Disney & Weight Watchers

[saving4nexttrip]

Help! I need some tips! We're leaving for Disney next Saturday, and I just hit my 5% loss at WW, and I don't want to blow it. Please share any great places to dine, that will have some low-point options....or any ideas to help me stay on plan.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Congrats on your accomplishment!

First, don't obsess. Second, now is your chance to use what you've learned about food choices & really put it to the test!

Buffets can be a good choice because they will always have fresh fruit, salads & carved meats (sans sauces).

For sweet treats in the parks, opt for frozen fruit bars, Itsakadoozies (popcicles) or frozen lemonade (cals may be same due to sugar but less fat) instead of Mickey bars.

Lots of places have sushi, grilled meats/fish. Don't feel funny about sking for sauces on the side. Also, many places will have sugar free desserts. Can ask for "diabetic friendly" options as these will more often than not be low sugar/low carb.

Can also find snack packs of almonds, trail mix, etc. in the stores.

I would also do some research ahead of time. Check out the menus & have a few options in mind before sitting down to eat. I find the most up to date menus here http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/restaurants/

 

[disneydee6]

Oh! Dieting in Disney can be a challenge. My favorite way is to do healthy breakfast and lunch. Cereal or oatmeal in the morning, 100 calorie snacks in the park, etc. The best part of disney? YOU WORK IT OFF! Seriously, I think the average day in disney is something like 11-13 miles or something like that. So with weight watchers, those activity points ADD UP!

 

[PammieJ]

Drink plenty of water. Keep an eye on portions, some of them are pretty big.

I'm a hiker, so I can't afford to put on pounds, and I'm pretty careful about what I eat, but all the restaurants have healthy choices. Skip the appetizer and the alcohol, and even the desserts (or you can take them back to your room for someone else to eat!). Disney can accommodate dietary requests, too.

Walk everywhere you can. On our last trip DH and I took a pedometer; we averaged 9 miles per day, and one day we walked 11 miles. Even with the Dining Plan, I didn't gain an ounce.

Swim (more exercise), which will help cancel out the extra calories. This is a great opportunity to be a kid again, so have fun!

But most importantly, don't make yourself crazy about the food. There's more to the Disney experience that what we eat there. If it's a '10', or if it's something you absolutely cannot get anywhere else, go ahead and eat some of it.

Good luck on your continued success!

 

[saving4nexttrip]

Thanks, guys, for the great ideas...I know the water is going to be a big help, and I'm going to TRY to push the fruit and stay away from the Mickey ice cream...I have a pedometer at home that I'll take as well. Keep inspiring me!!!

 

[rcraw45425]

I did WW during our Novemebr trip, things like eating half of the sandwich, fruit instead of fries, splitting meals with my teenaged DD, just leaving stuff on the plate, all worked. As others mentioned, you are getting a lot of good cardio exercise.

 

[68wdwmom]

I had just started weight watchers in Aug and we went in Sept for free dining!! I shared some counter service with my daughter and traded her grapes for my desserts at counter service at the table service I usually gave her my dessert.With all that walking and just a bit of figuring out what to eat I only gained 0.6 ponds in eights days so I was happy with that.



good luck but remember it is still a vacation!

 

[cbg1027]

At TS restaurants, order an appetizer as your entree. They're plenty big enough. The other upside to this is that's it a lot cheaper!

If you want an entree, see if someone will split it with you.

Share desserts.

But seriously, you're going to be walking at least 8 miles a day. Most people report 10-12. So I don't think you have to be too militant about it. Just watch the portions.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

What worked for me was trying to be good 2 out of 3 meals a day. I never went crazy at a buffet or anything like that, but I would try to be extra good at breakfast (egg beaters--always a bit of protein with brekkie!, veggies, fresh fruit, oatmeal, etc.) and good at either lunch or dinner (salad with grilled chicken and light or no dressing, soup, fruit, veggies) and then at the other meal I'd splurge a bit more and order whatever I'd like. I would eat the veggies first, try to eat smaller portions of high calorie items and really savor the things that tasted great.

Snacks were pretty easy--I always love the fresh fruit stands or some of the small dishes you can find around the parks (baked potato, pineapple, you used to be able to get chicken satay in AK and steamed pork buns in DHS, but no more ) . I stay away from things that SEEM healthy, but aren't because of how they're prepared (popcorn!) and if I have a Mickey Bar for one snack, I'm sure to have fruit or something for the others.

You'll do great! Allow your self some splurges, but choose the ones that **really** matter to you and you'll do GREAT.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Sorry but truth be told diets and Disney don't go together.

 

[justplaingoofy]

First of all... congrats!

