6 Ways To Stay Fit & Healthy While Living On Board

10th November 2022

Working in the super yacht world can be demanding on your health and its important to try and stay on top of it, so here are 6 easy ways to stay fit and healthy while living on board yachts

1. Drink water

Drink Water

This is a pretty logical one but a majority of the population is dehydrated. We all need to be drinking at least 8 glasses of water and if you’re working in air-condition, heat or exercising you need more. So much of the time we think we are hungry we are in fact thirsty.

I know what’s it’s like working on board when your super busy you forget to stop and drink water but you will function so much better, have more energy, think clearer and look better staying hydrated.

So carry a bottle around with you and sip on this good stuff all day.

2. Eat breakfast


You have all probably heard it all before “Breakfast the most important meal of the day” but it really is. If you start your day with a good healthy breakfast you are more likely to eat healthy for the rest of the day, your also less likely to go for surgery processed foods in search for a quick energy hit. Breakfast provides you with energy and nutrients to work at your best through the day.

I know as crew you really never know what your day has install for you and when your next chance will be to eat so it is even more important to have a good breakfast in case its hours before you get lunch.

3. Stay committed to doing your exercise routines

We all know how important exercise is and how good it makes us feel mentally and physically but we also know that as soon as the busy season begins its always the first thing to drop.

So how can u still fit it in a workout when your super busy?

  • Set your alarm earlier and get up and do your exercise first thing. You will feel so much better for it, it helps keep you feeling positive, energised, happy and healthy.
  • Put your workout cloths ready next to your bed the night before so when your alarm goes off don’t give yourself time to think about staying in bed and get up get dressed and get out the door.
  • Its always easier to exercise with a buddy so get someone else to do it with you and be accountable to each other.
  • Even if you only have 20 minutes to train its better than nothing and keeps to momentum going.
  • Remind yourself that you have never regrated a workout and as Michelle Bridges says “Just F@#%ing do it”

4. Be creative with the type of exercise

Some of you may be lucky enough to have a crew gym on board so in this case it’s easy to workout, others may be able to go ashore and go for a run or do your exercises on the beach or park.

Then there are others who are stuck at sea with no gym or equipment then what do you do? Well this is when you have to get creative.

If you know you’re going to be in this situation it’s always good to have an emergency pack like, a skipping rope, resistant bands, dumbbells or ideas of where there is some weighted things you can use on board like cans, bags of potatoes ect. Many of the best exercises are done with your own body weight i.e. push ups, dips, bridges and chin ups ect. Google workouts you can do without equipment, there are millions of ideas and even programs you can down load.

I remember being stuck on board and using the stairwell to do interval stair runs, it did the job and I was able to have a great workout.

So get creative and do your workout no matter what.

5. Fill your plate with wholefoods

You are actually in an amazing position living on board to eat really healthy. There is always and abundance of fresh fruit and veg. The Chefs have access to some of the best quality produce in the world but there is also usually an abundance of the yummiest, tastiest, mouth-watering, amazing looking dishes that aren’t so good for you on offer also. When you are starving at lunch time and your will power is pretty low it’s very hard to want to fill your plate with the salads and veg when all you want is to demolish the tempting amazing dishes that smell unbelievable but that aren’t as good for you.

So before thinking too much about what you want, fill at least half your plate with salad and veg, then add grains, beans and lean meat, then if there is still room add a little of the dish u can’t resist.

Tell yourself you will eat all the healthy food on the plate first and if your still hungry you can eat the dish u can’t resist last. What you will probably find is that once your starving level has gone down your wont crave the bad food as much and will be able to make better decisions.

6. Consistency is key

The number one rule to staying fit and healthy is being consistent with your eating and training.

So many people are so inconsistent, they will be like a bull at a gate for 3 weeks training super hard and eating very clean and then for some reason they have a big weekend of indulging and full off the wagon.

If you have a big weekend promise yourself that first thing Monday morning you will do your workout and continue your healthy eating, your only human and we all get a little carried away sometimes.

Some days will be better than others but as long as you don’t beat yourself up about it and get back on track as soon as you can.

Consistency with healthy eating and exercise is where you will see results, feel fit, look better and be the best version of yourself. Make it part of your lifestyle not just a fad.