Getting in shape for WDW Question

[One Year Pin]

I will suggest that you make sure that your friend has good walking shoes. My best experience has been with shoes that are broken in, but still quite new. The socks are much more important. I have several pairs of running socks with extra thickness around the heels and the fleshy part right before the toes. These are expensive. I've also found that wearing 2 pairs of thin cotton socks also helps if not wearing the runners socks. DO NOT WEAR 2 PAIRS OF RUNNERS SOCKS AT THE SAME TIME!! Never let your feet get sweaty. I have also found that rubbing your feet with muscle cream every evening is a life saver, as well as drinking plenty of water, and taking a morning aspirin for pain relief. (Do not take Aleve as it will make you retain water.)

I second this. There are companies that make special "Diabetic" socks with extra padding and made from 100% natural material that wicks moisture away from the feet. You can usually find them at places like CVS or Walgreens. I recommend these but you will have to get your shoes a half size larger.

Take breaks!!! Don't wait till her feet are killing her. When they start feeling uncomfortable, sit down for 15 minutes, and put her feet up as high as she can. Don't just let them hang down as they will continue to swell. One last recommendation is to get shoes that are a light color. Dark colored shoes tend to absorb the heat of the sun and can get quite uncomfortable.

 

[Bellybee]

These are all really good tips.

I am pooh sized although will hopefully be a good deal smaller next time I go to WDW and I always struggle with my feet when I am there.

I tend to go for 10-14 days as we are coming from the UK and we do have breaks but it does not really help.

My feet dont really swell but I get awful blisters and they ache so much they feel like they are broken and ocassionaly my calfs ache a lot too.

Any more tips on how to look after them is much appreciated especially as we are going for 17 days next trip and I wanna get through the whole trip.

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

Maybe instead of telling your SIL she needs to start walking, you could stop by her place and insist she walks with you? I know I am more likely to do something I wouldn't regularly do with a friend, and not by myself. Maybe she is embarassed or doesn't know how to start getting healthier. I work a physically demanding job for long hours, and the last thing I want to do is "work out" after, but I will go for a nice walk with my friend. It is more about perception, don't try to push "working out" or tell her she "needs" to do something, just be a friend and help her start walking.

 

[Pooh_Girl]

Another thing that might really help is to get a pair of crocs instead of plain tennis shoes. They are really comfortable for walking around (especially in the parks). I would definately wear socks so you have less chance of getting blisters. They are so comfy!!!!

 

[Taja]

I'm Pooh-sized at the moment--it varies depending on my level of activity. Every time I'm injured, I become Pooh-sized, then less so as I'm able to exercise again. While I don't stand during the day, my job requires being glued to a computer terminal all day. Probably worse for the human body than standing!

If you can convince your DSIL to begin walking, have her begin with short distances initially, increasing slightly every 5 to 7 days. For those in shape, beginning with 1/2 mile or one mile is a workout but doable; for someone who hasn't exercised for some time or is recovering from an injury, that distance seems insurmountable. If you ever saw me limping down the street as I begin a walking program for the umpteenth time, you would understand that. Not only do I have to walk, I have to concentrate on walking properly.

So begin with a manageable distance: to the corner and back, part way around the local mall. You get the idea. She isn't out to impress anyone, just build her stamina little by little. While I suggested increasing the distance slightly every 5 to 7 days, it should be when she is comfortable walking the current distance. It may be one or two days, it may take two or three weeks. She may find it becomes a regular part of her life--even after her WDW visit!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I'm also "pooh sized" and have been riding a stationary bike for a few months to get in shape for WDW. I was riding it for 45 min 5 days a week and hard enough to be out of breath when I was done.
Well, I found out the hard way that this wasn't good enough for Disney. By our 2nd day my shins where hurting so badly that I could hardly walk. I wasn't ever out of breath, but my legs and feet hurt so bad that periodically I was almost in tears.
So the bottom line is, I would suggest walking to get in shape. And still bring more than one pair of shoes and keep them with her either in the car or in a locker so she can switch them out when necessary.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

My MIL has already started getting in shape for WDW. She told us that she's walking a lot because we shut the parks down at night. And we STAY at the parks... we don't swim or go golfing, etc. We are PARKS people.

She has seen my weight loss while being at the parks. Last year, I lost 7 lbs! And I was eating almost until I was sick. And I drank REAL Cokes, not Diet or Coke Zero (even though I like Coke Zero.) And all those desserts and red meat... AaaahhhhH!

