Do You Exercise/Work Out while at Disney?

[Crazyhorse]

It may seem like an odd question but it's something I've been struggling with. I'm in my 50's and likely going through the "change"...hot flashes sometimes, a little extra around the middle, etc. Ladies, you get the picture. I've been good about sticking to an exercise schedule for months now, 4-5 days a week. I HATE every foot step, I'll be the first to acknowledge but I admit that I do feel better and seem to be sleeping better too.

This morning, as I was slowly jogging around the park, counting my laps and begrudging every step, it occurred to me that I should consider how I'm going to handle the 8 days that we're on vacation. Certainly we'll be eating more than usual, not crazy but more calorie dense and certainly booze for lunch and dinner. I'm not willing to say no to a cold beer while strolling through Germany so something has to give. How does one go about NOT gaining weight while on vacation? Do you continue some sort of schedule? We're going to be at the Grand, after 3 days of the Dark Side at the Portofino. I'm hoping there is some sort of trail/track that's measured that I can use to at least pretend to eat up some of the extra calories. Or....do you just not worry about it...hell, you're on vacation!

I'm just not one of the people that gets a rush from exercise. Forget that runners high or whatever it's called. I slowly jog my 1.6 miles and cool off with another mile at a walk...hating it all the way. I'm breathing hard but not too hard and the heart rate is up so I'm sure there are benefits. What do you do when on vacation?

 

[LSUfan4444]

I used to really enjoy 30 minutes of just straight swimming to start my morning every day, but since the resort pools don't open until 9 am now, I am really disappointing.

You do alot of walking through the day and although disney has some places you can run, they are not ideal.

We usually either stay at one of the epcot resorts or somewhere along the monorail just because I know I can find places to run around there in the mornings.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I run just about every day at WDW. How far depends on where I am in my training plan during a particular trip. I stay at WDW resorts that have good running options.

ETA: If you hate running, stop. There are a ton of great exercise options. Find one that you at least like.

 

[ShannonMB]

No.

 

[FLchick415]

Does walking all day at the parks until my feet are on fire count? LOL

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Watching the sodium intake and drinking the water will certainly play a huge part in not bringing home extra pounds as souvenirs.

 

[BLLB]

I do. It wakes me up and ready to tackle the day. I have went to Disney and not worked out and still did not add any pounds due to the massive amounts of walking.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Watching the sodium intake and drinking the water will certainly play a huge part in not bringing home extra pounds as souvenirs

From a health and recovery standpoint, you don't want to be cutting sodium while increasing water intake. Although most people even after increasing their water intake won't flirt with hyponatremia, you will want sodium and other electrolytes to replace what you lose in sweat and to help balance the body after bringing more water.

 

[1stvisit0909]

Does walking all day at the parks until my feet are on fire count? LOL

This is my plan too.

 

[LSUfan4444]

ETA: If you hate running, stop. There are a ton of great exercise options. Find one that you at least like.

Agreed. Any healthy lifestyle change has to include food and activities that you enjoy, otherwise it won't last.

I can't stress enough to people who seek my advice when getting into running or triathlon to not be a results thinker. If you are running because you want to be something other than a runner (skinny, fast, etc.) than you are in it for the wrong reasons. If you do not enjoy the process, your results will either never come or never live to the expectations of what you want.

There are so many activities and ways to get and stay healthy today. Find one that you can't stand to miss, not one you can't stand.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I eat a pretty clean diet and work out 5-6 days a week with cardio and weight training.

I don't do regular exercise while on vacation but I count our sometimes 10 miles of walking a day ample exercise while on vacation.

Last time I went I gained maybe 3 pounds and still indulged and drank. The weight came off within 2 days of being home. But I do my best to stay away from carbs and I drink plenty of water. I save my carbs for a great treat I want. And I try to keep it early in the day, if not I feel like crap later.

 

[ArwenMarie]

From a health and recovery standpoint, you don't want to be cutting sodium while increasing water intake. Although most people even after increasing their water intake won't flirt with hyponatremia, you will want sodium and other electrolytes to replace what you lose in sweat and to help balance the body after bringing more water.

I think it would be impossible to cut sodium to a level where it could be dangerous while eating Disney Food.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Not impossible, but highly unlikely. Most people couldn't drink that much water if they tried.

If you want to cut sodium, cut the processed foods. The body needs sodium, but any efforts beyond cutting or reducing processed foods isn't needed.

 

[Crazyhorse]

Agreed. Any healthy lifestyle change has to include food and activities that you enjoy, otherwise it won't last.

I can't stress enough to people who seek my advice when getting into running or triathlon to not be a results thinker. If you are running because you want to be something other than a runner (skinny, fast, etc.) than you are in it for the wrong reasons. If you do not enjoy the process, your results will either never come or never live to the expectations of what you want.

