But
what if you could board a ship, enjoy a vacation, and come back in even
better shape than before? It might sound like a crazy concept, but
several healthy lifestyle companies have taken on the challenge and are
now offering spa-, fitness-, and nutrition-themed cruises.
[post_ads]I was skeptical but intrigued, so when I got invited to participate in the Weight Watchers Rejuvenation Vacation at Sea, I eagerly hopped aboard.
I admit I wasn't sure what to expect. Would being on a diet-themed
cruise kill the vacation vibe? Would I feel too restricted? Would the
cruise somehow feel like work? Here's how it went.
All aboard!
The cruise sailed from Miami around the Caribbean; ports of call were
Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and the Bahamas, plus there were two
at-sea days. Throughout the cruise—and especially on the at-sea
days—there were optional meetings, lectures, fitness classes,
and cooking classes. These were all designed to get people to think
beyond the scale and to really focus on a healthy lifestyle.
I decided to attend the cooking classes, because I hate to cook and
thought they might inspire me. I learned how to make some simple food
swaps and adjustments, which seemed useful. Instead of deep-frying
coconut shrimp, we baked the shrimp but used panko instead of regular
breadcrumbs to cut calories while maintaining the crispy flavor.
While
I enjoyed the cooking classes, what I really loved was having the
opportunity to explore some new fitness options. I'm an exercise junkie,
and I hit the gym an hour a day at home. But I've always been of the
mindset that if you don't sweat a ton, it's not worth it. Yet with
several days free to try new things, I found myself signing up for
things like Chi Flow, an exercise class that combines meditation,
slow-flowing movements, and low-intensity cardio intervals.
It turns out I adore Chi Flow—not for the physical workout, but for
the mental one. I started out a bit stressed (I showed up a few minutes
late and the place was packed, so it was hard to find a spot), and yet
by the end I felt really good, super chill and relaxed. The "pushing
away of the negative energy" and "bringing forward the positive" was
definitely a bit woo-woo, but once I let go and really focused on the
movement, it was kind of wonderful. I probably didn't burn many
calories, but I left feeling healthier and lighter.
Being
on the cruise also gave me the opportunity to tackle weight loss from a
social perspective. Studies show that losing weight with a friend or
partner increases the chances of keeping it off, but I've always gone
down that path alone and wasn't sure how I'd feel about making it a
group thing. The cruise included several focus meetings, so I figured I
might as well check them out. They definitely felt like group therapy,
but that wasn't a bad thing.
[post_ads_2]
I was also surprised about how much we
discussed that didn't have to do directly with weight: One mom said her
family wasn't connecting anymore, because there was too much screen time
at home; others were dealing with sick relatives and demanding jobs.
Most of the topics were pretty relatable, and I walked away feeling
like part of a supportive community. And after talking about difficult
situations, my desire to eat my emotions via a cookie didn't seem as
strong.
But what about the food?
[post_ads]If you're trying to convince a diet-averse friend or partner to join you for this cruise, you should know that they actually offered us both a regular cruise ship menu as well as a special Weight Watchers one. The biggest difference—aside from the amount of fruits and veggies on the plate—was the portion sizes.
Turns out what I thought was 3 ounces of chicken was more like 9 or
even 10. Some people that I talked to on the cruise (including a few who
had lost over 100 pounds!)
said that they invested in a food scale to make sure they were
measuring portions properly. In the past I might have thought that was a
bit extreme, but it seems that many of us—myself included—could benefit
from a reality check.
The food itself was really tasty. I always
think of "diet" food as bland, but they used seasonings to really spice
it up. The soups—mushroom broth, roasted cauliflower, split pea—were
definitely favorites, and when I got back home, I tried making some
myself.
If you're wondering if I lost any weight, the answer is no—but that's only because I recently lost a lot and am now in maintenance mode. After eating healthfully and being active throughout the entire cruise, I came back weighing exactly as much as I did when I left, which was perfectly fine with me.
If you're wondering if I lost any weight, the answer is no—but that's only because I recently lost a lot and am now in maintenance mode. After eating healthfully and being active throughout the entire cruise, I came back weighing exactly as much as I did when I left, which was perfectly fine with me.
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