I'm So Stressed About Eating at DW!! Advice Needed

[My2QTs]

So I think I have finally gotten my act together after many years of struggling with weight issues. I have been living my "new healthy lifestyle" since July and have lost almost 30 pounds so far. I am soooo looking forward to the food at Disney, and we have awesome meals lined up for the entire eight days. I know a lot of people just enjoy their vacation and eat, and then get back on their plan when they get home, and this is kind of my plan too. But I am sooo worried that after eating all that good food and getting back to some desserts (which I haven't really had much of since July), I will not be able to get back on my "plan" when I get home. I know that sounds crazy, but I am a carb addict and if I eat them, I want more and more. I try to really limit them so I don't get myself back into the carb addiction mode. I want to enjoy my trip and unfortunately, eating good Disneyfood is part of that. But at the same time, I don't want to lose "my grip" on the healthy lifestyle I have been adapting myself to.
So how do you all do it? How do you enjoy the food there, but not push yourself way back to food addiction stage? I totally am not worried about putting on a few pounds, cause I know I can get them off, AS LONG AS I CAN GET BACK ON MY PLAN. I tend to be a person who falls off the wagon hard, which is why I am so phsyched this time, cause I've been going strong and feel great about it.
So to make a long story longer (LOL), I am just scared to let myself go with the food at Disney because I feel like I will throw myself back into my carb addiction state. It doesn't take much for me!! Advice please?? How can I conquer this and still enjoy myself at our meals?

 

[Goofydiane]

Don't get stressed out about the food. Disney will do almost anything to accomodate food needs. I just came back from 10 days in which I ate on the dining plan and ended up losing 10 lbs! Here are some tips that I used:

Grilled, Grilled, Grilled! I stayed away from fried foods. I ate chicken, steak, fish and had fabulous meals.

Ask for substitutions. I substituted vegetables for french fries at almost all locations I ate at with no issues.

Fresh Fruit for dessert. I asked for fresh bowls of fruit at all locations except LeCellier (can't resist the Maple Creme Brule). All locations went out of their way to make a great bowl of fruit.

At counter service places, I always asked for carrot sticks and fruit as the sides. Not only are they healthy, they are pre-packaged so you can keep them for later and have them as snacks.!

I brought almonds to the park each day for an afternoon snack if I got the munchies.

Water, water, water....drinks lots of water. I also had milk at every meal and abstained from soda pop the entire trip.

I had a fabulous trip and ate some great food because I looked at the menu more in depth and didn't just stop at the burger and fries.

Have a great trip!

 

[kungaloosh]

Hi,

I adopted a healthy lifestyle immediately after returning from a trip to WDW in January of 2007 after feeling like I didn't have the energy to keep up with my son and also just being uncomfortable in general. It took me about a year and a half but I lost 90 lbs and I've been maintaining ever since. Since Jan. 2007 I've been back to WDW for 3 trips and I have another one coming up in 30 days. I do let go when I'm done there because I love the restaurants and having great meals is a big part of vacation for me. I do always face a gain on the scale when I get home usually between 4-6 lbs but I get it off within a couple of weeks. One of the things that has been amazing to me and I hope this happens for you too is that by the end of the week I'm looking forward to getting back to my healthy style of eating. By that point I'm usually tired of the sugar and higher fat foods and my body is too. The first day is usually tough but I make sure I go out and restock my house with my healthy foods and prep as much of it as possible so that I don't have any excuses to grab something else. I also get right back into my exercising routine. One great thing about Disney is you will get in plenty of walking. On my trip last week I did between 10.5 and 12.5 miles a day.

Cathy

 

[TimandTanya]

Don't get stressed out about the food. Disney will do almost anything to accomodate food needs. I just came back from 10 days in which I ate on the dining plan and ended up losing 10 lbs! Here are some tips that I used:

Grilled, Grilled, Grilled! I stayed away from fried foods. I ate chicken, steak, fish and had fabulous meals.

Ask for substitutions. I substituted vegetables for french fries at almost all locations I ate at with no issues.

Fresh Fruit for dessert. I asked for fresh bowls of fruit at all locations except LeCellier (can't resist the Maple Creme Brule). All locations went out of their way to make a great bowl of fruit.

At counter service places, I always asked for carrot sticks and fruit as the sides. Not only are they healthy, they are pre-packaged so you can keep them for later and have them as snacks.!

I brought almonds to the park each day for an afternoon snack if I got the munchies.

Water, water, water....drinks lots of water. I also had milk at every meal and abstained from soda pop the entire trip.

I had a fabulous trip and ate some great food because I looked at the menu more in depth and didn't just stop at the burger and fries.

Have a great trip!