So, needless to say, I ate like a pig, but because we eat like pigs early, and walk until 11PM-2AM every night- weight loss is inevitable!

 

[JulieNMM]

I've never really had a problem with my feet hurting from walking and I'm pooh-sized (love this term, BTW!) and sit on my butt all day at work.

Are you assuming that her feet will her because she is large? Or has she told you before that her feet sometimes hurt? Don't assume they will automatically hurt just because of her size. Tell her that you will be doing a lot of walking, but there's no reason why you have to walk fast and a lot.

Also, there are alternatives, such as taking the trains or the busses or trams or monorails, etc. Walk slowly -- stop and smell the roses. Sit often. Don't be in such a rush. And tell her to alternate comfy shoes. Take some painkillers in the morning and evening.

And most of all, have fun!

JULIE

 

[bookmama]

this is a hard one, I stand on my feet for most of the day and I'm pooh sized--i call it pleasantly plump. The last thing I feel like doing is walking some days. What I try to do is pick somewhere scenic to walk. Also there's a new show on TLC called I can make you thin. The host gives sound ways to avoid overeating, emotional eating and boosting the metabolism. I'm trying this for myself, since I do want to lose a bit of pounds--hey it's free. That can't hurt my pocket at least.

 

[disneyaggie]

Yup, tell her to start walking.

I view this as training for anything athletic. You have to build up that endurance or she is going to be out of breath and using those benches quite a bit!

Not to mention the blisters that form! She needs to break in a pair of good walking shoes before she treks around WDW . . . and this is for any size of person!

 

[EnnEss]

I leave in 2 weeks with my Mom and Dad and my DS 8 and DD 5. My mom is Pooh size and has a lot of problems with her feet; has for years. When she walks her feet start to burn and ankles swell. For the past two weeks we have been meeting (not as often as I would like) about 3 times per week and walking apprx. 2 miles. She wears a different pair of shoes each time. She is trying to find a pair that will work for her feet. Tennis shoes just don't work. They are too confining. Please remember that feet swell when walking distance and especially in heat. Always buy shoes at least 1/2 size larger than normal.
I don't care about her speed, but her short endurance is going to quickly wear her down I know.
She has mentioned getting a scooter a few times. I have not encouraged this, but after reading one of the threads above, I have started really thinking about this. If she is mentioning it, then she probably is rather nervous about the condition her feet may be in after a few days.
Thank you for making think about this issue differently.

Maybe she should address the reason her feet do this or go to a doctor and ask? It seems getting a scooter may be another step in losing her mobility. That sounds awfully painful, but there must be a reason.

Her wearing different shoes is probably aggravating the problem. Shoes aren't comfortable at first and if she has this many I'm doubting any are decent runners. 40 dollar tennis shoes are garbage, thats why they are 40 dollars. They are fine for walking from here to there, but they aren't meant to be used athletically. Drop 100 dollars on a good pair that fit and break them in, this takes a month, and if she doesn't walk or run much this will take longer. I run and my shoes are not broken in til about week 4 of running many miles in them. Even then, I revert to older shoes if I'll be going on extremely long trips of 50+ miles.

If she'd rather not address the issue for whichever reasons, the scooter may be the best option, although I'd be really worried about her overall health.

If someone is standing in their job all day, as opposed to sitting, and both dont exercise, the one that's sitting will be better off in WDW. Standing isn't exercise and its a lot harder on your body (shin splints, back problems, knee strains) than sitting is.

 

[Minnie Lor]

Maybe instead of telling your SIL she needs to start walking, you could stop by her place and insist she walks with you? I know I am more likely to do something I wouldn't regularly do with a friend, and not by myself. Maybe she is embarassed or doesn't know how to start getting healthier. I work a physically demanding job for long hours, and the last thing I want to do is "work out" after, but I will go for a nice walk with my friend. It is more about perception, don't try to push "working out" or tell her she "needs" to do something, just be a friend and help her start walking.

Took your advice. I called her tonight at 5:15 and asked if I could pick her up at 6:15 to go walk at the track near her. We walked for 25 minutes. It was a slow pace but we were walking and not
She suggested that we meet again Wed. night to walk at the track near me. She doesn't work on Friday's so maybe we could walk on Friday as well. It's a start! Thanks for the great advice, everyone!