Weight Watchers throughout the World

[UrsulasShadow]

So, on my solo trip in December, I can choose restaurants for me, and me alone. I am an adventurous eater, so the differenter, the betterer . I have never done Disney while watching my intake, so I know something about most restaurants, but I DON'T know which ones offer up the best choices for a Weight Watcher on Core plan. I love whole grains, so I figure Jiko may be one of the places to go, and I love fresh fruit and inventive uses of veggies w/o a lot of added fat and sugar. Any experiences out there?

 

[kjs1976]

I actually like the buffets because you can load up on salad and fruit and just sample some of your other favs that you don't want to go over board on.

Pecos Bills is good for counter service because of their chicken salad. Even when I'm at my hungriest, I can never seem to finish it...it's big! Tommorrow Land Noodle Terrace is good too. They have veggie and meat or tofu offerings and I usually give most fo my rice to my DH or just dump it.

The Plaza has a good strawberry chicken salad....again, very filling. I pretty much get a salad where ever I go at WDW and was only disappointed one time and that salad isn't offered anymore anyway!

Hope this helps!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Thanks for the suggestions! Any more?

 

[goofie4goofy]

I can only tell you waht I do...hope it helps you!

We love breakfast at Kona Cafe. Not only do they make a great kona coffee presspot, but they have a fresh fruit plate which is sliced melons, a little yogurt a bit of granola and a slight drizzle of honey.
Sometimes I order an egg white omlett with tomatoes and mushrooms with dry rye toast, you can order this anywhere. it is a special order but easily accommodated.

I also love the salad at Pecos bills....it's very large but ask for dressing on the side. At the Brown Derby they make a tuna cobb salad, which is much less fattening than the original...again dressing on the side and I omit half the avacodo. The sushi bar in Japan is another favorite. I stay away from rolls and have a plate of Eda mame - boiled soy beans, and tuna sashimi, about 4 peices are filling and I remove some of the rice. If we go to Mexico, I have a taco salad I order it with no cheese, no sour cream and no dressing instead I use salsa for the dressing. I have 14 taco chips (150 cals) and I do not eat the shell that the salad is in. I count out the 14 chips and put them in front of me and I know that is all I am going to eat. I used to love frozen margaritas but I recently found out there is over 800 calories in 1 drink so that is out.
As a snack I like a glass of champagne and choc covered strawberry in France.

For dinner it's always a salad first (dressing on the side) things like shrimp cocktail are a great lean protein low cal appetizer too. I have chicken or fish sometimes a steak if it's a lean cut...never anything fried or sauced (you can ask for the sauce on the side too). Watch out for the killer keywords of creamy, smothered, sauteed...well you know them. you can ask for extra veggies on your plate too. I take the starch and have a golf ball size of it and leave the rest. I like to have my dinner plate to be 1/2 veggies, 1/4 lean protein and 1/4 starch. My DH and I sometimes share a dessert. I never have bread from the bread basket. You can eat like this in most any WDW restaurant, I have never had a problem.

I drink tons of water. I stay away from high salt items like soups, popcorn, hotdogs, turkey legs, and fattening stuff like sugared nuts, cookies, cakes, ice cream. I find the food at WDW to be highly salted anyway and some are just worse than others. I will have a Dole Whip without the vanilla ice cream. I also love the chocolate mousse in France, but I have about 3-4 spoons of it then it goes in the garbage.

Having alcoholic drinks can really sneak the cals in on you. The lowest calories are wine, champagne and I also love vanilla vodka in diet coke. Mojitos are a good choice too - surprisingly low in calories.

I eat like this all the time, not just on vacation. I have learned that you can have a taste of anything you want, but don't have to eat the whole thing. It took a while but I have learned to slow down and think about the food and how much is a portion. The portions at WDW are huge, I think larger than any place else. So knowing what a portion looks like is very important espically when on vacation and trying to stick to a plan.

