Dining in WDW while on Weight watchers?

[Pmlocke]

I am in the same boat as you but here is a little tip for you. I do eat more off of my diet while in WDW, but the amount of walking I do, I actually lost weight the last three trips.

 

[disneyvoice]

I don't have any advice about WW but I always wait a few days to weigh myself after I get back from WDW. I find all of the food at WDW to be very high in salt which makes me retain water. So I always end up coming home very bloated and up a few pounds because of it. If I wait two or three days after I get back I typically find that I weigh a few pounds less than I did before I left. All that walking really helps. So if you come back and your weight is up, don't panic - give it a few days and then weigh yourself again.

Other things I do:

I don't freak out over what I eat. If there is something I really want I get it - it's vacation. But I don't get things I can easily get at home. I'm not the person who gets an enormous 2000 calorie Starbucks drink on Main Street when there is a Starbucks on every corner at home; the calories just aren't worth it to me when there are so many other yummy options at WDW. We don't eat at Rain Forest Cafe or Shulas because we have those at home as well.

Familiarize yourself with all the menus before you leave, that way you can pre-plan what you want to eat.

I am not a breakfast eater so I typically don't do breakfast but do an early lunch at around 11:00.

I always remind myself that I don't have to snack just because I am at WDW. There are very few sweet snacks that are appealing to me so before I eat anything at WDW I always ask myself if it is really worth the calories to me. It's why I don't like the Mickey Bars - they are just chemical tasting fake vanilla ice cream and basic low quality chocolate. The fact that it is shaped like Mickey doesn't change the fact that I would never choose to eat something like that at home. And contrary to what everyone says on Instagram - Mickey shaped foods do not taste better.

I also remind myself that I will be doing a ton of walking in heat and humidity and that it is super uncomfortable to tour the park if I feel stuffed with food. This helps me stop eating before I get full.

My DH and I will typically share something as opposed to get our own. This allows us to consume less calories but also allows us to try more things than we would if we were each ordering our own item.

I always feel much better in the heat if I drink a lot of water, plus it fills me up. I actually drink a bottle of water at least every hour during the hot months (yes, I also know the WDW restrooms very well!).

My DH and I tend to take our time in the parks now that we are building a house near WDW and know we will be there all the time. On our last two trips we got up and walked in the mornings before getting dressed to go to the parks. It allowed us to walk faster than we do in the parks so we burned some extra calories.

You will be just fine. Have fun! Congrats on your weight loss so far!!

 

[jwfla422]

Hello!

So, we are going to WDW again, but this time I will be on the weight watchers program. Has anyone here been there wile trying to follow the WW points plus plan? Do the restaurants have the points values for meals/items on their menus? Or, am I on my own trying to work it all out?

I am hoping to continue my healthier eating lifestyle (and perhaps even continue to lose some weight), so it would be nice to have some idea as to what I can expect.

Please share your experiences, if you have tried this before.

Thank you!!!!

In case you are wondering:
SO far, -41.5 pounds and counting....but I have a ways to go yet!

I have been doing WW for the past several years. I do the old point system so I have a general idea of what food items are worth although I bring my slide chart just in case. I bring my food diary which keeps me "in line" but I will do more points than I would normally do when I'm at home. However I do this because it keeps up my consistency.

That all being said what I find more than anything is I just try to keep it simple. Portion control is real important. I take "tastes" at the buffets rather than loading up the plate. I will ask for sauces, dressings and even cheeses on the side..I order apps rather than an entree at dinner. I order a lot of salads. (there are some good ones in WDW). I keep the alcoholic beverages to a minimum (I will try to do wine rather than a mixed drink) although I usually treat myself to a margarita at least once during the trip. I will also pack my own snacks which is usually some mixed nuts I prepare myself in baggies before our trip (yes they are higher in fat but also high in protein and great for giving you an energy boost).

I agree with some who have posted that most important is to plan ahead by looking at menus at places we make ADRs at or QS I think we will visit.

Yes you are on vacation and you do A LOT of walking (and during the warm/hot months a lot of sweating) but it is still easy to fall of the wagon as one has already said. Makes it tough to get back on that wagon if you totally blow off your discipline. You can still enjoy all of the goodies but just be smart about it.

I have a food review website I work on and believe it or not I still try to watch what I eat. You will see lots of apps on there instead of full big dinner entrees. Once in a while I will go for the dessert but will get my dd to help me with that LOL! We will also split entrees if I feel it is too much for me. Congratulations with your success you've had and enjoy your vacation!!

 

[Babsy]

I'm going to be honest with you....when I vacation, I don't count points and expect to gain a pound. With that said, I am not going crazy, but I do enjoy myself. If you are concerned, I'd avoid the temptation of buffets and family style meals. Stick with wholesome QS meals (like the salmon and cous cous at Columbia Harbour House) or TS meals that offer lean options like chicken and sirloin steaks. Dole whips are low fat, cool treats. You can also bring your own snacks with you. I always purchase an apple as my snack or a pineapple wedge. Best of luck!

Happy to hear that Dole Whips are low fat!!!! Thanks!

