How to Go on a Cruise & Not Come Back with Excess Baggage

I never thought to do anything but eat "normally". That's my secret. I also don't turn into a vacuum as soon as the gangplank is raised and the ship sets sail. It's really as simple as listening to your head, not your eyes and stomach.

Today's cruise ships also help out quite a bit. Every ship has a state of the art gym, classes of all different levels and types. Into pilates, you're covered. Like to "spin"-take a ride. Boxing or Tae Bo? You're covered. Lifting weights, stair-stepping, treadmill-all there. Just love to walk in the sea air, 24 hour soft track is usually located on the top level. And then there's the endless staircases taking you from one deck to another. No need for anyone to just sit and gorge themselves up by a pant-size.

All ships have some kind of health cuisine. Celebrity is boasts a restaurant near the spa/gym that has only healthy dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Carnival and Princess have healthy choices at all their venues.

My way of coming back the same size is to eat basically the same way as when I'm right in my own kitchen. Yes, I do "cheat", but I also make sure to compensate for my little digressions. Being an avid powerwalker, I usually have a 30 minute session 4 to 5 times a week and I cover 2.25 miles. Plus, I wear a pedometer most days and make sure I get my "10,000" steps. While on a cruise, I use the jogging track daily, use the gym for my strengthening/stretching routines and I only use the staircases.
Let's face it, if you do all that you're going to burn off a good deal of calories.

Another handy hint-when in port, chose excursions that have something physical to do. On one cruise my husband and I went to a wonderful ecopark, we snorkeled, played in the beach and then took a 3/4 mile swim in an underground cave. Plus we walked around the entire 30 acres. We also took a beach package on a different cruise which had a 2 mile stretch of sand-we walked the entire length, there was 4 miles! When we got back to town, we had the bus drop us off at the start of the shopping area, then we did some window shopping and walked back to the ship.

So the next time someone cringes about how much "weight" they'll be putting on during their seven days at sea, it's not the food, it's the "wait" for it.

Carine Nadel has 7 cruises under her traveling belt, with another planned for 2008. To read more of Carine's writings log onto: www.Carine-whatscooking.blogspot.com or www.fabulously40.com