Okay...sigh...how much weight did you gain?

[SantaAna,CA]

Two questions: how much weight can one expect to gain in a week? I'm not going to eat myself into a stupor (well...it's not my plan right now), but I've been reading these boards and...I don't want to miss out on the great food!! Also, the gym (specifically, on the MS Amsterdam); are there enough treadmills in the morning before breakfast, or, what is the best time to stake your claim to one? Thanks!!

Jane :)

[localady]

Jane-

Welcome to the boards! :)

Contrary to common belief, you can eat well on a cruise and not gain weight. There is much wonderful fresh fruit and the salad bar is always lovely. When we are cruising in places such as Europe where you walk everyday sightseeing, I have actually lost a bit of weight. That doesn't mean that I don't indulge in creme brulee or volcano cake, I think it's a matter of staying or being more active to combat it.

[cru1s1ng]

I've lost 48 lbs since last Nov., so I'm very conscience of this. Its about choices. There's treadmills and the deck to walk around on. I plan on being 'good' but not fanatical.

[sail7seas]

We used to gain on our cruises but got so sick of coming home and having to take it off again and again that we finally smartened up. We cruise quite often and it seemed it was gain/lose/gain/lose. I got so tired of that.

We certainly enjoy what we eat but we are more selective and if we eat a little more than usual, we walk more that day (or the next) to burn it off.

I often go to the spa very early in the morning and have always been able to get a treadmill. DH is asleep and I like to "tread the mill" early.....before breakfast. We then often walk two miles around Promenade and certainly more walking ashore. That burns off the extra calories and I don't pack on any weight these days when we cruise.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Welcome to the board. OK this is a subject very close to my heart or should I say stomach:D Our first cruise was a 5 dayer and I gained 5 pounds, then following year was our first 7 day cruise in April 2003 and I was already over weight and not really watching what I ate. I gained 12 pounds in one week:eek: I unfortunatly continued to gain more weight that year to be at an all time high in December 2003. January 2004 I realized I had to do something so starting in January of 2004 I started to work out daily and follow a strict diet. My next cruise was May 2004 I did manage to loose about 35 pounds before that cruise. With working out almost every day on that cruise I only gained 4.5 pounds and that weight came off with in a week once I was back home. Then in November 2004 we went on another cruise by this time I lost 54.5 pounds. I still exercised 5 of the days but ate anything I wanted I again gained 4.5 pounds. The bad part was we came home Thanksgiving week. That just gave me an excuse to keep eating thru the holidays. I put on another 7 pounds on :eek: It has taken me since January to take off 9 pounds just 2.5 more pounds to go in 12 more days.

Will I gain on the cruise??? YES but I plan to take it right off when I return and do not plan to gain more than 4 pounds. I must be realistic. I enjoy the food and I look so forward to the eating on the cruise ship. I actually think a lot of the weight is water weight and like my May cruise the extra pounds came off quickly.

OK, I know some of you are saying this is way to much information.

I am sorry:o this is on my mind a lot with trying to loose the weight before we leave.

[cru1s1ng]

Good work, laff.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for sharing with us, Lisa. I think it a valuable post. Obviously, the OP wanted to get information or would not have asked the questions.


Huge congratulations to you on your wonderful weight loss. Of course, you will keep control. You've worked way too hard, exercised way too many hours to make it all for naught!!

Go and enjoy your cruise and you'll deal with the few pounds when you get home. Maybe looking forward to that 'cheat' is what keeps you disciplined all the months between cruises.

Everyone has to do what works for them.

[Iggipolka]

I actually loose weight on cruises and other vacations! I have a desk job, so even though I work out daily, I do a lot more walking and activities on a cruise. The increase in physical activity seems to balance out the abundance of cruise food.

[jhannah]

I would guess that a 3 to 5 pound weight gain is average for a week-long cruise. Sure, some people lose. But some may gain 10 pounds because they really go for the gusto to enjoy the culinary portion of their cruise.

[K&RCurt]

On our Westerdam cruise we didn't hold back on eating at all. In addition we drank MUCH more than we normally would (but certainly not to excess as we have MAYBE 2 drinks in a week normally, sometimes a bottle of wine w/ dinner on the weekend).

We aslso are not in any way small people.

I lost 5 lbs and DW lost 4.

I guess it is because we were much more active than normal but it sure was cool!

[stanford's girl]

I'm going on the Kurt and Gina diet on my next cruise. If it worked for them, maybe it will work for me.:D

[stanford's girl]

Oops!!!! Make that Keith!!! Must have had a "senior moment".

[bluehorizonlover123]

I exercise like a fiend and take the stairs and I still manage to gain 7 pounds every single time.

[lidorose]

I did a mile or two or more everyday around the deck and took the stairs whenever possible on our 7-day cruise to Alaska last year and managed to gain 7 pounds. Although, come to think of it, perhaps I needed a bit more exercise to combat eating 5 or 6 (or more) cookies a day on top of all the other stuff I ate! :)

No way am I watching my diet on our upcoming 7-dayer to the Caribbean, so I have been working on taking of the extra pounds beforehand. Cookies, volcano cake, double entrees at dinner, here I come!

[fllcruiser]

I usally gain 0- 5 lbs. I just got back from a 7 day cruise on Saturday and I was closer to the 5lb mark, not so bad except I leave again on the 19 for 10 days.

