How To Have A Fit Cruise Trip

[caption id="attachment_832069" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/African American couple enjoying swimming pool[/caption] Cruise ships can be one of the most stress-free modes of travel. They’re like floating all-inclusive resorts, meaning you don’t need to do much research on which shows to see, what activities to try, or what restaurants to eat at—but that last fact is a blessing and a curse. The self-contained nature of a cruise is what makes it at once relaxing, but also restricting. At least when you stay on land, you can always venture out of your resort and explore other activities and dining options. When you’re on a cruise ship, you’re mostly limited to what the water-dwelling vessel has to offer, which is why many people come back from their trip a few pounds heavier. You don’t have to lean into flowy Hawaiian shirts; you can still fit into your little black dress if you make the right choices. Here is how to have a fit cruise trip. [caption id="attachment_702085" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Choose healthy tablemates

You and your partner may love Barbara and Frank, but Barbara and Frank have stacks of waffles at breakfast and four servings of pasta at dinner. So maybe don’t sit with Barbara and Frank at the buffet, since they may influence your food choices for the worse.           [caption id="attachment_707665" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Find a quiet pool

Do your socializing at the fun pool—the one with all the beer koozies and the live DJ—but do your swimming at the quiet pool. There is usually an adults-only or designated quiet pool, for those looking for a little peace. You can swim some laps there before hitting the big pool.           [caption id="attachment_824457" align="alignleft" width="600"] Cuisine Culinary Buffet Dinner Catering Dining Food Celebration Party Concept. Group of people in all you can eat catering buffet food indoor in luxury restaurant with meat and vegetables.[/caption]

Don’t only hit the buffet

Remember that the cruise ship has other dining options around the ship. You and your travel buddy can have a quieter, more intimate dining experience at one of the other restaurants. You may not think they’re quite as good of a bargain as the buffet is, but is it really a bargain when you eat three times as much food as you need? Not exactly. [caption id="attachment_698589" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Try the made-to-order stations

When you do hit the buffet, visit the made-to-order stations. That’s where you’ll find chefs making pasta, omelets and other customized dishes. Since you actually pick out your ingredients here and wait for the chef to make it, you may savor your food more than you would the mac and cheese you just scoop onto your plate from the buffet line.         [caption id="attachment_615832" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Have dessert once a day

For some reason, the dessert station is stocked for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But that doesn’t mean that you have to have dessert at all three of your meals. Make a deal with yourself that you’ll only have dessert at one meal a day—the station typically has the same traditional items (cheesecake, brownies, rice Krispie treats) all day.           [caption id="attachment_617470" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Sneak breakfast items into your room

At home, you probably keep breakfast small. But at the buffet, you wind up eating waffles, eggs benedict, cereal, pastries and the list goes on. Skip the temptation, and try this. Go to the breakfast buffet just one morning, and sneak some hardboiled eggs, fresh fruit and cottage cheese cups back to your mini fridge. Just have breakfast in the room after that. [caption id="attachment_715841" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Be wary of the formal dinners

Your cruise ship probably gives you the option to reserve seats at their formal, captain’s dinners. Here you’ll be served four-course meals, accompanied with champagne and wine at each course. They can be fun, but also very filling. Opt for the salad as your starter and skip the creamy soups. Rather than the cheesy pastry puff appetizer, just ask for a second salad. Choose the fresh chicken or seafood for your entrée. Have just one bite of dessert.       [caption id="attachment_711674" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Hit the markets on land

When you do get off the ship, find local markets where you can buy fresh produce. This is a chance to try fruits and veggies you don’t find at home, and bring some back to your cruise ship room to snack on later. You’ll be glad you have these when the hotdog stand is calling your name between lunch and dinner.           [caption id="attachment_614093" align="alignleft" width="424"] Corbis[/caption]

Pack your day with activities

Hanging around the buffet for hours can be dangerous. Prevent yourself from doing this by packing your day with activities. If you’re taking a painting class at 2 pm and seeing a show at 8 pm, you won’t have the option to mingle by the cheese table for a long time after dining.           [caption id="attachment_705858" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Treat the ship like walking grounds

Your cruise ship probably has a real walking track the goes around the entire perimeter of the ship. Considering how enormous cruise ships are, you could get a serious hike in if you walked around the entire thing once a day.           [caption id="attachment_707706" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Go rock-climbing

Most cruise ships have rock-climbing walls. And guess what? You can burn up to 900 calories an hour of rock climbing. If you do just a half hour, you’ll burn about 450 (that gets rid of the double bacon you added to your burger today).           [caption id="attachment_828446" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Peruvian-style ceviche made out of raw mahi-mahi fish (Spanish: perico) red onions and aji (Peruvian hot pepper) and served with roasted corn (cancha) and cooked corn. In the back Peruvian cocktail called "Pisco Sour" limes and a flower. (Selective Focus[/caption]

Check out the spa café

If your cruise ship has a spa, that spa probably has a café, and that café will have a light and healthy menu. When you feel like your body needs a detox from all the breadbaskets and calamari, grab a special salad from the spa café.               [caption id="attachment_701345" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Join in on the meditation

First off, meditating on the high sea is an incredible experience. Second off, meditation will keep you in tune with your body. You’ll remember it’s a vessel through which you get to enjoy this life, and you won’t want to bog it down with lasagna.             [caption id="attachment_714155" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Get off the boat

Don’t stay on the boat the whole time. Take the opportunity to get off at ports and explore. The more you can stay away from the buffets, the better. And you can try local, healthy fare at each port.             [caption id="attachment_700511" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Avoid colorful cocktails

If it’s blue, pink, orange or rainbow-striped, it’s probably not very good for you. Stick to prosecco, bottled beer or white wine so you can actually track your calories.             [caption id="attachment_608331" align="alignleft" width="500"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Save alcohol for nighttime

While drinking during the day sounds fun, once you’re a bit buzzed, you’ll probably ditch your plans to get off the boat and go on that hike, or visit the rock-climbing wall. Save your alcohol for the evenings, when you’re winding down for the day.     [caption id="attachment_719458" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Take the fitness classes

Most cruise ships offer a variety of fitness classes! And really, every fitness class is more fun when you’re floating at sea. So ask for the schedule of the water aerobics, yoga and pilates classes.             [caption id="attachment_714166" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Use the sports facilities

The sports facilities aren’t just for hyper teenagers. You and your travel companion should try a round of golf—it’ll get you walking—or a game of pickup basketball. You’re paying for the facilities, so use them!             [caption id="attachment_701534" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Ignore the 24-hour room service

There is usually food available 24 hours a day on a cruise ship. Between the late night buffet, the bar food and the room service, you could eat nonstop if you chose to. But keep your eating to three meals a day (plus your healthy snacks in the room).             [caption id="attachment_705347" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Use the gym

Just because you’re on a cruise doesn’t mean you can’t do something “routine” during your trip. And if you’ve never run on a treadmill while watching the ocean rush by, you’re missing out.

The post How To Have A Fit Cruise Trip appeared first on MadameNoire.