Nearly all vacationers embark their cruise ship with the foregone conclusion that they are going to return with an extra ten pounds of weight gain.
Most will argue that it can't be avoided given the relaxed nature of a cruise and the constant availability of heaps of food at all hours of the day.
After all, it is vacation and what is a cruise without over-indulging and getting your full money's worth.
Unfortunately, with nearly two-thirds of American adults already overweight or even obese, the addition of another ten pounds further worsens an already unhealthy condition.
The memory of a great vacation will soon be replaced by the guilt that surfaces when the clothes from before the cruise are now tight and uncomfortable.
How can you enjoy the full amenities of a cruise ship and still return without the excessive baggage? Really, it is not the impossible chore it appears to be.
Let's start with the general level of activity while cruising.
It is essentially a sedimentary week aside from a few shore excursions that may include some walking.
Everything on a ship is designed to be close together and requires minimal walking, if any at all.
Even if you are casual gym goers at home, every ship has a great gym full of diverse equipment.
There is no better way to start the day then with a half-hour of moderate cardio before breakfast.
You don't need to jump up at the crack of dawn, but make it a leisurely task and a part of every sea day.
The cardio equipment overlooks the ocean and it is a great time to interact socially with other people who happen to share the same interest.
It revs your metabolism up and results in burning more calories during the whole day.
Another bonus, bring along your pool towel and a magazine or two and lay claim to the best chairs at the pool before the majority are even up and about.
Another way to include some additional benefit activity is to use the staircases whenever possible.
Most staterooms are mid-level, with pools and casual dining on the top levels and shops and dining rooms on the lower.
Take the stairs at every opportunity and you will be surprised at how many calories you burn and how great you feel at the end of the week.
The first time will leave you huffing and puffing, but by day three you will be an old pro at it.
When you time the long wait for the limited number of elevators, you get there sooner anyway.
But of course, not on formal nights with those high heels! There is also always one deck that wraps around the entire ship and a casual walk provides some great sites and an added bit of exercise.
Now, the main obstacle.
Three or four times a day, you are going to be up against a buffet of foods that boggles the mind.
Every choice possible and the sky is the limit as to the amount you can eat or just take to try.
The majority of these will be laden with butter, gravy, and exotic sauces that represent some of the worse nutritional choices you can ever make.
Think of it from this perspective, a large portion of one of these dishes will contain as many calories as the average person should consume in a whole day.
Heart healthy or low-fat dishes are rare, but all cruises will cater to your requests about preparing them.
At breakfast, the omelet station is willing to supply egg white omelets or those made without fat or oil.
This makes for a great breakfast when combined with cottage cheese, fresh fruit and a small meat side dish.
Overeating at breakfast results in a sluggish start to the day and sets the tone for overeating at each meal.
Think smart about breakfast and save hundreds of wasted calories while still enjoying a hearty and nutritious meal.
Lunch poses the same obstacle but can also be controlled through portion control and food choices.
Avoid filler foods like bread and other low-glycemic carbs such as potatoes and white rice.
Start with a salad and only go back for the entrée after finishing the salad.
The key is not to overload your tray and return to the table where you are more likely to eat just for the sake of not wasting food or eating more while other family members finish eating.
The easiest meal to keep healthy is actually dinner.
Dinner entrees are usually meat, fish, chicken and seafood and there is no limit to the amount you can request from the waiter.
Don't waste calories on bread and fillers when you can dine on lobster, shrimp and steak.
Enjoy the main entrees without the extra calories of the side dishes that are of no appeal to you.
If lobster is a treat to you, have three lobster tails for dinner rather than bread, potatoes and creamed vegetables with a single tail.
Avoid after dinner buffets and unhealthy snacks like pizza and fast food which are available all night long.
Grab extra fruit and boxed whole grain cereal and keep in your room for a healthy snack.
Use a common sense approach to eating and select the best choices available and still enjoy the full amenities of the ship.
Vacation does not have to mean throwing all common sense and caution to the wind when it comes to eating.
A twenty-four hour bloated and sluggish feeling from over-consumption is hardly the way to enjoy an expensive and exotic vacation.
There are so many things to enjoy on a ship like the shows, galleries, shops, activities, casino and socialization without the constant obsession with food and drink.
Vacation and healthy living are not mutually exclusive.
Returning home from an exotic and fun-filled vacation is much more enjoyable when you don't need to seek out larger clothes.