[lidorose]

This is a bit weird. (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do - that's the theme from the Twilight Zone, can you tell?:) ) After writing my previous post, I checked my work e-mail account. I get a "Word-A-Day" in my inbox everyday and this was today's:

polyphagia (pol-ee-FAY-jee-uh) noun

1. Excessive appetite or eating.

2. The habit of feeding on many kinds of food.

Just thought I'd throw that it there...:D

[Leslieswiger]

My first few cruises I went on board ship as a passenger and would come off as cargo. I learned and try to watch what I eat. Could still lose ten pounds or so but love my wine with dining.:eek: Happy Sailings..Leslie Swiger:)

[BoardwalkBabe]

On last year's cruise, I lost 5 pounds before we left and that was the 5 pounds I gained on the cruise. It pretty much disappeared right after we came home, though, so it was probably water more than anything else. I was surprised at the gain because I really didn't eat more than usual and I got some exercise, so who knows? I am hoping to do the same for our upcoming trip.

[mountainmare]

For me it depends on the cruise. I was always so smug because I would walk two miles around the deck, only take stairs and was active in port. I would always loose 3-5 lbs. Last trip was a 14 day repostioning, I walked on the deck the Vista ship was huge so I sometimes took some stairs and there were not too many ports of call. I gained 12 lbs!!! Now I'm taking it off--but most of it also disappeared when I got home. The moral of the story is STAY ACTIVE and TAKE THE STAIRS!!!

[ekerr19]

We never gain weight on cruises! We are far busier on board (swimming, dancing, walking around) than we are at home - instead of sitting around watching TV, we are out and about - usually up dancing til 1:00 or 2:00 am!

We also use the stairs most of the time too - most cruises, I will actually lose 5 lbs. - I guess I should cruise more often!

Both DH and I eat light during the day and then eat what we want at dinner. We stay up late enough that it gives us time for digestion.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I always put on about 5 lbs on a cruise (1 week) because I honestly deny myself nothing. However, it comes off in about a week as long as I break the bad habits I had on the cruise. I don't pay good money to go on a cruise with all sorts of fabulous desserts to http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05b9a/15 my mouth and not enjoy them.

Weight is such a sensitive and frustrating issue for me. Since my very slim 30's I have gained about 150 pounds and lost 120 of them:D . So I have learned that what goes on can come off. Eat, drink and be merry, have fun in the sunshine ... then come home and work it off. In that one or 2 weeks the extra pounds haven't even had a chance to settle in;) .

[Randyk47]

We've done very well and generally get off weighing the same or slightly less. It's not that we cut our throats....indeed we eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, though smartly, and certainly drink more than at home. I think it's because we're much more active. Dancing, swimming, excursions, walking around port cities, etc., etc. We've basically stopped worrying about it one way or the other and just do whatever we want. Worse case.....diet when we get home!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I always put on about 5 lbs on a cruise (1 week) because I honestly deny myself nothing. However, it comes off in about a week as long as I break the bad habits I had on the cruise. I don't pay good money to go on a cruise with all sorts of fabulous desserts to http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05b9a/15 my mouth and not enjoy them.

Weight is such a sensitive and frustrating issue for me. Since my very slim 30's I have gained about 150 pounds and lost 120 of them:D . So I have learned that what goes on can come off. Eat, drink and be merry, have fun in the sunshine ... then come home and work it off. In that one or 2 weeks the extra pounds haven't even had a chance to settle in;) .

You have actually done GREAT Heather. As you know I can totally relate. I too enjoy the food Oh So much just setting here at work I am thinking about all my favorite HAL foods:p I definitely do not plan to deprive myself I know what gain I do put on will come off quickly. I was pleased when I got on the scale this morning I am now only 1.4 pounds away from my low of right before I went on the Ryndam. Gee, maybe I can get lucky and loose a little bit more in the next 10 days:D

[SantaAna,CA]

As usual, thank you for all your wonderful replies, good advice and honest assessments! :) I'm so glad I have discovered these boards so I can learn before I go. Maybe I'll be lucky to meet some of you on future cruises.

Thanks again,

Jane (upcoming cruise 8/7/05 to Alaska, MS Amsterdam)

[Sigtau21]

On my first cruise, I gained 10 pounds. Have done much better on the cruises that followed.

However, I what is this Volcano Cake? It may cause me to gain weight on my next cruise.

[twobytwo]

Oh my first cruise I think I gained about 4-5 lbs. But it did come off as soon as I got home. Since then though I make a point to hit the gym every single day at least once, go for lots of walks and I definatley dont gorge myself.
I have really BIG EYES but actually cant eat all that much food at a sitting. I find that if you snack during the day you will eat less at dinner etc. Im not a buffet girl so that probably helps too.

This time Im working out a lot now and watching what I eat so I can lose 3-4lbs before hand just incase :)

[paradisegal]

I am happy to say I have actually LOST weight on all of my cruises. I eat a big, healthy breakfast, a light healthy lunch and whatever I darn well please for dinner. Desert? 2 or 3 will do! But I take the stairs everywhere and walk the decks a few times a day.....

[jfishe]

My hey-I-can-have-that-ice cream-tip-of-the-day: stairs not elevators ( i foolishly talked myself into this !) Actually, I didn't gain any weight this last cruise.... thank goodness ! Now the trip to Mexico right after the cruise... I think it all caught up to me !! Eeek !

[stanford's girl]

Eckeer19,
Dancing until 1 or 2 a.m.??? Hopefully someday we will meet on a cruise. You will know it is me because we will be the other couple who closes down the dancing place!!!!!:D Dancing is not just for when you get your docs.:)