Fitness Goals While Cruising

Share your goals for when you are on a cruise.

Here's what I've been thinking:

I'm not retired yet, looking forward to that happening in a few years, so after my next cruise, I go straight back to my very stressful job. I need my cruise, or any vacation, to be refreshing and reinvigorating. What usually happens when I cruise is that for the first few days I have refreshing and reinvigorating in mind, so I make an effort to keep everything in balance - a good morning workout on the jogging track or in the gym, generous meals, with treats and alcohol in moderation, plenty of time spent relaxing in Serenity. But toward the end of the cruise I tend to overeat and by the last day the thought of getting off the boat is so depressing, I just nibble all day long and don't put much enthusiasm into my workout. As a result, I return to work a bit sluggish instead of recharged. SO - my goal for my upcoming cruise is to return so refreshed that I look forward to tackling my work. Exercise, soak up some sun and extra sleep, make good use of the gym, walking the ship and active excursion.

Hi.

I find the gyms on ships to be an inspiration. I easily turn my 30 minute workout into an hour just because of the views and the vibe.

Up early everyday doing 30 on the bike, 30 with weights and then my reward in the sauna and shower.

I can then enjoy my vices with no guilt. Sure I may skip a day but that's ok. You can't just feast and drink for 7-10 days and not expect to pack on pounds. This way even if I do gain a few I'm still in shape to get it off back home. It's a vacation from work and drudgery but not at the expense of my health.

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I'm with you, dpluta.(Only maybe not quite as balanced as you.) Up early, while the rest of the family sleeps in. I either spend time on the jogging track or in the gym on the bike. I get dizzy if I'm on the treadmill looking out over the ocean. On the Carnival Dream there's one deck that goes all the way around the ship and is much better for a jog or a walk than the little jogging track. The one time we were on the Dream that deck was VERY busy in the mornings. Very nice, and motivating, to see. My problem is staying motivated for the duration of the cruise. But I've never used the sauna on a cruise. That sounds like good motivation, even in the final days. Next cruise, sauna, here I come.

Take a day off dc. No sense in making yourself miserable. I'll be solidly hungover at least one morning and that's when I bail on it. That's when I just do the sauna. Nice remedy. I'm fortunate that my wife's get ready routine is an hour long [emoji7]

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They have a jogging track?!

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They have a jogging track?!

 

 

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MOst ships have a jogging track on the highest deck. On Carnival, it's by the Sports Square or mini golf area. :-)

I just got a fitbit, so making sure I meet my goal steps will for sure be a priority on my next cruise.

I did really well on our last cruise even though I didn't step foot in the gym. Chasing a 2 year old around the ship was my workout! We only took the elevator, in the evenings when we had the stroller.

I try to make healthier food choices throughout the day, so I don't feel guilty about indulging sometimes. Veggie omelet for breakfast, protein and greens during lunch. Sharing deserts with my kiddo or DH, that way I can taste a few sweets but I'm not over eating.

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From LilMissScareAll Chasing a 2 year old around the ship was my workout

Definitely when the kids were little exercise was just part of the package; now I have to be more purposeful about it. Maybe I'll borrow someone's two-year-old on my next cruise. Nah! But I will make a point to share my dessert. Oooh, but I love my sweets sooo much.

Not sure what my plan is yet...I do have a Fitbit so will try to at a minimum hit the track. I expect that my plan will get more detailed as I get closer. I want to hit the gym at least on sea days I really expect that port days will be a bust for gym or track but expect I'll get some decent walking while on excursions. I do plan on indulging a bit when it comes to food but not aggressively so. Again if my current goal for between now and cruise works out it won't really be much of a worry just sticking to routine

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Share your goals for when you are on a cruise.

