Weight Watchers and WDW Restaurants

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Hi Everyone!

I just began Weight Watchers at the beginning of July, and so far, I'm doing well. My trip to WDW is in December, and already I'm concerned if it will be difficult to do Weight Watchers on vacation. I love my old standby of Chicken Caesar Salad, but I can't have that ALL the time. What about salad dressings? I know a lot of local places might have *Low* fat dressings, but how about *Fat Free*? Does anyone have experience on staying with Weight Watchers at our beloved Walt Disney World?

 

[jazum17]

I started ww in May of 2002, and that August we took a trip to Disney.
I ending up losing 11 lbs in the 12 days we were there. I tried to make well balanced and smart choices, I also had at least 1 snack a day chosen were every my family wanted to eat and since i love my desserts I had one every night either at the restaurant or walking around later in the evening. I did make sure I drank my water. Although I didn't count my points I did try to estimate from memory and keep it close to what I was allowed. MY sister in law who started with me and also vacationed with us that year only gained 3lbs. Good Luck if you have any questions I'll try and help.

 

[curlz2tite]

My past 2 trips 2006 (10 day) 2007 (8 day) I had the dining plan & I ate every thing I wanted. Appys & desserts,
I did stick to iced tea or water.
I didn't gain a thing because of all the walking . I have lost 70ish lbs & i was concerned about gaining so I was thrilled to get home & be at the same weight as when I left. So go & enjoy. just remember the vacation is over when you get home.

 

[Tink]

I am a lifetime member and this is the first time that I am going on the food plan. I am a little nervous since everyone says that it is a lot of food. I started WW again in January and have lost 30 pounds this go round (I did it for my wedding, after kids, etc)

The thing to remember is that really is a change in your eating mentality. You make sensible decisions but also remember that you only live once and you are on vacation. Will I have dessert every night? I don't know, but I will probably want Mickey bars since it is hot in August! I don't eat like that everyday, but vacations are the time for a little self indulgence.

Once you do WW for a while, you have a better eye for portions also. You may not eat everything on your plate, since you can judge when you are full and when you have had enough.

Don't forget that you do a lot of walking, drink water, and enjoy yourself. I will probably come back a few pounds heavier, but hey, I'll go back on the plan, and move on!

 

[curlz2tite]

Just one more thing , if you are flying & won't get to the store down there order your water at staples & have it shipped to the resort. My bag started out a bit heavy in the AM ,but it reminded me to keep drinking my water to lighten the load.

 

[estherhead]

I've been to WDW doing WW's. I lost 4 lbs that week. There is fruit available everywhere. Don't waste any calories on drinks. Free cups of water are available at all CS places.

As for your salads, I would just eat their regular dressing & ask for it on the side & then dip your bites into it. That way you can experience the yumminess without all the calories. You'd be surprised how little dressing you eat eating it this way instead of pouring it.

Other than that, I split a lot of meals with my dh. And I didn't have too much dessert, though I did have my favorites. And I think I ate french fries every single day. So you can do it without depriving yourself. Just make a few very smart choices every day & get at least one special treat each day. You'll have the whole Disney food experience without dooming yourself to failure.

When are you going? We'll be the first week of September & I'm gonna tell what I ate each day & if I lost or gained at the end of the week on my trip report.

 

[Boston5602]

I went for 6 days in June . I had joined WW in the end of March . I lost 4 1/2 lbs that week.

I had brought some breakfast bars with me and had decided I would choose good food choices until I started feeling deprived. I had fresh fruit and lots of water and turkey sandwiches. I also had french fries and ice cream sundaes and such !


Some good advice from my leader before I went on vacation was BEFORE you go decide if you are going to gain , maintain or lose weight on vacation. I was well prepared to have gained weight when I got home and I would not have been upset by it .

Good luck and enjoy yourself !

 

[ShesAPirate]

This is all good advice. I have been on WW since May, and I'm only 12 pounds away from goal banana. For my September trip, I'm not planning on ruling out any food. It's vacation! But I can see myself not finishing all my fries, because WW has taught me how to stop when I'm full.

Have fun, don't stress too much about it. All that water and walking will help a great deal!

 

[candlemakerw/twins]

When I was on WW for the first time we went to WDW. We asked for a fridge in our room and bought bread and turkey. I ate sandwiches for breakfast and brought one in my fanny pack each day for lunch. None of the counter service places seemed to mind. Then I tried to eat a sensible dinner.

Make the best choices you can, pick and choose your splurges (like one dessert a day not one at each meal) and pick your least favorite/important meal times and cut back there so you have room for what is most important to you.

Have fun!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Thanks so much for all the advice. I will be going to WDW on December 8th, for 6 nights, and it will be a SOLO trip.

My very favorite meal of the day is breakfast, and buffet style.

Most of the time I don't eat french fries, anyway, so I won't worry about that.

If I splurge, it might be something chocolate in Epcot World Showcase.

By the time December 8th arrives, maybe I'll decide I don't need to be so strict on vacation.

That would be so nice ! I have now lost 7.4 pounds since July 1st. I know I'm on my way to a healthy weight - but it seems too slow.

 

[Disfan3]

Hi...

I am a lifetime member...made goal in 2005 and have maintained for two years now.


Just wanted to say that the frozen fruit strawberry bars are DELISH and lower cal than the other ice cream stuff. There are not a lot of fat free dressings that I could find at WDW.

I was on the DDP by the way. The buffets have yummy fruit, veggies, lean meats and chicken, fish, etc.


I did not count points that week. Ate what I wanted within reason. Came bacK 3 pounds lighter AND MET GOAL!!!!

