How I survived a cruise after VSG

I haven't posted in a little while, partly because I had no power for a week (thank you Hurricane Sandy) and then last week I was away on a cruise.  I was sleeved on 8/15, so being just under 3 months out, I was a little nervous about the cruise.  I have been very lucky and have been able to tolerate all kinds of food, just smaller quantities.  I was determined not to sabotage myself, but I wasn't going to deprive myself as well.  This was my mindset going in.  What I found was that it was much easier to eat properly than I had thought it would be.  I am so used to eating proteins first that it was second nature to me.  Did I go over my usual carb count?  Well, of course I did, but I didn't go wacko and gorge myself.  You know why?  I couldn't even if I wanted to!  My sleeve reminded me at every single meal that SHE is the boss and if I didn't stop eating, I would be sorry.  By sticking to proteins first, I was getting the healthier foods in first and then I would have a forkful here and there or something not-so-healthy.  Yes, I visited the chocolate buffet and had a few forkfuls of some decadent treats, but that made me happy and I walked away from my barely-touched plate of food.  

For the first time on any cruise, I visited the Fitness Center.  I walked in and saw that each and every elliptical and treadmill was occupied, so I went outside and walked on the outdoor jogging track.  It was nice to walk in the sun with a beautiful tropical breeze encouraging me along.  With each lap, I felt energized and excited about my new life post-VSG.  It was a great way to start every day.

On a side note, we did a dolphin excursion (which was awesome).  The big news is that I had to put on a wetsuit.  I'm far from wetsuit fitness, but I am feeling so good about my progress that I happily donned that evil garment and didn't care what I looked like in it.  I was there to enjoy the experience and enjoy it I did.  Yay me.

So what was the damage?  I weighed myself the day I left and the day I came home -- I gained one pound.  One day later, that pound was gone, plus another half pound.  

I lost the contents of my refrigerator and freezer from the extended power loss, so I am in the process of restocking.  It feels pretty good to start from scratch again and continue my commitment to better health and well-being.  I am feeling good and am so happy that I had VSG surgery.  If I hadn't, I have no doubt that I would be still gaining -- that cruise would have resulted in about 10 lbs of additional fat on my already-fat body.

Life is getting better every day. 

 

Sounds like you managed everything well and had a great time in the process. I am glad you had a good time.

I'll be cruising in May, so I will be 7 months post-op so it's good to know that even at 3mo you could do it!  

I think you did awesome! I would have done the same thing on a cruise, you maintained for that week, basically (that pound was pure sodium I bet LOL). Way to go. Honestly, I think long term, being able to handle yourself in these situations is really where the "success" is :) xoxo

I completely agree.  To be able to face challenging cir****tances and handle them without guilt or deprivation is all I have ever wanted.  I consider the week a great success.  Thank you for your support!  xoxo

Keep up the good attitude - and get right back on the wagon. THAT's the hard part for some (for me too when I really go off the rails). I'm glad you had a great vacation!

Great post. Great lifestyle change.

That was my experience when we went to Hawaii 8 weeks post-sleeve.  It was awesome--right down to our snorkel cruise where I was in a swim suit and didn't care that I wasn't slim (yet)!

I ate my protein, and some meals were just like at home (we had a kitchen so that was easy).  But when we went out, I ate small portions, protein first, didn't sweat the carbs or calories.  Didn't gain weight. Didn't lose. Stayed about the same, and the first week after lost several pounds quickly.

Good job to you!!  I was sleeved a day after you and I'm heading to Fla for two weeks in Feb. whi*****ludes a cruise so it's really nice to hear someone else say that they did fine!  I know I can too now.

Congrats!

Thank you so much for posting this! I'm going on my first 7 day cruise on November 25 (my honeymoon!!). I'm almost 6 months post op and I had decided to go in with the same mindset. Protein first of course. I can't wait, and I'm so glad to hear that you were able to enjoy it.