Overweight and DCL?

[lapinluv]

Hi, I have a somewhat sensitive question for you all.

I'm about 70 lbs overweight. I have been working on it for months, but haven't lost as much as I had hoped (about 30 lbs). Will I be able to do everything or feel comfortable on DCL?

I guess I'm concerned about getting massages, doing the alpha capsule or going on some of the excursions. Are the people on the cruise all hard bodies and I'll feel silly being in a bathing suit by the pool?

I guess I'm bummed I didn't lose all I wanted to before the cruise. It's really putting a damper on my excitement. Any advice or "been there, done that" for me?

Thanks!

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi lapinluv!

DCL is a family cruise. Lots of Mommies and Daddies, lots of bellies and thighs. There are a few hard-bodies but not as many as other cruise lines.

I am 40lbs overweight myself. I was quite comfortable when I crusied last year on the Wonder.

Congratulations on your weight loss! Good for you!

 

[dtheboys]

Wow....30 pounds ...That's great...keep it up.....

 

[kcashner]

I have lost 97 pounds since my September 02 sailing on the Magic. So....you get the idea that for 8 of my 9 trips, I was seriously obese. Yes, there is lots that you can do.

You WILL fit in the dining chairs and the beach chairs. You will be treated like a princess. The life vests will fit around you. Ditto for the snorkel vests. Disney is one of the most "fat friendly" companies I've ever encountered. Seriously, I've never encountered any fat discrimination from anyone at Disney. My favorite activity is snorkeling, and that was never a problem. The excursions are "graded" as to exercise intensity--I never went beyond a "moderate."

The only thing I can think of with a weight limit is the pull down bunk bed. The seats in the theatre were "tight" on me, but do-able with care. This last trip, I went to the spa and even hit the gym...but that was trip 9, when I was about 40 pounds down.

The servers were having a fit because I wasn't eating much. However, I tried everything I wanted....the sugar free desserts are quite good.

No, you will not feel that everyone else is a "hard body." Most people on Dis are mommy types....a little out of shape. I usually felt like the fattest one around, but that was my typical feeling in life. I never felt put down or not accepted on the boat. Seriously, you will be treated royally.
Kathryn

 

[kasar]

There are lots of things to get stressed about before leaving for a cruise and THIS is definitely not one of them! I, too, wished I had lost more weight but I did lose some so I'm better off than before, right?

I think you'll find that Disney World and DCL are very accomodating to everyone - size, color, disability, etc. It's a place where everyone feels welcome and you will too once you get there. I think you should go into this experience with a positive attitude and you'll find that you will be surprised at how little thought you give to your size once there. Everyone will be into their own little worlds and won't even notice anyone else - it will be fine!

As far as hard bodies, I'm sure there will be some but probably not as much as some other cruise lines (think younger, party crowds). Disney is full of moms and dads who, let's face it, will never look the same as they did before having kids. I'm afraid that's me, too.

Really, just go and enjoy that spa. Don't worry about anyone else but yourself and your family. You will be treated with respect and care by people that have seen all types. They do it all the time and they are very good at it. HAVE FUN!!!

After your cruise, if you're still trying to lose weight, you may want to check out the WISH boards. I'm getting so much support and help from these folks that I know I'll lose this weight before my NEXT cruise!!! (Don't worry, you'll be hooked on cruising too!)

 

[wdwdclfan]

I also am very over weight and husband is even more over weight. We had no problems on our last two cruises. DH hates to sit in chairs with arms, even if he fits (which he did). He mentioned it to the server and he immediately got him a chair with no arms, which was in place every night at dinner before we arrived. On our anniversary cruise we splurged and got a verandah. On the verandah were two chairs that DH was not comfortable in he told the room server he liked the ones on deck better, 5 minutes later he was trying to fit the chair through the door (it took about 15 minutes to fit it through the door but he did it!!!) Now that’s service.

 

[lapinluv]

Thanks for the reassurances. I don't know why I stress - I just know I'd be happier if I had lost more. I still dread being in pictures unless I'm completely covered up. Well, I still have a month to go, so who knows how I'll be feeling then, right!

Thanks again for your stories.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by lapinluv
Are the people on the cruise all hard bodies and I'll feel silly being in a bathing suit by the pool?

If you watch the Travel Channel DCL special or the video DCL sends out.....or even if you flip through the shiny DCL brochures, you'll think ALL of the people on there are hard bodies....

BUT....GO....and you'll find out that DCL has selectively picked out the fit ones for their advertisements....

once you're actually there you'll finds all shapes and sizes of people. And from what I've seen, they all seem to be having fun!

 

[candleonwater]

As far as the spa goes... the alpha capsule - I had no problem in. As far as a massage goes, I'm not the type that would be happy getting one, so it was a non-issue. I was happy just sitting in the heated tile chairs in the rain forest room...!

 

[outahere]

Wow!! If I manage to lose 30 pounds before my next cruise, I (and especially my doctor) will be thrilled. I am about 80 pounds overweight, and I didn't feel out of place at all when we were on the Wonder. As others have said, there are a lot of families on DCL and everyone is accepted, no questions asked.

