How I lost weight on a Top Chef cruise to Bermuda

“Let us be glad that we will see what we believe and that it has been given us to change what we believe.” –A Course in Miracles

I’m on a cruise between New York and Bermuda with Spike Mendelsohn, Angelo Sosa and Ash Fulk. If those names don’t ring a bell, let me ding it for you. They’re former hot shots on Bravo’s popular cooking show, Top Chef. All three are drop-dead gorgeous.

As you can imagine, there’s going to be lots of amazing eating opportunities. I don’t want to miss a one of them.

So I’ve got this really cool opportunity to put my principles to the test.

The dominant paradigm would suggest that a) cruises and weight gain are synonymous and b) I have little choice but to add some poundage.

It’s an extremely popular belief. Very few would argue.

But what if I put my greatest power to work?

What if I submit to being a guinea pig for the greater good of humanity?

My greatest power, which also happens to be your greatest power, is love. Every moment we get the opportunity to love what’s in front of us: every person, every event, every seeming mishap.

Employing this superpower is the best use of a life—no matter what situation we find ourselves in.

My hypothesis is that if I love everything about this cruise (so far that’s a no-brainer), love myself more and more every moment (not always the easiest task) and love every morsel I put in my mouth, I will maintain my current weight. Heck, I’m declaring right here and now that I’m even going to drop a pound.

The challenge, of course, is letting go of guilt, letting go of everything my culture tells me—-that I should diet, that women my age have no choice but to gain weight, that going on a cruise is a recipe for looking as big as the whales on Spike Mendelsohn’s swimsuit. Long story! Don’t ask.

But I’m all about changing the dominant paradigm. So today is the first full day of the cruise. I’ve weighed myself at the Canyon Ranch Spa aboard the Celebrity Summit. I’m throwing guilt overboard, it’s about an hour until Angelo’s private cooking class and I’m loving every single moment.

I’ll be back in touch with my results.

Have a great week, my lovelies, and don’t forget to use your greatest superpower.

Pam Grout is the author of 17 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the soon-to-be-released sequel, E-Cubed, 9 More Experiments that Prove Mirth, Magic and Merriment is your Full-time Gig.