Those on a diet at Disneyland

[mom4scrapbooking]

I have been working hard on trying to shed some of this weight I have. I got about 25 pounds to still loose but I want to enjoy myself and my favorite places to eat in the park. How do you handle this?

 

[sonnyjane]

To be honest? I handle it by saying "I'm on vacation and I am probably walking 8-10 miles each day." (not an exaggeration, I wear a pedometer).

But when you really get down to it, a few days at Disneyland won't ruin all your success so far so long as you don't completely fall off the wagon AFTER the trip is over.

 

[mom4scrapbooking]

Thanks sonnyjane! I was hoping that if I share a mickey bar instead of eating the whole thing that is saving me some calories. Also I knew you walk more there but how much more I wasn't sure. I will share food with the husband.

 

[DizMe]

I did this with my daughter. We shared almost every meal and we chose things that were not obvious diet-busters. One of our favorites was the salmon salad at that little take-out shed place across from Splash. It's a great value, you get a nice big piece of fish and the salad is excellent. We also liked La Brea (sit-down) as they had some great options, too. We did splurge from time to time but for the most part, we managed to eat well and keep pretty much to our diet. We had lost nearly all of our excess weight before we left so we had the motivation to keep up the diet since we were almost to our goal! We rewarded ourselves with a shared surf & turf at Blue Bayou. They were really nice about substituting veggies for the potatoes and they were delicious!

We snacked on things like fruit, pickles, nuts and that sort of thing. Those weren't really on our diet, but seemed decent snack options under the circumstances.

Good luck! We were very proud of ourselves, btw, for sticking to it!

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

I am having the same issue. I do take comfort in all the walking I will be doing. The other things is trying to make better choices then I would have. I give myself credit for this all the time. Otherwise what I have come to find out is worrying about the food, took away the fun. Remember have fun and enjoy or else you should just stay at home.

 

[jaymesmom617]

I usually just allow myself one treat/meal per day. I have done the "I am on vacation and I am walking a ton" thing before and it didn't work for me. I didn't gain a ton of weight, only a pound or two, but, it was really hard to get back on track after our trip. Make sure to bring lots of healthier snacks, like almonds, cheese sticks, 100 calorie packs, fruit and carrots. I stick to my meal plans for breakfast and lunch. Then for dinner I will split something with DH, like the Monte Cristo, and have a salad and fruit. Or I will eat a few bites of the kids churro or ice cream.

It really helps my mind set. And I feel great when we get back from a 10 day trip and see that I lost a pound!

 

[CaptainEIEIO]

Since my heart attack I constantly diet and watch what I eat. But while I'm on vacation I tell myself I'm on vacation and allow myself to let go. Besides with all the excercise I'm getting walking all over the parks and being on my feet 12 to 14 hours a day I figure I'm burning all those extra calories off anyway and it's not hard for me to get back on the diet once I get back home.


Go ahead, have a few of cheat days, your on vacation and you deserve it!!!!!

 

[Blanche_Neige]

I have been working hard on trying to shed some of this weight I have. I got about 25 pounds to still loose but I want to enjoy myself and my favorite places to eat in the park. How do you handle this?

wait a minute, I thought that there was no Calories in the Happiest place on earth!?!

I hear you, I have lost 30lb so far, I also have about 25 to go so I understand what you are saying. But, for me, this is a vacation so I will allow myself to step off the wagon and will eat a whole mickey bar because I do not get to eat them otherwise. I will try to make right choices but I also know I will not be able to stick to my 1200 calories/day and I know it will not derail me.

You must allow yourself a treat once in a while in order to succeed at lease that is what I think.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

There are a lot of good options at Disneyland, and stands that sell fruit and other healthy snacks. They are pretty filling.

You can see Disneyland's menus right here on the DIS at:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/dining/menus.cfm

Tom is pretty diligent at updating it on a regular basis (he's at Disneyland now getting the latest info).

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

My DF friend and I recently tried to eat healthy at the park, because she's training for the Princess Half Marathon and I've recently taken up rock climbing. We did it by having healthy snacks in our room (granola bars, veggies & hummus), but buying healthy snacks when we were in the park (fruit, pickles, corn on the cob, olives in the Carthay Circle lounge). Aside from snacks, we only really ate one big meal per day.

We split our lunch at Blue Bayou, because the portions were plenty big enough. At Carthay Circle, they have some really yummy salads that go beyond iceberg lettuce and carrots, and they'll make you a vegetarian pasta dish filled with veggies and your prefered sauce. We did counter service one day, split between Bengal Barbeque (veggie skewers) and Hungry Bear (we shared a fried green tomato sandwich, with slaw instead of sweet potato fries).

We still treated ourselves. One night we split a caramel apple. DF bought herself a small bag of caramel corn and spread it over the next three days. We shared the dessert "pops" at Carthay Circle one night. At the end, it didn't feel like we really deprived ourselves at all.

 

[longhorns2]

I tried to buy meals with fish and veggies when it was an option. I also tried to remind myself not to get stuffed, cause how is it fun to walk around or ride thrill rides when your gut is already busting? Blah... no thanks!

I also bought a Mickey bar, ate the ears, and asked myself if I was good or if I wanted more. Literally had this conversation in my head. LOL I was totally good- so I dumped the rest. Did the same thing with the benigts (sp) but--- I wanted more of those! I ended up eating all 3 because I was honestly still hungry. Listen to hunger cues not just want cues!

