our house...we just don't use it..opt for fresh fruits/veggies/meats for our meals and whole grains...I have been struggling with weight loss for many years now, and use the cruises as the end of the rainbow, I can lose a LOT just thinking of cruising, but I don't watch over myself like a hawk on them, I try to work out almost every morning and do 2 miles around the decks everyday, in addition to the normal walking, I can really eat everything I want and not really gain true weight but puffy water weight from the high sugar/sodium load

 

[Dug720]

They can get wet, at least mine can, I have the fitbit flex, I wear it in the shower daily ... the only time I don't wear it is when it's being charged. They are classed as water resistant however not waterproof ... don't put them in the washing machine or go swimming in them. Any other activity seems fine!

Thanks for that information. I'll just save my money for something that is actually designed for activity - because activity involves sweat and getting wet. So glad I read about this before wasting money on that.