Those on a diet at Disneyland

[Blanche_Neige]

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.

Good for you
That is exactly what I am aiming for!

I don't do weight watchers anymore, I do "My fitness Pal" free app on my iPhone works great for me.

 

[Congo Queen]

There have been so many good responses on this thread. All I will add are the specific menu items I enjoy in the parks that happen to be both truly delicious and also healthy and lower calorie. When I eat these I do not feel like I am skimping on a thing:

1) Big Al's Chicken Salad at Hungry Bear. Get the dressing on the side (though it is a light vinaigrette) I think this is the best salad in the park.
2) Grilled Salmon Salad at Harbour Galley
3) Cresent City Salad at Cafe Orleans (w/ chix or salmon)
4) Chicken and Veggie Skewers at Bengal BBQ
5) Citrus Turkey Salad at Flo's V8
6) Chicken or Tofu/Veggie Skewer at Paradise Garden Grill - they give you two starches w/ this (pita brd and rice) so I usually pick one and give the other one to my kids.

 

[bumbershoot]

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

Tell him to get French Market updated; it's been wrong since October!

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.

It's so true. Once you get used to eating better, it just feels gross to eat the old way after a few days.



Water water water!
Budget for fruit!
Share if your traveling companions agree to it!

Have a PLAN for when you get home!!!!! This, in my experience, is the MOST important one. Even if you end up going wild at Disney, the important thing is getting right back into your plan at home. So if you have NO food at home when you get back, you'll probably end up going out to eat, or picking up a pizza, or other things that aren't the absolute best at getting you back on track. (not that there's anything wrong with either of those things...we go out to eat and we get pizza about once every two weeks, but it's probably not THE best way to get on track when you get home) So have a couple nice options at home in the freezer (or fridge if it's a really short trip), have a PLAN, and do the plan.

We had a longer trip and we ended up having two WW weigh ins during the trip (I can't remember the actual location, but it's basically sort of off the same road as Trader Joes and Best Buy and that big mall, it's a nice location!). The first Saturday morning meeting, I had lost a few pounds. The second one, after a full week of Disney eating, I was up over 5. The employee there was aghast and didn't want to say anything out loud, and I was cracking up when I looked at my card. I mean, come on, did she really think I had gained 5 lbs of FAT in a week?

If I'd let that derail me, well, it wouldn't have been good. But I was realistic about it, I knew it wasn't really fat, but if I kept on eating like crazy once home it could have ended up being a true gain. So I just went back to my plan once home, and it was gone, plus more, in 2 weeks.

We have a 2 week Florida trip coming up...you can bet I'll have a plan for getting home after that!


Oh, and I have enjoyed wearing my heart rate monitor to calculate calories burned while in the parks. I'm routinely over 2000 calories burned by afternoon. Wow!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Something else to consider...if you are on a diet when you go, you can call or email and someone will call you back, you tell them where u want to eat and your dietary restrictions and he will make something happen for uou

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MadMim]

Im down 50lbs and have no desire to go back there! (Please dont read my post in the funnel cake thread) From what Ive learned, its all about balance. Depriving yourself will only make it worse, so endulge a little. Its part of the experience. Im happy to say that Ive just returned from a week at DL, and I did not gain a single pound.

Some things that have been helpful to me are carrying that water everywhere, splitting meals with my family, and trying to focus on better choices, unless its something I absolutely have to have as a treat (Ok, read the funnel cake thread). Bengel BBQ is my saving grace. High protein, and they have an excellent veggie kabob or bacon wrapped asparagus.

 

[aussiechic]

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!!!!!

I agree.
We are coming from Australia and i am currently on a diet but this is our once in a lifetime holiday and if i see something i want to try i will try it. I will try and eat healthy when i can but if i see something totally unhealthy that looks delicious i will try it
My new motto is YOLO you only live once so enjoy yourself

 

[Spirit Mage]

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.

This is exactly me. I'm at Disneyland, the exercise alone will compensate the eating. I usually do one meal, whatever I want, a coke (that I don't allow myself normally) and dessert OR a Dole Whip! Don't add stress to your trip, just go back on track when you get home.

 

[DizMe]

I think it's good to allow yourself treats and splurges, but I disagree with the idea of eating whatever you want because you're on vacation. For some people (like me!) that can lead to binging-type behavior and makes you feel cruddy. It can derail all the work you put into having healthier eating habits and then you have that nasty period of readjustment.

I think it's great for those who manage it without any problem, but these days I have to be careful. I used to be able to eat anything, any time but those days disappeared, oh, about 2 kids ago. It didn't help that those 2 kids came along when I was 47, LOL.

 

[keahgirl8]

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!

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.

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.

These replies already covered what I was going to say! I have been living a healthy lifestyle (diets are temporary in my experience) for just over a year. I had two DL trips during that time. The first was shortly after I started, so I did okay. The second I brought snacks, ate mostly healthy other than 1-2 treats a day, and tracked what I ate the best I could. On that trip, I lost 3.5 pounds! Since this is honestly the way I eat now, and I knew I was getting that treat every day, it wasn't too difficult. I actually think I enjoyed myself more, since I wasn't eating all of those heavy foods all day.

ETA: One example of a treat meal...A favorite of mine is the fried green tomato sandwich, so that was my treat that day. I ordered it without a side and no cheese. Then, I took the top part of the bun off. It tastes just as good to me! You can make small changes like that, or cut the portions on treats as well. Then you are not feeling deprived, but also not overeating. Man...I said a lot after I thought everyone took my answers! This is pretty much one of my favorite things to talk about, I'll admit.

 

[lisachrystine]

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.

Totally agree with you! I'm all about enjoying a small bit of something good. I find that I enjoy myself more and don't feel like I'm missing out.

On that trip, I lost 3.5 pounds!

I loose weight every time I go to DL. I call it my Disney diet - and promptly inform my family anytime that I want to loose a little weight that I must go back to DLR.

For me (and I know there are a lot of people who will disagree with me here), eating is something that I have to do to keep going when I'm there. I don't spend a ton of time or money eating. I have my favorite treats (churro, anyone?), but I usually snack and share food. If I ate any of those gigantic meals, I would want to go lay down instead of enjoying everything else DL has to offer.