Scooter rentals now TARGETING the lazy!! (LONG)

[declansdad]

In response to what you posted, I added this information to the disABILITIES FAQs thread information about buses:
Can my whole party board with me?
If the bus has a lift, only the person with a wheelchair and one other member of your party may go on the lift.
As for the other members of your party, please be considerate of other guests who are waiting for the bus. In general, WDW considers a party of 6 (5 plus the person with a wheelchair/ECV) to be party. If there are few people waiting for the bus when you arrive with a party of that size or smaller, the bus driver may invite you to go on the bus after the wheelchair/ECV is loaded.
If your party is larger or you can see a long line of people waiting for the bus when you pull up, it's considerate to have the other members wait in line for the bus or to have your whole party wait for the next bus.
It will be much easier and less stress for everyone if you can avoid taking the buses at the busiest times (like right at park closing). Taking a leisurely stroll out of the park will usually help you avoid a long line at the bus stop.

If you get to the bus stop and see a long line, here are some considerate ways my family (SueM in MN) have used to handle it:
If you have a small party; keep track of the last person in line when you arrive in the area. Wait off to the side until you can see that party would get onto the next bus (you don't have to wait until they get to the door of the bus), then go to the wheelchair boarding area with your party .
If your party is larger, have the other members of your party get into line. When you can see that they would be able to get onto the next bus, then go to the wheelchair boarding area.

Thank you, this is great.

 

[bayoutinksmom]

It is not your job to motivate me or anyone else to do anything. Your callousness is HURTFUL (I do mean to yell, you don't seem to be hearing when people just talk) not HELPFUL. Please mind your own business. You are doing more harm than good.

Shelly

You make it seem as though I just go around making fun of fat people. You say mind my own business but when you post stuff like this on a public forum you kind of lose that right. The post I responded to was about a women who’s overweight friends had two choices either rent an ECV or not go and I just simply gave them a third choice. One many people did not like. I am not sorry if my comments hurt people. I am so sick of watching people miss use ECV’s while people who truly need one or unable to get one. My point again if you can not WALK AORUND BECAUSE OF YOUR WEIGHT then you need to get help for this . No matter what causes you to be that big it is unhealthy. Plus a highly doubt that there are meds that cause you to be obese when trying to control diabetes , heart disease, and high blood pressure since all of those disease can be brought on by being obese. Please name them for me so I am better informed .

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you, this is great.

You're welcome.
We direct a lot of people to that FAQs thread, so there is at least a chance that people will read it.

 

[minnie61650]

You make it seem as though I just go around making fun of fat people. You say mind my own business but when you post stuff like this on a public forum you kind of lose that right. The post I responded to was about a women who’s overweight friends had two choices either rent an ECV or not go and I just simply gave them a third choice. One many people did not like. I am not sorry if my comments hurt people. I am so sick of watching people miss use ECV’s while people who truly need one or unable to get one. My point again if you can not WALK AORUND BECAUSE OF YOUR WEIGHT then you need to get help for this . No matter what causes you to be that big it is unhealthy. Plus a highly doubt that there are meds that cause you to be obese when trying to control diabetes , heart disease, and high blood pressure since all of those disease can be brought on by being obese. Please name them for me so I am better informed .

From this website:

http://onhealth.webmd.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56339

Is Your Medicine Cabinet Making You Fat?
Experts explain how certain prescription drugs can cause unwanted weight gain

By Charlene Laino
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic - Feature

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

You've been watching your diet and following your usual exercise routine. But your pants seem a little tight and, sure enough, the scale shows that you've gained five pounds in the past month.

What's going on?

This may be hard to swallow, but a medication your doctor prescribed could be to blame. Certain prescription drugs used to treat mood disorders, seizures, migraines, diabetes, and even high blood pressure can cause weight gain - sometimes 10 pounds a month. Some steroids, hormone replacement therapy, and oral contraceptives can also cause unwanted pounds to creep up on you.

But even if you suspect a prescription medication is causing weight gain, never stop taking the drug without consulting your doctor, experts stress.

"Stopping some of these medications on your own can have very serious consequences," says Louis Aronne, MD, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program in New York City and president of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. "It has to be done very carefully."

