Packing on the Pounds

[russtwinsmom]

I have an unusual gift of being able to turn two pounds worth of food into five pounds of body weight. Yes, I know many of you are jealous of this wonderful talent.

After managing (working like a dog) to get my weight down a couple of years ago, I have become a little overly concerned (nightmares) about gaining it back on vacation and have a little cruise phobia (Not really. I'd go in the middle of a hurricane.) So here are a couple of questions that you all could answer so I won't be whining to much about it to DH:

Are there any aerobics classes on board? Step?
What gym equipment is on board besides treadmills? (Won't be needing those because I'll be promenading on the promenade deck).
Will there be any good-looking muscular guys there? (Just kidding, DH.)

Sweating it out,
RTM

 

[smchan]

Will there be any good-looking muscular guys there? (Just kidding, DH.)

I'll be on the 12/11/04 Eastern and am totally ripped....


Too bad it's all hidden under my gut.

Sam

 

[TiggerKing]

I do know that there are yoga and aerobics classes on board. If I recall correctly, the gym has treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, etc.

As for the food, one thing DW and I found on our cruise this past week is that the food is well proporationed, unlike what you would find in a typical restaurant. The food is portioned in such a way that you could have a five course meal, and not be "stuffed to the gills" and have to waddle back to the room. The entree portions were just right, and desserts and appetizers were not too large as well. I think DW said she put on a couple of pounds, but I think that included Thanksgiving weight as well (we do 2 thanksgiving meals - 1 with each family).

 

[CM_Mom]

I didn't gain weight on my cruise last May and I also have your ability to look at food and gain weight. I made a concious effort to NOT clean my plate each meal (except the Filet in Palo's). I found that there was so much going on that I wasn't as tempted to snack as when I'm at work or at home. Also I walked a LOT.

FYI, if you aren't cleaning your plate, be sure to tell your servers since they will be worried that you don't like the food.

 

[perdidobay]

I found that if I used the stairs exclusively, and walked around deck 4 for exercise (which I found was more fun than the workout room) I could eat all I want and have no weight gain.

 

[DFiore1]

I seem to recall being offered early AM aerobics classes, but that was 3 years ago. The times and location were listed in the Navigator.

 

[kcashner]

Yes, there are aerobic classes on board. There are multiple varieties of classes--step, balls, yoga, pilates, etc. You can get a schedule in the spa on the first day or any time thereafter.

The fitness center has a variety of equipment--treadmills, elipiticals, rowing machines, free weights, bikes, etc.

My biggest hint is to take the stairs ALL THE TIME! That was my promise to myself on the last cruise...the only exception I allowed was when wearing a long dress. It adds up, and helps a lot. I also allowed myself only 2 bites of dessert.

 

[justKim]

My biggest hint is to take the stairs ALL THE TIME! That was my promise to myself on the last cruise...the only exception I allowed was when wearing a long dress. It adds up, and helps a lot.

I agree! I am not a trim or atheletic person by any means, but I used the stairs when I wasn't pushing a stroller. I had dessert every night on the 3-day and I lost weight. I really truly have no idea how I lost 6 pounds, but gaining weight isn't inevitable. Now, I just have to talk DH into 5 more cruises so that I can lose the other 30 pounds that I want to shed!

 

[princessmomma]

You LOST weight on a cruise... how is that possible?

At home, I run, do aerobics, resistance training, etc, 5 times a week, for 90 minutes each day and it is really hard for me to lose . I really watch what I eat.

I keep this up on the ship as well and I always gain between 5-10 pounds. But, I eat dessert and that yummy bread every night, which I don't do at home.

 

[tecdavidt]

Just plan on eating the same as you would at home. The portions of food are the perfect size for a what a person should eat. Avoid desserts, avoid any late night snacks, or any snacks and take the stairs. You will be fine. The only time I gained weight on a cruise was when I ate the desserts. It took forever to lose it so now I just eat like I would at home. I just tell myself, you would not be eating that at home so don't eat it on vacation. Works every time.
Kathy

 

[TooPure4u]

smchan....I am a bit like you. I have a washboard stomach but it has alot of laundry on it. (hehehehe).

Actually, I recently found out I am a type 2 diabetic...but the doctors think if I lose a few pounds, I could control it. I am not terribly overweight so I am not sure how much they expect me to lose, but in any event....the cruise will be the one time I allow myself to eat what I want. Dont get me wrong, I will still try to watch but I certainly wont allow myself to feel guilt for eating something I shouldnt.

I too, plan to walk deck 4...I mean, how bad can walking around a beautiful cruise ship in the warm caribbean air be? I welcome that kind of exercise!!!

 

[russtwinsmom]

LOL, Sam and 2PureU You guys are cracking me up!

Yep, I'll be wearing out the deck so I can have my way at Palos. Thanks everyone for the specifics on the equipment and classes. Perhaps I won't have to glue the choclate souffle directly to my thighs (a little messy looking at the beachers) after all!

Thanks everybody!
RTM

 

[Sarahsal]

I had to laugh when someone noted the servers may think you don't like the food if you don't clean your plate. I had an appetizer and dessert each night, so I often didn't finish my entree. Our server was convinced I didn't like the food-he was always trying to bring something else-asking was it too dry? too spicy? too bland? It got to be a running joke at the table as to what he would think was wrong each night!

 

[CM_Mom]

Sarahsal, glad someone else understands about the servers wanting to make sure that you have stuff you like. It was also almost comical that when I stopped eating they invariably asked if everything was OK even after I had told them that this was my normal pattern of eating.

 

[rae519]

Another echo for losing weight on the cruise - I stay so active when I am on the ship that the 3 meals (no snacks!!!) are just enough. I have never cared much for desserts, so that's a big plus and would rather have fish than meat. Now my Mom who is a tiny woman LOVES her desserts, she'd rather have something sweet than an entree or appetizer. She does put on a few pounds during our cruises but takes them off quickly after returning home.

Guess it's what you eat, how much and if you are more or less active than usual.

Rae

 

[princess Snow]

I would make an extra effort in the gym before the cruise and after. However, I wouldn't try to count calories or skip dessert on the cruise. It's your vacation--live it up! Don't beat yourself up about indulging.

 

[CurtS]

I'm not one who enjoys gyms, especially when they are busy. But, I also have problems keeping the pounds off. We just got back from a 7-day and, surprisingly, I only gained 3 pounds. I found the easiest way to get some exercise was to use the stairs regularly (not a real problem considering how slow the elevators were sometimes) and walk around on Deck 4 where there were very few people. That way I didn't feel quite so bad going to Topsiders and getting TWO desserts!

--Curt

 

[cristit14]

I actually lost about 3 pounds also. I think part of it was we were at WDW for 4 days before hand walking a ton in the massive heat. On the ship we ususally had breakfast so late that I didn't have very much for lunch at all because I wanted to be hungry for dinner (early seating). We also took the stairs almost everywhere. For our next cruise I have requested late seating so maybe next time I will get my lunches, and probably gain weight.

 

[jrabbit]

What gym equipment is on board besides treadmills?

The best equipment is the stairs. And each starcase has different art in it to enjoy as you are climbing them. I very rarely take the lifts (elevators) because you can wait for a long time to actually get on. The stairs are usually a much quicker way to get around (er.. up and down) on the ship. The first two days going from deck 2 to deck 9 is a killer. But the extra deserts at dinner are worth it