If you don’t want to be restricted to healthy food choices, try this alternative plan. In fact, I think it could actually enhance your cruise experience and make you appreciate and enjoy the food even more. There are two programmes that I can think of straight away. They are both in fact very similar in approach. One is a book called The Seven Secrets of Slim People by Vikki Hansen and Shawn Goodman. The other is Paul McKenna’s I Can Make You Thin system. I’m sure there are many others that offer advice along the same lines.

Basically, you need to listen to your body. If you are hungry, then you should eat. You should eat what you most want to eat at that time. You should eat very slowly and enjoy each bite putting your knife and fork down between each mouthful. Most importantly of all, you should STOP eating when you are satisfied. It’s really very simple.

The fact is that you enjoy food most when you are physically hungry and you stop enjoying food when you have had enough. All you have to do now is to go and keep busy until you are next hungry – then dig in! You will certainly enjoy and appreciate the food you eat. You may be surprised by how little food you need in order to satisfy your appetite. Your choice of menu is not restricted in any way. You may find that you are actually free to enjoy eating for the first time in your life.

In fact, a cruise ship is a very good place to try out such an eating plan. As there is usually a buffet open around the clock, you are free to eat when you are hungry. You don’t need to overindulge as you know that you can go back again later. At home, if you go out for a meal, you may overeat as you have just one opportunity to enjoy the food at that particular restaurant. That’s not the case on a cruise ship so you can eat a little bit of what you fancy, wait until hunger returns and then go back to sample another dish. You are not denying yourself in any way. There are just a few simple rules to follow.

If you are flying to your destination before you set sail, then I recommend that you purchase one of the above books, read it on the plane and then start following the guidelines as soon as you arrive onboard. Start your cruise with good intentions – follow through and you may find that you have enjoyed the experience far more than you ever imagined. What an achievement it would be to have taken control of your eating, enjoyed every mouthful and lost weight in the process. Fantastic!