Protein is the size of a deck of cards. Starches are the size of a golf ball. healthy veggies are unlimited. Fruits the size of a baseball. Also remembering to eat something every 3 hours.

 

[Jobie]

You are on vacation! Wife and I also do Weight wacthers, but when we are on vacation, we forget about it. LOL

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I agree with the buffet thing. It depends on your own leanings, but my strategy is to eat a lot of fruits and veggies so I don't find myself wanting the bad things, and even if I do, I can stop at a bite. At a buffet, I can eat two plates of salad, a bowl of soup, some protein (fish, turkey, chicken, steak maybe) and I'm full! If I want dessert, I can eat just a bite and not feel guilty like if I ordered a whole one, you know?

I would recommend calculating how many extra activities points you would burn. You will likely walk a few miles each day and burn a lot of calories- depending on your plans and weight, etc. you could add 10 points or more to your daily points values which would make sticking to the plan a lot easier.

If there are really yummy special treats you want, be sure to include them- a Mickey bar, or a cocktail, etc. but share them or eat them only once or twice.

Make sure you get in at least five fruits and veggies a day. If you are filled up on salads, fruits and veggies, you will want to eat less of the other stuff.

Start the day with a healthy breakfast whether TS, CS or in room. Oatmeal, egg white omelet, fruit, yogurt parfait, etc. Skip juices (liquid calories don't fill you up) and sugary or fatty treats. And don't skip breakfast! Especially when you're so active!

Don't keep tempting candies and treats in your room. If you want a piece of chocolate, buy one or two pieces and savor them- don't buy a box and keep it in the room.

I think any restaurant would be willing to accomodate you if you have special requests, too- any restaurant will make a grilled shrimp or grilled chicken breast over salad, or an egg white omelet for example.

Here are some of my favorite healthy options:

Shrimp Cocktail or other steamed seafood or ceviche (most restaurants have this- like 50s PT, Brown Derby, Narcoossee's, Coral Reef, bluezoo, Le Cellier, san Angel Inn, Yachtsman, etc.)

Brothy Soups (chicken noodle at 50s PT, minestrone at Mama Melrose, Tortilla at San Angel Inn, chicken noodle at Kona, Conch Chowder (red, low cal, not creamy) at Olivia's, roasted butternut squash at Narcoossee's, Jungle safari veggie soup at RFC) and you can always get French onion soup without cheese, which is half the calories and fat!

Filet mignon is very lean compared to most other meats and many restaurants have this, too (Le Cellier, Yachtman, etc.)

Kona cafe offers many broiled fish and seafood dishes that taste fabulous.

Salads (every place has them. You can always ask for dressing on the side, or buy a bottle of light dressing and bring it with you)

vegetarian entrees like bean and veggie chili or veggies burgers are good choices, too! Dozens of CS places at each park offer these two choices (like CHH, Cosmic Ray's, Rosie's, etc.)

Always remember you can get sauces or dressings on the side or sub other sides for fries, etc.

Don't worry too much, though. Make healthy choices most of the time, include your favorites and focus on all the fun you're having!!!

 

[TwingleMum]

On the community BB there is a WISH BB they are the diet experts and I think there are diet specific BB where you can ask WW experts. Hope it helps.

 

[christianweecare]

You are on vacation! Wife and I also do Weight wacthers, but when we are on vacation, we forget about it. LOL

To those of you that can maintain your diet regimen while on vacation, my hat is off to you! DH & I just can't do it. DH, DS, & I have all changed our eating habits since the first of the year. Each of us have lost @ 50 lbs. a piece. Bravo for maintaining your diet while on vacation! As for us, we will take a break from our diet for a short while then get right back on the regimen whenever we return home. Good luck and have fun!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

The reason I'm stressing over this is, last Christmas I was at WDW, and I mostly ate my way around the World. Thoroughly enjoyed it, but when I got back and saw all the pictures of myself, I knew that finally I would have to do something about the weight. I joined WW in Feb, have lost almost 60 lbs, and now I've booked a return visit for the same time of year...it's kind of like facing my demons. I just want as much ammo as possible to fight those fat-nasties with. Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions! I think I will post this on the WISH board as well...maybe more folks there will have had further experience.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

You are on vacation! Wife and I also do Weight wacthers, but when we are on vacation, we forget about it. LOL

I may be on vacation from work, but I'm never on vacation from myself...and I can't afford to let up to that degree. It may work for some folks to go on "diet vacations", but it is a "recipe for disaster" for me!

