This also differs based on your role! Attractions (especially Haunted Mansion/Little Mermaid/Winnie the Pooh etc. with the conveyor belt things) is a very active role, so you're more likely to get your steps/exercise in just by going to work. Roles such as vacation planner or front desk would have a harder time! Also outdoor roles you will sweat a lot more and probably see more water weight loss. Roles that I would think see the largest weight loss just by showing up to work include custodial, attractions, housekeeping, and character performer. Other roles could totally see a lot of weight loss too but are more dependent on location! I know people that lost weight in merchandise, QSFB, and PhotoPass :)
First of all, I did not lose weight during my program, but also didn't gain any. My roommate, Lindsey, on the other hand, lost 30 pounds over our four month program. So I'll just compare a little and throw in my advice at the end!!
MY EXPERIENCE
So on the program I was working five 6-hour shifts a week (give or take an hour or two), meaning I only got one 15-minute break and no lunch. So I usually had breakfast before work, brought an apple or an Uncrustables or some other snack food for my break, and had dinner when I got home. My breakfasts were usually cereal or toast, nothing too fancy, and my midday snack was pretty small. So during the day I wasn't eating an enormous amount, but for dinner I would go a little crazy since I didn't REALLY have a lunch and was so hungry!! My dinners generally consisted of frozen pizza, ramen, mac n cheese, sandwiches, pizza bagels, quesadillas, and other college kid staples.
On my days off I would probably snack more than I should at home (AKA eating snacks throughout the day rather than balanced meals), and eat out in the parks a lot. I usually got the kids chicken nugget meals at the parks and maybe a snack depending on what park I was in, but I rarely got the healthier options Disney has to offer.
As far as exercise goes, I was walking EVERYWHERE which is probably why I didn't gain weight with the amount of unhealthy food I was eating. I walked around a good amount at work, a ton on my days off in the parks, and every time I went to and from the bus stop (literally a 10 minute walk from the farthest corner of Chatham). I personally never used the gym since I was doing so much walking but that's an option for some people. Another reason I probably didn't gain/lose weight was because of my lifestyle back home. I ate healthier back home and was active, but not quite as active as I was in Disney, so it was kind of a wash. If I ate better I probably would have lost weight.
LINDSEY'S EXPERIENCE
Lindsey had a pretty similar program to me - similar diet, similar job, and similar exercise. Lindsey probably worked slightly longer shifts than I did - I would ballpark 35 average hours a week compared to my 30 average. She also had a similar eating schedule with breakfast before work, a medium snack at work, and a big dinner after. She ate more frozen pizza than I did, but also ate a lot less mac n cheese and ramen. Her other main meal was basically sandwiches.
We spent most of our days off together so she also ate a LOT of Disney chicken nuggets (no shame) but maybe a few less park snacks. She was also better about eating meals rather than constant snacking, so that probably made a difference.
Lindsey also did an enormous amount of walking, but the main difference between her and I was our lifestyle pre-Disney. She went on walks, but didn't really go to the gym or play sports and ate a slightly healthier diet to Disney so moving to Florida increased her exercise a lot, resulting in a big weight loss. This is something to note when you wonder whether or not you'll gain/lose weight during the program: how healthy is your current lifestyle? If you're a mega health nut then you'll probably have a harder time sticking to healthy food choices, but if you don't exercise much you'll definitely see and feel a difference when you're down in Florida for your program.
MY ADVICE TO BEING HEALTHY
Okay I'm just going to bullet point my advice here, it's mostly going to be food related.
- Buy fresh fruits and veggies in bulk at the grocery store, and buy items that won't go bad quickly
- Carrots, celery, apples, oranges, snap peas, etc. (mostly thick-skinned fruits/veggies)
- Buy frozen fruits if you crave mango, berries, or other more expensive foods prone to going bad quickly
- This also works for frozen veggies
- Don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry (common advice, but good nonetheless)
- Go to the grocery store with a plan, not spontaneous!! This will help cut back on impulsive buys
- Lists help a ton - paper or on your phone's notepad
- Don't be afraid to go to the parks on your day off just to walk around and enjoy the magic! You don't have to only go to the parks with people or when you want to ride rides. This will help get your exercise in!
- Also by keeping busy exploring you will DRASTICALLY decrease boredom snacking because you just don't have the time!
- Get a pedometer/FitBit to help keep track of your activity
- DON'T FORGET TO DRINK LOTS OF WATER
- Always make sure your meal has a protein in it, even if it's just peanut butter in your PB&J
- Pre-pack lunches and snacks to prevent buying overpriced food at work/in the parks
- Try to make a few homemade meals, this often cuts back on calories or unwanted ingredients.
- Soups are really nice because they last forever and you can freeze them!
- A yummy and cheap way to do healthy meals is "gourmet" sandwiches. Get some good bread and a bunch of different fillings so you can switch it up every meal
- Breakfast sandwiches, PB&J or honey, grilled cheese/ham and cheese, meat and cheese with oil and vinegar and avocado (my favorite) to name a few options
- Finally, do what makes you happy!! It's okay to give in to cravings once in awhile, or spend a lazy day in bed, but try to get out and enjoy all that Orlando has to offer. Just being in the sunshine will put you in a good mood :)
That's all I have for today!! Shoutout to my dad for suggesting this post #doctordadprobs <3
