That's Fit

In my expert opinion, yes! Disney World is the healthiest place on earth. I just returned from a five-night, six-day vacation with my husband and two children and was blown away by the amount of physical activity both offered and required of ourselves in order to indulge in the full Disney experience.

We pushed our double-stroller miles through two theme parks, climbed thousands of stairs and jumped an equal amount of waves at two water-parks, danced our tushies off to live bands at various Disney resorts, and played game after game with our children as we giggled, oohed and ahhed at all the Disney magic. As a fitness trainer, one of my biggest obstacles is convincing my clients not to trash their fitness efforts when they head out on vacation. Disney offers the perfect opportunity to not only maintain one's fitness level, but improve it.

The physical adventures are endless, and Disney World has made a deliberate effort to increase the availability of legitimately nutritious, low fat, and lower sugar foods. Fruit stands have popped up all over the theme parks, and children's dining has switched from burgers and fries to grilled chicken with carrots and grapes offered as side dishes. Soda has been dumped for low fat milk! I can't get food that "clean" in my own neighborhood, unless I cook it myself! Of course, the old junkie favorites like popcorn, fries, and ice cream are still available, but if you do care about your health and want to maintain it on vacation ... Disney makes it easy.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hey Fitz. I'm heading out for a week's vacation on a cruise ship next month, and worried that once again I'll gain almost ten pounds while gone. That's what I've done the last few times I've gone on a cruise. How can I get around it? There is awesome food everywhere! Susan.

A. Susan, Susan, Susan. I'm shaking my head. The deal with vacations, cruises especially, is that they're a time for you to relax, get away from the daily grind and have some fun. Pigging out and gorging are simply not what you should be focusing on...wherever you are! Yes, there is a lot of tasty food on cruise ships. There is also a lot of yummy things available at your local grocery store every single day! That doesn't' mean you should run through the aisles like a lunatic shoving everything you can get your hands on into your mouth. Just because food is THERE, just because food is FREE, doesn't mean you have to eat it.

If you plan on getting vertical any time soon, you may want do a bit of online shopping before you go. Women's Health magazine compiled a list of must-haves to keep you comfy, protected, and looking sharp while you increase your elevation.

Mountain hiking plans in your future? Something to be careful of is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), otherwise known as altitude sickness. Traveling too high too fast can actually kill you, in rare cases, and more commonly will just make you sick. 20% of people will notice symptoms when hiking in the 6,300-9,700ft range, and above 14,000 most people experience at least minor signs.

AMS is caused by a combination of the lower air pressure and oxygen levels at higher altitudes and can be characterized by fluid collecting around the lungs and the brain. Symptoms often include headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and dizziness. AMS is best treated by descending to a lower altitude and administering oxygen, and even better yet preventing it from happening altogether by climbing slowly and stopping at the first signs of illness.

Hiking is a great way to get outdoors and get fit, but make sure you're educated on the risks and take care of yourself!