There are so many activities and ways to get and stay healthy today. Find one that you can't stand to miss, not one you can't stand.

You bring up good points. Maybe it's not that I HATE it. It's more likely that I resent having to "move" more. I've never had to do any "extra" exercise to fit in to my jeans, until now. We've been to Disney a million times and as others have noted, walked our feet off. It's not like we've come home and I have to find my "fat" jeans. I think I'm afraid of losing the headway I've been making. When I first started "moving" more, to Dr. Oz 5 Minute Metabolism Boosting Work Out, the 5 minutes about killed me. Now, it hardly raises my heart rate enough to talk about it. I suspect I'm afraid of backsliding.

Perhaps a few jogging trips between the Grand and the Poly each morning will do. I think mentally I'll need to do it, just to make me feel better about the next Lapu Lapu.

 

[ajwolfe]

No, we do not exercise while there. We usually are in a park from opening to close - so after 15+ hours on my feet the last thing I want to think about is exercising. Plus I figure I'm definitely getting more exercise while there by all the walking since I normally sit all day long.

 

[Kimosabe]

Seems like no matter whether I try to get some exercise while at WDW, I end up gaining a little. Seemingly guilt-free Mickey bars, Citrus Swirls, cinnamon rolls, carrot cake cookies, etc., can absorb lots of exercise in a hurry....but to me, that makes it all that more important to try to do something other than the park-walking, which obviously helps but never seems to be enough. Thankfully, as one person said, this weight tends to come back off pretty easily once I get home, so I don't worry about it too much. However, most of the resorts have a good place to walk/run, and if I can convince myself to get up in the morning before the rest of my gang (they try to make that easy on me!), I feel so much better during the day. Also check out any fitness centers that might be available for elliptical machine or a bike, but as a runner/waddler myself, it's a little easier to get up at a WDW resort, as it allows me to explore the property more than I ever would otherwise, so I can at least pretend that I'm getting a little extra out of my vacation. For example, we stayed at AoA last year, and by running/walking through the property, I was able to see all the cool new stuff that we otherwise didn't really make time as a family to explore. We're staying at Beach Club this summer, and as hot as it will be, having that Boardwalk loop and the proximity to a variety of resorts and parks will likely turn my morning runs into "explorations" that will undoubtedly result in finding things that the family might never see....and will also allow me to make Boardwalk Bakery "runs" for them!

 

[katilac]

I eat anything and everything I want at Disney World, but we walk so much and for so long every day that I have never gained a pound. If you are more of a relaxed, stroll and meander kind of visitor, that may not apply.

<snip>
ETA: If you hate running, stop. There are a ton of great exercise options. Find one that you at least like.

Personally, I just settle for what I dislike the least, lol. There's really nothing I like.

I think it would be impossible to cut sodium to a level where it could be dangerous while eating Disney Food.

Agreed! Even if you eat 80% health food that you bring with, the very occasional Disney meal or snack will keep you well supplied with sodium. dh recently went low sodium, and it is mind-boggling how much sodium hides in every kind of prepared food.

 

[gorkt]

I don't exercise while at WDW because my main form of exercise is running and the combination of running a few miles on top of walking 6+ miles everyday was just too much for me. I gained some weight on my last trip but once I got back to my regular diet and exercise routine, it came off.

 

[Cold71]

Running on vacation never made much sense to me. I guess if you're that in to your exercise schedule and maybe you're at some sort of resort that would have you a little less mobile (Sandals maybe?) then it might make more sense. At WDW though? My wife and I typically are always on the move down there and do a lot of park hopping towards the end of the vacation, to pair that up with running/exercise would just be extreme overkill in my opinion. WDW is the exercise, unless you're just sitting around in your hotel room the entire trip I suppose.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Running/wlaking isn't just done for the obvious physical benefits.

It is therapy for alot of people. Some people find it in the newspaper or on the toilet or in a 45 minute shower. Others, they find it running on an empty boardwalk and up to Hollywood Studios as the sun rises over Epcot. Others may find it running underneath the monorail towards the TTC then through the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, etc.

Running can also provide a recovery benefit to help with sore legs from the day before..YES, you can help tired legs by actually going for a run. Like yoga, or meditation the key is to divulge yourself into what you are doing.

If you are running because you need to a 300 calorie deficit on MyFitnessPal, just skip it.

But, there are also people who are vacationing at WDW who will experience the same walking as others, but are maybe in the middle of training for some sort of an event. Often times Marathon or half-marathon training can include weeks of running 15-40+ miles a week spread out over 7 days. As a happy member of the endurance community I can say that as with most things in life, it is about balance. You can take vacations and still find time to get some effective training.