Weight Gain...

[Realityfreakaholic]

OK..the dreaded question. For those past cruisers did you gain weight and if so on average how much? I have been dieting for the past 2 months and I plan on exercising faithfully on the cruise but I know I am going to be tempted by so many yummy things. My goal is to actually break even..no loss..no gain. Is this possible? It's time to fess up..how much did you gain?

 

[Limmer]

I had been dieting before the wedding and decided for my honeymoon I could eat whatever I wanted (and I did). I actually lost 2 pounds. We spent three days at WDW first and walked miles. On the ship I did not exercise but we ALWAYS took the stairs because the elevators were too slow, we walked back to the port in St. Maarten (only took approx 15 mins from the shopping district), we walked instead of taking the tram on Castaway Cay and we snorkeled the entire route on family beach and then for 2 more hours on adult beach. We did not do any of these things for exercise, but because they were more convenient. And we ate EVERYTHING, we had brunch and dinner at Palo's with the chocolate souffle, we never turned down seconds of our favourites in the dining room and the only meal I did not have dessert with was breakfast.

 

[dizneefreak29]

I went on a 3-night Disney cruise in October of 2003. I lost about 30 pounds before we left! On the cruise I promised myself no dieting and I would just have fun! I still walked every night on the track around the deck and did a couple snorkel excursions. I ate everything I wanted and gained about 3 1/2 pounds.

 

[mickeyboat]

I gained 4 lbs after dieting for over a year. I lost it all back shortly after I returned. I think a lot of if was fluid.

My hint is to not feel like you have to finish everything on your plate. Order whatever you want, and then sample it. Our server was pretty distressed that I wasn't cleaning my plate, but I got to sample a lot of things, even dessert.

Denae

 

[geffric]

i am always dieting but 6 months before my cruise. I really put it into gear and lost a lot of weight. I was able to really focus on losing weight 'cause I promised myself, that if I didn't eat it now but held the course, that I could eat whatever, whenever on the cruise. And I did!!! But guess what... 'cause I was used to eating so much less... I couldn't eat as much as I thought I would. But i did do dessert every night and scoops during the day.... I walked deck 4 , ALWAYS took the stairs , we walked from the ship in St Maartin and in St Thomas, walked instead of taking the tram on Castaway Cay and walked the bike path there. I came back only 1 pound heavier..

 

[Hercules10]

I lost 40lbs before our 10 day cruise. Swore no dieting on the cruise. I lost my weight mainly by excercise (joined a gym).

I gained only 3lbs. (Remember this was the Xmas cruise too.)

Lotsa -

 

[banderson]

The mistake many people make is that they gorge themselves, eating beyond necessity and making unhealthy/unwise choices. Their reasoning: they want to get their money's worth. Then they complain about indigestion and weight gain. Go figure.

1. Try to eat only at mealtimes, very easily done because there's so much to be doing in between and 2. choose your vices wisely. I'm not a big dessert eater but I love bacon and bagels with cream cheese and lox, two things I only rarely eat at home. Also, I love a bottle of wine with dinner, particularly on vacation. So, in order to have my wine at dinner and get a daily fix of bacon or bagels with lox, I had to be a good girl and order fish at dinner, rather than steak, as often as possible, avoid the bread basket, particularly at dinner, and only order dessert when it really sounded/looked good.

The desserts aren't great on DCL, so I wasn't missing much. The two desserts that I do recommend though are the crème brûlée at Lumières and the deep dish apple and cranberry pie served warm with ice cream at Animator's Palate (I hope I have that dining room right). And keep in mind that they also have three lighter fare choices on each evening menu, which tend to avoid sauces and include a good portion of steamed vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower. That's always an option if you think you might be overdoing it. I never felt I needed to order from the lighter fare because there really is something for everyone on the dinner menu, even for people who watch what they eat.

The good news is that the portion sizes are reasonable, so you won't get huge quantities of tempting food placed before you. I ate everything on my plate, but would leave some of the carbs (rice, potato) behind because it makes me sleepy/lazy. My husband and I enjoyed our bottle of wine at every single dinner.

When I go on vacation, the one souvenir I don't want to bring back is 5-6 pounds of fat, so I can really relate to your concerns. I just got back last week, did not work out while on the ship (my body needed a no-gym rest too) and even with the wine every evening, no gym and a few sinful but yummy meals, I didn't gain or lose an ounce. I broke even.

Good luck and just make a plan and stick to it. If you feel yourself slipping, go on deck 9 and watch some of the people gorging on food from Topsiders...seeing those plates of pasta, chicken, seafood, mashed potatoes all mixed up together into "slop" will get you back on track in a flash. That's one thing I am certain of.

 

[cwf1028]

Can you ask for no bread basket at the meals? We don't eat bread with meals at home and I tend to over do it in restaurants with bread just because its there.

 

[webray]

I had lost 30 pounds before our first disney cruise, gained about two back on the cruise. We did use the steps about 90% of the time though so we got plenty of exercise..lol. We ate whatever we wanted.

 

[banderson]

Can you ask for no bread basket at the meals? We don't eat bread with meals at home and I tend to over do it in restaurants with bread just because its there.

I'm sure you could, but if you're dining with another family, there will probably be one on your table anyway...but at least it will be more than an arm's reach away. For two families, they tend to put one at each end.

I never asked not to have one because I have two growing boys who need their carbs.

 

[my3princesses]

Can you ask for no bread basket at the meals? We don't eat bread with meals at home and I tend to over do it in restaurants with bread just because its there.

