Weight Watchers at WDW?

[bangzoom6877]

I follow Weight Watchers, specifically the Core plan which is the one that involves way less counting than the Flex (points) plan that most people are familiar with.

Has anyone had experience with Weight Watchers at WDW, on either of their 2 plan options? I am going in July, have ADRs at all-you-can-eat restaurants (Breakfasts at Hollywood& Vine and Chef Mickey's; dinners at Liberty Tree Tavern, Crystal Palace, Boma, Ohana, Biergarten). I am very weak on program when going on vacation. I survived last summer following maintenance in Lancaster County, PA and lost 0.8 of a pound that week, but it was only a 2-night trip! This is a total of a 2-week trip, with 5 nights 6 days at WDW, plus we are driving down from NYC and also visiting family in Boca Raton, FL for 4 nights before we head to WDW. We are on the regular dining plan too, and paying OOP for the 2 breakfasts we are going to.

I know we will be doing a lot of walking, so that's good. I am a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers since mid-November so following maintenance. Anyone out there who can help me?

Thanks,
Bonnie

 

[tiggercrew]

First, congratulations on your weight loss! I am also a lifetime member of WW (since 9/07) and visited WDW 3 times last year with only one trip after I reached my goal. I am on the Flex plan but decided to not count points while I was on vacation. I felt like I wasn't going to have a very accurate count anyway. I walked a lot, drank lots of water (especially in July), and chose healthy selections as often as I could. I lost weight on two of the trips and maintained on the last even after eating desserts at a few places. We ate at several buffets and I chose to eat salads/fruit to fill up a little before I headed to the entrees.

I understand your concern, especially after working so hard to lose the weight, but I really think you will do fine. I would suggest you check out menus before you go and have an idea of what you plan to order so that you aren't as tempted. Also, remember it is vacation so enjoy yourself.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I am on my fourth week of WW and have lost 8.6 pounds, now just 40 more to go When we go, I am going to do the same, drinks lots of water and make good choices but not actually count points. The way I feel I am going to be walking a lot and it should even out in the end..

 

[bangzoom6877]

I have checked out the menus and there are many healthy choices, even salads at CS restaurants. And I know fruit is included in the snack options on the DDP.

I think what I will do is what I follow on Core...eat to satisfaction, not enough to make me overly full or stuffed with a stomachache. But of course I will nto only be eating by the core food list. I think as long as I have little bits of favorites here and there I will be fine. Fruits and veggies will fill me up and I will try my best to avoid fried foods whenever I can. The challenge for me is 2 different things...bread/baked goods and desserts. Only 2 breakfast buffets so the baked goods thing should not be too much of an issue (the other days we are having cereal in the room to get to the parks quickly with 2 little ones). It will only be 5 nights at WDW on the 2-weeks trip and I can try and make better choices on the drive down too.

What about rest areas on I-95 from NY to FL? Anything healthy? I suppose one slice of pizza for lunch would be all right too. Or maybe I can find a place with salads on the road.

Thanks everyone,
Bonnie

 

[morgy827]

I went for a week to Walt Disney World 2 years ago when I was on the counting plan. I followed it but also allowed myself some treats that I knew I would regret not having ie. the mickey ears ice cream bar (which, by the way, I think is about 10-12 points each...but totally worth it). I was so scared to step on the scale when I got home but I had actually lost 2 pounds. No one could believe that I lost weight while on vacation but I guess all the walking and water help. So don't worry and have fun. That is what Weight Watchers is for...it allows you to have flexibility but still lose weight.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've not done WW, but I have tried to do Atkins maintenence at WDW. Here are my observations:

1. The no sugar mousse at the Norway bakery was excellent! Ther are also a few other low calorie and low sugar treats at WDW. Keep an eye out, but beware, low sugar might not = low calorie!

2. Fresh fruit and fresh veggies at WDW are very limited, in general. There are places to eat salad, but eating salad twice a day for a whole week will kill a person! Many entrees (thanks to dining plan?) at TS places SAY they come with a veggie, but the veggie they list is really more of a garnish. If you want a veggies with your TS meal, you largely have to order one a la carte. Ask your server about quantities! The best resort QS for fruit and veggies is Pepper MArket at CSR.

4. You can get fresh fruit at certain stands (in each park) as your snack. You can also find limited fruit at breakfast. Bananas run out. Grapes can be found. Otherwise, if you can pick up some fresh fruit on your way to WDW, it's a good idea OR bring a few key things from home maybe.

5. The good news is that if you keep a good pace at WDW, you won't gain weight. If you are the kind who only goes to the parks for four hours at a time, mosies everywhere, sees lots of shows, naps, watches tv at night, and gets the deluxe dining plan - then yeah - you are going to gain weight. If you are at a park at 9am, and keep moving until 11pm every night, you'll do much better!

6. The tricky thing for me was not WHILE I was at WDW - my metabolism spedsup and I can eat more since I am burning extra calories. The tricky thing for me was not gaining weight after I got HOME! My body still wanted to eat at the same pace. I usually gain a couple of pounds in the week after a trip to WDW, until I get myself under control again.

 

[smep013]

Hi there - congrats on your weight loss. I am a WW lifetime member (October 2007) and had two trips before reaching maintenence. One was 7 nights and the other a shorter birthday trip during food and wine!

My best advice is to try to keep up with your water intake (you can get free ice water at any counter service or snack cart.) Walk a lot (how can you avoid that one) and eat two light meals if you plan to eat a big dinner.

We took along breakfast bars for breakfast and at lunch, I made a healthy selection (salad, "smart" sandwich, grapes/apples instead of fries/chips). At dinner, I ordered what I wanted and even had dessert every night. The thing is, I get full more quickly now, so I could not finish my entire dinner all the time, though some nights, I did.

On the 7 night trip, I think I ended up gaining just 1 pound or so, which I lost the very next week.

Have fun and don't worry - make smart choices and you will be fine.

 

[agoofylover]

Congrats! I am a lifetime member 10/06. I do the flex plan. We went to Disneyland in 9/06 and I decided no counting! Actually I think I might have lost a pound by the end of the trip. I just did my best to limit the "junk" and make sure to drink my water. I think I sweated and walked enough to make up the rest of the difference. I am hoping to do the same in WDW. You just can't say "no" to some things.....churros!

agoofylover

 

[MEM]

I'll be following WW during our upcoming trip in June/July. I'm much more worried about gaining during our week at Vero Beach than I am once we get to the BCV.

I eat much differently now than a few months ago - I don't need an entire Mickey ice cream bar - just one of the ears and DH can eat the rest. With the exception of a glass of wine, I no longer "drink" my calories but stick with water. I can't do artificial sweeteners but plan my sugar intake carefully. That approach actually makes WW feel more like the lifestyle change its supposed to be rather than a diet.

I actually sat down with some of the WDW menus and planned a typical day at the World. Breakfast might be a Curves bar and a banana. Lunch would be the BBQ sandwich (without the bun) at Flametree BBQ with the tiny cup of baked beans and maybe a quarter of the corn muffin. Dinner might be shrimp and mussels at the Cape May Clambake or the Mahi-Mahi at Coral Reef, saving my points for the Chocolate Wave.

I am of the mindset that there's really nothing I can't have - I just have to plan for it. Combine that approach with walking 7-10 miles a day and I am not at all worried about gaining.