Are many of you worried about your weight and eating too much on your trip?

[Allensfan]

I know this sounds like a strange post (please don't hate me ) and I will point the all important finger at myself first I love food and love reading about it, enjoy the reviews, and also I am so excited about trying all the new restaurants .

My husband and I are both of average weight and our son is very trim but eats all the times. We try and eat lots of fish and veggies at home because we are not skinny people and if I am not careful, my weight will get away from me. About 3 years ago I dropped 32 pounds and really changed the way we eat...smaller amounts, not so much sugar and white flour.

I notice many of the meals are HUGE and these deserts are out of control. I love deserts too but I can't see sitting anything that BIG and full of fat, sugar, and calories in front of any child..or me for that matter. I know that some of the dining plan is all about self control and just because you "can" order everything you want....does not mean you have to.

I know that more and more people are really struggling with their weight and in my son's school they have sent out notes that the young people are getting heavier each year and many of the kids in his school are very overweight and I know their parents must be worried about that. So I know it must be a nationwide issue and here we are, going on the biggest vacation of the year (and I would assume for most people here it is the biggest trip they will take this year) and I want to enjoy myself, but I also don't want to over eat.

So now that I have talked your ear off...anyone else thinking about this?

 

[ctnurse]

OK Ill bite. I eat healthy almost all of the time. I too lost 75lbs about 8 yrs ago and will never again be that fat. Of course I want to lose 10lb now but that is another story. The one time besides special occasions that I dont care about what I eat is a vacation. We take 2-3 trips a year and that is my time to eat. Sure I watch what I eat but dont really care does that make sense.? I do bring my scale people think Im nuts but weighing myself everyday helps.

 

[GEM]

Honestly, no, I don't. Sorry.

We are very aware of what we eat and we manage to do pretty well all the rest of the year, BUT when I'm at Disney World I totally don't worry about!

I eat an appetizer, a great dinner, a dessert, probably have a margarita, have ice cream and cookies during the day, drink more Coke than I do the rest of the year combined and just enjoy the heck out of myself without giving any thought to how much weight I'm gaining.

That said, we do try to make sure we get plenty of fruits and vegetables (especially for our little guy) and we make sure that he's eating some good stuff (not chicken nuggets all week) but we don't worry about much of anything else.

 

[bluejasmine]

I just lost 70 pounds and still have about 12 to loose. I am looking forward to eatting what I want on our trip in Aug but I do worry about it..My plan is too work my behind off from today until the day before my trip, I am hoping to meet my goal before leaving. I plan on trying not to worry about it during my trip but I believe with all the excersize weight gain will be very minimal maybe two or three pounds which I can loose within the first week or two back..I would enjoy your vacation and not worry about it Im sure the excersize you get will work out the food you put in..

 

[faindrops27]

No, I dont worry, its vacation. That is how I think. and the last time, i ate pretty much what i wanted. Was not on the dining plan. But, had snacks, and basically counter service. Burgers, fries, etc. I happened to lose about 15 pounds from all of the walking. We do commando style touring. Up early, getting back late at night. And only stop, for eating. And rides. hope this helps. Now as for all the desserts, and snacks, and all the extra dining plan food. I plan to eat until, I am full. Not stuffed. I say enjoy yourself. Dont worry to much, after all it is vacation, but if u still worry. Try to pick healthy alternatives. There are some sprinkled in the world. Have a magical day

 

[Allensfan]

I think doing a daily weigh in is wonderful. It keeps your "eyes on the prize" and most people are shocked when they do step on the scale an realize what that number really is. For a long time I said things to myself like, well I am sure I have put on a couple of pounds but it is not that bad. Or I would say, that I watch what I eat so I don't need to weigh...but that was a lie to myself so that I did not have to get on the scale and face the facts that I was getting fat and hurting my body. So many of the items are geared towards kids and of course, they don't know what is healthy and they don't know that that giant ice cream is 1000 calories...they are kids, that is our job to worry about. I want to enjoy my vacation too and so I am not going to count every calorie either, but I just looked at some of the pictures posted about the size of these deserts and it got me thinking....who is eating that??? I thought if it was on my mind, it must be on other's too.

