Our family is going on a Carnival cruise over Thanksgiving. Never been on a cruise before; anyone have some good advice on how to stay healthy? I've heard that they have an exercise room and some kind of light cuisine choices, like a spa menu or something. Anyone know about that? Thanks in advance for any tips or advice!
Jan

You can call ahead and ask for their menus...that way you will know ahead of time what your options are...
P>S> I am a neebie here...i have been lurking, and have found a wealth of information here : )

Thanks, luvinlife, I'll do that! And I agree, the ladies (and guys!) on these boards are so helpful and supportive!
Jan

I've been on a few cruises and they have lots of choices of food. The buffets have fresh fruit and all different kinds of seafood and vegetables. Personally I think you should just enjoy your self and not worry too much about WW while on the ship. Just get back on program when the cruise is over. You have to enjoy life and the food on a cruise is a big part of it.

decide if you want to lose weight, maintain a weight loss, or if you are okay with gaining. that should basically tell you what your actions should be.

look over the buffets first, try a few things in small amts, and go back if you want more. try not to get into the mentality that i paid for this, darnit, i'm gonna get my money's worth. that's a bad way of looking at a buffet of food.

keep active, do the fun things they have, and try not to make the food the focal point of the cruise. be a bit more active, enjoy some exotic new fruits and veggies, and have fun.

Jan, my DH and I went on a Royal Carribean cruise in 2001 and I actually lost 4 lbs.!! I wasn't trying to watch what I ate either, I decided I was going to have a good time. We did the "ship shape" program they have, which is just all sorts of exercise things everyday. We earned 25 ship shape pts. and got a beach bag and cap at the end of the week. We walked around one of the levels 5 times each morning and that was a mile. We did a couple exercise classes, and some other group activities. It was fun, not hard work.

Go and have fun, and just remember, you'll be getting a lot of walking in at the stops you make, but try and walk around the deck too, and participate in any programs they offer, if they have one!

Gail, I'm glad to hear they have all those fresh fruits, seafood and veggies on the buffet; what a luxury that will be, everything washed and cut up, and no dishes to wash! I will definitely enjoy that! You're so right about enjoying life; carpe diem, right?

Trixiepup, that's good advice, to decide ahead of time what my goal is. I think mine is to maintain, though eventually I want to lose a little more to reach my personal goal. (Have been maintaining my ww goal, 101 pounds lost, yay! for over a year now. But I'm still just under the limit each month for lifetime wi!) And you are so right about buffets and that $$ mentality; I've been avoiding them for that very reason, but it's time I learned to deal with that issue!

Lauren, I am in awe; you actually LOST 4 pounds on your cruise!! Wow! I sure hope that Carnival has some of the same options as your Royal Caribbean cruise, like exercise classes. If they do, I know my little sister (who is a personal trainer) will go to them with me. That'll be fun, too, kinda like getting a glimpse into her world.

Y'all have been so kind and helpful; thank you so much for your terrific advice!

Regards,
Jan

I say, leave all your WW stuff at home. Forget about it. To me, taking your WW stuff on vacation is not that much different than the business(wo)man sitting on the beach working the cell phone...

First thing in the morning, get into the gym, find a bike or treadmill, and push yourself for an hour, non-stop. One hour of head-down, gallon'o'sweat, cry-fer-yer-Mommy all-out effort.

Eat whatever you like, in moderation--but emphasize things you don't get all the time, if ever. Seafood, fresh fruit (screw the apples and oranges, go for the passion fruit, papaya, mango, etc. if it's available! )... emphasize anything you can't make at home, or buy locally, or order in the diner down the street.

While trying new foods, I'd also take advantage of anything "new" the gym or health spa has to offer. My community is so small that I've never been able to try spinning, yoga, or Pilates--but if they were available on the cruise, I'd try at least one of 'em every day!

You'll have the rest of your life to work at your job... that's why you're taking your vacation, isn't it? Why should the WW program be any different?

I think a certain amount of diligence will be necessary--but don't deny yourself a bite or two of something from the late-night buffet just because, "Oh fooey! I'm out of points for the day!" This may be your one shot at something like this. Take a bite of everything, savor it, breathe deep, let it flood your senses. There'll be plenty of time for counting points when you get back home.

Big Wheelz, you have a way with words! Makes me want to be on the ship right now! Good idea, to focus on the exotic and unusual, and to look for new exercise classes. I'm like you, living in a small town where we don't have spinning, etc. (We don't even have a health club.) Exercising first thing in the morning makes a lot of sense, too, and should get the old metabolism revved up for the day! I really appreciate your taking the time to write; thanks!
Jan

Hi Jan: I'm a newbie to 3FC, but have cruised quite a few times. I've found that if you forget there is an elevator aboard ship and climb those stairs instead you'll get quite a bit of exercise every day! Didn't find the food choices the best aboard Carnival, but they did have a good salad bar. Hope you enjoy!!

Marbil, that's a great idea; saves waiting for the elevators, and sneaks in some aerobic exercise, painlessly! I will look for their salad bar, thanks!
Regards,
Jan

Thought I would stick my two cent worth in! Having gone on several cruises, we elect to eat at the late seating, that way the midnight buffet does not look so appetizing. Beautiful to look at, but since we ate late, not so tempting. Of course, this does not work if your cruise is free styling, where you can eat whenever you want. Just another suggestion! Go and enjoy!

an easy way to get over buffet dining anxiety is to go away to college and eat in the dining hall.

buffet food is how the food is all served, and while it may look appetizing, it's not. and it definitely isn't by the 20th meal.

just thought i would share that.

Chatty, that makes sense; I've heard the midnight buffets are something else! Hopefully, we'll be eating early and going to bed early, as our 85-year-old Dad is our guest-of-honor, and our schedules will all revolve around him. But if dh and I go on a cruise by ourselves some day, we will definitely choose the late seating; that's a great strategy!

Trixiepup, even though it was over 30 years ago for me, I can definitely identify with what you're saying about dorm food! (However, I gained my "freshman 15" from the Wienerschnitzel down the block! Guess my taste buds weren't that refined, after all ... ) Good for you, being health-conscious during your college years; sure wish I'd been! Thanks for writing!

I really appreciate everyone's advice and support here; in addition to the advice itself, just knowing that y'all cared enough to write will make me think twice before making poor choices on the cruise. I know I couldn't gain back all 100 pounds on one cruise, but it would be so depressing to come back over the limit on my WW lifetime goal weight. It has been touch-and-go as it is!

Thanks so much for all your help!
Regards,
Jan

Hi Jan,
My goal while cruising was to maintain my weight so I ate a lot of salads and fish. I limited myself to one dessert and two drinks per day. We ate at the early sitting and always walked after dinner. We stayed away from most of the midnight buffets so we wouldn't be tempted; you know, out of sight, out of mind. If you eat what you want in moderation, you should be fine. I hope you have a good trip.

Bon Voyage!
gypsyjoy