You just lost 80 pounds! What are you Going to do next? Ending TR

[2xcited2sleep]

Too bad about the meal. I've heard rave reviews about that food court so maybe it was just an off day? Still stinks. Hopefully you found the rest of the meals on your trip more enjoyable.

Love the Merida towel and backward-legged doll!

Looks like an absolutely beautiful evening.

 

[Millie12591]

Hi Camille,

Thanks for posting about your journey. I had already decided to lose 40 lbs for my Jan 2014 Disney trip, but had been slacking off after the first ten pounds. You have given me the boost I needed to get going again. You are on MY inspiration board, hope you don't mind being a role model! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. It really helps me to visualize myself at a lower weight.
Best Regards, Brenda (PrincessBree)

Howdy, Brenda!!



Glad to have you along!! Happy to hear I've been a bit of inspiration for you!! It's always good to have someone to inspire you when you make a big life change. I know I did!
I don't know if you read any of my PTR, but there is a lot of information there on how I got started, what inspired me and reporting on my weight loss as I went along. I will say, if you (meaning any of us) don't have someone to inspire us, and the determination to keep at it, not to mention a person to hold us accountable as we go along, it's almost impossible to stay the course. I know this all to well from not having those things in place in the past, failed, attempts at weight loss. Don't beat yourself up, ever, and just keep moving forward, no matter what. You'll be where you want to be before you know it. If you want ideas or just someone to bounce things off of, you can IM me any time.

Bummer that the meal was so meh. Nothing like paying resort prices and having it fall flat.

Oh well, it's not the end of the world and I was just happy to be there!!

Oh that age, it's tough. Little kids who still like dolls and stuffed animals at times and teens who just want to be with friends. It's an awkward and at times lonely age. We've had this conversation many a time at different points with each kid and the "need" for a friend.

It's so true. I really thought it wouldn't be a big deal since we had never been on a trip alone before, I think we'll have to wait for a mother/daughter trip for when she's an adult.

I love the towel and poor little twisted Merida is special in her own way.

She is, isn't she? I think that's why Mackie liked her any way, she's got a heart of gold, that kid.

Love that you felt the need to explain Mackie being a Dr. fan. We are Dr. Who fans too. (Sh, don't tell JJ, but I may be a bigger Dr. fan than a Star Wars fan.)

That will be nice for her to have a friend on vacation in the future.

Very sweet about the Merida feet.

Michele that's so great!! I loooved Dr. Who when I was a kid, but for some reason I've fallen out of being a book worm and sci-fi kinda girl over the years. Can't tell you why. I find it so hard to sit and just read unless I'm learning something.
Yes, I think the friend along next time will be a good idea. I'm just not sure when that will be. There are so many things I want to get done to the house that I think vacations will have to be put on hold for a while.
Although.....that doesn't mean I can't save for a possible F&W solo trip.

 

[Millie12591]

Hello my friend! I'm back from our trip and all caught up! We had a wonderful time - couldn't have gone better with two very different kids with very different family styles - so thankful to God for giving us this awesome opportunity.
I am loving how you are really connecting in new ways with your girlie! Too bad your first meal was not so good I felt the food was disappointing in a lot of places, this trip too. And the salt content was ridiculous. Maybe they do it on purpose so you'll buy lots of drinks in the park

Okay I'm back - you can start writing again!

You're so goofy. I'm so glad your trip went well. I can only imagine how much fun it would be to have my grand kids there in Disney with me!!

I don't know why but your expression "gave up the ghost" just tickled me.

I have no clue where they come from.

Boo to a lackluster meal! I hope they get better.

We will see....

I love the picture of Mackie with the towel, she looks so cute in her bathing suit! I'm glad you all got to enjoy the pool, even if it was super cold. I love the photo you took of it from above.

My tall girlie. Wait until you see what she conned me into buying for a bathing suit later on in the trip.
Mackie said the pool was nice. That spot from up above was so cool to look down from. I'm hoping if we stay there next time we'll have the same views we had this last time.