With all the walking I think a lot evens out. My goal was to maintain not gain. With the half marathon I ran and commandoing the parks I was able to eat what sounded good. I maintained in the end.

Just try to make the best choices, but recognize that Disney is an active vacation- so it's not like laying on the beach drinking umbrella drinks all day! You'll be burning a lot, so it's not as much of a failure if you cheat a bit.

 

[sheetz]

The way I look at it is that it's fine to allow yourself a few treats that you wouldn't normally eat but being on vacation does not mean it's ok to stuff yourself like every meal was your last. Be mindful of what you eat and try to make better choices. Eat enough so that you're satiated but make sure to not overeat. And try to drink lots of water.

 

[SweetAlex]

I usually just allow myself one treat/meal per day. I have done the "I am on vacation and I am walking a ton" thing before and it didn't work for me. I didn't gain a ton of weight, only a pound or two, but, it was really hard to get back on track after our trip. Make sure to bring lots of healthier snacks, like almonds, cheese sticks, 100 calorie packs, fruit and carrots. I stick to my meal plans for breakfast and lunch. Then for dinner I will split something with DH, like the Monte Cristo, and have a salad and fruit. Or I will eat a few bites of the kids churro or ice cream.

It really helps my mind set. And I feel great when we get back from a 10 day trip and see that I lost a pound!

This is what would work for me. Don't deprive yourself completely or you could sabotage yourself. Choose one treat per day, maybe even choose it before you go rather than tempting yourself all through the day trying to decide. Then bring plenty of healthy options so you don't let yourself get hungry. Nuts are always great and filling with good fats, beef jerky is good. Of course fruits and veggies too. Maybe low fat cheese strings. Splitting any meals you do have is great and have the monte cristo but with a salad, not fries. You'll be walking so much that you'll work it off by the end of the day.

Good luck!!

 

[RayB]

Take a water bottle you can refill it in the park.I promise if you will drink a couple of gallons of water you will eat a lot less and combined with the walking and splitting entries or even a churro you will be fine.The water is great for you anyway..

 

[mmmears]

We split entrees at restaurants and snack on things like fruit or packs of almonds. I also try to make dining reservations at places that have at least one "healthier" thing we like on the menu so that we always have the option of choosing something that is more in line with what we are used to eating.

Besides the calories and the weight gain, I find that I can't handle a few days of fatty, salty foods -- my body isn't used to that and I end up feeling icky. So I read the menus before we go so I know where to dine and where I can find better snacks in the parks, hotels, and DTD.

 

[tbgmom]

I already drink a ton of water, and I plan on continuing that in the park. I don't plan on stressing too much about what I'm eating. A big thing for me will be to be careful not to overeat just because I can. I also plan on making my healthiest choices when the food doesn't matter as much so I can save my less healthy choices for when it matters more, kwim? For example, try to eat best at breakfast day one, so I can have the bread pudding french toast (or whatever it's called - with the carmel sauce? looks awesome) at Flo's day 3. Eat a salad for lunch so I can have something a little more decadent for dinner. I also NEVER order fries - I just satisfy my craving by sharing with dh or one of my kids.

Bottom line, however, it's a vacation, I know I'll be walking a ton, and I don't want to regret not eating that really yummy treat when I'm back home and daydreaming of our trip. So, I'll try to make healthy choices whenever I can, but I will indulge occasionally so I don't feel deprived.

 

[imalwayscrazy]

I am on weight watchers (39 pounds down! ) but I have trouble with counting at Disneyland because they do not have to provide nutrition information. Therefore I guestimate. There a alot of healthier choices Disney has out out. At jolly holiday bakery they have a good size steak salad that is really good! It has no dressing on it and you can pick up packets where the forks are. They have blue cheese, ranch and low fat Italian. Another good place to eat is in DCA at the paradise garden grill. The outside food area has skewer meals that come with choice of skewers and sauce. Ad rice, pita bread, and cucumber tomato salad. And the inside area have flatbread pizza which is the best pizza in the parks! Those are my go to choices. And also remember adults can get kids meals too! And by law kids meals have to be 500 calories or less. So it's a safe bet to get a kids meal when you want to go lower calories.

 

[Stitch35]

I'm on AdvoCare (75lbs down!!) and I always bring healthy snacks with me. I bring my meal replacement shakes for breakfast, nuts, fruit, snack bars and rice cakes for snacks, and I usually make a wrap for lunch in the park. I allow myself a nice dinner (I love Disney salads and the soup on paradise pier). I also will take a bite of my children's treat since my youngest never finishes his. I make up my mind before I go which 2 treats I want most (usually a dole whip and cream cheese filled pretzel) and have those once durning the trip. I usually lose 2lbs and 4 inches on a 5 day trip.

 

[rentayenta]

Two words: portion control. For me, I'd rather have less of something I really enjoy vs an entire plate of something that tastes so so. This is how I generally eat on vacation or otherwise.

 

[dcraythorn]

I had lost 43 pounds when I went in Sept. I allowed myself to eat, but was careful in portion size and I drank a lot of water. With all the walking, I did not gain anything but I didn't lose either. I wasn't trying to. I do Weight Watchers and when I got back home, I hit a meeting the next day and was able to get right back on track. It's do able.