Hello fellow calorie counters!

I've been counting calories for 9 weeks now and have been losing slowly but steadly. Now for the tricky part...I leave for a cruise at the end of the month and I'm wondering how the successful calorie counters out there handle themselves on a vacation where food is plentiful. I've been using the Fatsecret website to log in my food and exercise every day but on a vacation without access to a computer, I'm afraid I'll slide back to my old ways of eating. Help!

Any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks!

FIrst: take advantage of all the physical activities on board. Use the gym, go swimming, do something, every day.

Second: Bring a box of individual packets of low fat or fat free salad dressing. Bring a packet with you when you eat, so you're not having to worry if they have an acceptable dressing choice. Load up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Stick to lean protein only. Avoid all buttery, oily, or creamy sauces. Limit your dinner roll/bread consumption. Eat small bites of dessert and push the rest away.

Don't obsess about the calories. If you're making healthy food choices with the exception of an indulgence or two, you won't gain weight from the cruise.

And cruises LOVE to push food on you- I agree with avoiding anything in a creamy or buttery sauce! The cruises I've been on do have tracks and physical activities- take advantage of them!

Ugh! This is so hard. I went on a cruise this summer and did run on the ship's outdoor track. I came back with a weight gain, though, but it was from overeating. Enjoy your cruise!

I'm going on a cruise In Novmeber as well! My plan is to raelly take advantage of the activities, go dancing each night, swim, snorkeling during excursions, etc. also drink plenty of water to flush out extra sodium, and I'm not sure which line your cruising with but carnival has a "light fare" option each night on their menu and also a vegan/ vegetarian option! I plan on ordering mostly off of that with an indulgence here and there as well.. it will also be me and hubbies anniversary while on our cruise so I have full intension on having a piece or two of cake or a cup cake or two! but WIll hopefully be able to excerise self control and not go overboard!

I have traveled quite a bit the past several months. Not a cruise but many eating opportunities to be sure. What are your priorities? Mine was to lose the weight and stay in maintanence which I did. So I avoided the starchy sides, focused on proteins and veggies, and limited my desserts severly. True, I was able to bring foods, something you can't do on a cruise. But you can focus on the better choices- veggies, fruits, proteins.

Next summer, DH&I are taking a cruise to Alaska for our 30th anniversary for 2 weeks. I am already thinking through what I will eat during that time. Not in a time consuming gut wrenching way like I guess some might. More in just an overall planning way, just as we are doing with budgeting, the site seeing, hotel stays, flights. Heatly eating planning is just as important. I will have a very good sense of what I will be eating & not during that time. I commend you are thinking about this ahead of time.

Don't make it about the food (and if cruise = food then maybe rethink a cruise for your next vacation.)

Are there hiking options at the ports? Can you learn to rock climb on the ship? Take dance lessons? Set a mileage goal for walking every day? Do a mini triathlon of your own making? (Walk/run, swim, bike).

Food is plentiful everywhere! It doesn't mean you need to eat it all. Unless there is a sushi bar, then - yum!

Can you find a link to the cruise menus online?

It doesn't even matter what the menu is (although the food is amazing) because you CAN order up to three of each item! Seriously when I went on a cruise there was a girl on my table who would order ALL THREE desserts for herself each night!

I will say most of the food wasn't huge portioned but it tended to be rich, things like duck and seafood were always on the menu- but it is possible to find light fares.