Weight Watchers Anyone???

[georgiapeach]

Let me start by saying that I am so very much in favor of vacationing from weight loss while on vacation from everything else. However, I would prefer to not come home with a several pound gain. I've lost 35 pounds since Thanksgiving, and I'd like to lose another 20. I've learned a lot about myself and my eating habits. Food is a really important part of vacation for me- the experience, as well as the actual food.

That being said, what strategies do you use for staying moderately healthy at Disney? I've considered focusing on cutting back on carbs, as I don't enjoy them as much as other foods. I don't mind skipping the fried foods, but I do want to try the figaro fries. I have a 2 year old and a 10 month old, so when we go to restaurants, I find that usually one adult portion can feed all 3 of us. I also figure that I'll burn a lot of calories with all of the walking. Also, I've been counting points for almost 6 months, and I've decided that I don't want to count points on vacation. My leader suggested doing the core plan, and even using maintenence points if I don't mind not losing.

We have two WDW trips coming up, one just a few days without the dining plan- we're doing Akerhause and Crystal Palace (both lunch), and the rest CS. But another trip that will be 7 days of free dining.

Has anyone else out there been in this situation??? How do you balance health and food-fun?

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

I have been doing weight watchers (flex plan) for over a year now. I have had 2 trips to WDW during that time. It is almost impossible to stay completely on plan during a trip because the point counts are just not available for anything at WDW. My biggest suggestion is to make fresh fruit your snacks most of the time. WDW is beginning to do a better job of having fresh fruits and healthier choices available. I really appreciate that. I just wish they would post nutritional values so we can make informed choices. It is very frustrating to me to come home and find I have gained 2-3-4-5 lbs. Especially with all of the extra activity. But I just can't resist some of the wonderful food choices that I enjoy on vacation. Sorry...I don't have lots of advice, but hey...WW is the way of life for me now and there will be times that I am on vacation and I can't make my meal choices fit in perfectly and I will gain a couple of pounds...but I will loose them again and get back on track. I have to live my life the best that I can and WW will still be in my life when I get home. Enjoy your trip, do the best you can do with food choices and get right back on the plan when you get home!

 

[photobob]

Congratulations on the weight lose, that's a terrific accomplishment. I'd say if you over do it one meal, go a bit lighter the next. Enjoy yourself, you can count your points when you get home. Don't go nuts but don't let a diet dictate your trip either..

 

[wahoostampingirl]

I've been to WDW 3 times since Jan. 07 and on each of those trips, I lost weight. I'm also a Weight Watcher member (just got to 35lbs today!), but I don't count points while on vacation. Instead, I try to plan for some indulgences that I REALLY want and I don't do much snacking.

For example, on my last trip, I knew I really wanted a chocolate dipped rice krispie treat rolled in Peanut Butter cups and pecans from Goofy's Candy Company. I happily ate that and maybe one or two other desserts while I was there (a 10 day trip).

At restaurants, I picked an entree and ate as much as I wanted to make me feel satisfied. Sometimes, I took leftovers back to the condo and sometimes I didn't. We occasionally got appetizers or desserts if a dish looked particularly good.

For the kids, I brought a bunch of little snack bags (some cookies, some chips, some dried fruit, crackers) and they ate these when they were hungry so we didn't buy that many snacks while we were there. It kept them happy and me away from high calorie treats.

Finally, one person in our group wore a pedometer and we kept track of how much walking we did every day. Even on our short days, we walked 2 or 3 miles. That really helps out with keeping the extra pounds away.

We weren't on the dining plan, but we do typically eat 2 meals a day at the parks or resorts. I was just talking to a member at my WW meeting this morning about Disney. She had a small gain after her trip (with the Dining Plan), but was still happy with it since she hadn't counted at all.

Enjoy your trips!

 

[ImaFunMom]

I eat more slowly and focus on the food. I try to stop when I am first getting full. So, sometimes I eat 1/2 my food (dessert and all) and sometimes I eat 3/4 of it. When I eat slowly and chew each bite, etc., I never eat all my food.

I also do better if I have some protein at each meal. Keeps me feeling fuller longer.

Congrats on your weight loss!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

My wife is a lifetime WW member. Since she lost 95lb about 8 years ago we have changed our eating habits at the world. For breakfast we only eat out 1 or 2 times times on our trip. The rest of the time we eat cereal, yougurt etc. in the room. For lunch we either split a meal or each have a salad. We save our calories for dinner and any other snacks around the world. Make sure you drink plenty of water, this really helps us. I must say that even though we are watching what we eat we still eat anything we want while at the world. It's just about how you space your meals out. We still have to get French Toast Loaf from the Main st. Bakery and rice creme from the Norway bakery. We always have to split a burger and onion rings at Beaches and Creme. Good luck and keep going on WW. I'm sure you will do great on your vacation.