Here's what I've been thinking:

I'm not retired yet, looking forward to that happening in a few years, so after my next cruise, I go straight back to my very stressful job. I need my cruise, or any vacation, to be refreshing and reinvigorating. What usually happens when I cruise is that for the first few days I have refreshing and reinvigorating in mind, so I make an effort to keep everything in balance - a good morning workout on the jogging track or in the gym, generous meals, with treats and alcohol in moderation, plenty of time spent relaxing in Serenity. But toward the end of the cruise I tend to overeat and by the last day the thought of getting off the boat is so depressing, I just nibble all day long and don't put much enthusiasm into my workout. As a result, I return to work a bit sluggish instead of recharged. SO - my goal for my upcoming cruise is to return so refreshed that I look forward to tackling my work. Exercise, soak up some sun and extra sleep, make good use of the gym, walking the ship and active excursion.

This was well-said. I find myself in the same boat as you (no pun). Cruising starts out well, but quickly turns to a binge-fest. I plan to make our upcoming cruise an opportunity for daily exercise, HEALTHY feasting, and moderate use of alcohol, limited to wine with dinner. My personal challenge is having to find a way to get to the salad bar without passing by Guy's Burgers. Those greasy-delicious burgers call out with siren-like wails, tempting my appetite and weakening my resolve. Solution: Approach the salad area via the aft elevator bank rather than the lido pool area.

This was well-said. I find myself in the same boat as you (no pun). Cruising starts out well, but quickly turns to a binge-fest. I plan to make our upcoming cruise an opportunity for daily exercise, HEALTHY feasting, and moderate use of alcohol, limited to wine with dinner. My personal challenge is having to find a way to get to the salad bar without passing by Guy's Burgers. Those greasy-delicious burgers call out with siren-like wails, tempting my appetite and weakening my resolve. Solution: Approach the salad area via the aft elevator bank rather than the lido pool area.

Same boat - yes! I think it should be an intended pun!

Your phrase "healthy feasting" really has me thinking. At first, I thought, that's just an oxymoron, but no, that could really work - in real life as well as in cruise life. Hmmm.

Your "personal challenge" made me realize why I don't like hanging around with my husband on cruises. He likes to hang out on the lido deck so he can take in the festive feeling. I always feel a little edgy after a little while of that and couldn't figure out why - now I know - it's because of the excessively easy access to the food. When I'm on lido I'm either constantly nibbling or constantly fighting the urge to nibbble. I'm so much more relaxed anywhere else on the ship. Sorry husband - gotta go - if you need me I'll be taking a walk or on serenity or in the casino.

hey, did anyone else notice this? it's the description of Lose Before You Cruise:

A place for cruisers to share their stories of how to lose weight before a cruise. Virtual snacks allowed, but only in small quantities

I love it. :p

When I am not cruising I am at the gym 6-7 days a week for 1 to 2 hours each day.

On the cruise I get up at 6AM every day ,get to the fitness center by 7 ,spend one hour there .When I am in port I try to walk 3-5 miles if I am not doing a shore excursion .

When on the ship on sea days I walk on the jogging/walking track at least 5 miles a day.

Ambitious!

I'm with you, Lenny. Walking is my favorite activity - I have no trouble keeping that going while on a cruise. It's just the gosh darn forever availability of infinite amounts of yummy food that wants to derail my good intentions.

I'm with you, Lenny. Walking is my favorite activity - I have no trouble keeping that going while on a cruise. It's just the gosh darn forever availability of infinite amounts of yummy food that wants to derail my good intentions.

It is all a matter of will power .I tell myself that while it may be very tasty once the food is swallowed it will likely cause pounds to be added.

When I was in my teens I weighed 185 . In 2009 my weight was up to 239. In June 2014 I put myself on a strict diet and lost 56 pounds.

I threw away virtually all my clothes .I have no desire to be back to that weight.

dcwalker--I agree. The casino is a safe place for those addicted to food. Or perhaps a comedy club. On our next cruise we booked a room on the panorama deck (10) near the walking track and the fitness center on deck 11. Like your husband, I am drawn to the lido deck for the food but also the constant activity and sunshine.