We were on the dining plan and when we were at the resort for dessert i would get a fruit cup instead of "cake, icecream, etc" and put it in the fridge to have for breakfast. You should be able to substitute apple slices for fries.

There are a few places that have a rotisserie chicken... I would suggest taking a look at the menus online to see which restaurants have what they have incase some places look better than others.


You can get a free cup of icewater at a counter service restaurant. I bring along those crystal light packets to mix in with it.

 

[Brook1099]

Congrats on 5%. I am a one yr. member and 50lbs. down. Now my past Nov. trip of 16days I did gain 6lbs( I never gained that much on vacation ever), but I did eat what I wanted. I don't regret it because I do Disney every Nov for 2 weeks and I call it my ONLY time for cheats.
I do now love fresh fruit, oatmeal, lean meats and veggies. and it is all available at Disney.

This upcoming Nov. we are doing the Deluxe Dining for 7 nights, I was battling the decision but I want to experience alot of new signature restaraunts and some of my old fav's. I have looked at all the menu on allearsnet and while I will order what I like, I will not eat it all, I may ask for a togo container and split it before I start. Desserts I only have a few select absolute fav's. Others I will bring back to room for kids or hubby.
Snack credits are great for fruit and yogurts.Lots of water.
This year I will also hit the gym a few days on vacation as exercise has become almost an addiction.

Good Luck and remember it is vacation, have fun.

 

[teach22180]

Sorry but truth be told diets and Disney don't go together.

Well, then it's a good thing that WW isn't a diet, but a lifestyle!

I agree with what one of the PP mentioned; have some fun splurges, but make sure they are on what means a lot to you! For some people it's ice cream, for some it's popcorn, and for some it's pastas with sauces. And, get right back counting the points when you get home. One week won't derail you unless you give it that power.

 

[jlcd]

I am in the same boat. Doing WW and just hit 5%. I plan to do breakfast in the room, light lunch and pretty much having what I want for dinner. I am hoping that, plus all the walking will minimize any gain. I don't want to go crazy eating or obsess about it too much. Hoping for a balance between the two. Will just get right back on plan as soon as we get home. Have a great trip!

 

[airhead]

Sorry but truth be told diets and Disney don't go together.

Nope they sure don't! I've been following the WW plan since last September and have lost 42 lbs. I don't plan on "being good" at WDW . I'm on vacation,I'm going to enjoy every minute and every morsel!!!LOL Life is short. Enjoy it! I'll get back on track when I get home!

 

[justplaingoofy]

I don't know this for a fact, but I think I remember reading that dole whips were not too bad. Can anyone confirm/deny this? That might be an option for a snack.

We've also been able to get yogurt parfaits for dessert/snacks.

 

[iluvdizknee]

I have done WW in Disney and will do it again in June...same as above. Eat smart...you can indulge alittle, cause remember you do alot of walking so you are burning more calories. Snack on fruit, popcorn, frozen fruit bars..and replace fries and such for salads...do stress enjoy yourself.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Well, then it's a good thing that WW isn't a diet, but a lifestyle!

I agree with what one of the PP mentioned; have some fun splurges, but make sure they are on what means a lot to you! For some people it's ice cream, for some it's popcorn, and for some it's pastas with sauces. And, get right back counting the points when you get home. One week won't derail you unless you give it that power.

LOL ok

 

[Plutes]

Add me to the ww list! I hit my 10% a couple of weeks ago, and am heading down to Disney for a long weekend at the end of the month, and my annual two week trip in December.

I don't intend to count points or anything while I'm away, but I'm not planning to completely throw away my diet, either (hopefully)! Instead, I think my eating habits have changed enough that I won't WANT to eat all that I used to. I find that when I go out to dinner with my DH now, I just can't eat what I used to - as long as I'm conscious of it! I'm definitely in agreement with those who say to order whatever you want, and just leave half of it on the plate! Just promise yourself that that's what you'll do! It's been working for me so far, and April will be a true test of that theory! We shall see!

But, the most important thing is to have fun! And, WW will be here when you get back!

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

Former WW member and I didn't see this mentioned but those soft pretzels are actually a good snack choice. Just scrape off some of the salt so you don't hae the sodium retaining water. You can also get frozen chocolate covered bananas. Probably not as good as fruit bars but better than icecream. Not saying you get one every time but the fruit bars do get monotonous.

I am on a diet (just watching what I eat and going to the gym) My plan wasn't going to be watch what I eat for two meals. It's gonna be watch what I eat for everything but table service. And even at TS I can still make wise choices but I was going to be more militant at the condo an at CS meals and snacks and then splurge when we sit down to eat.

Have fun! I did F&W festival in 2008 and I only gained 1 pound. And I didn't even sort of watch what I ate.