 

[Villains_Rock]

I'm 2 lbs away from goal and I know exactly what you're up against!! I hate to say it, but I am one of those people who splurge on their vacation. I eat the fudge apples, the creme brulee, the milkshakes, fried chicken and the cheese soup!! I do notice several lbs gained when I return, however I have found that this is water weight!! No really! If you stick to tracking everything and get some activity points in that first week that you return you just might weight in at the same or less than you were before the trip. I work for an airline and travel quite a bit...I never let the travel poundage get my down...because with a little added effort it comes right off in no time!

 

[sweetcaroline11960]

I'm not a WW member, but have been on my own trying to lose some weight since having a baby in January. I've lost 15 lbs so far and am 3 lbs away from goal, and leave for our Orlando trip tomorrow - so I can relate to your fears!!

However, I also went on a vacation two weeks ago to the beach, wasn't very active at all other than a short workout in the morning, and ate everything I wanted including several trips to DQ for Blizzards. When I got back I found I had gained 4 lbs - but I just got right back on track with my weight loss plan and they melted right off!!! Within a week I was back where I was before vacation.

So, I plan to enjoy myself while on this trip as well and know that it will all be OK in the end!! I think with all the walking there really isn't much to worry about - and food is a big part of vacationing. IMO, life is too short to spend vacations counting calories!!

Good luck!!!

 

[daisy112878]

My mom just got back from WDW and she's been on WW since November as well. She's lost over 30lbs now. She was at WDW from friday to the next sunday and only gained 1 lb. They had the DDE so no dining plans or anything else. They ate when they were hungry and my mom never stuffed herself even if she really wanted that one extra bite. She said usually she ate half of her entree at TS meals and she tried to go to some places that had salads. Her and my dad always split desserts and apps.

 

[Jennifer815]

I've done Weight Watchers in WDW before, and it is a challenge. It involves a lot of guesswork and estimating. Like some of the other posters said, the snack options especially fresh fruit, are vastly improved, and very often you can swap out fries at CS places for carrots or apples.

I'm working with another program now (SparkPeople) and am going to WDW in June. I want to enjoy my vacation, but I don't want to comeback heavier than where I started--I think breaking even would be fine. That's what I'm shooting for. That said, these are the things I'm doing.

--Checking out menus and planning ahead. I'm trying to write up a sort of rough plan before I go, and giving myself two options at each place we're going to eat. This way, I've already considered my options ahead of time, which for me, reduces the likelihood of making a less-healthy choice.

--Adopting the "2 and 1" plan. I decided that I was going to make healthier choices for two meals a day and have one "splurge" meal a day. What meal it is depends on the day--character breakfast one day, Yachtsman's Steakhouse another. That way I'm getting to enjoy and indulge, and in doing so won't feel "deprived" with the other meals.

--Sticking to water for beverages wherever I can, and healthy snacks. Sure, I might have a Mickey Bar, but not every day.

Those are my big plans. I think the important thing is to enjoy your vacation and not beat yourself up no matter what the scale says at the end of the day. You're not going to gain 30 pounds on vacation! With a little planning ahead of time, you can make it work. Good luck, and have fun!

 

[georgiapeach]

Thanks for all of the support, advice and tips. It's helpful to know others are in the same place.

I struggle with deciding if "vacation means great food" is a mantra that I need to change, like, "eat when you're bored" or if it's ok view vacation as a time to indulge. I guess it's some where in the middle. I liked the 2 healthy meals and 1 splurge meal a day idea.

I'll try to remember to post how it went.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I'm a lifetime member but I'm currently over goal (never lost all of my baby weight). My plan for our upcoming trip is similar to what another poster said--I'm going to stick to plan for 2 meals a day and let the third (table service) meal be the splurge (within reason). What that'll probably look like is having breakfast in the room -- I plan to bring my own cereal from home so I have a healthy choice -- and splitting a counter service lunch with DH.

For the splurge meals, I plan to eat what I want but not go crazy. For example, we're having lunch at Le Cellier. I want that cheddar cheese soup in the worst way so I'm getting it! DH has his eye on an appetizer as well so I think we will split the filet as our entree. Dessert is a huge weakness for me so I'm trying to limit it to one dessert per day--split with DH.

I'm going to try to journal as best I can while I'm there. I know it'll be a lot of guesswork, but I think even attempting to track things keeps me honest. If I don't journal at all it seems so much easier to just throw caution to the wind and let it become a free for all!

Good luck to all of us!