Wonderfual advice!! I am diabetic and have a really hard time with all the great gooey, yummy foods at WDW. Just take the advice of the poster I quoted and push away when you are near done. The #1 thing I keep telling myself is, it takes someone nearly 10-30 days to starve to death, but only 1 day to get dehydrated. I drink lots of water, and usually feel absolutely great when I'm at WDW. It could be all the pixie dust in the air, but that's another thread.

 

[rubato]

If you haven't been eating very many carbs since July, you may not feel too great after reintroducing them to your system. That may be enough motivation to get back on track when you get home.

Also, you are going to have so much energy and a much easier time at Disney after losing 30 pounds. It might motivate you as well.

By the way, congratulations on your loss and lifestyle change!

 

[Brook1099]

I too worry about food and gaining while on vacation. I have lost 40lbs since my last trip in Jan. and am returning in a few days for 16 days.. I have an idea what CS I am eating at and what I am going to choose. Lots of water! I am really looking forward to a couple of TS restaraunts and there desserts (Ohana's being one) but while I am a little nervous I may get carried away: I know that I can't handle to much junk food anymore, feeling sluggish and full is no longer my thing. Stomach issues has always been a problem with me so going from eating lean healthy food to junk won't do me any favors.
Walking is my saving grace at home so I am hoping it is on vacation as well!

Good Luck and remember enjoy yourself it's Vacation.

 

[tony67]

Over the last 5 years I have lost about 80 pounds, so I understand where you are coming from. I had originally been down about 95 pounds, but after a trip last April I have been stuck at down 80 lbs no matter what I do.
I have never get back on my plan as strictly as I had been, so yes it is hard.
Since I really on need to lose about 20 pounds at this point to be "normal", it has been very hard to get strict again.

I did just do a 12 day Disney trip with the QSDP and the F&W festival.
With all the food I was eating and the way I felt I expected to gain more then 10 lbs, but only gained 2.2 (according to the Wii Fit, and that seems to be very accurate).

So what to do.
Enjoy yourself, by the end of it I was so sick of dessert and food I was glad to be done with it. It has helped me get going again, especially with the holidays coming.

Some tips that worked for me:
Bring some healthy cereal bars for breakfast.
This saves time at breakfast and then you can eat your lunch early - like 11AM.
These are also hard to digest so I believe that helps you through the day.

If you can, walk as much as you can, everywhere.

I walked from Epcot to MGM any time I could. It is quicker than the boat.
I was staying at the CSR so I walked around the lake as much as possible.
After meals I would walk around the world showcase (if I was at Epcot) at least once before I had a drink or snack.

Drink water. Drink more water. If you have the refillable mug you can use it for filtered water. Drink even more water.

Drink your coffee black. It’s so bad and weak in Disney anyway so why water it down with milk or cream.

Do not drink the soda. (Have the small one at the Cool Club in Epcot on occasion if you really crave it)
Do not drink the Diet Soda - as I understand the chemicals in it can actually make you crave more food.

Do not eat the dessert if it is not great, unfortunately most of them are very good.

Get double vegetables instead of the starch with your meals.

Try not to eat the fries, avoid the fried foods in general.

Even with the CS meals there are some great salads, like the roasted beet and goat cheese salad or Grilled Tuna salad at the Land.

Avoid buffets, it is just too tempting to go overboard at a buffet.

Eat dinner as early as you can, at least 3 hours before you go to bed. You do not want a big meal sitting in your stomach all night.
Have an espresso after dinner if it will not keep you up all night. It helps with digestion.

Good luck, but most importantly enjoy your vacation and try not to over obsess.

 

[tippy77]

You can order kids meals at counter service places. They are less food and you usually have the options of fruit or veggies (I think it's usually grapes and carrots) as sides instead of fries. I also plan for meals where I am allowed to "splurge" and get dessert, appetizers, etc. It helps me stay in control for other meals. And drink lots of water!

And most importantly, don't beat yourself up if you end up not eating as planned. You can and will get back on track when you get home!

 

[estherhead]

Good advice, everyone! Here's my strategy. It doesn't always work, but it usually does. First, have a post-Disney plan. I like to even stock the house with healthy non-perishable items that are staples in my diet so when I come home there is no excuse to just order pizza. Also part of my plan is already on the way home, I'm already eating healthy all the way. It's my transition time from vacation to home. De-tox, if you will. And I bring a new Self, Weight Watchers mag., Cooking Light, etc. and save them for the way home. So I'm inspired when I get home.

My at Disney plan is the huge majority of mornings I have a banana & Kashi trail mix bar for breakfast. This may not work for everyone, but for me it is perfect. Filling & healthy.