I have enjoy this board and all of you so much, thanks for providing a nice place to chat about all sorts of issues and thoughts.

 

[ciera321]

I totally agree with the previous posters. I watch what I eat all the time and walk 2 miles everyday to get the little I eat from becoming part of my thighs. But I refuse to go on vacation and do the same. I walk sooooo much at Disney World that I usually lose weight or at least stay the same. I am the "FP getter" so that puts on a few extra steps. It's vacation and the food is a big part of the fun for me. I can watch it the rest of the year!!!

 

[GEM]

I want to enjoy my vacation too and so I am not going to count every calorie either, but I just looked at some of the pictures posted about the size of these deserts and it got me thinking....who is eating that???

ME

 

[stoudt6]

Unless you are eating at a Buffet each meal, or get fried/greasey appitizers,meal and dessert each time, or stuff yourself between meals with fatty snacks, you will be find. My DW and I actually lose a pound or 2 when we come back from WDW becuase of all the walking we do there, as well as the sweating in the heat. There are times after a buffet we feel stuffed, but after walking around (especially at Epcot) for an hour we're fine again. And Besides when on vacation you should be able to indulge a bit!

 

[heather360]

I like to say that if I'm not watching what I eat than I'm gaining weight. I have to be constantly vigilant about what I eat but on vacation all bets are off. For me it's an incentive that gets me through the rest of the year.

When I get home I get right back on my regular eating plan. I wait a full 4 weeks then weigh myself and I'm usually back to my pre vacation weight or only 1-2 pounds up.

 

[Anewman]

"Worried????" NO I am not.

But I will eat too much, and I will gain some poundage.

 

[Pixiedust34]

It's all about portions. You don't have to eat every bite's worth on your plate. That said, you are on vacation so it's OK to splurge on an ice cream now and then or whatever treat(s) you like without worrying much about it.

This next trip for us is the first time I'm on the dining plan (and it's free!) but I am determined not to make a piggie of myself just because the food is there. : )

Also, a WDW vacation means that you're doing a lot of walking. You may be burning more calories on vacation than you would be at home.

BTW, I lost 4 pounds in 1 month without really trying. I greatly reduced the number of sodas I drank and started walking. Right now I have a foot problem so I can't walk for exercise until that's resolved, but I do feel better eliminating most of the sodas from my diet. I have only 1-2 sodas/week now as a treat. If you are splurging on high calorie meals/sweets at WDW, consider drinking water instead of sodas during your vacation. Your beverage would be zero calories, and water is healthier than sodas.

 

[Allensfan]

I could not agree more. Sodas are a killer! I would rather save those calories for something like desert or ice cream than to drink them at over 200 calories a pop. I have a friend who is trying to lose about 100 pounds, but the one thing she will not give up is her 5 Mountain Dews a day. I love Diet Coke but with all that heat and walking, I will stick to water.

I think one of my main concerns is all the sweets seem to 'target' kids. And part of my first post was concern for me and my Dh gaining loads of weight on holiday (and thanks for the walking tips and how much you burn, I feel better already about burning off what I eat ) but I was also trying to address the child issue. The bigger than life ice creams, and giant treats dipped in choc, and the over sized sodas. I know that if my child has a hard time with his/her weight...it is my issue and responsibility to help them with healthy choices.

And I would think going to this magical place with so many yummy things in front of them all day, and on top of it, they are so kid friendly, must be hard for parents. Saying 'no' at home is hard enough, but in that setting it would have to be impossible.

 

[indigoxtreme]

Amazingly with the dining plan the last two times we went we actually came home weighing less. We walked so much and were active all of the week, so it pretty much used up the caloric intake. Along with drinking plenty of water during the day due to the heat in Sept. and even in Feb it was quite warm. But to ans your questions, no we don't thik about it as we are on vacation.

 

[missmun52]

When I cook at home I cook healthy. I take all skin and fat off my chicken/meat. I eat lean ground turkey, i only cook with olive oil. I generally do not eat beef. I rarely, rarely ever fry anything (Just about everything goes in the oven ). And I eat small portions. I am a small person and the only time I really got heavy was when i got pregnant and i lost generally all my weight within the first 4 months (about 20 pounds) then i lost 12 more the year following.