You will have a great time. I definitely wouldn't stress over your image. Happy cruising...........

 

[inkkognito]

Sounds like you are doing a great job! I know how hard it is because hubby and I are in the process of losing weight too. I am a major spa person, and I have never let my body shape slow me down. The spa personnel see people with all body types so it doesn't phase them at all. Nothing to be embarrassed about, and no reason to deprive yourself of a massage, seaweed wrap, or other hands-on treatment.
Even before I lost some poundage, there were times when there were many people on the beach who were much heavier than me. The typical Disney cruise has people with all body types, so everyone will fit right in. Don't be shy or worry about a thing. Relax, do what you want, and have fun!!!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[brack]

I have been over weight most of my life. In the two cruises on DCL I never felt treated poorly because of my weight. This year I have lost 20lbs in the last month and my wife has lost 90 lbs in the last year. We are looking forward to our next cruise. We both have new swimming suits and plan to get a massage; not to mention having a great time.

 

[Laura24]

Originally posted by lapinluv
Thanks for the reassurances. I don't know why I stress - I just know I'd be happier if I had lost more. I still dread being in pictures unless I'm completely covered up. Well, I still have a month to go, so who knows how I'll be feeling then, right!

Thanks again for your stories.

Just think of where you will be a year from now with your fantastic weight loss....all the more reason to rebook for next year while still on board!!! What a great incentive to keep going. Congratulations!

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

We were just on the Wonder last week and both myself and my wife are overweight. My wife has lost 50 lbs. on Adkins but due to many problems that I have I have not lost. I am what is defined as seriously obese. I did not feel uncomfortable in the swimming pool or spa, others like me were there enjoying themselves. I had 2 massages while on the cruise and it was great, the young lady that gave me the massage was from Great Brit. , Kate, and she was great. Your loss of weight is the best thing you can do for yourself.

 

[Keggy]

I had never been to the spa before my second to last cruise and I was very nervous to go. Included in our wedding package was a "free" massage so I did the spa taster. The person that worked with me was amazing. She made me feel very comfortable and not "fat" at all. I am now hooked. On this past cruise I did the Absolute Face and Body and it was absolutely wonderful too. Again, they made me feel very comfortable and welcomed. On castawayclub.com they do a wonderful job outlining all of the different treatments and I did teh AF&B because Barb reccomends it.
You will have a wonderful time!

Kelly

 

[Rikersmom]

This topic comes up every once in a while. My favorite posting went something like this: I may look more like Pooh than Ariel, but that coconut top Ariel wears looks VERY uncomfortable!

 

[dianthus]

Go and have fun! Enjoy yourself & your family! Who cares what other people think. It's how you feel about yourself that counts! So smile in that embarkation photo, cuz you're gonna have a blast!

Congratulations on your weight loss! That's terrific!

My sister is seriously obese- always have been that way all her life. It has never stopped her from doing anything. She is confident, loves to have her picture taken and is truly beautiful inside & out. She's funny & terrific to be with. People are drawn to her & don't see her size, they see a great woman!

Hakuna Matata! Have a great cruise!

 

[blueswoman]

Originally posted by lapinluv
Thanks for the reassurances. I don't know why I stress - I just know I'd be happier if I had lost more. I still dread being in pictures unless I'm completely covered up. Well, I still have a month to go, so who knows how I'll be feeling then, right!

Thanks again for your stories.

Lapinluv--I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise. I've BTDT with the weight--was 180 at one point when I got pregnant with kid #1, gained 60 lbs , then lost it back down to 160, gained 40 lbs with #2, back down to 129, back up again to 170, back down to my current weight, which is about 140, still a few to go but I'm happy with it now! Anyway, so many of us have done the yo-yo thing and you shouldn't worry about being stressed out or how people will look at you in a bathing suit! As others have written, Disney is such a family place and though I've never been on DCL, I'm sure that it is very accomodating for all types of people. For our honeymoon back in 1990 we went on RCCL and talk about "hard bodies"...of which neither of us were one even back then

 

[tksbaskets]

Go and enjoy!! Congrats on the weight loss! I am a "happy to be me" size too and didn't have any trouble at all fitting in (in every sense of the word). One of my favorite Shutters photos was taken with my son (11 at the time) and me in the hot tub while in port at Nassau. Of course I prefer pictures like this that don't highlight my lower half!!

We did all the family photos with the characters. I didn't let my size prevent making memories for the family. I plan on comparing them to our next year's photos when I'm a healthier size.

I second the nod for the WISH board (wonderful support) and agree that we saw all shapes and sizes on the DCL. Much friendlier atmosphere than the Carnival Cruise we went on years ago where there were many hard bodies.

Hope this helps ease your mind.

 

[kb111570]

Bump I just had to bump this thread. This is something I bet alot of people think about. This is something I worry about all the time. All the responses made me feel better.