Madelyn H. Fernstrom, PhD, director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, agrees. Even if a medication causes weight gain, "an extra 10 pounds may be worth the trade-off of what that medication is doing for your overall health," she says.

Common Offenders That Can Cause Weight Gain

While no one knows exactly how many prescription drugs can cause weight gain, experts estimate the list includes more than 50 common medications.

Steroids such as prednisone, older antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofranil, and second-generation antipsychotics like Zyprexa are the biggest -- and most recognized -- promoters of weight gain, Fernstrom says.

Some other common offenders, says Fernstrom, include the antidepressants Paxil and Zoloft, the antiseizure medication Depakote, diabetes drugs like Diabeta and Diabinese, and the high blood pressure drugs Cardura and Inderal. Heartburn drugs like Nexium and Prevacid may also cause drug-induced weight gain.

Fernstrom tells WebMD that the medication-associated weight gain can be modest -- or as much as 30 pounds over several months.

"And in some cases, it is unrelated to the action of the drug itself," she adds. "For example, if an antidepressant makes people feel better, their appetite may be restored and they eat more."

Making matters more complicated is that some drugs, like Prevacid and Nexium, can cause weight gain in some people and weight loss in others.

"Not all drugs have the same side effects for all people," she says. "You have to work with your doctor to find the drug that's right for you."

Aronne says he warns against putting too much stock in a list of specific drugs that cause weight gain.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Weight gain can grow out of the medicine chest."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What you need to know," he tells WebMD, "is that certain types of drugs can cause weight gain." But in almost every case, the doctor will be able to switch you to another medication that has the same desirable effects but which will not cause weight gain and may even help you to shed a few pounds, he says.

For example, while some drugs used to treat depression and other mood disorders can cause weight gain, the antidepressants Wellbutrin and Prozac tend to help people lose weight, says Aronne, who is also clinical professor of medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Ditto for diabetes medications. "Yes, some can induce weight gain, but Glucophage and Precose are both weight-neutral, while two newer drugs -- Byetta and Symlin -- can actually help you lose weight," he says.

As for medications used to treat seizure disorders and headaches, Aronne says that Zonegran and Topamax are good alternatives that are both associated with weight loss.

Aronne recalls the case of one 190-pound woman being treated for migraine headaches who came to his obesity clinic. His team tried a variety of measures, even a liquid diet, to help her shed the unhealthy excess weight, but she stabilized after losing only 10 pounds.

"Then we switched her to a different medication, Topamax, for her migraines," he recalls. "She lost 50 pounds and has stabilized at a healthy 133 pounds. I can offer dozens of more examples just like this."

When to Suspect Drugs Are to Blame for Weight Gain

Fernstrom says you should suspect your medicine cabinet is at the root of your problem if you gain five or more pounds in a month without overeating or exercising less.

"You have to look at your lifestyle carefully and then if you still can't explain those extra pounds, you should begin to suspect it's your medication, particularly if you recently started a new medication," she says.

At that point, you can check the package insert or ask your pharmacist if weight gain is among the side effects of your medication. But the insert may not be as helpful as you might think, often simply listing weight gain as a "frequent" side effect, along with a dozen or so other side effects that may include weight loss, says George Blackburn, MD, PhD, an obesity expert at Harvard Medical School.

"You really need to see a doctor," and not just rely on lists or package inserts, he tells WebMD.

Being Proactive

So is there anything you can do to guard against prescription drug-induced weight gain? Most importantly, be proactive, Blackburn says.

"While doctors should be measuring your body weight at each visit and looking for change, they don't always do that," he explains. "So if you have gained five pounds in a month, report that back to your doctor."

Even then, many family doctors may not realize that weight gain can grow out of the medicine chest, Aronne says. "We're trying to educate general practitioners about the possible role of prescription medications in causing weight gain, but not all are tuned into this," he says.

