It’s the oldest joke in the cruise comedy playbook. “Did you
know that the average passenger gains 7 pounds on a week long cruise, 1 pound a
day, yeah you come on as guests you leave as Cargo” …… insert fake laugh. Side
note, if you hear a Cruise Director or Comic use that joke, please boo them as
that has been used zillions of times for over 20 years and you know what, it’s
not even funny!
Seriously though, the temptations to gorge your self on
tasty treats while cruising are endless and sadly many do gain a few pounds
when taking a cruise. This has given the industry a bit of a bad rap when it
comes to health and fitness. Cruise Lines are working hard to change that image
but regardless of your opinion on the topic, it’s not that difficult to stay fit
on a cruise and with the right motivation even actually lose weight.
Ever since I’ve moved to California I have been surrounded
by health and fitness, I’ve always been into it but I’ve been more interested
than ever lately and have even picked up some new knowledge recently. So in this blog I wanted to combine some of my
new practices with what I know about cruising. Nothing groundbreaking here,
just good clean, easy fitness advice. Eat right, drink smart and try to workout
5 times on a 7-day cruise. It’s much easier than you think.
So here they are my 7
ways to avoid gaining 7 pounds on a weeklong cruise.
1.
Eat a healthy breakfast – It’s common knowledge
that eating breakfast every day, boosts your metabolism and is key to losing
weight, but where many falter on a cruise is at the breakfast buffet. I myself
have been guilty of reaching for the chocolate croissant, pancake, biscuit and
gravy, bacon, extra cheese; it’s all right there and you’d never eat this stuff
at home, so why not indulge? Well you should indulge, but do it the smart way
by ordering Room Service! Every ship has free room service breakfast, you
usually only have to fill out the card and put it on your door. This will
greatly help your portion control and keep you from reaching for that chocolate
croissant. I recommend that you eat room service or in the main dining room for
breakfast every day. Switch it up and do what works for you, but this is the
best way to eat smart portions and it makes it much easier to choose healthy
options. Also always order the fruit plate. If you start your day right and
your already halfway there. So Main
Dining room and Room service for breakfast, healthy options 5 of 7 days,
indulge twice, go ahead and have 1 chocolate croissant, remember 1 not 3.
2.
Beach or Destination Workout – If you’re on a
Caribbean or beach cruise, this is an easy workout that will save you time,
money and will make you feel incredible in your swimwear. Try my easy beach
workout, and do it right when you get there so you can relax the rest of the
time. Start with a light stretch and then a 20-minute walk or preferably run or
jog, do whatever you can handle, but this is not your typical beach stroll I
want you to shake it up. Walk or run 10 minutes to one side of the beach,
whenever 10 minutes is up, stop and do, 10 pushups, 10 squats, and 10 jumping
jacks, then run/walk back the other way 10 minutes and repeat, the pushups,
squats, and jumping jacks at the other end. Then take 10 minutes and swim in
the ocean, do whatever your body can handle. I always travel with my goggles
this way a cheap and easy workout is always available, but even if you don’t’
have your goggles, swim 5 minutes out and 5 minutes back. Even just tread water
or doggie paddle if you have to, but 10 minutes in the water is sure to get the
blood flowing. There, you’ve just done a simple easy yet very effective workout
that cost you nothing, and now you have the whole day to enjoy all while on a
workout high. If your going to Alaska just ask the crew where the best hiking
trail is and there you go, a most memorable day and oh, by the way a great
workout. If you’re in Europe, just try to take an active tour that has a lot of
walking.
3.
Skip the Calorie Bombs – What’s a Calorie Bomb?
Those god awful high fructose, high calorie drinks everyone is sucking down and
wondering why they’re not losing weight. You know what they are: Pina Colada’s,
Strawberry Daiquiri’s, Coco Loco’s, Frappuccino’s, Mocha blah, blah. All these
drinks are terrible for you and full of sugar. No one can process that much
sugar and not gain weight. These are what the pros call empty calories; but
Andy I want to drink on my cruise what can I do? Drink like they do in Los
Angeles and sub the Calorie Bombs for one of these guilt free cocktails: Try a
Vodka and Soda with a splash of Cranberry Juice, or Tequila, Lime, splash of
OJ, Splash of Soda water aka the “Skinny Margarita”, or a Bacardi Silver and
Diet Coke, even Miller 64 beer. Personally I just drink good quality Vodka on the
rocks with a lime, when it’s high quality stuff you can drink it on the rocks
and it has so few calories and gives you much less of a hangover. The “healthy
drinks” list get’s longer every day. Indulge just be smart about it. There are
ton’s of lower calorie cocktails, just ask the bartenders or the fitness
instructor’s, if none of the listed drinks appeal to you.
4.
Try a fitness class – Running on a Treadmill, so
1985, come on there’s millions of fun and usually free fitness classes on every
ship now. Try some Yoga, Pilates, Spin, TRX, or even Boot Camp. Even just once
on a 7 day cruise will count to your goal of 5 workouts and when your doing
something new time flies and you don’t’ even realize your working out. Who
knows you may just find something you love in the process.
5.
Take the Stairs – My Mom takes the stairs on
every cruise, every time, never takes the elevator. I think she’s crazy, but
she doesn’t gain weight on a cruise and really only does that and walk. But, if
you’re a normal person and the idea of schlepping up and down those stairs
every time for 7 days seems like way too much, try my easy stair/elevator
policy. 3 up and 4 down: Every time your only going up 3 decks or less and
every time your going down 4 decks or less you have to take the stairs. Otherwise
you can ride the elevator. This is so easy to do, will actually save you time
maneuvering around the ship and you’ll be slipping in mini workouts and burning
calories all day and night. Another bonus is you won’t be the jerk who is only
going up one floor on the elevator!
6.
Fun Fitness – Really all fitness should be fun,
but it’s easy to find a fun workout on a ship. Dance Classes abound and as long
as they are 30 minutes or longer of high power cardio that can count as 1 of
your 5 required workouts. If the idea of attending a dance class makes you want
to jump overboard try this fun workout that will also get you to know the ship
better. Take the stairs down to the bottom deck, walk all the way to the top
deck, then walk to the jogging track, wherever it is, jog or walk one mile on
the track. Then walk to the fitness center, no elevator. Jump on the Elliptical
machine for 10 minutes, go at a fun pace, but try to push yourself a little.
When that is complete walk to the Rock Climbing Wall and climb at least one
time, preferably twice. If your ship does not have a Rock Climbing Wall, when
done with the elliptical go do 15 pushups, 15 squats, and try to do 5 pull-ups.
This kind of workout will be over before you know it and you won’t even feel like
your working out. You’ll be moving all over the ship and by the time you’re
done you’ve just had an amazing workout.
7.
Vegetarian for a day – Many fitness experts
recommend you have one day a week that is meat free. I love meat but I have
been trying this policy lately and finding it actually really enjoyable and
surprisingly easy to do. I feel light and fit at the end of the day and have
been keeping the weight and cholesterol levels down. Cruise Ships have lots of
veggie options now and I really think you’ll find this a very easy thing to do.
One warning; just because your skipping the meat for a day doesn’t mean you
need to eat 6 bagels and a block of cheese. Dairy and carbs are fine, but you’re
really your looking to eat more whole grains and mainly pile on the vegetables.
Only one day, I promise it’s easy and you may surprise yourself and find you
like it.
There you have it, 7 easy ways to stay fit and avoid
becoming a cruise ship cliché.
Till next time,
Keep it on Cruise Control.
-Andy Steinhauser
*Readers let’s keep the conversation going, do you have any
great cruise fit tips you’d like to share?