Sure, your waiter will do whatever you want. Tell them this the first night and you will never see a breadbasket again (although they are really, really good - especially the banana bread!).

I didn't gain anything because I had "bulima" (not by choice) while on the ship and wasn't able to eat lots for fear of losing it. I had plans to work out each day but my seasickness wouldnt' allow it.

Still if your not careful you can each way too much - but there are so many choices (lots of fruits, salads, etc). Scoops has fresh fruit out almost all of the time.

 

[cristit14]

I actually lost 3 lbs last summer when we did our cruise. It was only a four day cruise though and we had done 4 days at WDW with many miles of walking. We also took the stairs 90% of the time. I also never did much at lunch time because I was still full from a late breakfast and didn't want to ruin my early dinner. This time we are doing late seating on a 7 day so I am sure that I won't lose.

 

[jrabbit]

we never turned down seconds of our favourites in the dining room and the only meal I did not have dessert with was breakfast.

Slacker!!! THe chocolate filled crousants (all of their crousants are made fresh daily on the ship ) are my favorite (even over the Krispy Creams).

I probably gain weight while on the cruise, but since we don't own a scale I couldn't tell you how much. You gotta remember I'm a pretty big guy (6' 2" - 250 lbs +).

But here's what I do. On embrarkation day I enjoy the lunch buffett and then dinner. On the first full day I have my normal cruise big breakfast at Topsiders (love the biscuits and gravy and the made to order omlettes - along with the above mentioned Chocolate crousants), then go to the lunch buffett and have a normal cruise dinner (normal for me is one of each course offered - only once have I had more than 1 dessert). Then day 2 through the end of the cruise I have my normal breakfast and dinner. WIll stop in mid day at scoops and have some fruit and a chocolate chip cookie.

After breakfast will usually walk a couple of miles on deck 4 (sea day - on shore days we're off to a snorkeling excursion). And beyond that we take the STAIRS everywhere - and at the beginning of the cruise it's a long stinking way from deck 2 where we usually stay up to deck 9.

 

[dkostel]

I recently went on another 5 day cruise and only gained one pound. The thing I didn't count on is that in addition to fabulous desserts and other dishes is that they also did wonderful things with fruits and veggies - things I don't get in real life. So I could order very tasty things guilt free.

 

[kikipug]

My advice to anyone trying to burn calories while cruising... never, never, never set foot in an elevator on the ship. Take the stairs EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!

 

[Skallywag]

I am sure I have just put on weight thinking about it. I only have to look at the yummy things to find I cannot get into clothes. Exercise but still do not seem to lose anything. Must be my age I think.

 

[banderson]

On the first full day I have my normal cruise big breakfast at Topsiders (love the biscuits and gravy and the made to order omlettes - along with the above mentioned Chocolate crousants), then go to the lunch buffett and have a normal cruise dinner (normal for me is one of each course offered - only once have I had more than 1 dessert).

I think I'm having a heart attack...my arteries are blocking, heart can't supply blood, no oxygen, I think I'm gonna.....Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

I'm dead.

 

[suesings]

I have been thinking about this a lot also. I have dropped 40+ lbs in the last 14 months and 60+ in the last 19 months. I REALLY don't want to put anything on (I think I could gain 10 lbs. easily in a week if I didn't watch it )

I am hoping to use the gym. Does anyone know how crowded it usually is? Is it a nice gym? Someone mentioned made to order Omelets? That would be great, I looked at some of the Navigators and it looked like they only had a few omelets (none of which I liked). If I could get custom Omelets every morning I could probably stay on my new "lifestyle" of eating. Trying to get myself not to use the word "diet" since this truly is something I need to stay on for the rest of my life. I will have a 22 month old baby with me and I was hoping to use the Deck 4 track with her in the stroller?

I also don't eat breads or starches (or refined sugar) so I'm hoping there will be a lot of choose from. I saw on some of the Navigators that there is a sugar-free dessert choice. Has anyone tried any of these? Any good?

Thanks! I'm trying for another 10 lbs. off before our cruise on May 28th!! Boy will it be fun to get into a bathing suit and nice clothes again!! Much more enjoyable than stuffing my face with unhealthy food!!

 

[banderson]

I also don't eat breads or starches (or refined sugar) so I'm hoping there will be a lot of choose from. I saw on some of the Navigators that there is a sugar-free dessert choice. Has anyone tried any of these? Any good?

My son had the brownie one (cannot remember which dining room that was), but it was really bad, so I wouldn't recommend that particular choice. He did not like it at all. I took a taste and agreed with him. I don't care how low calorie/sugar a food is, if it tastes bad, why bother. I don't recall any of us trying anything else from that section. I once ordered strawberries with a bit of whipped cream though and got it no problem, so you don't have to ban dessert just because you don't want to overdo it. BTW, the family we dined with celebrated a birthday onboard and the cake they had was also very tasty and light. It was a white cake with a creamy frosting. It was good, but it didn't put you into a sugar-high, binge mode...I don't know if they offer it as a dessert choice, but you can always ask.

 

[Hercules10]

I am hoping to use the gym. Does anyone know how crowded it usually is? Is it a nice gym?

I used it once. I went early-early and it was OK but as the morning wore on it got pretty crowded. They don't have much in the way of weights. Only a universal machine and a couple free-weights. Mostly what they have is treadmills and a few bikes (I think one eliptical). But if jogging/walking is your thing then just use deck 4.

Oh yeah...it got HOT in that gym