Make healthy living and eating a part of your life on an everyday basis.
Most will argue that it can't be avoided given the relaxed nature of a cruise and the constant availability of heaps of food at all hours of the day.
After all, it is vacation and what is a cruise without over-indulging and getting your full money's worth.
Unfortunately, with nearly two-thirds of American adults already overweight or even obese, the addition of another ten pounds further worsens an already unhealthy condition.
The memory of a great vacation will soon be replaced by the guilt that surfaces when the clothes from before the cruise are now tight and uncomfortable.
How can you enjoy the full amenities of a cruise ship and still return without the excessive baggage? Really, it is not the impossible chore it appears to be.
Let's start with the general level of activity while cruising.
It is essentially a sedimentary week aside from a few shore excursions that may include some walking.
Everything on a ship is designed to be close together and requires minimal walking, if any at all.
Even if you are casual gym goers at home, every ship has a great gym full of diverse equipment.
There is no better way to start the day then with a half-hour of moderate cardio before breakfast.
You don't need to jump up at the crack of dawn, but make it a leisurely task and a part of every sea day.
The cardio equipment overlooks the ocean and it is a great time to interact socially with other people who happen to share the same interest.
It revs your metabolism up and results in burning more calories during the whole day.
Another bonus, bring along your pool towel and a magazine or two and lay claim to the best chairs at the pool before the majority are even up and about.
Another way to include some additional benefit activity is to use the staircases whenever possible.
Most staterooms are mid-level, with pools and casual dining on the top levels and shops and dining rooms on the lower.
Take the stairs at every opportunity and you will be surprised at how many calories you burn and how great you feel at the end of the week.
The first time will leave you huffing and puffing, but by day three you will be an old pro at it.
When you time the long wait for the limited number of elevators, you get there sooner anyway.
But of course, not on formal nights with those high heels! There is also always one deck that wraps around the entire ship and a casual walk provides some great sites and an added bit of exercise.
Now, the main obstacle.
Three or four times a day, you are going to be up against a buffet of foods that boggles the mind.
Every choice possible and the sky is the limit as to the amount you can eat or just take to try.
The majority of these will be laden with butter, gravy, and exotic sauces that represent some of the worse nutritional choices you can ever make.
Think of it from this perspective, a large portion of one of these dishes will contain as many calories as the average person should consume in a whole day.
Heart healthy or low-fat dishes are rare, but all cruises will cater to your requests about preparing them.
At breakfast, the omelet station is willing to supply egg white omelets or those made without fat or oil.
This makes for a great breakfast when combined with cottage cheese, fresh fruit and a small meat side dish.
Overeating at breakfast results in a sluggish start to the day and sets the tone for overeating at each meal.
Think smart about breakfast and save hundreds of wasted calories while still enjoying a hearty and nutritious meal.
Lunch poses the same obstacle but can also be controlled through portion control and food choices.
Avoid filler foods like bread and other low-glycemic carbs such as potatoes and white rice.
Start with a salad and only go back for the entrée after finishing the salad.
The key is not to overload your tray and return to the table where you are more likely to eat just for the sake of not wasting food or eating more while other family members finish eating.
The easiest meal to keep healthy is actually dinner.
Dinner entrees are usually meat, fish, chicken and seafood and there is no limit to the amount you can request from the waiter.
Don't waste calories on bread and fillers when you can dine on lobster, shrimp and steak.
Enjoy the main entrees without the extra calories of the side dishes that are of no appeal to you.
If lobster is a treat to you, have three lobster tails for dinner rather than bread, potatoes and creamed vegetables with a single tail.
Avoid after dinner buffets and unhealthy snacks like pizza and fast food which are available all night long.
Grab extra fruit and boxed whole grain cereal and keep in your room for a healthy snack.
Use a common sense approach to eating and select the best choices available and still enjoy the full amenities of the ship.
Vacation does not have to mean throwing all common sense and caution to the wind when it comes to eating.
A twenty-four hour bloated and sluggish feeling from over-consumption is hardly the way to enjoy an expensive and exotic vacation.
There are so many things to enjoy on a ship like the shows, galleries, shops, activities, casino and socialization without the constant obsession with food and drink.
Vacation and healthy living are not mutually exclusive.
Returning home from an exotic and fun-filled vacation is much more enjoyable when you don't need to seek out larger clothes.
Make healthy living and eating a part of your life on an everyday basis.