by Ana Montano

Created on: January 06, 2010   Last Updated: January 07, 2010

Most people who have been on a cruise will tell you that the absolute best thing about it is the food. Forget the sights, the exotic locations, the relaxation. There's nothing quite like having access to excellent food any time of day at no additional cost.

Cruising is a unique kind of vacation that is better and cheaper in many ways than a normal trip. Whereas other vacations can be stressful and exhausting, on a cruise, you have everything taken care of, from your itinerary to your meals. In many ways, cruises are cheaper than a regular vacation because there are peripheral charges like ground transportation and food that people often don't take into account when planning a trip. 

This is one of the main reasons that people gain weight on cruises. They feel like they need to get their money's worth and so they eat more than they usually would. If this is something you feel might motivate you to eat more, you should keep in mind that those pounds will be more costly for you in the long run than the extra food you're enjoying on your cruise. Not to mention, that it's a deal no matter how much you eat. It's still cost efficient if you just have regular meals instead of getting uncomfortably full. 

Another reason people gain weight on cruises is because of the abundance of food. A lot of people eat just because there is food in front of them. It might be hard to pass up that ice cream cone or croissant every time you walk through on your way elsewhere. The only way to prevent that is to simply have self control. If you're worried about packing on those extra pounds, then make sure you don't indulge.

Similarly, especially at dinner time, there are three course meals available and most people want to try everything, including sometimes several different courses. This is natural, especially when all the options on the menu sound delicious. But instead of getting three different main courses and stuffing yourself, perhaps everyone at the table could try a different option and everyone can share. This way, you can try a little bit of everything without eating too much.

The trick is really just to have everything in moderation. Forget about the food they have available and think about the food that is just enough to satisfy you. That should be your main focus during meals and during the day, try to avoid the extra snacking. Simply put, eat when you're hungry, not just for the sake of eating. 

Thankfully, there are always things to keep you busy and away from the buffet. If you spend less time wandering around the lunch area and more time in the pool or at a show, you'll forget all about the tasty food all around you. Don't let yourself eat just because you're bored. That shouldn't be too hard to do on a cruise, where there is little room for boredom.

Finally, if you've really been indulging and you want to balance that out, you can always be more active. Instead of sunning on the deck, do laps in the pool or take the stairs instead of the elevator. There are also gyms that you can work out in, sometimes for an extra fee. If you normally work out every day, don't get lazy on your cruise. You can still wake up early and go for a jog around the top deck. 

These are just a few of the options available to you if you are serious about not gaining weight. The main thing to remember is to maintain regular eating habits. As long as you don't eat more than you usually do, you should be fine. Don't stress over it. Just sit back and enjoy your vacation. 

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