Fighting Cruise Curves – Five Easy Exercises to do on a Cruise Ship

Super simple but effective, saying no to the elevator and taking the stairs is a great way to burn calories throughout the day. And there’s no need to stride them two at a time.Researchers from the University of Roehampton found that you actually use more energy taking the stairs one step at a time than two. They found climbing five floors of stairs five times a week burns 302 calories if you take them one at a time compared to 260 calories if you go for two at a time.Just think what you could burn if you took the stairs every time you went from the pool to your stateroom to the dining room to the tender to the….

When I sailed on Celebrity Century I had my first Canyon Ranch experience. Sure, that was more about getting a luxurious massage and lying on a heated mosaic lounge in their Persian Garden, but they also have fitness and wellness classes that you can take.When I asked the Wellness Manager for the Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea, Alen Scropetta, for a few easy to do exercises this was one of his favourites.A classic for a reason, the Jumping Jack is still done today the way it was when you were a child. Just stand, then spread your legs and put your hands over your head and return to position. Go for one jump every second and you’ll help your legs, hips shoulders and cardiovascular system and burns about 12 calories a minute.

Rock climbing walls may be standard on Royal Caribbean ships but if you’re a little shy or nervous about that idea why don’t you do some mountain climbing in your stateroom instead?Alen Scropetta says Mountain Climbs are great for the abdominals and shoulders, and you can burn 600 calories an hour. To do this one get into the downward facing dog yoga position, then kick one knee towards your chest, followed by the other knee.One left kick and one right kick equals one Mountain Climb, and you should aim to be doing one climb per second.

When a fellow cruise lover told me about this one I knew it had to go on the list. An exercise you can do even before you’ve gotten out of bed? Winning.Before you get out of bed stretch out your arms and legs and place the small of your back as flat as you can against the bed. Exhale completely and slowly roll up with your arms still stretched out.Concentrate on your stomach muscles to pull you up, and stretch as far as you can and if you can reach touch your toes. Roll back down taking between two and five seconds per roll, and repeating 15 times.

Another one that can be done in the privacy of your stateroom, or if you’re on one of the Celebrity Solstice Class ships you can feel like you’re in a park at sea do it on their real live lawns.Lie face down on a towel and rest on your forearms with your palms flat on the floor. Push up off the floor onto your toes and resting on your elbows. Lie in a straight line with your back flat, and tilt your pelvis and hold your abdominals to prevent your rear from sticking up in the air or your middle sagging.Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for three to five reps. This one is a great workout for the whole body, especially the abdominals, back and arms.

So there we have it, if you love to cruise but hate the weighty hangover these simple exercises will help fight that kilo creep.If you’re interested in some other ways to make this your best year ever, I’m happy to say I’ve got some ideas for you.I’ve teamed up with 40 great bloggers from around the world to share some great New Year New You tips. Check out the stories below and have a wickedly good 2015!2. 15 Ways to Stay Organised at Work During 2015 | Elizabeth Harrin @ A Girl’s Guide to Project Management3. How Personal Style Will Help You Achieve Goals Faster in 2015 | Cherene Francis @ Aura Image Consulting4. Completing Those Unfinished Projects in the NEW YEAR | Angela Lerew @ Unexpected Elegance5. 42 Ways to Practice Perfectly & Become an Expert at Almost Anything | Amy Garro @ 13 Spools6. 10 Simple Ways to Eat Healthier This Year | Dawn @ Reveal Natural Health7. 31 Days to a More Fabulous You | Julie Bonner @ Mom Fabulous9. Make This the Best Monarch Season Ever | Tony Gomez @ Monarch Butterfly Garden10. 12 Scriptures for Goals and Guidance | Julie @ Loving Christ Ministries11. How to Build a Starter Emergency Fund in 30 Days or Less | Jackie Beck @ The Debt Myth12. Family Verse of the Week Challenge for 2015 | Jamie Yonash @ Life is Sweeter By Design13. Hot Work at Home Jobs for 2015 | Holly Hanna @ The Work at Home Woman14. A Year of Intention | Hilary Bernstein @ Accidentally Green15. 2015: Our Best Year Yet | Ashley @ Leaving the Rut16. Create a Better Life Story | Bronwen Warner @ Tummy Time and Beyond17. Get Ready to Get MDfit | Tom and Anne @ Eat & Be Fit18. 5 Free Ways to Learn Something New This Year | Sarah Fuller @ Saving Sarah19. Healthy Leek Soup | Mirlandra @ Mirlandra’s Kitchen20. Health Resolutions: Baby Steps to a New You | Ellen Christian @ Confessions of an Overworked Mom21. 5 Ways Busy Moms Can Get Motivated to Work Out | Diane Nassy @ philZENdia22. Be Prepared for the New Year | Jennifer Dunham Starr @ Memory Journalists23. 3 Steps to a Healthier Life in 2015 | Joe Goodwill @Average Joe Cyclist24. New Year’s Resolution: Cook More Often! | Kim Pawell @ Something New for Dinner25. I Should What? 28 Ways to be Happier | Karen Young @ Hey Sigmund26. 9 Ways to Get Healthier In The New Year | Amy Maus @ Home and Farm Sense27. In 2015 Resolve to Take Control of Your Money | Kristia @ Family Balance Sheet28. Eucharisteo: A Year of Thanksgiving | Lani Padilla @ Simply Fresh Vintage29. No More Tears at IEP Meetings: Make This Your Best Year Ever! | Lisa Lightner @ A Day In Our Shoes30. Learn to Save Money on Groceries | Melissa Buckles @ Everyday Savvy31. How to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolution – For Real This Time! | Michelle @ Dishes and Dust Bunnies32. 52 Weeks to a Better You: Week 1 – Go to Bed Early | Mindi Cherry @ Moms Need to Know33. Food Street: How a Community Has Joined Forces to Start a Street Farm | Sam Walker @ Bubble ‘N Squeak34. Organizing Coupons with the Binder Method | Sara Steigerwald @ Sisters Shopping on a Shoe String35. How to Make This Year the Happiest Yet | Shambray @ Shambray.com36. A New Year, A New You | Sharon Rowe @ How to Get Organized at Home37. 5 Ways to Get Paid for Losing Weight This Year | Anna @ Real Ways to Earn Money at Home38. Tips for Successful Whole30 | Deanna Michaels @ From This Kitchen Table39. 75 Ways to Be Healthier in 2015 | Maryea Flaherty @ Happy Healthy Mama40. How to Make 2015 the Best Year Ever! | Jennifer @ My Boys & Their Toys