My older son and I were just talking about the Hippie Dippie pool yesterday, so seeing your pictures made me nostalgic!

They did a great job with the Hippie Dippy pool and all the theming around it.

Too bad about the meal. I've heard rave reviews about that food court so maybe it was just an off day? Still stinks. Hopefully you found the rest of the meals on your trip more enjoyable.

Love the Merida towel and backward-legged doll!

Looks like an absolutely beautiful evening.

I had heard such great reviews about the food court too, even if it had been half as good as I expected I would have been fine with it.

The evening was amazing, so was the next day.

 

[addictedtothemouse]

Hi, Camille!
I just wanted to say AWESOME job on losing the weight. I was just wondering if you didn't take as many food pics because you now view food as just fuel for your body? Maybe the changed perspective made it not as "important" as maybe the views and things going on around you. Also maybe on your next trip if you do ADRs and let them know you eat clean they could accommodate you. My DD has a milk allergy and even at the counter service places they had someone that could steer us in the correct direction with food choices.

 

[Millie12591]

Day 2!!

This would be our first full day in the Magical World of Walt Disney!!



I wish I could say I woke up to the sounds of a lovely Disney birds singing in the trees just outside our room, much like in Mary Poppins.

Buuuut sadly I was not. I was actually awoken by a very loud Disney bird singing in the trees just outside our room who had nothing to do with being in the movies. This thing was so loud it woke me out of a dead sleep at 5:30 in the morning!
I got up for a bio-break and then very quickly crawled back into bed thinking I would try and get some more sleep, but after about 45 mins. of tossing and turning and thinking about what all I had to get done before heading out of the other resort, I finally got up and decided I'd take advantage of the morning. I'd have it all to myself while everyone else is sleeping or getting ready for their day. I got dressed and put on my fleece jacket I brought with me (thank the Lord I brought that) and I decided to go over to Classic Hall and get some milk for Mackie's and my cereal that we had forgotten to get from the night before.

This was the view I was greeted with that morning...



I love how the lights are still on.



I love being up that early before everyone else is out and about.
Walking by the pool I see they are cleaning the decks with a power hose (another reason not to have a room facing poolside-thank you Brook ) and hardly anyone is around. I wish I had taken more pictures.

I get into classic hall and decide this would be a perfect time to sit and write out the events of our day from the day before so I wouldn't forget how amazing everything was when we arrived. I wanted to try and take notes to have for y'all!! I bet y'all aren't surprised to find out this was the only day I managed to do this.

Being in classic hall at 6:30 in the morning is truly the golden hour.
It's before everyone is in there starting their exciting day, it's also before they turn on those blasted TV's with all the advertisements or the Disney channel. There is something to be said for not stimulating these poor kids minds all the time, people!!
It was so nice and quiet (something I didn't think I'd get much of on this trip), hardly anyone was in there, so I found a nice little booth in the corner away from anyone and anything and started to write, there is something cathartic about writing. I suck at it, but it's still fun.

Once I was done writing, I sat and people watched as they started to file in for a bit and then left soon after they turned on those dang TV's! I got Mackie's milk and headed back out to our room to see if Mackie was awake. Little booger was still asleep so I woke her telling her we needed to get a start on our day.

We decided to be frugal and wear what we had on yesterday instead of tearing things out of our suitcases that needed to be put upon a cart here in a bit to head over to AoA!! I'm telling you this so you don't wonder why you are seeing the same clothes in our pictures two days in a row.
I knew we had until 11 to get out of our room that morning, but I wanted to get our stuff over to AoA early so we could piddle fart around a bit in the resort before heading out for a nail appt.
I had it set for Mackie over at the Mandara Spa.
Don't be too impressed, it was just for a polish change. I'm a frugal where I can be. Some of you already know from my PTR (I think) that Mackie and I always get our toes done together before we go on a Disney trip.
Well, this year we didn't think she would be able to since she's not allowed to wear colored polish for a performance, dance team rules. Long story even longer, we decided to get them done here at home any way with a very pale colored nail polish and then have the color put on that she wanted (a sorta dark blue color) when we got to Disney. I shopped around where it would be the cheapest for a color change (almost no one lists this as service) and found the Mandara Spa to have the only listing. I think I asked Jenjolt about the spa's and she said this would be the most fun for us any way, so that's why we were going here!!