 

[mommytomy3]

I hate to say it, but I am one of those people who splurge on their vacation. I eat the fudge apples, the creme brulee, the milkshakes, fried chicken and the cheese soup!! I do notice several lbs gained when I return, however I have found that this is water weight!! No really! If you stick to tracking everything and get some activity points in that first week that you return you just might weight in at the same or less than you were before the trip. I work for an airline and travel quite a bit...I never let the travel poundage get my down...because with a little added effort it comes right off in no time!

I agree with this! I just got back from a 10 day trip as well, and I didnt count 1 point while I was there, and ate what I wanted.(and omg is was soo good! french toast, mickey waffles with butter and syrup! yum! things I would NEVER eat at home!!) When I got back home, I weighed myself and was up 2 pounds. 1 week later, after back to counting points and exercising, I was right where I was before we left for our trip! Enjoy yourself!

 

[minniebeth]

It has definately gotten easier to eat good with some creativity at WDW.
I too recommend looking at the menus in advance and knowing the menus and which places will provide what you enjoy and can also provide balance.
Crystal Palace, and other buffets offer a great variety of salads, fruit and low fat options like cold cuts, etc. I like to take a lot of the healthier items to fill up on and a little splurge plate where I take one or two bites of a treat, enough to satisfy my wants but not enough to really do any damage.

Moderation, balance is key but defiantely enjoy some of the treats you really would like.
Creativity, is great, I like to cut up fried chicken strips up into salads, even burgers. Sharing is also key, the portions are so large in many places. We would get a few snacks, like a pretzel, a Mickey Bar and an orange among us and share it all so we got a little of each of our favorites.
Don't feel like you need to throw your hard work out the window with the DDP...we did great with it and ate smart with planning!
Good Luck and Enjoy!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I agree with the earlier poster, if you do gain most of it is water which melts away again after a couple of weeks of diet and exercise. I must confess I eat anything and everything on vacation as I am fairly good the rest of the year. Its part of what makes it a vacation for me! Have fun!!

 

[MareSINY]

I've been on WW since early January and I've lost 44 pounds so far. I'm currently doing Core but thinking of switching back to Flex (getting bored.) I plan on eating on my trip in August! I'm not going to worry about calories or anything else. I am sure everything I've learned doing WW will help keep me in check and I wont go totally hog wild, but I do plan on enjoying myself. I have some favorites I'm really looking forward to having while I'm there.

I'm taking a trip to Texas for two weeks in July and that trip I plan on being good, I'll do my best to stay on plan and eat healthy so that I wont feel guilty splurging on my trip to Disney!

10 minutes to lunch, I'm starving today! Can't wait to eat! LOL

 

[georgiapeach]

I've never posted a message that people have ever replied to so much. I feel so popular!

Anyway, I need to edit my original post, after my weigh in today, I've now lost 37 pounds!!!! I'm so thrilled with losing weight. I can't believe how hopeless I felt before WW, and how easy it seems with them.

We leave Saturday morning, and I'm soooo excited. The girls are packed, but DH and I need to throw some clothes in the suitcase!

I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I ate and drank what I wanted without regard to how many points, calories, etc. but I don't think I went really overboard. I also walked 100 miles a day. (Well, maybe I exaggerate but it felt like it.) It's a wonder a body could gain weight with all that walking!!!

Anyway, I agree that it may just be water weight because it has been only the 4th day back home and I have already dropped 4 of the 5 pounds. I think you should forget the diet, enjoy your vacation, and get right back on the program as soon as you return.

I compare it to the 35 bonus points per week. Vacation is an unlimited point bonus week per year.

Have a great time!

 

[scubamouse]

I think of points as a budget so if I want a big dinner, I have to 'save' for it at breakfast and lunch. Also remember you'll have activity points you've earned that you can 'spend'

DH and I split desserts, a few small tastes will do and I don't feel like I'm depriving my self. Sometimes we'll split appetizers, sometimes not.

We send down a box of balance gold bars for ourselves and that's our breakfast as we wait at the rope drop. They're a great mix of carbs/protein/fat and 200 calories (~4 points). We adore the seared tuna salad at the Soarin food court and it's well w/in points. Choosing fish over red meat is also a lower point option

Avoid sugared sodas during the day and you should be just fine. Being aware of what you're eating will do wonders for letting you maintain or lose. I eat what I want but don't overeat at Disney and I always lose a pound or two.

Congrats on your loss

 

[georgiapeach]

seems a lot of you have 3-5 pound gains after WDW, but then quickly lose it. I agree that it's water weight, but I'm just surprised by it. My leader was talking about how we retain water when we first start to exercise because the muscles need it to repair themselves. Perhaps this is what's happening? I appreciate the heads up on that, as I won't freak out if I'm up a bit when we get back.