It can be done just remember to get back to couting and watching it when you get home....the vacations can really throw me off and I find it hard to get back on track at times. Keep your focus.


You could also do a modified core plan at WDW with some effort if you are really wanting to....

 

[stitchlover]

My two FAVORITE subjects...WW and WDW!

When we went on our first trip in March '06 I had started WW in January '06. When we went I was down 40 pounds and put on 3 while we were there. BUT let me just say it was alllllllll water weight. I didn't drink enough and when i went back for weigh in the very next week I was down 8 pounds.

So when we went back in March '07 I had reached lifetime and had been maintaining for 4 months. I had water shipped from Staples, I took snack bars for my backpack for during the day. Have a whole list of snack bars that range from 2 points to 3 points. This way I am not tempted by popcorn, ice cream, etc. for snacks. I also take my own WW muffins. If we don't have a breakfast character meal planned I eat a WW muffin, grab a piece of fruit at the food court and have some coffee with it. That really helps me keep on track while I'm there. BUT even this year being more aware I gained some weight...but lost it the first few days I was home. We were there 10 days and I just got tired of the bottled water we had ordered and stopped drinking like I should. I also take the 94% FF popcorn to pop in the resort microwave in the evening in case I need a little snack!

We also do the DDP and there are really some healthy options.

Oh yeah...I maintain a 115 pound weight loss.

 

[ShesAPirate]

Disfan, Stitchlover - congrats on reaching lifetime! That's so awesome! I hope to be joining that club soon

 

[DVCPAM]

Another tip on the salad dressings- Check your local supermarket's salad bar. Many of them sell individual packets of dressing for $.50 each. Maybe you could pack some in a ziploc to take with you and put one in your backpack each day when you enter the park. Just a thought!

(I'm a also on WW, 10 lbs down since end of June)

Good Luck!

 

[SandraVB79]

While I am on vacation, the only goal is to not gain (too much) weight. Sometimes I even loose weight.

Maybe other people have more "character" than I have, but if I am surrounded by all that lovely Disney-food, I can't keep away from it.

HOWEVER!

I limit myself:
No soda, unless Diet. There is no use in wasting points to sugared soda. Also, the more water you drink, the better!
I avoid most "snacks" like popcorn, rice crispie treats (don't like them anyway), chips, cookies, candy, ... My usual snack is a frozen lemonade or a Doel whip float. If I even buy one. I take some sugar free candy and chewing gum with me, that keeps my mouth busy.
Never appetizer AND dessert, unless I share with someone. I try to limit myself to an entree. I don't look out for the healthiest one on the menu, but I also don't order fried chicken with fries and more fried stuff

When at Disney, I eat breakfast and a late lunch/ early dinner + my snack (see above) and drink LOTS of water. And never gained weight, because I walk so much over there.
OK, sometimes I break my own rules, I am not perfect, but this worked for me

 

[OneBadApple]

Everyone gave you some great advice. I always ask for the dressing on the side whether it is regular, low fat or fat free. You use so much less this way. Definitely take some snack bars, I personally love the Kashi ones, for a quick snack at the parks. Maybe bring some instant oatmeal for breakfast (I'm sure you should be able to find some hot water at the food court) and grab some fruit.

I think the key is to not deprive yourself. If you want ice cream get it, just don't over do it. When I first made goal back in Aug of 2000, we had a vacation planned while I was on the 6 weeks of maintenance. I was so nervous, but I did very well. I came back with only a 1 pound gain.

Last year, when we were at WDW, I didn't "count" points, but I also didn't over indulge. I'm sure I came back heavier, but it wasn't a lot.

 

[smep013]

So excited to see this thread!
I'm 6 pounds from goal, with two weigh-ins before we leave for WDW!
Yikes!
I am worried about drinking my water. I drink about a liter a day, and I do not want to be running to the bathroom every 20 minutes!
I am planning to eat a WW breakfast, a smart lunch and a regular dinner, with taste of apps and desserts.
The poster above who talked about the WW mindset is right - after all this time on WW, we know what the right choices are and we know when we are full, etc.
It is vacation - so enjoy!

 

[SandraVB79]

I am worried about drinking my water. I drink about a liter a day, and I do not want to be running to the bathroom every 20 minutes!

You do drink other things than just that water too I hope?
I don't want to "interrogate" you, but wow... I think I have already been drinking 3 liters of water today. And there are still 8.5 hours left in this day!

 

[Disfan3]

You do drink other things than just that water too I hope?
I don't want to "interrogate" you, but wow... I think I have already been drinking 3 liters of water today. And there are still 8.5 hours left in this day!

The requirement is 8 cups a day if I remember correctly. That is really not all that much. I can't drink a ton of water either. I am in a classroom and cannot be running to the restroom every hour.


I hate to say this and please do not blast me but I really think the water is a good idea but it will not make or break your weight loss. What DOES is the points, measuring, staying on CORE (if that is what you do) and getting some excercise just speeds along the process. I can loose without exercise yes....but with it I loose faster and look better.


(I know this because I have not exercised in a while and even though I weigh less than I ever have...I look a bit more flabby.... )

 

[smep013]

You do drink other things than just that water too I hope?
I don't want to "interrogate" you, but wow... I think I have already been drinking 3 liters of water today. And there are still 8.5 hours left in this day!

There are 16.9 ounces in the typical water bottle. At work, I drink 4 of those. That equals 67.6 ounces. I am in the bathroom every 30 minutes or so. I drink more at home.

The recommended water in-take is 6-8, 8 ounce glasses, which would be 48-64 ounces/day.

I also have kidney stones, so I need to drink at liter a day.

FYI: 1 liter = 33.8140226 US fluid ounces

So I drink more than a liter I guess!