I will be going on a Caribbean cruise mid April and currently my plan is to stick with the WOE while on the cruise, but I am considering stopping it for the week. The things that would tempt me the most would be the "drinks of the day" and the fancy desserts offered. I assume I would gain 5 pounds easy and that wouldn't bother me, but changing my body to go off and then back on this WOE again would be tough. And then I should probably need to go back through induction again?

OK, so what do you do when you are on similar type vaca's?

261/226/215?
(recently re-joined, Started Atkins on 6/12/03)

I stay on plan. Going off plan on a vacation doesn't just pile the pounds on terribly fast; it also can change your moods and make you feel too drowsy to enjoy things.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

I would also stay on plan. The most I would do is have a bite(and I do mean a bite) of a few things for the whole week. I agree with the doc about how it might make you feel to indulge in too much of that kind of thing. Course there are several in this forum who will tell you to go for it. More power to ya.

Joyce

I wish I could turn this text green, cause that's what I am (with envy). Why not go with the mind set that it will be a "health" cruise. I'd be willing to be they will offer all kinds of foods and lots of them legal. Pretend you are at a LC spa with all your meals being cooked and food brought to your room whenever you want. Don't they have fitness rooms too????? Massage???? Or like Barb Keith would say "Dance your hiney off!"

Maybe you should stay home and send me.

Rave
232/171.5/130
57yo. 5'2"
Started Atkins 6/1/02

Thanks all,

As I said, my plan is to stay with the WOE and I don't think I will have any trouble eating in the dinning rooms. The main issue would be me wanting to have a drink with an umbrella in it! But for just a few dollars more I hear I can get a bucket of beer!

261/226/215?
(recently re-joined, Started Atkins on 6/12/03)

I'm green too! Have a great time!

If I was going on this cruise I'd take advantage of the seafood while it's "free" rather than the absurd prices they charge around here. I could eat nothing but seafood for a week and not get tired of it. especially shellfish. I sympathize about wanting the drinks. I'd probably have a glass of wine or 2 a day or beer if they have Michelob ultra or miller lite. But those umbrella drinks are so sugary they're bound to have you craving every carb you've neglected since starting this woe.
Tread carefully but still enjoy.

Rob
310/233/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

I am in the same boat as you. We are going on our first cruise the first week of March, about 7 weeks away. We are so excited! I plan to stay on plan for the most part, as I find that I do not want a lot of high carb things anyway, but I do want to try some of the desserts, and other offerings such as drinks. I expect some pounds to come back on and maybe some body distress, but it is a once in a lifetime experience, and I don't want to miss out on anything.

NOT GONNA QUIT!

START-DATE 9/10/03
WEIGHT 235/187/160 5'5"
SIZE 16/10/?

Well, I have actually been in this boat and I sailed the "wrong ship" so to speak...

I'll tell you MY experience and you can decide for yourself!
I had been strictly low-carbing for about 5 months when my inlaws treated our whole family to a cruise (MAJOR frequent-flyer miles!).
I decided I was NOT going to spend this week eating LC when there were so many new and interesting things offered!
So, **just for that week** I went off plan and ate whatever I wanted.

And I was SICK.
It actually ruined the trip somewhat for me.
I became horribly bloated and I was sick at my stomach (NO, it was NOT sea-sickness; I don't get motion sick). I became very irritable and (as Dr. I. mentioned) sleepy and fatigued. I retained water horribly (already a common problem on a ship) and by the **big dinner** on Friday night, I could not fit into the dress I had brought just for that purpose! Well, I *could*, but it wasn't very flattering.

If I had to do it all over, I would stay LC and feel good. The food just wasn't worth it.
That's my .02...

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

I JUST got back from a cruise, and I went off. I had been off since Thanksgiving, so I didn't have the initial problems you often experience right when you fall off the wagon. However, from Thanksgiving-1/12/4, I gained about 7 pounds. I'm not destroyed, just a little disappointed that I could have lost 7 instead of gaining it.
On the ship I was on (Carnival Celebration) they offered low fat options, but I didn't see a special low carb menu. But always there was meat and veg and salads on the dining room menu. They bring that bread constantly, though. So just tell your waitstaff that you won't be having bread, and if they are like ours, by the second night or so, you won't have to remind them. (Our waitstaff was AWESOME!)
They are also very helpful with questions "what is this made with, is there a sauce?" that type of thing.
HAVE FUN! If you have a drink, so be it. just maybe save that for a special occasion. (ie the Captain's cocktail party when they are free anyway!)
Let us know how it goes!

Heather
181/159.8/140
atkins 8/5/03 (off Thanksgiving 2003-Jan 12, 04)

I went to Texas for a two week trip last March 2 C my family. This was after I had lost 32 lbs pretty much lc'ing it. My family knew I wanted to be careful while I was down there. I did go off the plan for those two weeks but was really careful with how much I ate and I also did a ton of walking and my mom had some chromium so I took that as well...when I got back to Washinton state, I discovered I had lost 2 lbs! It wasn't a lot...but at least I didn't gain...I just did the opposite of what I would usually do lc'ing it...I don't watch my portions when I lc (with the exception of the starchy foods)...but on vacation, I figured watching my portions would pay off plus all that walking - especially on the River Walk in San Antonio...think I walked for about 5 hours one day...was I ever tired after that!