Part of what is helpful is to think of it not as a diet but as a lifestyle change. You can eat healthy but still enjoy yourself while on vacation. I lost close to 100 lbs about 10 years ago (and have kept it off) so it's really about long term changes. What you do on a week of vacation isn't going to (or can't be allowed) to interfere with the long term. It's like the stock market - watching your portfolio every day will drive you crazy, so you just have to look towards the long term.

You can still be "generally healthy" on vacation - don't have dessert with lunch and dinner, for example. At a breakfast buffet eat a lot of fruit and limit the number of trips back to the food, etc.

Part of what I hate now is that all restaurants have the same menus for lunch and dinner. For lunch I'd be OK with a soup or sandwich at most places, but it's hard to not be tempted by the dinner entrees. Since we like to eat TS for most meals, that can be a challenge to just not overeat. I wish that they would go back to having more lunch-geared menus at TS restaurants but I realize that's not going to happen.

Congratulations on your weight loss and on Keeping It Off!!! This is my plan as well. You are right - it really has to be a lifestyle change!

I am in the same boat as you but here is a little tip for you. I do eat more off of my diet while in WDW, but the amount of walking I do, I actually lost weight the last three trips.

Yippee!! I hope that I can say the same when we return!

I don't have any advice about WW but I always wait a few days to weigh myself after I get back from WDW. I find all of the food at WDW to be very high in salt which makes me retain water. So I always end up coming home very bloated and up a few pounds because of it. If I wait two or three days after I get back I typically find that I weigh a few pounds less than I did before I left. All that walking really helps. So if you come back and your weight is up, don't panic - give it a few days and then weigh yourself again.

Other things I do:

I don't freak out over what I eat. If there is something I really want I get it - it's vacation. But I don't get things I can easily get at home. I'm not the person who gets an enormous 2000 calorie Starbucks drink on Main Street when there is a Starbucks on every corner at home; the calories just aren't worth it to me when there are so many other yummy options at WDW. We don't eat at Rain Forest Cafe or Shulas because we have those at home as well.

Familiarize yourself with all the menus before you leave, that way you can pre-plan what you want to eat.

I am not a breakfast eater so I typically don't do breakfast but do an early lunch at around 11:00.

I always remind myself that I don't have to snack just because I am at WDW. There are very few sweet snacks that are appealing to me so before I eat anything at WDW I always ask myself if it is really worth the calories to me. It's why I don't like the Mickey Bars - they are just chemical tasting fake vanilla ice cream and basic low quality chocolate. The fact that it is shaped like Mickey doesn't change the fact that I would never choose to eat something like that at home. And contrary to what everyone says on Instagram - Mickey shaped foods do not taste better.

I also remind myself that I will be doing a ton of walking in heat and humidity and that it is super uncomfortable to tour the park if I feel stuffed with food. This helps me stop eating before I get full.

My DH and I will typically share something as opposed to get our own. This allows us to consume less calories but also allows us to try more things than we would if we were each ordering our own item.

I always feel much better in the heat if I drink a lot of water, plus it fills me up. I actually drink a bottle of water at least every hour during the hot months (yes, I also know the WDW restrooms very well!).

My DH and I tend to take our time in the parks now that we are building a house near WDW and know we will be there all the time. On our last two trips we got up and walked in the mornings before getting dressed to go to the parks. It allowed us to walk faster than we do in the parks so we burned some extra calories.

You will be just fine. Have fun! Congrats on your weight loss so far!!

Great tip about waiting to weigh in until a few days after the return home! Yes, the food does tend to salty at WDW!!! Thank you for the encouragement!

I have been doing WW for the past several years. I do the old point system so I have a general idea of what food items are worth although I bring my slide chart just in case. I bring my food diary which keeps me "in line" but I will do more points than I would normally do when I'm at home. However I do this because it keeps up my consistency.

That all being said what I find more than anything is I just try to keep it simple. Portion control is real important. I take "tastes" at the buffets rather than loading up the plate. I will ask for sauces, dressings and even cheeses on the side..I order apps rather than an entree at dinner. I order a lot of salads. (there are some good ones in WDW). I keep the alcoholic beverages to a minimum (I will try to do wine rather than a mixed drink) although I usually treat myself to a margarita at least once during the trip. I will also pack my own snacks which is usually some mixed nuts I prepare myself in baggies before our trip (yes they are higher in fat but also high in protein and great for giving you an energy boost).

I agree with some who have posted that most important is to plan ahead by looking at menus at places we make ADRs at or QS I think we will visit.

Yes you are on vacation and you do A LOT of walking (and during the warm/hot months a lot of sweating) but it is still easy to fall of the wagon as one has already said. Makes it tough to get back on that wagon if you totally blow off your discipline. You can still enjoy all of the goodies but just be smart about it.

I have a food review website I work on and believe it or not I still try to watch what I eat. You will see lots of apps on there instead of full big dinner entrees. Once in a while I will go for the dessert but will get my dd to help me with that LOL! We will also split entrees if I feel it is too much for me. Congratulations with your success you've had and enjoy your vacation!!

Consistency is one of my concerns. Yes, I will try to be 'smart about it'. Good advice - going way off kilter would be a disaster, so it is good to hear about all you folks who have found a way to make WW and WDW work!!!



Thank you for your kind words, everybody!