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.
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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. (Stay up-to-date on breaking health news, with these 10 updates from Prevention Premium.)
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. (Here are 9 more cooking secrets that seriously up the health-factor in your food.)
Find out how to make healthy and delicious ceviche at home:
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. (If you like tai chi, you’ll love this low-impact workout that’s a proven inflammation fighter.)
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. 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?
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.
MORE: 5 Portion Control Tips You’ve Never Heard Before
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.
The article I Went On A Weight Loss Cruise, And Here’s What Happened originally appeared on Prevention.
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