Am going to Phoenix in May and plan to pretty much lc it - plus my husband is lc as well - it'll take about 2 days to get there since we're driving so plan to take along string cheese and nuts and maybe some lc bread. Am hoping to be close to my goal (if not at it by then) and wouldn't want to screw that up...
plus I am planning to go back on Induction for about 3-4 days before we leave...so just in case I do want something a little on the carb heavy side, I can handle gaining a couple of pounds (but only if I lose a couple during those 3-4 days of Induction)

Who was it on here that has that saying 'as long as it takes you to succeed, there's no need to waste time failing'? I think of that a lot...and yep...don't want to waste time failing.

Sheyla
186/133/105 5'0"
from a size 18 to a size 4/6!

The Lord their God shall save them on that day as the flock of his people. They shall sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How ATTRACTIVE and BEAUTIFUL they will be! Zechariah 9:16

Hi Shelly,

As Lawbooks points out, if you start eating too many bad carbs you will feel sick. This happened to me once when I had a pizza just after trying one of those starch blocking pills. I felt TERRIBLE the next day. However, it turned out to be a great motivational experience that keeps me from even thinking about cheating. If you do decide you want to stray away from this WOE, start it a few days before the cruise. Because of the trouble of going off and then getting back on, I think I will stick to this WOE. As Doc-I also pointed out, I would want to feel my best throughout the cruise, and I like feeling great! I don't think it will be difficult staying with it, I am confronted with sinful foods all the time and get by just fine. I'll just get an umbrella for my Wine or Lite Beer.

261/226/215?
(recently re-joined, Started Atkins on 6/12/03)

I have cruised before and I am also going on a cruise February 14th. This is my first cruise thin. So I will do before (last cruise) and after (this cruise)pictures after the cruise.

When I go on vacation I allow myself a little more leeway with LC. Breakfast is the easist with eggs and meat. Sometimes I add some fruit but not bananas. I limit myself to only a few fruity drinks and I drink wine instead. For this trip I will probably get one and share it with my boyfriend on Valentine's day. I like wine so it isn't a problem. More than likely he will drink most of it.

Lunch is fine you can have anything without bread or pasta. Sauces I keep to cream type sauces and have only a little (unless it is hollandaise). Or you can have a salad with some kind of creamy dressing or bring your own LC dressing if you like thousand island or french.

I exercise the entire cruise, only take the stairs (no elevators), and dance up a storm (my poor boyfriend).

Dinner is a little harder. I have no problem having just a bit of something. So I order things and only have a couple of spoonfuls or a bite. If you are not this way then don't order it at all. Most vacations I gain generally 1 or 2 lbs no more. Then a week of induction and I will be back to the old weight.

I will bring Atkins drinks and bars for when I need something and nothing I should eat is available.

My boyfriend loves bread so it is always on the table. If I could not just say no I would have never lasted on the WOE. I have convinced myself that I don't eat certain things period.

If food comes with something I no longer eat I just don't eat it. Remember the cruise is not a clean you plate place. In fact the worst thing anyone on a cruise can do is eat everything. You are allowed to order something just to taste. When they have shrimp or other good stuff you can get 2 servings instead of 1. Remember to surround yourself with something you can eat.

Write out a list of your favorite foods that are LC. Then make sure they are around. Be prepared before you go but enjoy the trip. I love cruising and being pampered.

travellost-51 yrs Young
1/20/03 195/145 first time
1/5/04 second time
150/143/135
"I am allergic to carbs they make me break out in fat"

thank you all for your great contributions! I have a little plan in effect... hee hee hee

I have 6 1/2 weeks before we leave, so I am going to concentrate really hard on watching what I eat and portion contol, along with a structured exercise program, so I can be in the best shape I possibly can before we go.

When we go on the cruise, I will also stick with watching my portions, and remain active (lots of sightseeing), and make sure to drink a lot of water!!. I plan on sticking with this WOL for 85% of the time. I know that I will probably have sauces/drinks/desserts that would not qualify for LC. But these will be in control, okay the drinks may get a little high But for the most part I will be eating eggs, meats, veggies, salads and all the things that I enjoy now. I have no craving or desire for the pastas, or breads, so that will help.

My bf is planning on eating more liberally about a week to week and a half before we go to get his body more use to eating more carbs. He also wants to try a carb blocker before we go to make sure that he is not sick on the trip. He does enjoy breads and pastas and french toast and such. But he also can get back into ketosis much more easily and has an easier time maintaining when he does eat these high carb foods.

We will see which way works best. Either way, I am sure that we will have a great time. thanks again for the personal experiences and advice, it sure does help!

NOT GONNA QUIT!

START-DATE 9/10/03
WEIGHT 235/186.8/160 5'5"
SIZE 16/10/?

Shelley,

I think you have a good plan... but I'm going to suggest something a little out of the ordinary.
I think you should start to **cheat** a few days BEFORE you leave... maybe add in a bunch of fruit, have a glass of wine, eat a piece of bread (gasp!) ... so that you don't get sick on the cruise like I did.

Heather makes a valid point; because she had been *off plan* since Thanksgiving, she didn't suffer the *immediate* cheat effects this woe can have on your body.
Maybe if you ease into eating some non-LC foods, it won't derail your trip (or your progress) too much.
Just a thought!

Summer

You mentioned trying a carb blocker. Although the first time it didn't help, I found that if you follow directions (Have glass a water with the pill), I have not had any problems. I take one about once a week now when we go out for pizza. Also I am pretty sure they only works for starches and not sugars, so it would be OK for bread/potatoes etc, but not the sugary drinks. Correct me if I am wrong.

261/226/215?
Started Atkins on 6/12/03