You’re Pumped. You’re counting down the days. You’re unproductive at work. Why? Because it’s CRUISE TIME baby!! But there is one scary thing that’s haunting you….getting “fat” on the cruise ship. Before you cancel those plans and resort back to your non-cruising boring lifestyle, let me share with you 4 tips on how to lose weight on a cruise ship.
Get ready because you’re about to be prepared for success my friend!
Today we are going to talk about some really quick wins on the cruise. For the last TWO cruises that I’ve been on (both of them were 5 NIGHT cruises), I was able to lose 10 pounds on the first and 5 on the second.
YES it’s possible. Get excited! Let’s get to TIP #1 – Using the stairs
How to Lose Weight on a Cruise – TIP #1 – Use the Stairs
Sounds pretty darn basic, huh?
But it’s true.
Depending on the size of your cruise ship, you may be ascending and descending a LOT of stairs going from the deck where you sleep to the deck where you want to grab some drinks, to the top deck to grab some rays and some pool/hot tub time!
EXTRA BURN TIP: Want to burn off even more calories? Try running up the stairs or skipping a stair as you climb (the skipping of steps will work out those quad muscles, which are known to increase heart rate and burn more calories as it is one of the largest muscles in the body).
And….another motivation tip for taking the stairs….ladies, this guy might be at the top waiting for you:
Climb the stairs, he might be waiting for you
How to Lose Weight on a Cruise Ship – TIP #2 – DRINK:WATER Ratio
On most cruises, people like to kick back and have a good time. Heck, if you’ve been doing some hard work, rocking your fitness consistently (see: National Screw it Week for tips on consistency), and eating right….now it’s time to kick back and party, am I right?
And you should.
Part of Sweet Life Fitness is to live your sweet life. It’s about MODERATION and NOT deprivation. So enjoy that drink:
Moderation is the KEY. Let’s face it, Alcohol is FATTENING (yes, it’s true…). Alcohol can have almost 200 calories in just a large glass of wine, and over 400 calories in a fruity drink (and for you beer drinkers, CARB city).
So how do we face this demon? Easy.
It’s about moderation between Alcohol and Water.
- For Every 1 Alcoholic beverage, drink 8-12 ounces of water afterwards. (And brace yourself for the bathroom LOL!!).
- Aim to get your required 8-12 glasses of water per day on the ship. This includes one before dinner (Before you tap into that beverage), and one before the evening activities.
The benefits of having water between alcohol extends beyond just my recommendation:
- Water fills you up to reduce overall consumption of alcohol (good for saving calories and good for your $$$ saving).
- Drinking water can lesson the effects of a hangover (sea sick plus hangover? Not fun)
- Water keeps you hydrated, which is vitally important in your fitness and weight loss efforts (see benefits of drinking water).
And remember, use Tip #1 too in order to burn off those extra calories (plus, your friends will have a laugh if you’ve had one too many and attempt the stairs….be sure to take video of that for us to all watch 😉
How to Lose Weight on a Cruise – TIP #3 – Moderate Caloric Intake
If you’ve done a Beachbody Program before (good for you), you’ll know nutrition is so important. Here are a few steps to take within losing weight on a cruise with Tip #3:
- Don’t go NUTS at the Buffet – Often times, your cruise ship will have a buffet. Start your meals off with either fruits or a salad. This will help reduce the room in the stomach where you might eat too many “empty calories” (aka junk food).
- WATCH what are you eating – opt in for what makes sense!! If the menu at the fine dining area has good yummy food you are excited about, enjoy that, and who cares if people judge you…your abs will thank you for it!
See that picture above? Dang that was good – it’s lobster! This is what I’m talking about – a great alternative to crap!
But if you want to indulge…
That’s OK. The trick is to balance your calories. If you are over-eating and vegging out on the beach chairs all day, you WILL GAIN WEIGHT.
So the trick is, don’t eat until you are full. Eat until you are satisfied. And fill in the energy burn from Tip #1 and Tip #4
How to Lose Weight on a Cruise – TIP #4 – Schedule in Workouts
Along with eating right in Tip #3, still take time to schedule in your workouts. Even if you aren’t too sure what to do, here are some options:
- Go to the on-board Fitness center/gym
- Take a class at the fitness center/gym (this will cost you $$)
- Walk/RUN around the track that is on most cruise ships (normally mid or top deck)
- Get BEACHBODY on DEMAND and stream your workouts either on the top deck or in your state room!
I personally use Beachbody on Demand since it gives you unlimited streaming access to popular workouts like P90X, INSANITY, and 21 Day Fix. If you have the iPhone app, you can also download up to 5 workouts to use without needing WiFi or internet access (PERFECT for a cruise boat).
This is only $39 USD every 3 months, and it sure saves you a lot of money and it’s been worth it for a lot of people in our community. Click the banner below to learn more:
I sure hope these tips help you succeed!
I have been able to lose weight on a cruise ship, as well as some others that we’ve talked to that followed these tips. Use them, and then come back here and comment below with your story!! Were you able to lose weight on your cruise? Which cruise did you go on? Comment below and let’s chat!
How to Lose Weight on a Cruise – The YouTube Video
Hate reading all of those words above? Check out the video instead:
I have been able to lose weight on a cruise ship, as well as some others that we’ve talked to that followed these tips. Use them, and then come back here and comment below with your story!! Were you able to lose weight on your cruise? Which cruise did you go on? Comment below and let’s chat!
Yours in Cruising Success,
Coach Bob & Cristen
P.S. – Want more FREE Fitness Tips? Then check out our 3 Day Fitness Success Course – CLICK HERE for free instant access.