 

[shellybaxter]

You make it seem as though I just go around making fun of fat people. You say mind my own business but when you post stuff like this on a public forum you kind of lose that right. The post I responded to was about a women who’s overweight friends had two choices either rent an ECV or not go and I just simply gave them a third choice. One many people did not like. I am not sorry if my comments hurt people. I am so sick of watching people miss use ECV’s while people who truly need one or unable to get one. My point again if you can not WALK AORUND BECAUSE OF YOUR WEIGHT then you need to get help for this . No matter what causes you to be that big it is unhealthy. Plus a highly doubt that there are meds that cause you to be obese when trying to control diabetes , heart disease, and high blood pressure since all of those disease can be brought on by being obese. Please name them for me so I am better informed .

I can see that you are not sorry if you hurt people, in fact I think you want to hurt them which I find completly dispicable.

If you are truly concerned about the weight problem in America then you must begin to try to understand why people are overweight. Over half of the overweight people I know, and I know quite a few, have emotional issues. Some of them see mental health professionals. Guess what, they are not immediately recommended a diet. In fact it is much more likely that they will be recommended a vacation, something that makes them happy. Your hurtful words wouldn't fit into their program. In fact they would be totally unadvised. So if you do care about the issue and want to help, as you claim, then learn about the people don't just judge them.

As for medications and exercise, I have no idea, but I do know a heart patient who has put on fifty pounds since his two open heart surgeries. BTW - he was average weight prior to the operations. Medical issues can and do cause people to have less activity which does cause weight gain.

Telling a truly overweight person to just go and "lose weight" is just about as helpful as telling a whino begging for change to just go get a job. It generally can't be done without lots and lots of help and the words of the stranger are generally not a highly motivating factor.

Shelly

 

[lsg1]

How conincidental that you posted this...I was just discussing this topic with my DD10. 2 years ago, I had a football size malignant tumor removed from my thigh along with alot of muscle. I can walk(thank G-d) but have great difficutly standing for more than 5 minutes, and cannot walk fast or for long periods of time. Last year when we went to WDW, we drove, so I brought my own wheel chair and used it in all the parks, and it made for a very enjoyable trip. This year, we are flying, and thought that I may just rent an ECV, but feel more comfortable in my wheel chair, but then someone will have to push me. My DD said she would rather me just rent the EVC, but I felt more justified in using my own wheel chair, because I saw everyone rents an EVC, and when I would step out of mine, I do not have much of a limp, and I could read peoples minds("oh she doenst need that"), when I actually do. I sometimes feel like saying to a starer "Would you like to see my foot long scar on the back of my leg?"
I just feel like if I use an EVC, I am just like everyone else there, that alot of people use them just as a convenience.

 

[bayoutinksmom]

I can see that you are not sorry if you hurt people, in fact I think you want to hurt them which I find completly dispicable.

If you are truly concerned about the weight problem in America then you must begin to try to understand why people are overweight. Over half of the overweight people I know, and I know quite a few, have emotional issues. Some of them see mental health professionals. Guess what, they are not immediately recommended a diet. In fact it is much more likely that they will be recommended a vacation, something that makes them happy. Your hurtful words wouldn't fit into their program. In fact they would be totally unadvised. So if you do care about the issue and want to help, as you claim, then learn about the people don't just judge them.

As for medications and exercise, I have no idea, but I do know a heart patient who has put on fifty pounds since his two open heart surgeries. BTW - he was average weight prior to the operations. Medical issues can and do cause people to have less activity which does cause weight gain.

Telling a truly overweight person to just go and "lose weight" is just about as helpful as telling a whino begging for change to just go get a job. It generally can't be done without lots and lots of help and the words of the stranger are generally not a highly motivating factor.

Shelly

You know I was a big girl once!! You could say emotional issues may have had something to do with but to me that was no excuse. I did not like the way I looked or felt. So I got out there and joined a gym and got some self control. I dropped down to 1200 calories a day and changed my way of eating completely. I ate lean meats, lots of veggies, very few carbs, and healthy snacks. I was able to do this and go form a size 16 to an 8 and matter of 6 months. I feel great and look great. All of this I did probably during one hardest years of my life which was my husband’s deployment. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and I something about it. You know some of you are right there are some people who have contributing factors to their weight that that they can not control but those people are the minority. I would say that 90% of obese Americans are that way because of poor lifestyle choices. I just think some of you have e guilty conscious and have taken advantage of the ECV and that is why you are being so defensive. Oh by the way I would tell the WHino to get a job!!! I also wanted to add that my wake up call came from my doctor who flat out told me I was "FAT".

