I lost 14 pounds on a 12 day cruise, find out how.

The average weight gain for a person on a 7 day cruise is 7 - 14 pounds, so how did I lose 14 pounds on a 12 day cruise?  I actually went on 2 cruises back to back, a 5 day and a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean.  I set sail at 209 pounds and at the end of the cruise I weighed 195 pounds and cut 3 inches off my waist.  At 6'1'' inches tall, 209 pounds is not over weight for me but I wanted to lose some inches around my midsection.  I work out 6 days a week at home and enjoy eating, but December caught up to me and decided it was time for me to start my weight lose program aboard the cruise ship.  While everyone else was gaining weight, I was shedding it at a pace of a little over a pound a day.  So what did I do differently than most people on a cruise to help me lose all that weight?

Let me share with you my secret.  First you need to know that I have been on several cruises in the past and each time I lose about a pound a day.  I have figured out a cruise is an excellent venue for a weight loss program.  Everything you need to lose weight is on a cruise ship.  So here are my 7 secrets to lose weight on a cruise.

1. I made a decision that my body was not going to own me and that I was going to own my body.  I made a decision it was time for me to start losing weight.  I choose to stop drinking diet soda's, Monsters and other drinks that contain caffeine (with a minor exception of black and green tea). I choose to eat sensibly and be consistent with my workout routine.  I choose to get up and move and stay moving and involved.  We all choose what we eat and drink and what activity we engage in.  I wanted to think consciously about those choices and start making healthy choices. I went on a cruise knowing I would lose weight.  My goal was to lose 18 pounds, I ended up losing 14.  So my first decision and goal was to use this time on the boat to start a healthy routine in multiple areas of my life.  

2.  Drink plenty of water with fresh squeezed lemon throughout the day.  I also include tea with caffeine, honey and lemon in the morning at breakfast and with dinner.  I stayed away from alcohol, coffee, soda of any kind and stuck with lemon water throughout the day.  A person needs to drink half their body weight in ounces each day to help facilitate the release of  toxins in the body.  Drinking water also keeps you hydrated in the hot sun.

3.  I used the stairs and walked the stairs everywhere I went on the ship.  I did not use the elevator even a single time.  This keep my metabolism working and was a great little workout throughout the day.  My mother told me that when I walked up stairs to skip a stair to help build up my quad muscles, smart woman. So as I walked the stairs, I skipped a stair and I walked briskly.  This mini burst of exercise gets the heart pumping.  You may find yourself winded, just carry on, in the end you will benefit.

4.  I exercised 10 of the 12 days on the ship.  My exercise routine lasted 1 hour and consisted of both cardio and weight training. 

Three of the days were pure cardio and I spent my time on a recumbent bike and watched TV.  Three of the days were pure weight training using free weights and the exercise equipment.  The other four days were a combination of weight training and cardio.  I don't live to exercise, I exercise to live.  I enjoy spending time in the gym and sweat from my body helps release toxins and salt which helps reduce water weight.

5.  While everyone was sunning themselves each day, drinking and eating I got involved and choose to get involved in the daily activities provided.  I call it "get up and move and get involved."

Each day the cruise line gives you a daily planner with dozens of events, activities and fun things to do.  Instead of lying around, I choose to do as many of these activities as I could each day.  I scheduled my day to include as many events as I could and participated in many of the tournaments.  This lasted throughout the day until midnight.  When you are busy, it gives you less time to think about food.  Bottom line, stay busy and involved.  Many of us each and drink because we are bored. If you lounge around each day, guaranteed, you will be bored.   I spent very little time working on my tan by laying around. 

6.  While on shore at various ports of call, I leisurely walked as much as I could.  I must admit, I did not go on any of the tour opportunities the boat offers and choose instead to go to the beach at 4 of the 5 port of calls.  I enjoyed splashing around in the water and used my time in the water to do a little water aerobics. 

7.  Last but not least, I ate sensibly.  Let me share with you what I ate.  For breakfast I ate 6 slices of watermelon, 2 cups of fruit yogurt, 12 prunes and 3 figs, a 4 egg omelet with bacon, ham and cheese, a cup of tea with lemon and honey and a glass of water.  Occasionally I would substitute the water melon for other fruit choices.  I did not eat lunch and around mid day I would have some kind of snack.  I enjoyed pizza, desserts, ice cream and frozen yogurt cones.  Dinner was wonderful.  I dined on 1-3 appetizers, 1-2 entrees and 1-3 desserts and again, a cup of tea. I only finished the protein in my dinner and enjoyed tasting multiples of each food group, not finishing most of my choices.  I also ate bread before the meal, no butter.  I was plenty full after both breakfast and dinner.  I choose to eat the early dinner so I would have the balance of the evening to work off what I ate.  I did not snack after dinner and did not eat again until breakfast around 10 in the morning.  As you can see I did not starve myself, quite the opposite, I was pleasantly full throughout the day.  The food on a cruise is amazing.  There are so many choices right before you that you don't have to prepare.  Choose wisely and you will see the weight just melt off.   

