Weight Watchers And Going To Disney

[venneram71]

My DH and I are starting our 6th week of WW. I have lost 25 lb and he has lost 12.

Next month we are planning to go to Disney to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary.

Since we have been very good at changing our habits and making good choices and we want to continue to do so on vacation.

My question is...

What did you do about being on WW while you were on vacation at Disney? (There are so many great places to eat.)

What places do you suggest to eat where we can make good choices?

How did you determine what foods were what points?

How did you plan?

We are interested in eating at the following places.

Momma Melrose (MGM)
Crystal Palace (MK)
Marrakesh (Epcot)

We have exactly one month until we go and I am trying to plan for success!

Thanks for all your ideas in advance!!

 

[WDWLVR]

I would think the best first step is to look over the menus for where you are looking at eating. There is a menu database you can get to from the main page of the DIS. There is also one at Deb Wills page - wdwig.com

Then use what you have learned on weight watchers as far as portion size and points and that should give you a rough idea of what certain meal will be point wise. Might not be as 100% accurate but it is vacation and you should be able to enjoy yourself a little

Congratulations on your success so far.

 

[KathyTX]

Some recommendations from one who has "been there", and who managed to come home from a week at WDW weighing less than when she got there:

* Start your day with a WW-style breakfast: sensible cereal with skim milk and fruit, low-fat yogurt are good choices. (Resort restaurant breakfasts can be really tricky, with all that sausage, bacon, biscuits, and cheesy stuff! It's easy to use a whole day's worth of points at a breakfast buffet, so I avoid them.)

* Plan one "larger" and one "smaller" meal each day- if you're planning a Mama Melrose dinner, plan a very light lunch, for example.

* When you're hungry for a snack in the parks, seek out the fruit stands instead of the Mickey bars. Take some portable high-energy snacks with you in your pack: dried fruits, granola bars, nuts.

* You can find menus for the restaurants you're planning to visit at Deb Wills' site: www.wdwig.com. Study the menus and identify the more on-plan choices ahead of time. Try to avoid creamy sauces, cheesy dishes, high-fat dressings. Save those points for dessert (see below!)

* Desserts- you're on vacation! Live a little! If a dessert is really calling your name (I'm a chocoholic... life's just not as much fun without some sinful chocolate desserts now and then. ) I would go for it! Again- you can exercise some portion control here. Share a dessert, or just eat half. If you can't control yourself and just have to clean the plate, SAVOR EVERY BITE! You're going to walk off lots of calories at the parks. (I would try not to do this every day...)

* You can afford to splurge a bit on some meals... enjoy those unusual and unique offerings, but remember that you do not need to eat a *huge* portion to enjoy your meal! Leave some on your plate, or share...

* Burgers and fries are among the WORST on-the-go meal choices. Most of the quick-meal places have at least one lower-fat option, and you can often get a fruit or a salad instead of fries.

* You will do TONS of walking!

* Drink LOTS of water! You can buy bottled water all over the place in the parks.

(I really love Marrakesh- I think it's one of the most unique WDW restaurants!)

I did not try to actually count points when I was at WDW. I would have made myself crazy doing that... I just tried to make good choices based on what I had learned. I considered it practice for when I'm on maintenance.

Have a terrific anniversary trip!

 

[tiggerlover]

WDWLVR has the right idea, I think this is what I would do as well. Additionally, I would pack some "safe" or low point snacks that you could carry with you through the parks to cut down on some temptations.

Congratulations on your success, have a wonderful 2nd anniversary!

 

[Disneyaholic]

Another thought might be to split an entree. Each of you can have a salad, 1/2 the entree, and if you want it, split dessert. Saves $$ AND points. If you want to try more than one thing on the menu, you can always go back again! <G>

 

[jwfla422]

We're heading to WDW in about 5 1/2 weeks. I just started WW about a week and a half ago and plan to stick to it as close as I can.

I do not plan to count points while at WDW, but I do plan to be sensible. If we do go to a breakfast buffet I plan to just get one plate of "sensible" food, skipping the bacon and higher fat or higher "point" items - but I do plan to eat a bigger breakfast than usual and make my lunch a little smaller.

You walk so much at WDW and wake early and go to bed late you really need the energy. A bowl of cereal and milk would have my tummy rumbling by 10am so I plan to eat some eggs or some type of substantial protein.

More than anything I plan to stick to "portion" control as much as possible. I've been printing menus from Deb's website and will bring them with so I can get an idea of what to have each day so I will have control of what I eat, I think preparation is the key.

Just thought I'd fill you on my plan-hopefully I'll be able to stick with it. Have a great time!!

 

[trola2]

Thanks to all for your great tips! I'm so glad this thread was started. We've got 74 days until our trip and I want t make sure that I can make the best choices possible, but still have fun and enjoy. Eating at Disney is a big part of our trip. There are no restaurants where we live, so eating is a BIG focus when we are there!!

~~Beth

 

[maryliz]

Ditto to everything said above !!! I lost weight at WDW in August and I ate anything I pleased! A sensible breakfast, and only one larger meal a day has always been our "way" at WDW, even before I started this weight-loss journey. So in that respect, nothing changed for me this time around. I did find that protein bars, rice cakes, and raisins were my better snack choices than Mickey Bars (I did have ONE though). If I was really craving something more delicious, a pudding tube for 2 points did the trick for me ... and they don't take up much room in your suitcase or your fanny pack.

