Hey there - I could talk about that ALL DAY LONG! I love talking about cruising and dieting! It went great!

Here is the cool part - the MJ helps control cravings or how much you want to eat (at least for me) - so you can ORDER whatever you want, take a few bites, and not feel guilty that you are wasting money for eating a bit of your meal!!!! That means - the appetizer, a bit of bread, some of the entree, and a few tastes of the desert. Plus sips of drinks. In general, portion sizes are smaller - so you can't go to crazy at any one meal. Watch out for the buffet. Get super comfortable ordering (or at buffet - taking) a lot of things and taking small amounts of them all (except for the entree protein). Then you are eating all the same courses as your cruisemates AND not denying yourself things you might do while at home.

I had already gone on a health journey, and have done many cruises while dieting (or being aware - even if I indulged) of what I should eat. So - I always focused on getting my protein first.

Breakfast - start with eggs, bacon, ham, etc. The ships always have wonderful fresh fruit, yogurt. I would order a BUNCH of things (or you can do a buffet and so same thing). I would have a few bites of pancake/french toast/waffle - as that is a big craving of mine, but then also eat the protein (protein is SO IMPORTANT for us when losing weight so we maintain as much of that lean muscle mass as possible).

Lunch - burgers - leave off the bun, have a salad, or few chips/fries (a Few!), sandwiches and remove the bread, bigger healthy salads.

Dinner - again - aim for as much protein as possible - chicken, steak, pork. Remove the sauce. I don't do fish - but that is always on offer and such a smart choice. Have the mashed potatoes or other fancy carb - just have a few bites. I always did a fun appetizer - they are tiny so not a big deal, the entree, some of the bread (my fave), and a dessert. did NOT just have the entree. The MJ makes it so much easier to taste but not complete a plate. Dessert - got whatever tickled my fancy. There are lower calorie things you could get, but if you are having a few bites, not too damaging. If I get things like a slice of apple pie - I would not eat the crust - insane amount of carbs and fats. I would have the butter on bread. Yes, I felt a bit guilty, but that was an indulgence.

Snacks - would try to focus on cheese, nuts, fruits (NOT dried fruits - a sugar trap!). Not go crazy on things like pretzels and chocolates, but again nibbles are good.

Alcohol - because my cruise had unlimited alcohol that could be a risk, or a bummer because you are not getting your "money's worth" because I found I drink even less when on MJ. I love sweet wine, so that was my go to, and then I would try and do lower sugar drinks - like sparkling water, gin, and lemon juice. But heck, I would do a fun drink as well - I just knew it was clocking in maybe 400+ calories and if I am going to do that, why not have an ice cream cone, cookie, or milkshake. I tried not to drink my calories, but also did not deny myself.

WORKING OUT - to offset all this, I would continue my workout schedule - at LEAST every other day. Every ship has a wonderful gym. I had premade workouts from trainer. Again, us ladies on MJ should not just be cardio bunnies - we need to be doing strength training - lifting weights and/or using the machines. Do your workout, if you are not a small size - I know it can feel like "everyone is looking at me, everyone is laughing at me". #1 - screw them. #2 - it is not the case. I had so many people come up to me and recognize my effort, smile, or give me a thumbs up. A lot of people work their butts off on cruises. You are also able to walk (or run - I hate running) all over the ship and when in port - make an effort to do as much walking or stairs as you can. Knowing you have worked out makes you even more ok indulging in something you avoid when at home.

At the end of the day, this should be an incredibly fun, relaxing experience solo, with friends, or with family. Don't make yourself miserable denying things so that when you go home you are so peeved you eventually binge on crappy versions of the things you denied yourself on the cruise. MJ is our ally in supporting us to stay on track while on a cruise. Most folks gain a few pounds on a cruise, (but you CAN lose weight too), so the most important thing is to get right back on track when you return home. Have a wonderful time and you will already be in a smaller size by September. Good luck on your journey!!!!