We were excited!! We were finally get to see AofA as OUR resort!! I know we walked through part of it the day before but this was going to be because we were staying there!!

I went downstairs to get a cart, I decided we'd take our own luggage over to the resort. Since I knew wasn't going to exercise much over the next week and half, I thought this would give me a little pep in my step for the day. I checked one out and took it upstairs and got all our stuff on it and headed out, but not before having to call the desk since there was a second notice on our door for the Chung family with a bill for over $300 dollars.
I knew we weren't the Chung family, but I wanted to be sure there wouldn't be any mix ups, after all this was the second notice, EVEN after I called them once before.

We made our way over to AofA and got us checked in!!

click on the pic
<---click on the pic

Yes, that's how big of a dork I am. For those who missed it, if you turn up your volume you can hear me say..."We're here" and then did a silly laugh at the end of it. Like I said....dork.

As we made our way back through the resort to our room (serious pixie dust on this trip, every time we checked in our rooms they were ready-thank the Lord for early check-in!!) we took a few pics, okay....I took a few pics...












And with that, I have to leave y'all here. I need to get a couple of errands done and my workout in. I have jury duty tomorrow so my workout probably won't happen that day, need to stay on top of this now that I have some momentum with my weight loss again.

 

[MEK]

Yeah for AoA! I didn't realize you were transferring there. How fun!

And a trip to the spa sounds lovely. I heard that spa is really quite nice. Sounds fun.

Nice early morning pics.

 

[KatMark]

for more pixie dust of your room being ready. Love the photos around the resort (we really must visit it next month).

Yay for a spa treatment...always fun.

 

[Britard]

Loving the trip. Can't wait to see more pictures of you after all your hard work.

 

[Raya]

A few weeks before we went to Disney we had to go over to Wal-Mart (dread that store) for a few WDW supplies, mole skin, band aids that sort of thing, and Mackie was dying for McDonalds fries.
Now, I totally understand the draw to their fries, as a kid I loooved their fries, and since we almost NEVER eat there (there "food" is sooooo bad for you) I figured I better give in or she'll be a total glutton for all things bad for her when she moves out on her own.
As a kid I use to joke that they must be laced with something that is addictive so you'll keep coming back. Well, I'm more convinced than ever....I had three, count them three fries from Mackie's order, I battled wanting something fried for two solid weeks after that! EVERY STINKIN DAY I wanted something fried after having those dang fries.
So there ya go, even though I've come so far with my eating habits, it only takes a few times of eating things that aren't good for you and you are back to battling the monkey on your back called fast food.



Hey Camille! You've given me so much joy reading your trip report that I had to share with you how NOT wrong you are about fast food being addictive. Once upon a time I worked at a federal agency that regulates these things and... well the New York Times sums it up better than I can:

www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Needless to say I haven't eaten fast food for a few years. It's amazing how one slip up (usually a fry off someone's plate) starts those cravings up again! Stay strong, sister!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

This would be our first full day in the Magical World of Walt Disney!!

Always a good feeling!

This thing was so loud it woke me out of a dead sleep at 5:30 in the morning!

I wanted to try and take notes to have for y'all!! I bet y'all aren't surprised to find out this was the only day I did managed to do this.

We all start with good intentions.

We were excited!! We were finally get to see AofA as OUR resort!!

I checked one out and took it upstairs and got all our stuff on it and headed out, but not before having to call the desk since there was a second notice on our door for the Chung family with a bill for over $300 dollars.