 

[goofie4goofy]

I may be on vacation from work, but I'm never on vacation from myself...and I can't afford to let up to that degree. It may work for some folks to go on "diet vacations", but it is a "recipe for disaster" for me!

You are absolutely right, it is disaster. I was a trained counselor at Jenny Craig, and I saw many people come back due to vacation eating. They went back to their bad eating habits while on vacation and their eating did not stop once home, they could not get it back under control. For many people it is a a lifelong commitment....it becomes a way of life, but first you have to re train your emotions towards food and control it. After a while, you no longer think about it. It's not about all the "extra calories" you burn while at WDW, it is the emotional attachment you have to your trigger foods. It is very much like a recovering alcoholic.

Congratulations to you Ursula, you should be so very proud of yourself.

 

[Disfan3]

Hi and congrats on the loss

I myself lost over 40 pounds now on WW. Went from about 170 to now 128...

CORE mostly. Now I count points sometimes to maintain, but plan to CORE again once school starts after my WDW vacation.


Most places in the World can accomodate a core eater if you are that disciplined!! I know that you can get many meats...like chicken without skin if requested...lean steaks (try teppanyaki...) and some seafood.

The trick here, as you know, is for them not to prepare or cook it in the butter, oils or sauces

but may I make a suggestion?? As a lifetime member (And proud size 6 from 16...)

go ahead and order the healthy items (chicken, lean steaks, fish) and eat it the way they prepare it. You are going to get so many activity points, its going to be unreal!! So...my advice....eat IN MODERATION....drink LOTS OF WATER...walk walk walk (hehe as if you had a choice!!) and if you are worried about it...do some laps in your resort pool or take a jog at your resort early in the AM. Rent bikes...do activity. Have a few special desserts but SPLIT them with someone OR...cut them in half and THROW THE OTHER AWAY if you are alone.

Also get plain b potatoes if at a steak place. Ask for salsa on that if you want.

Many carts have fresh fruits and many buffets have veggies and fruits that are fresh too!

You can get seafood at Coral Reef or Narcoosees at the GF. Many places have salads..get dressing on side or ask for low fat or fat free (I do not know if they have a lot of options though).


I am sure I am telling you nothing new....I see you've lost much weight already and WAY TO GO I say!! Thats awesome.

Have fun and CONGRATS!


oh by the way!!

I made GOAL after returning from WDW last year SO IT CAN BE DONE!!!

I never felt "deprived" and had many samplings of great treats while there, but you are SO RIGHT....You can never afford to go back to that kind of eating ever again. It comes back on A LOT easier than it goes off as we all know....

I have maintained lifetime now for almost a year. Core is awesome and I never felt starved or hungry and could eat...

remember CORE or NOT...eating til SATISFIED is SO KEY to weight loss and maintaining!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Thanks again, guys! These are all great suggestions and ideas, and I feel more secure already. I don't know why I put WDW in another category from all my other newly-acquired life skills...this is all common sense stuff. It's just that WDW is such an out-of-the-ordinary place, I feel I might lose control much more easily there than I would at home. Now if they just had WW meetings somewhere onsite!

 

[Poohbear123]

12 pounds myself, eating fruits/salads/fish/chicken all in small amounts, and drinking LOTS of water. I have a trip planned in 20 days, and know I can follow my diet at WDW. I may have a Mickey Bar once in awhile, but will wash it down with a bottle of water and walking!

