Getting weight loss surgery was one of the greatest decisions I've ever made. It's improved my life immensely, and it's been an incredible tool to help me with living a healthier lifestyle. 

I've been able to experience things I never thought I would be able to do before, and cruises were my perfect opportunity to try things previously impossible.
Back in February, while on Majesty of the Seas, I climbed a rock wall. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I'd be able to go rock climbing!

On this most recent trip on Anthem of the Seas, I tried the Flowrider for the first time doing some bodyboarding! It was so much fun!

I also participated in a scuba "Try Dive" experience on Anthem, in which a PADI-certified instructor taught another gentleman and I the basics of diving with scuba gear. After a brief orientation, we put on all the equipment (tank, weight belt, and all) and swam laps underwater in the ship's pool for about 20 minutes. It was such a great experience, and I didn't even think I'd get past the stage of putting all the gear on. I thought I'd be too big and wouldn't be able to proceed, but everything fit, and I even had room to tighten some of the straps.

I finally felt like a normal human being. 

Before I started my journey toward being healthier, I would often stand on the sidelines and think "I'm too big to do that." I then would take pictures of a lot of these activities, as a way to kind of live vicariously through those participating, but I just didn't want to do that anymore without having those fun experiences for myself. It's time I "YOLO'd" because after all, as the saying goes, you do only live once.

There are some unavoidable considerations though that those of us with smaller tummies will have to keep in mind:

1. There's food everywhere.

If you're easily tempted by a little cupcake here, or a piece of bread there, your temptations may very well have a field day with you on your cruise. But, don't let that get you down. Always remember that being on vacation you can still follow your budget, and if you want a cookie or two, have them, but don't have them at both lunch and dinner, for example. Let yourself enjoy food within reason, and be sure to account for it in your budget. Also, you're going to be doing a lot of walking on ships since they're quite big, and you're burning off calories just getting to and from your stateroom!

2. Crew may not be sensitive to those of us who don't eat as much.

Most crew members may not even be aware of weight loss surgeries, how they work, what they involve, and how it changes all of our lifestyles. To them, we're just average-looking people who appear to not have much of an appetite, and then are baffled as to why our plates are still mostly full when we tell them we're done. Don't let that get in your way; I found the best approach was I would tell servers when they pushed, that "I don't eat very much." Most of them understood, and let it go after that. However, be prepared to hear it more than once. In their defense,  most of them may interpret a half full plate as coming from someone who didn't enjoy their meal. I found that making it clear (and sometimes borderline overdoing it) helped to ease the tension there.

3. Provide feedback (don't complain) if you don't have a good experience.

This is a big one.  No change can, or will, be made unless those making mistakes are informed that something is wrong. If a server makes a comment, or does something inappropriate, provide that feedback to the head waiter. Bear in mind the difference between a complaint and feedback; you always catch more flies with honey.

Feedback is constructive, where as a complaint is simply stating a problem and expecting something in return. Complaining really doesn't get anywhere at the end of the day.

I'd like to share something that happened on my last cruise. This is a paraphrased excerpt of the feedback I provided to Royal Caribbean via their survey:

"Except for dining in the buffet, whenever I had a waiter waiting on me, they would always interrogate me as to why I had food left on my plate when I was finished with my meal. I'd had stomach surgery, so I no longer have the option to eat the same amount as any normal person. I decided to do this for the betterment of my life...I chose to be happier and healthier rather than be able to stuff myself. The crew should be more sensitive to situations like this, and if a passenger says they are finished, they should not be continually pressured to eat something else, as it made for some very uncomfortable situations. In one of the dining rooms, my waiter told me I could eat anything I wanted because "He has a big kitchen." - I've been a big person my entire life (weighing almost 400 lbs at my worst)... I am used to people making comments, but I shouldn't have to deal with or hear things like that when I'm on a vacation. I'm simply going to dinner to order what I want and enjoy it, and I should not have to explain my situation to someone, or hear their commentary on how big the kitchen is. Statements like that are just unnecessary and inappropriate. I know a big part of going on cruises is enjoying foods one may not be accustomed to eating, but food is not the be-all/end-all part of a cruise experience. It would be nice to see crew be more attentive to and respectful of people when they're done eating. Even if they take one bite of their food and say they're done, we've all paid the same price for our cruise an we should be able to eat as much, or as little as we choose."

4. Enjoy yourself: You deserve it.

Cruises are very much a vacation in which you'll get what you put into it. If you want to go on the ship and sit by the pool while drinking an ice-cold glass of water (who are we kidding...I meant an ice-cold margarita!), do it. If you want to go on and do every activity under the sun, do it! There will always be plenty of choices for activities, and foods as well. You may have to explain your situation to those unfamiliar with weight loss surgery, but it's not their fault they're untrained or unfamiliar.

I recently made a video about this very subject over on my YouTube channel which I'd highly recommend checking out. (Feel free to subscribe if you enjoyed it, as I have lots of other content there and coming soon!)

The most important thing I can say is this: Don't let anything detract you from taking part in experiences that may have been impossible for you in your old life. You deserve it. You put in so much hard work; weight loss is a lifelong war, not just a battle. A battle can be fought and won (or lost), but a war is ongoing. Think of this as one of many battles in which you were victorious.  Go, and celebrate your victory!