I had no idea your last name was Chung. Did you change it during the trip so you could get out of paying the bill?

Yes, that's how big of a dork I am. For those who missed it, if you turn up your volume you can hear me say..."We're here" and then did a silly laugh at the end of it. :laugh: Like I said....dork.

We're all dorks here.

 

[TarzansKat]

Lovely update! I've soooo done that in Disney before. Wake up early....kids aren't awake....should I get up and go to the bathroom or try to fall back asleep...what if the toilet flushing wakes them up...etc, etc. And I always end up getting up because who can fall back asleep when they're in Disney?

It is so lovely to see your picture of AoA and not these shells of buildings anymore. VERY nice!

And I think I'd be just as dorky checking in as well. Checking into a new resort is always exciting!

 

[Millie12591]

Yeah for AoA! I didn't realize you were transferring there. How fun!

Yes, yes we did and we'll have two other resorts we'll be transferring to after AoA!
I asked Mackenzie the other day if she thought she'd want to move rooms again or just stay in one place next trip. She said hands down move around to other resorts.
I think she's got the bug more than she wants to admit.
We also talked about how long we'd want to stay on our next trip together, she said for at least the same amount of time even though we felt the trip was a bit long for us this last time. The funny thing is I agree with her, even though we felt the trip was a bit on the long side, we still feel we need that much time to have some down time in between park days and for us to have a at least a full day on the front end of the trip to relax before hitting the parks. We'll see what happens, after seeing most of what I want to see at AK, I'm not sure I'll plan two full days there in the future. AK just doesn't feel like a full day park to me any more.

And a trip to the spa sounds lovely. I heard that spa is really quite nice. Sounds fun.

Nice early morning pics.

The spa was gorgeous, can't wait to show you pics. Morning pics are fun, I just wish I had brought my bigger camera for moments like that, but I didn't want to worry about my camera when leaving it in our room. I'm just not brave enough to take it to the parks just yet, I don't know how you and Cynthia do it. You'll have to give me some tips to be brave in the future.

for more pixie dust of your room being ready. Love the photos around the resort (we really must visit it next month).

Yay for a spa treatment...always fun.

I hope you do get to visit AoA, I think you'd love it. Food stinks, but the resort is really well done.

Mackie and I think we need to get a massage when we go next time. This spa is so beautiful and relaxing, you'll have to check it out when you're there on one of your trips.

Loving the trip. Can't wait to see more pictures of you after all your hard work.

Thank you. I'm just glad there are readers!! And yes, there will be more pictures of me as the trip goes on.

 

[Millie12591]

A few weeks before we went to Disney we had to go over to Wal-Mart (dread that store) for a few WDW supplies, mole skin, band aids that sort of thing, and Mackie was dying for McDonalds fries.
Now, I totally understand the draw to their fries, as a kid I loooved their fries, and since we almost NEVER eat there (there "food" is sooooo bad for you) I figured I better give in or she'll be a total glutton for all things bad for her when she moves out on her own.
As a kid I use to joke that they must be laced with something that is addictive so you'll keep coming back. Well, I'm more convinced than ever....I had three, count them three fries from Mackie's order, I battled wanting something fried for two solid weeks after that! EVERY STINKIN DAY I wanted something fried after having those dang fries.
So there ya go, even though I've come so far with my eating habits, it only takes a few times of eating things that aren't good for you and you are back to battling the monkey on your back called fast food.



Hey Camille! You've given me so much joy reading your trip report that I had to share with you how NOT wrong you are about fast food being addictive. Once upon a time I worked at a federal agency that regulates these things and... well the New York Times sums it up better than I can:

www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Needless to say I haven't eaten fast food for a few years. It's amazing how one slip up (usually a fry off someone's plate) starts those cravings up again! Stay strong, sister!

Howdy Raya!!