Planning our day together helps as well. Keeping busy can keep your mind off non-nutritive nibbling. Rather, we have a balance of activities planned that are not food-centric and include some physical activity---swimming, gambling, walking on the track or the decks, and miniature golf.

angoracruiser - useful tips - thanks - really do have to plan a balanced day

awesome lenquixote66 - congrats - you're an inspiration

awesome lenquixote66 - congrats - you're an inspiration

Thank you very much :)

MOst ships have a jogging track on the highest deck. On Carnival, it's by the Sports Square or mini golf area. :-)

 

I just got a fitbit, so making sure I meet my goal steps will for sure be a priority on my next cruise.

I did really well on our last cruise even though I didn't step foot in the gym. Chasing a 2 year old around the ship was my workout! We only took the elevator, in the evenings when we had the stroller.

I try to make healthier food choices throughout the day, so I don't feel guilty about indulging sometimes. Veggie omelet for breakfast, protein and greens during lunch. Sharing deserts with my kiddo or DH, that way I can taste a few sweets but I'm not over eating.

 

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I started wearing a Fitbit in April and am using MyFitnessPal to track my food. I hav been doing very well - meeting my goal of losing one pound a week. I haven't been stressing about not hitting 10,000 steps a day since watching portion sizes and making healthier food choices plus drinking lots more water is working. I am worried about the cruise I am taking in September because I won't have that security blanket of known foods and the calories associated with foods. I have toyed with the idea of bringing my food scale with me but am guessing that other people in the dining room would think I am crazy.

How do you manage the food piece of the puzzle when you are eating out or are cruising?

 

How do you manage the food piece of the puzzle when you are eating out or are cruising?

I never count calories. I follow a diet/lifestyle that teaches portion sizes and how to eat the right kinds of food (protein, veggies, fruits, carbs, fats, etc) I've been doing it for a while, so I can pretty much eyeball portion sizes.

I've lost 18 lbs since September following this system (163 lbs down to 145). My husband has lost about 25 lbs since he started in April.

If you have an IG account, you can follow me @13meshell13. I post tons of healthy cooking ideas.

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I never count calories. I follow a diet/lifestyle that teaches portion sizes and how to eat the right kinds of food (protein, veggies, fruits, carbs, fats, etc) I've been doing it for a while, so I can pretty much eyeball portion sizes.

I've lost 18 lbs since September following this system (163 lbs down to 145). My husband has lost about 25 lbs since he started in April.

If you have an IG account, you can follow me @13meshell13. I post tons of healthy cooking ideas.

Way to go, Lilmissscareall!!!

My goals really aren't the same as most people's; I pay more attention to intake than exercise onboard. My thoughts:

- I'll board at a weight with which I'm happy. I'm not going to make myself miserable over a couple pounds -- they'll come off when I get home.

- I walk more on a cruise than I do at home, and unless we're going to dinner and I'm wearing fancy shoes, I take the stairs.

- I hit the gym every sea day, but I skip it on island days. Those are the days where I get in more walking naturally.

- I pay attention to liquid calories. A fru-fru drink can have as many calories as a moderate-sized meal. I'm a small person, and I just can't drink multiples each day.

- I skip bread. It's not something I love, and since -- again -- I'm small, I just can't eat everything they offer in a multi-course meal. So I never get bread. Neither does my diabetic husband.

- I eat half a dessert. I'm not skipping it altogether, but I'm also not pigging out every meal.

- I love Miso Soup for breakfast, and I never have it anywhere except on a cruise. It's always available in the Windjammer (never anywhere else), and I have it almost every day -- along with some eggs for protein; the soup alone wouldn't last long.

- Sometimes I opt for room service for lunch. Lunch is my least favorite meal of the day, so I try to keep the calories down. If I order room service, there's no opportunity for "a little more of this or that".

Anyone know how long the track is in miles?

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Walk walk walk. Our last cruise I was over 20k steps 5 of the 7 days. Add snorkeling and swimming to that total, and I can eat almost anything while on a cruise.

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