A cruise is the perfect place to break old habits and start new ones.  Think of it as an incredible weight loss center.  Just think, no cell phones, no email, no texts, no one telling you what you should or shouldn't do, no one questioning you as to why you aren't in your typical routine.  A cruise is a perfect venue to start the new you.  When you arrive back home, your friends and family will notice a difference in you and maybe they will be inspired to cruise with you.  In order to make new habits, we need to break the old ones,  what better way to do that than on a cruise.  

So there you have it, 7 tips to help you lose weight while cruising instead of gaining weight.  I choose to use the cruise as a way to have fun and lose weight.  Each of us gets a choice on how we use our time on the boat.  The next time you cruise, I hope you find these tips a helpful. Isn't it time for you to book your cruise?

 

Cruising: The Perfect Place to Start Anew

A cruise is the perfect place to break old habits and start new ones. With no cell phones, emails, or texting, and none of the responsibilities of home or work, it’s your chance to refresh, rejuvenate and recharge. 

That’s what I did anyway. I just got back from cruising and, I have to say, I feel like a new guy. Healthier physically and mentally. And you can, too. Everything you need is right there—food, entertainment, solace, activities, spa, new friends. Well, the list is endless. So while you’re traveling the high seas in style, here are some tips to get you started in freshening up your old self. 

1. Make a pledge to shed (weight)! Sounds like an oxymoron. I mean, seriously, who loses weight on a cruise? But it’s not only possible, it’s not that hard if you plan a little.
The average gain on a seven day cruise is seven to 10 pounds. Ouch. But I went the opposite direction—I lost 14 pounds and three inches off my waist! While everyone else was gaining weight, I was shedding it at a pace of more than a pound a day.  So what did I do differently than my fellow passengers? I made a promise to myself: no extra pounds! That’s right-- I made a decision that my cravings and lack of willpower were not going to own me. But to do that, I had to rethink how I was going to make that happen. Which brings me to point number two…

2. Drink, drink and drink some more (of the good stuff)
Water and unsweetened teas were my friends and kept me feeling full and hydrated. I added lots of fresh lemon and honey to spice it up. Plus lemon is a great detoxifier. I stayed away from all sodas, including diet sodas, juices, coffee, energy drinks and, yes, alcohol. I know that sounds painful, but it works like a charm.

3. Move!
I used the stairs and stayed away from the elevators. It kept my metabolism working and was a great little workout throughout the day. My smart mom once gave me excellent advice:  When walking upstairs, skip every other step. It helps build up quad muscles. Dang, I love the stairs and, I promise, so will your body.

4. Exercise
Every ship I’ve been on has a great gym and workout classes. If that’s not your thing, walk the outdoor track around the ship and take in the beautiful ocean and scenery. Throw on a pair of good shoes and walk if that’s the best you can do. The important thing is to exercise every day. When you select tours, try and pick options where you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Every time you sweat, you’ll release toxins and salt, and that’s a very good thing. Aim for an hour of exercise each day. That doesn’t mean it has to be all at once, but it certainly adds up. 

5. Get on the scale
Weighing yourself every day helps you notice any gains while they’re small and easily corrected. It’s a lot easier to lose two pounds than 10.

6. Sign up for shipboard activities
While it’s tempting to join the others who are endlessly sunbathing, drinking, playing roulette, reading and eating, get involved in the daily activities. Look for ping pong tournaments, basketball games, and dance contests. Not only are they fun, you’ll meet new people and burn calories. Also try classes on upcoming ports and excursions, trivia contests, and ship tours. When you stay busy, you have less time to walk past the buffet line and grab cookies and fries. Plus, doing stuff is way more fun anyway.

7. Get off the ship and… walk!
If you’re not doing an excursion, get off the ship and explore by foot. This is actually my favorite way to explore a port of call. Grab a guidebook so you see the best attractions at your own pace. On a few of our ports, I simply got off the ship and got in the ocean and spent an hour swimming and jumping in the waves. It was my own little heavenly water aerobics. (It’s pretty hard to swim and eat at the same time. Bonus!)