Thank you Linda for better informing on certain drugs.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I am sure some out there have legitimate causes to be overweight and I was not condemning them. If you went back and read my original post on page 3 you would see what I was referring too. Maybe I do sound callous but that might be what some these people need to hear in order to get motivated enough to get healthy.

I'm sorry, but this is where we differ. I do not believe that *anyone* *needs* to hear that - especially on a vacation and especially from someone who does not know them or their condition- physical or emotional. Both are equally important.

If you research eating disorders, suicides, compulsive overeating, etc. you will realize how a callous comment most often does more harm than good. Many people struggle to lose weight their whole lives, they don't need to hear anyone's comments. There was an incident of a woman dying because she tried to cut off the fat on her thighs. We as a society should be ashamed of pushing someone to that. If losing weight were easy, or had the same cure for everyone, it wouldn't be an epidemic.

You may have good intentions, but I hope you realize that they can be hurtful, offensive or just plain wrong (in the cases I have described earlier).

Unless you are a medical professional or close friend or family member who knows a particulat person's condition, you will do much better to concern yourself with the size of someone's heart than the size of anything else. That is truly what counts.

 

[Talking Hands]

No matter what causes you to be that big it is unhealthy. Plus a highly doubt that there are meds that cause you to be obese when trying to control diabetes , heart disease, and high blood pressure since all of those disease can be brought on by being obese. Please name them for me so I am better informed .

Well for one thing, a CONTROLLED diabetic on insulin often gains weight. I am on several meds that cause weight gain. I really gained wait when I first went on cholesterol meds because the one my doctor put me on, Lipitor caused weight gain. Switched to Zocor and lost some weight. Was switched a new one and am not sure what it will do. My drug for depression also can cause weight gain.
And when I went on these meds I weighted about 110 pounds. I ws not heavy but already was feeling the effects of fibromyalgia(dx 30), arthritis (dx 16), diabetes type 1 (dx 30), neurofibromatosis (dx 30) Yes, I am heavy but my diabetes is well controlled and has been for 28 years and I have no retinopathy and have no problem with neuropathy in my feet. I think I am doing well and if a power wheelchair helps me enjoy the parks and my doctor recommends it (he does) it is no one's business than my own. So keep your judgemnets to yourself and MYOB

 

[bayoutinksmom]

Well for one thing, a CONTROLLED diabetic on insulin often gains weight. I am on several meds that cause weight gain. I really gained wait when I first went on cholesterol meds because the one my doctor put me on, Lipitor caused weight gain. Switched to Zocor and lost some weight. Was switched a new one and am not sure what it will do. My drug for depression also can cause weight gain.
And when I went on these meds I weighted about 110 pounds. I ws not heavy but already was feeling the effects of fibromyalgia(dx 30), arthritis (dx 16), diabetes type 1 (dx 30), neurofibromatosis (dx 30) Yes, I am heavy but my diabetes is well controlled and has been for 28 years and I have no retinopathy and have no problem with neuropathy in my feet. I think I am doing well and if a power wheelchair helps me enjoy the parks and my doctor recommends it (he does) it is no one's business than my own. So keep your judgemnets to yourself and MYOB

Can you not read?? GO back and read all of my post and you will see that I never once said that if you were truly disabled you could not use an ECV. SO do not jump to conclusions with out fully reading all of post. What I am saying is that many obese people take advantage of it and lots of others agree with me. So get off your high horse and if you can not read my post correctly before commenting then you MYOB.

 

[Talking Hands]

Can you not read?? GO back and read all of my post and you will see that I never once said that if you were truly disabled you could not use an ECV. SO do not jump to conclusions with out fully reading all of post. What I am saying is that many obese people take advantage of it and lots of others agree with me. So get off your high horse and if you can not read my post correctly before commenting then you MYOB.