That being said when i go on vacation I eat!!! I eat, and eat and eat. My baby will eat too. If i gain 5 pounds I know I will lose it within a month or two of being home because of the life style i maintain.
I do not disagree with what the OP said but to each his own. When I go to disney i probably will stuff myself a few times but its my vacation why not.

As for the child issue. YOUR the parent, you have to monitor your childs food at home and they will not be overweight. If the child sneaks into the fridge and stuff dont buy the cakes and cookies and ice cream and they cant get it. (this means making a self sacrifice) You also have to make sure they are active. When dealing with an overwieght child you must also be consistant because food can be an addiction (like alcohol) even at a young age, so if you go to disney you cant just let the child have whatever but you can let them have some. Maybe like a dessert after dinner and during the day fruit. Frozen yogart instead of ice cream.

 

[Tam1067]

Well, I do worry about what I eat even when I'm on vacation, and I worry about what my kids eat, too. I know I'm going to get flamed here, but a big reason for the obesity epidemic in this country is that so many people have that attitude: I'm on vacation, we're out to dinner, we're at a baseball game, whatever, that they overindulge all the time and eat way more than they should.

I have maintained a 20 pound weight loss for 3 years by watching portions, and I now run/walk 4 miles a day, 5 days a week. I have also eliminated all soda from my menu (that's hugely beneficial) and I load up on fresh fruits and veggies and do not eat beef either. But I also make a point every night before I go to bed to have ONE small piece of dessert, either a cookie or small brownie or something, as a reward for keeping on top of things all day.

When we go out, I generally eat half of the food I'm brought, and on the DDP, I'll do the same. We won't be ordering the fried full of fat appetizers, but instead I'll have salad most of the time, and DH will probably have soup. Will my kids eat dessert? Yes. Will I? Yes--but probably only half of it.

You can control it and not gain weight if you're careful, and it's not even that hard!

 

[Allensfan]

I agree 100%. We were at a park last year and saw two kids, clearly over weight, eating these huge bowls of ice cream and I felt for them. Of course they are enjoying the ice cream, but I knew they could not feel good about themselves. I have a skin and bones child and even though he eats a lot he burns it off. But he may not always be that way.

If my child had a weight problem, that would be hard for me. I would hate to go to Disney and tell them no to all the wonderful temptations. So if you are a parent that has to battle this, I know it must be tough and I feel for you.

I guess seeing those kids gorge themselves last year, seeing the note go home to all the parents at my son's school, and hearing on the news about the weight problem in the US with adults and kids.....I got to thinking about Disney and how it is a big temptation and wonder how people are dealing with it. We are so excited about our trip and I did not mean to get off subject, but I do think it makes for an interesting topic and I enjoy hearing from other parents so much.

 

[lustergirl]

I have lost 18.5 pounds since Easter sunday. I exercise 4 days a week and walk every day. I am not going to worry about overeating at disney because it is vacation all the way!!!!!! When we get back from our week long vacation I will go back on my diet and kill myself exercising, lol. The only thing I do different at disney is not drinking soda and drink lots of water instead. Plus with all of the walking I never gain a pound.

 

[MelanieC]

Disney World is the one vacation each year I don't worry about it. I go for two weeks though, so it's rough at the end. I just have to make sure I get back on track eating healthy as soon as I get home.

 

[KelNottAt]

Yes, I worry about everything that goes in our mouths. I'm pretty worried about being on the DDP and having 1 snack + 2 desserts available every day. That's 3 opportunities for junk EACH DAY. We don't even get that much in a whole week at home.

We'll be agreeing to some restrictions/limits on what we're allowed each day. Some days we'll be able to stick to it, some days we won't. But we're definitely gonna try:
No sodas
1 serving of junk each day, not 3
app + app for dinner instead of app + entree (or better yet, skip the app altogether)

In my mind I keep equating the DDP to meals on our cruises. It was far more food than we needed or wanted. We managed the best we could. No big deal.