You're words are so sweet, I appreciate you reading along. This article is so good!! It takes a while to read through, but that sort of thing is right up my alley!! Thank you so much for sharing it.

Lovely update! I've soooo done that in Disney before. Wake up early....kids aren't awake....should I get up and go to the bathroom or try to fall back asleep...what if the toilet flushing wakes them up...etc, etc. And I always end up getting up because who can fall back asleep when they're in Disney?

Exactly!! I thought who wants to waste this precious time to do things I've always wanted to do but thought I'd wake everyone up doing it. Not with Mackie though, she easily goes back to sleep.

It is so lovely to see your picture of AoA and not these shells of buildings anymore. VERY nice!

Just wait, there are more to come.

And I think I'd be just as dorky checking in as well. Checking into a new resort is always exciting!

It is!!

 

[Millie12591]

: We all start with good intentions.

Don't we though?






I had no idea your last name was Chung. Did you change it during the trip so you could get out of paying the bill?

The jig is up!!



We're all dorks here.

Thank goodness!!!

 

[scottny]

I use myfitnesspal. It has some foods on there but not many. Maybe google can help.
I love walking around early morning or late night.
LOL about the only day of writing notes. I do that too.
Great the rooms were ready both times.
Jury duty yuck.

 

[Millie12591]

I use myfitnesspal. It has some foods on there but not many. Maybe google can help.
I love walking around early morning or late night.
LOL about the only day of writing notes. I do that too.
Great the rooms were ready both times.
Jury duty yuck.

I've looked all over for caloric counts for Disney food, it's here and there, but not anything collectively.
I'm sure they don't want that information out there knowing people would have a fit about it. I can't say I blame them considering how upset some people would be if they found out the salt intake with their food alone. But, having an idea of what I'm getting myself into would help at times.
I forget, someone said something about telling the chefs I'm eating clean, who ever it was had a brilliant idea.
I think in the future I'll have to do that when I want to be good, that or start eating more at the 2 credit dining choices while I'm there.

I had never done the early morning walk before, it was really nice. I'll have to make that a WDW, first day tradition.
I loved having that first morning to myself, we didn't have any where we had to be, except getting over to AoA and to our spa appt. later on in the day.

 

[Millie12591]

Hey everyone!!

I apologize for not being here more. I've got a fairly full plate here of late, as I type I'm in the middle of a birthday party for Mackie, (John has them at the pool right now) and I'm trying to get Mackie packed for a trip to her grandparents for a few weeks.
And as some of you know, my grandfather passed this week and I'm trying to get myself together for that (had to shop-got the little black dress I wanted from waaay back-some of you may remember from my PTR).
Since I don't have anything to do with my sister (out of choice) and since I'm privy to information about the will that my dad isn't going to like and doesn't know about, yet.....I'm not looking forward to being at the funeral to deal with all of that. I just praise God I won't have to see my sister any longer than the day of the funeral. What my dad will be like....who knows.

While I'm sad for the loss of my grandfather, I'm actually happy more than sad because he was so content, happy, and ready to go home to our Lord the day he died. He lived a good long life (95 years old-almost 96) and had a lot of stories he left behind. I think that's why I like the older generations so much, there is so much to learn from them, they are like walking history books, but better because they are telling it from their perspective!

I hope y'all stick with me, I still have lots to share and I'm still excited to share it all with you!!
I better get going on some of these food trays I need to get together before I have to go get the pizzas.

Have a great weekend and be blessed.

 

[MEK]

Sorry to hear about your grandfather. Sounds like he had a long and productive life, I hope there is no drama at the funeral.

Happy birthday to Mackie!

 

[jedijill]

Sorry for the loss of your grandfather. Hope the funeral is fairly drama free. I understand how hard that is...my family is going through a bit of our own drama centered around my grandmother right now. Not fun or productive.

Jill in CO

 

[Alysa]

I am so sorry to hear about your Grandad. Sending prayers for lots of strength for you this week.