I read perfectly well. I do have a college degree or 2. But it is not what you say but your total attitude on the subject. As I said before you need to stop judging people and MYOB. There is no way that you can tell by looking at a person what their medical situation is. So unless you can don't judge people, enjoy your trip and MYOB and let them enjoy theirs.

 

[LBelle]

Can you not read?? GO back and read all of my post and you will see that I never once said that if you were truly disabled you could not use an ECV. SO do not jump to conclusions with out fully reading all of post. What I am saying is that many obese people take advantage of it and lots of others agree with me. So get off your high horse and if you can not read my post correctly before commenting then you MYOB.

Me too! Me too!! Oh, wait, I'm with the "wait in the line ups with everyone else" group!!!!

 

[bayoutinksmom]

I read perfectly well. I do have a college degree or 2. But it is not what you say but your total attitude on the subject. As I said before you need to stop judging people and MYOB. There is no way that you can tell by looking at a person what their medical situation is. So unless you can don't judge people, enjoy your trip and MYOB and let them enjoy theirs.

DO you have it in your little mind that I go around WDW commenting to people about their weight!! I really don't think so!! I do judge those I see riding in the scooters as they are gobbling down a turkey leg and other junk and then they park their scooters and run through the queue of the line. You know what if you do not like my opinions and can't stop JUDGING me then do not read my post. You complain about me being judgmental when you are actually doing the same thing. Can we say hypocrite?

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

aren't we the most unhealthy country in the world, anyway?

i think that once in a while it might backfire tho. sometimes you can't really SEE the reasons that someone has one, you know? i got one last year when we went to MK for the day. i have bad ankles and i have asthma....and with the heat it's hard for me to walk. but to the naked eye i looked like a normal 20-something girl in a wheel chair. hopefully this will work out for the better tho.

 

[wdwobsessed]

You know I was a big girl once!! You could say emotional issues may have had something to do with but to me that was no excuse. I did not like the way I looked or felt. So I got out there and joined a gym and got some self control. I dropped down to 1200 calories a day and changed my way of eating completely. I ate lean meats, lots of veggies, very few carbs, and healthy snacks. I was able to do this and go form a size 16 to an 8 and matter of 6 months. I feel great and look great. All of this I did probably during one hardest years of my life which was my husband’s deployment. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and I something about it. You know some of you are right there are some people who have contributing factors to their weight that that they can not control but those people are the minority. I would say that 90% of obese Americans are that way because of poor lifestyle choices. I just think some of you have e guilty conscious and have taken advantage of the ECV and that is why you are being so defensive. Oh by the way I would tell the WHino to get a job!!! I also wanted to add that my wake up call came from my doctor who flat out told me I was "FAT".

Thank you Linda for better informing on certain drugs.

All hail!! Oooooh ... so now I get it! A case of being superior to those who have not won the battle!

You should be even more ashamed of yourself with this attitude. You would think you would have more sympathy!

Shame on you ... if anyone should feel guilty it should be you.

WDWO

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

Very nice post LuLu. Thank you.

I agree as well that obesity is a fast growing problem in America. I don't have a medical problem that caused my weight gain but I come from a looooong line of overweight people. So if you combine genetics + environment I had an uphill battle to fight from day one.

Thank goodness neither of my children has a weight problem. I hope they never face what I have had to face in my life. I do worry about them though and know I should set a better example. I try to.

I don't eat the large amounts that I have seen people on talk shows admit to like a dozen eggs or anything. However, I do know that I eat too much or at least too much of the wrong things. A lot of Americans eat too much or too much of the wrong thing ... they are just lucky to have the genetics that allow them to do so without gaining weight. I went out to breakfast the other day and didn't quite finish my one meal. I saw a skinny couple at the table next to me order a meal plus french toast to split ... plus they each got a fruit topped funnel cake! OMG! LOL! Yet THEY were the skinny ones ... not me with the one meal I had.

I am in a constant struggle to loose weight. I never just give up and say oh well ... at times I may stick my head in the sand ... but I never say that I won't try again when I feel I have the strength to do so.