8. Eat wisely
When you’re surrounded by a 24-hour buffet, this can be tough. Except it doesn’t have to be. For me, breakfast consisted of fruit, yogurt, and protein (like eggs). After a big breakfast, I skipped lunch, but ate a midday snack. I indulged on dinner, with appetizers and dessert. After a day of exercise and sensible food choices, hey, I deserved it. I was done eating by seven o’clock. In my opinion, going to bed with an extremely full stomach is pure misery.

9. Unplug
Put that phone and laptop down. I promise you, the world won’t stop spinning because you aren’t texting and emailing. Your investments won’t implode and your house will still be there when you return. Taking an electronic break is manna for the soul. You’ll feel amazingly “better” after just a day. Stress and anxiety will vanish in a snap and you’ll enjoy your cruise far more.

Yes, you can enjoy a cruise, lose weight, start new habits, and have the time of your life. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Nutrisystem Fast 5 ad, is it false and deceptive advertising? You decide.

Have you seen the most recent Nutrisystem Ad with Marie Osmond and Dan Marino?  I have and reviewed it over and over ago to determine if the two spokes people (Dan and Marie) had lost weight on the Nutrisystem Fast Five + program.  Turns out they had NOT!  That is right, neither Dan or Marie had used the Nutrisystem Fast Five + program.  You would think they had.  But you would be wrong!  Nutrisystem would have you believe these two spokes people lost weight (Marie, 50 lbs and Dan, 22 lbs) using the fast five+ program, but unless you are a speed reader you may have missed the disclaimer at the bottom of the segment that featured them in the ad. 

So lets take a look at Marie first.  Marie is on air for 4 seconds and she does say, "I am Marie and I have lost 50 lbs on Nutrisystem." 

What you may have missed was the disclaimer below her, but who wouldn't, 4 seconds is not enough time for you to listen to Marie tell you she has lost 50 lbs and then read the disclaimer below.  So for those of you who missed the disclaimer, here it is.

MARIE DID NOT USE FAST 5. EXPECT TO LOSE 5 LBS IN YOUR FIRST WEEK FOR AN AVERAGE OF 1-2 POUNDS PER WEEK ON THE PROGRAM.  WEIGHT LOSS ON PRIOR NUTRISYSTEM PROGRAM.

What, Marie did not lose 50 lbs on the Fast Five program?  Are you kidding me?  You would think she had.  I guess we are not quick enough to listen to Marie talk and read the disclaimer below her picture.  Who could read the disclaimer anyway?  It is way to small.

Is this false advertising?  Deceptive advertising?  You decide?  Are you disappointed Marie did not lose 50 lbs on Nutrisystem's Fast Five program?

What does the last line in the disclaimer mean?  "Weight loss on prior Nutrisystem program."
I have no idea what that line means, do you?  Are they implying Marie lost weight on Nutrisystem on a prior program?  What program?  When?  Over what period of time?  How much did it cost her? 

Now for Dan and this is good.

Dan comes on the screen for 2 seconds and says the following, "I am Dan Marino and I lost 22 lbs."
That is it.  Unlike Marie who said she lost 50 lbs on Nutrisystem, Dan does not say he lost 22 lbs on Nutrisystem.  He simple says, he lost 22 pounds.  Now wouldn't you think Dan lost 22 lbs on Nutrisystems Fast Five program?  Well, that is not the case. Just like Marie, the disclaimer below Dan reads as follows,

DAN DID NOT USE FAST 5. EXPECT TO LOSE 5 LBS IN YOUR FIRST WEEK FOR AN AVERAGE OF 1-2 POUNDS PER WEEK ON THE PROGRAM.  WEIGHT LOSS ON PRIOR NUTRISYSTEM PROGRAM.

What he dis not lose 22 lbs on Nutrisystem?  You would think he had? Huh?

Now I get it, Dan was on the screen for only 2 seconds, how could you possible be listening him telling you he lost 22 lbs and read the disclaimer in 2 seconds, IMPOSSIBLE!

Hey Dan, how did you lose the 22 lbs?  We would like to know since you did not tell us in the ad, only that you lost 22 lbs.

There is that statement at the end of the disclaimer, Weight loss on prior Nutrisystem program.  I have no idea what that means and if it applies to Dan.  Doesn't say Dan's name. 

Well you decide, is this false or deceptive advertising?  Is Nutrisystem intending to deceive you into believing these spokes people lost weight on the Nutrisystem Fast Five program?  Probably not, since they put a disclaimer at the bottom.  But who could possible read the small disclaimer and watch the spokes person at the same time?  Nobody!  You would have to stop the ad, as I did. 

Feel free to send me your comments to billhytek@Hotmail.com