Staying Fit While Traveling

Traveling, for some people, becomes a huge downfall for all their hard work and efforts for trying to stay healthy. The restaurant food. The lack of exercise. The lack of structure, and sometimes the lack of energy. It's hard to focus on being healthy when you have all these roadblocks in your way.
I've put together some helpful tips that have actually kept me sane and somewhat healthy while traveling. Some of them I got from other recourse's, and some of them I got from my own experience.

Hope this helps you for the next time you're scared to gain all your weight back from your next vacation! It's absolutely helped for me! Even with how much good food I still indulge while away.


Jet Lag: Here are some great pointers for beating jet lag. First, don't drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages on the plane. Drink plenty of water, and eat whole grain carbohydrates which may help calm your nerves. Then, after getting to your destination, take a ten-to twenty-minute walk as soon as possible, and eat a light snack. If you think you'd like a little nap, you will want to keep it to less than an hour-so you'll still be able to get to sleep at night.

Never Stop Moving: On a long flight it's important to get up every half hour and move around for a full minute to keep your circulation moving. Or if you're in tight quarters and can't get up, "wiggle" while you sit. Lift your heels and move them from side to side. Bounce your legs up and down on the balls of your feet, then put your heels on the floor, lift your toes, and wag them from side to side. Another good idea is to wear compression socks which gently "hug" your legs, helping to keep blood flowing back to your heart.

Eat Energizing Snacks: Airports and rest areas are notorious for snacks like chips, candy bars and soda-which are not only unhealthy, but can also drain your energy. A good idea is to take along raw seeds, carrots, apples and celery sticks, slices of green and red pepper, or fresh fruit. These enzyme-rich foods will help you maintain your energy much more effectively. Granola bars can also be tasty and are easy to travel with.

Take the Stairs: Remember, it's the small and simple that lose those pounds, not the dramatic changes. Those stairs might become your only source of exercise. Hotel stairs are a fantastic way to keep that heart pumping, especially if your on the 3rd or 4th floor. Take advantage of anything that can get your heart rate up-even if it's just for 10 minutes. Skip the elevator.

Drink Your Water: Water is always something most people forget while away. Always remember to get water whenever you think to. Pack a water bottle so when you see it, you'll think to fill it up and keep it close. Also, my suggestion for you is to drink 2 glasses of water before your meal comes, every meal. This helps you feel more full before your meal actually gets to you. Therefore taking in fewer calories. When you're traveling you want to eat till you're satisfied, not till you're sick.

Use that Down Time Wisely: Take full advantage of that down time. I don't mean go to the nearest gym and workout for an hour. I mean, stop to catch your breath. Literally take deep breaths. Stretch. Go for a walk. I promise you, you will feel more pro-active and energized if you wake up just 15 minutes earlier and go for a walk. Who knows, you might explore some things you've never seen before wherever your staying. The more your blood is regulated, the more balanced and over all healthy you will feel. Taking time for yourself is just as important as anything else that you do to improve yourself. A balanced lifestyle fosters a balanced mind.

Forgive Yourself: You know that there will be times when desserts will be irresistible. It's OK to indulge once in awhile, but the most important thing you can remember is to forgive yourself. Don't beat yourself up. Realize you slipped, forgive yourself and move on. Don't dwell on it and think you have to start over. Just promise yourself that you will eat healthy the next meal and find time to throw in an extra 10 minutes to your walk, or workout. Simple as that.

(Sources: Health.com)