Obesity CAN be disabling. If you have never been there you can't know what it is like. I am very active for someone my size ... but it truly is not realistic for someone my size to walk miles upon miles and not be in pain. So I have two choices ... walk myself to the point of pain where my DH thinks he may have to call a CM to bring me a cart or I will never make it from Italy to the Monorail ... I do make it but I'm in so much pain I think I'm going to die - OR - rent an ECV and enjoy my vacation more because I am not in pain.

My DH made me rent a ECV last trip ... I didn't want to because I was embarassed (the UK jerk on here is a good example of why I was) ... but he talked sense into me because he loves me and didn't want me to be in pain.
So I rented the ECV and everyone in my family had a better trip because mommy was not hurting so bad it made everyone else feel sad.

I didn't get "special" treatment once, it didn't cut down my wait time in line. I got out of the ECV to get into line. I only used the ECV in the parks. I walked PLENTY and got PLENTY of exercise on the trip. The only time I "rode" my ECV into an attraction were the theatre ones and guess what .. they put you in the back of the theatre. Big perk eh? (I rode the ECV in because sometimes theatre seats can cut into my hips ... didn't want to take the chance of hurting the whole show).

So if people are "offended" that I choose to use an ECV so that I am not miserable my entire trip than so be it. I need to use one in order for me to enjoy my vacation for the time being. I hope that one day I will have enough courage and strength in me to be able to get this weight off and not have to worry about such things.

It really is no fun. But still .. I would rather be me ... than some of you.

WDWO

that was the one perk that i got when i had to rent a wheel chair, cutting down ride waits! lol. but my situations different. i have bad ankles(and now thanks to work a bad knee) and asthma. so sitting down on rides is fine, but walking around the park is the pain.

 

[bayoutinksmom]

All hail!! Oooooh ... so now I get it! A case of being superior to those who have not won the battle!

You should be even more ashamed of yourself with this attitude. You would think you would have more sympathy!

Shame on you ... if anyone should feel guilty it should be you.

WDWO

Nope no sympathy here because obviously it can be done. It just takes time, dedication, and lots of self control. You see unwarranted sympathy is what is wrong with this country because everybody thinks they deserve some and I am so sick of this POOR me attitude. I am so far from being ashamed of myself for the way I feel and if you don’t like that then you are entitled to that but really do we need to resort to insults. How old are we?

 

[taximomfor4]

Plus a highly doubt that there are meds that cause you to be obese when trying to control diabetes , heart disease, and high blood pressure since all of those disease can be brought on by being obese. Please name them for me so I am better informed .

Directly from the Drug Reference book at the hospital: Oral Agents to Treat Type 2 Diabetes: Tolbutamide (side effect: weight gain), Glyburide (side effect: weight gain), Repaglinide (side effect: weight gain), Nateglinide (side effect: weight gain), Avandia (side effect: weight gain), Actos (side effect: weight gain, fluid retention, edema), and I didn't even list all the brand names that manufacture those.

For heart disease or high blood pressure: Beta Blockers (side effect: sudden weight gain). Calcium Channel Blockers (side effect: weight gain).

Just passing on some facts.

 

[bayoutinksmom]

Directly from the Drug Reference book at the hospital: Oral Agents to Treat Type 2 Diabetes: Tolbutamide (side effect: weight gain), Glyburide (side effect: weight gain), Repaglinide (side effect: weight gain), Nateglinide (side effect: weight gain), Avandia (side effect: weight gain), Actos (side effect: weight gain, fluid retention, edema), and I didn't even list all the brand names that manufacture those.

For heart disease or high blood pressure: Beta Blockers (side effect: sudden weight gain). Calcium Channel Blockers (side effect: weight gain).

Just passing on some facts.

That seems odd about the drugs for Type 2 Diabetes. My dad and grandpa were just diagnosed with that and were both told it was brought on by being overweight. SO they are on big time diets to lose weight to control the diabetes. SO why would they give meds that caused weight gain?

 

[minnie61650]

That seems odd about the drugs for Type 2 Diabetes. My dad and grandpa were just diagnosed with that and were both told it was brought on by being overweight. SO they are on big time diets to lose weight to control the diabetes. SO why would they give meds that caused weight gain?

Because those drugs help regulate blood glucose levels.