Sun, Sea, and So Many Steps

I’m back!! And honestly—this was probably one of the best cruises I’ve ever taken.

Before I even get into how amazing this cruise was, I have to start with one of my biggest wins: movement. Every single day on this trip, I hit my step goal—and not just once. Most days, I doubled it. Between walking the ship, dancing late into the night, exploring ports, and choosing stairs over elevators whenever possible, the steps added up fast. It didn’t feel like “exercise” at all; it just felt like living fully and staying in motion, which made the entire trip even more energizing.

All of that movement set the tone for the rest of the trip. Staying active made it easier to stay balanced, both mentally and physically, and it reminded me that Program isn’t just about food—it’s about how we live, move, and show up for ourselves, even (and especially) on vacation.

The food, of course, was good—but surprisingly, it wasn’t the highlight of the trip. I did bring my Blue Book and made a solid effort to write everything down on my food sheets. That said, after a few days (and quite a few late nights partying), I’ll admit I wasn’t quite as vigilant about logging every bite.

That being said, the main buffet made staying balanced easier than expected. Despite plenty of tempting off-Program options, there were at least three fully stocked salad bars set up every day with a wide variety of vegetables. Who knew matchstick squash made such a great salad topping? I really should have taken a picture…

I did take pictures of our dinner at the Steakhouse, which was phenomenal. That night may or may not have included roughly 13 proteins’ worth of food—yes, including all 9 ounces of my steak. Even so, I was able to rein it in and stick with tea for dessert.

Avoiding sweets was actually easier than I expected, mostly because of how busy our schedule was. With our dining time at 8:30 p.m. and shows or dance events starting around 10:30, by the time appetizers (usually salad) and entrées were finished, it was time to head back to the room for a quick costume change and then right out again. No lingering, no grazing—just go, go, go.

My room attendant also deserves a special mention. He was incredibly kind and thoughtful, and each night I returned to a new towel or blanket creation waiting on the bed. For the first few nights, I even came back to birthday surprises, which was such a sweet touch. I hope he enjoyed the bottle of wine I left behind—my suitcase was already too heavy to bring it home!

Okay—now to what everyone really wants to know: did I actually get to swim with dolphins?

They say pictures are worth a thousand words… so I’ll let those do the talking! 🐬

The only real downside to the trip was that I came home with laryngitis (likely from too much singing and dancing) and a sinus infection. Thankfully, that all hit after the dolphin excursion, on the way back to Fort Lauderdale.

Because I wasn’t feeling well, I didn’t weigh in as planned, so I don’t have an official number from the cruise. For now, I’m choosing neutrality and assuming I stayed the same—and honestly, I’m okay with that.

Looking back, I truly believe all those steps mattered just as much as any food choice I made. Movement kept me grounded, helped offset late nights, and allowed me to enjoy everything the cruise had to offer without guilt or stress. It was proof that staying active doesn’t have to be structured or rigid—sometimes it’s as simple as choosing the stairs, saying yes to the dance floor, or taking one more lap around the ship.

Now that I’m home, it’s back to the basics of Thin’s In: weighing, measuring, and writing everything down on my food sheets. Consistency always brings me back to center.

I hope everyone survived the snow, stayed warm, and is off to a great start this week!

This week’s loss: 0 pounds

Total loss so far: 54 pounds