I also split all snacks. I have three kids & a dh. We almost never order more than 2 snacks at once. This gives you a bite or two of all the wonderful things without eating enough to make you sick. Only two treats I don't share: Dole Whip floats & Grand Marnier slushie. I have one of each on each trip & don't share. But usually we share. Last year at Blizzard Beach we got one funnel cake & shared it 10 ways! 1-2 bites for everyone.

At restaurants I just watch my portions. I try REALLY hard to not stretch my tummy out. You do sometimes have to ask them to take away the bread or your food because you just can't stop eating it, but I hate to feel stuffed as I walk around the parks. I participate in fridge swaps to make sure I have a fridge. This way I can tell myself I'll eat the delicious things later. I put them in the fridge & rarely get around to eating them, since there is always a treat around every corner. But having the option to eat it later helps me stop eating it when I'm full.

 

[Kay1]

Already you're doing the right thing by trying to come up with a plan. Sometimes we need temporary eating plans, like around Christmas. I deal with the homemade desserts my neighbors bring by choosing the very best and then substituting them (temporarily) for my normal treats, like WW cake.

Listen to your body and don't ever stuff yourself. See if you can be satisfied by three bites of that dessert. Throwing it our may seem wasteful but it's no more wasteful than throwing it in.

Choose wisely and eat only what you love; nothing but the best for you. Like the pie but couldn't care less about the crust? You know what to do.

Make a list of things you really want and then get them. Eat them slowly and enjoy every bite. Try hard to fit in the foods your body actually needs, too.

Have fun and enjoy.

 

[Mouseturtle]

SO I feel your pain...I was on WW before my 1st WDW trip, had just lost 12 pounds, and obsessed about the darn food before my trip.

Once I got there I realized "I" was in control, and was still able to enjoy the goodies and not fall totally off the wagon.

For example, the Tonga Toast was big enough for me and DS12 to share. When I was thristy, I drank WATER - lots of it (that's where all my snacks on DDP went - well those and frozen fruit bars!)

My suggestion is to wear a pedometer to see how much you are walking. I was very aware of my progress that way.

I ate everything I wanted - on moderation - and only gained 1.5 lbs in a week. I considered that a success.

Just choose wisely!

 

[djp0630]

I just started weight watchers so I am no expert, but I can tell you that after a week of Disney and all that dessert, I couldn't eat it anymore. I went before WW and ate whatever I wanted. I love sweets, they are my weakness and I ended up not eating them towards the end of the week. WE would bring them home (we stayed at BLT and had a refrigerator) and nobody ate them. We didn't eat the snacks, etc. . So I think after a week at Disney, you won't have trouble getting back on the wagon. I do think that you should not stress as much about eating there. Enjoy it, but don't go overboard. Be prepared for a gain, and just prepare to work harder after you come back! Good luck!

 

[FireDancer]

I'm very health conscious when eating, even at WDW, and have found that it is easy to eat healthy while you are there with no real headaches.

Every restaurant offers some healthy foods or foods that can be healthy with some modifications. Many times a meal can be made healthier by getting it without the rich sauce that it comes drenched in. When choosing sides most of the time they are accommodating and many times I have asked for a salad (being careful with the dressing of course) or piece of fruit instead of fries or a baked potato or something covered in butter.

If you are at buffets use the smaller salad or side dishes instead of the larger dinner plates and only take a small taste of everything. If there are desserts half anything you take.

The restaurants I have found to offer the most healthy choices are Boma, Tusker House, The Wave, Kona (especially lunch), anywhere with sushi, Sunshine Seasons, and Restaurant Marrakesh.

If you keep a food diary take it with you and keep it at WDW. That doesn't mean you can't stray a bit but if you make sure to keep track that extra dessert or larger portions might be kept in check. Also remember that you are walking a lot at WDW and adjust accordingly. For every hour you walk on top of your normal daily mileage you can eat an extra 100 calories without increasing your calorie surplus.

We often have this exact thread on the WISH boards so stop on by and look for one or start a new one where you will get a lot of good advice.

Good luck staying on the rails.

 

[elute]

Hi, we just got back from WDW and did the dining plan. I am on weight watchers but didn't count points. I am not going to lie. There were a lot more desserts than I am used to and I ate more than I typically would. But, I tried to eat healthy when I had a choice, filled my plate with all veggies first at the buffets and asked for a second bottle of water instead of dessert at the counter service places (some would do this, some wouldn't). With all the walking, I ended up maintaining while I was there and actually lost double the weight the following week so it all evened out.

Do not stress! Enjoy your time. Try to make healthy choices 80 percent of the time and you will do great!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I think the advice here is great! I came from the generation where we were always told to eat everything on our plate. You know, I've discovered it is ok to throw some of it out. Look at the portions before you take the bite. Decide on the proper portion for you and enjoy that.

Do make sure you have a returning home plan so if you step off a bit on vaca you will have a real get back on it plan.