 

[Fionasmommy]

I may be on vacation from work, but I'm never on vacation from myself...and I can't afford to let up to that degree. It may work for some folks to go on "diet vacations", but it is a "recipe for disaster" for me!

ITA! For me it has to be a lifestyle change, and that includes vacations.

I'm on WW too, and I'm now halfway to goal! We went to WDW in June and I was terrified about blowing it. I didn't count points, but I was very careful. I knew that if I was going to keep from gaining back what I'd already worked so hard to lose, stay on track and recondition myself to approach vacation eating more healthily, I would have to start with that trip. And it worked! I lost weight over the 9 days we were there!

We packed South Beach meal bars for breakfast. I love those, I eat them everyday at home and now I can't start the day without one! I love the chocolate peanut butter flavor, and they're packed with protein so they're quite filling and only 4 points.

The CS meals can be hard, because there is soooo much junk available. Breaded, fried, covered in cheese, etc. If I couldn't find anything decent, I usually ordered chicken fingers and didn't eat the included fries. AK has some great CS meals - we loved the chicken and veggies at Tusker House!

TS meals are where it's easier, IMO, to make good choices. You can usually find a decent cut of meat with a side of vegetables. That's what I always tried to order. Some places seem to be known for their appetizers, like Le Cellier's cheese soup, or the sticky wings at Kona. In those situations, we ordered one and shared it (between 2 adults and 1 child). Usually, we even had dessert - but I shared with my mother while DD had her own, so she was happy and we got to taste the great desserts without stuffing ourselves and feeling guilty later.

Just be aware of what you're eating, and try not to snack between your meals and you should be fine.

 

[TwingleMum]

I may be on vacation from work, but I'm never on vacation from myself...and I can't afford to let up to that degree. It may work for some folks to go on "diet vacations", but it is a "recipe for disaster" for me!

Amen!! ITA. Congrats on the major weightloss!! You should be so proud of yourself I need to lose weight and haven't been able to find the motivation yet so when I see someone like you I am awed by your achievment. Its really wonderful that you are thinking ahead. Hope your vacation is extra magical you deserve it

 

[mikamah]

60 pounds is amazing. Congratulations on your loss. I am a weight watcher doing flex, and have lost 26 pounds since last sept. I hadn't really thought about a plan for WDW. I know I'll be having some dole whips and mickeybars, but you have motivated me to try to eat healthier while I'm there. I usually stop journalling when I'm on vacation, and this is the first summer I've been following WW even when I'm on vacation because I want to lose more weight before my disney trip. You are smart to research and make a healthy eating plan. Good luck on your weight loss. Your doing awesome!

 

[Dis31]

I always ask if something can be prepared w/o the butter and have had no problem. We went to RFC and I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and it was swimming in butter! I was really upset being that I chose it to 1) be healthier and 2) beacuse I really like grilled chicken plain(lol). So from then on I have simply asked if things can prepare things w/o butter. Also earl of sanwhich put some type of oil on our sandwhich bread which we didn't care for plus added calories i didnt even want lol, so ask them to leave it off. Also I have dessert when I want (brownie a la mode is my weakness) but I go to beaches and cream and get it with FF SF vanilla and I actually like this ice cream better then reg now! But seriosuly your on vacation so you can be a little bad!! Also I usually exercise more then reg. before our vacation YES I diet for Disney!!!

 

[Dis31]

Ohh and the Plaza restaurant has great sanwhiches and the're big, and filling, and this place is cheap!!! This is my fav restaurant its a healthy choice, plus they have german potato salad which is healthier then american b/c it isnt made with mayo!!!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Thanks for all your support and help. You guys are a big part of my success.
I plan on having a few well-chosen snacks and treats, but it's all part of the WW plan, so it's not being "bad", it's simply planning ahead and accounting for everything that goes into my mouth. Wish everyplace had "points" values for their menus...ahh, dreaming again.