Enjoy your trip ...

Mary Liz

 

[SnackyStacky]

What KathyTX said!

Make healthier choices, and don't bother with trying to count your points, cause you'll go nuts.

Jave fun, remember that you'll be doing in excess of 10 miles of walking a day. If you just eat half of what they give you, and make healthy choices, you'll be fine.

And if you gain, you gain. Just get back on program when you get back from Disney World, and you'll be fine!

 

[rasnlms]

All these tips are great - DH and I are just back on WW and going to WDW in December. I have to stop stressing over what we'll eat - I'll be better off.

 

[KathyTX]

bumping for a new Weight Watcher.

 

[minnie56]

Thanks! Lots of help and good tips here.

 

[KimRaye]

Thanks for bumping Kathy! I'm not going to WDW , but I AM leaving on a 10 day trip Friday, and I found this thread both helpful, and supportive of my own WW plan while I'm gone.

 

[perfectmatch300]

We live here now, & have been taking full advantage of frequent trips to WDW! Of course, that means a lot of meals there, too!

My best tip is to remember that most WDW restaurants are really good about substituting a healthy item if you ask them. I'm not doing WW, so I can't help there, but I've had very good luck sticking to my Atkins plan with some simple item substitution requests. I usually replace my potato with veggies or salad, & still have a wonderful meal without feeling deprived. I also love buffets because I can pick & choose exactly what items I want to eat & simply skip the ones that aren't on my plan.

If anyone coming down here is interested in a DIS Meet, let me know. DH & I are in a park at least once a week now, & we love to meet other DISers!

 

[ibouncetoo]

The really GREAT thing about WW, is it teaches you how to eat in the real world Just apply what you've been learning. There are many opportunities for wholesome food. Just plan ahead what you want your 'treat' to be....if it's a Mickey Bar....hot dog and fries at Casys.....s'mores at 50s Prime Time, know that you'll be having it at some point. This has worked for me..when I see something (everything!) I want I'll just say to myself, "no, I'll wait, I'd rather have a Zebra Dome at Boma"

....are you all sick of hearing my "I'd rather have a zebra dome" line yet????

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by ibouncetoo
when I see something (everything!) I want I'll just say to myself, "no, I'll wait, I'd rather have a Zebra Dome at Boma"

This is actually the attitude I have NOW at home while anticipating my cruise. My mother didn't think it was a good idea to read all of the menus but I'm finding it inspiring. Nothing I can make in my own house is nearly as enticing as some of the things on the cruise. So I say to myself "do you want this now or do you want [insert just about any cruise dessert here] in November".

I found at Disneyland that one of the best things was kids meals. Not only did I save money (in take way, not sit down) but it also helped with portion control. I got to have pasta but not a massive adult sized, definitely not WW, portion. I still gained on that trip but it included my first cruise ever and so I considered it impressive to only gain 3 pounds...plus that was early on in my WW so I'm sure I'd do better now!

 

[linda_pizzuro]

There are a few things I try to do while at WDW. My boyfriend and I usually share whatever we have for lunch. Of course his 15 year old son get a full meal (oh to be young again). We are pin collectors and in order to get the Disney Kellogs pin you need three coupons from cereal. Well, we bought three boxes of Shreaded Wheat last December to get our pin in DTD and each day we brought some cereal in a zip lock bag. I LOVE this cereal and it was great to eat while waiting on line when you get the munchies. Drink plenty of water and walk walk walk. Yes, I did have a Mickey bar (just one) a dole whip and we always eat at 'Ohana and I came home losing weight (not much but much better than gaining). I understand the desire to stay on program, especially with all the hard work you did, but you also need to enjoy yourself at Disney. Honestly, you might look at something you once loved and say to yourself "is this worth it". If it is, have it (maybe share it). Decide for yourself.

Linda

 

[TDERadulski]

I'm a new WW and amd heading to WDW in 11 days!!
BUmping this thread to see if there are any other options/ideas out there...espicially with the new core program.

- Tara

 

[linda_pizzuro]

First of all, best wishes with your new WW life. I feel like I have been doing it forever - starting and stopping - and I still have more to lose but I am keeping at it. As far as the Core goes - I tried it for a week and did not like it. But I know the flex plan so well this might be part of the reason. I have certain foods that help keep me on program and could not eat these on Core. Went out to dinner once the week I was doing Core and could not get anything on the menu (it was Italian food and everyone thing was prepared in sauses) so I just got my best choice and only ate half. Check out the menus on allearsnet website but I think you will find most things in sauces. I understand wanting to stay on program since you have just started but my best advise is what I said in my previous post and also not to deny yourself too much or you will just get frustrated and go off completly. Only other suggestion would be you can usually get salads most places. I generally bring my own ff dressing.
Linda

 

[plutosmyfav]

This is a great thread. Just in time for me

I'm so excited about my trip. I am keeping in mind that I usually come home quite disgusted with myself for bingeing while at WDW. Even with all the walking (and I am quite a park commando) I usually gain 8 or more lbs. Not this time! I am going with a good attitude

In fact, I don't plan to pack the "big" clothes. I usually pack some big clothes knowing I will be bloated by the end of the vaca.