Changes in your sleep, and exercise routines add stress to your body and can cause hormonal imbalances as well. These types of imbalances can cause weight gain, and weaken your immune system. But don't let this keep you home this Holiday season.
Long layovers
Checking email and sending texts, while this is a great way to catch up it simply isn’t the healthiest way to kill time before your next flight. It can be bad for your back, making the next leg of your flight uncomfortable. Depending on how long the layover is you can squeeze in some active time! Walk through the terminal to stretch your legs. This is especially important when traveling with children. Children need to burn off energy, using this layover time wisely will make it a happier flight for all! I like the pedometer applications on my ipod touch to keep up with how many extra steps I can take in the airport."Just say NO" to in-flight meals
Cost-cutting for airlines means, there are no more free meals on most domestic flights. What is great for their bottom line is horrible for yours! Typical in-flight eating options aren’t typically healthy. They are full of sodium, sugar and saturated fats. Watch out for food venues within the airport as well.As always, you have OPTIONS!
- Brown Bag it!~Bring your own healthy snacks onboard: fruit, string cheese, veggies, or unsalted nuts and dried fruit. At the airport look for low-calorie meals. I can usually find yogurt sprinkled with whole-grain cereal or fruit. Sometimes their are sandwich shops that offer whole-wheat wraps and sandwiches filled with grilled chicken or veggies. Even the fast food stops have salads with dressing on the side. Don't forget to use a calorie counter application for your smart phone.
Your best tool against germs is prevention! Prevent a weakened immune system by making sure you are getting enough exercise and sleep in the days before your trip. Exercise is known to boost your immune system for 24 hours, at least. Making sure that you are getting enough sleep is also a huge booster for the immune system.
Wash your hands thoroughly and often this is the best prevention against picking up germs and spreading them. Always be armed with hand sanitizer as well. Choose foods that are rich in vitamin C, and B. Vitamin C is great for your immune system it is packed with chemical compounds that increase the function of your immune system, and B is a great energy booster.
Sit, sit, and sit some more...
Sitting for long periods increases risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms deep in the veins, typically in the lower legs or thighs. It’s potentially life-threatening, causing a pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke. There are numerous ways to prevent this. If you are on an airplane or train you can walk up and down the isles as much as you can. You should try to get up about every 2 hours. If you are driving you need to pull over in regular intervals to stretch. Rotate your ankles while sitting, and avoid keeping your legs crossed for too long. 
Stick to it!
Your best move is to plan ahead. and stick to the plan. First, have a healthy meal at home before you leave. Be sure and pack your own snacks. You want to pay special attention to what you pack for your children to eat. One of the biggest travel nightmares is to be stuck in a confined space with a sugared up kid! We have several favorite snacks that are a must when we are traveling. For our salty cravings we love PopChips! For the sweeter side of snacking I love to pack Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds, and Emerald Trail Mix (breakfast blend is my favorite). As far as drinks go I pack water for myself and honest kids juice drinks for my kids. I love being able to provide my family with healthy organic foods even on the go! But if you must eat truck-stop fare, order carefully. If you do have to eat out make good choices! One good choice leads to another. Go for something steamed, baked or grilled, not high fat, calorie-heavy foods that are fried or covered in cheese and heavy sauces. Visit the salad bar, but avoid toppings and pre-packaged salads with high fat dressings and oils. Instead, choose fresh items such as raw vegetables, grilled chicken, chickpeas and nuts. Another app for healthy eating is the GoodFoodNearYou application.
Be sure to stop and eat before you get too hungry, this will help you to make good eating choices and maintain your healthy eating habits! If you wait until you are starving, you will tend to overeat and those extra calories don't burn sitting in the car or in the air!
Dry skin
Blame re-circulated air and lack of humidity on airplanes. Prevention is key here, use a good moisturizer . Hyaluronic Acid can be found in many moisturizers and it is your best defender against dry skin. The acid pulls water into your skin keeping your skin well hydrated. The best time to moisturize is just after taking a shower, ideally within the first 3 minutes of getting out of the shower. This helps to lock the moisture in!
Jet lag
The more time zones you fly in and out of the more you’ll feel out of it when you reach your destination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says these steps can help you ward off jet lag!
- On a short trip (two days or less), remain on your home time.
- On longer trips, try to quickly adapt to a local schedule.
- Get as much sunlight as possible upon arrival.
- Eat meals appropriate to local time.
If you have trouble adjusting to the time, consider taking the natural supplement melatonin to help you sleep. It is an all natural product that aids in healthy sleep habits. Melatonin is a hormone that your body already produces, and this supplement may help you to avoid jet lag, by keeping you on this alternative schedule.
Tempting hotel minibars
One way to keep this temptation out of reach is to leave the key at the desk. Simply don't accept the minibar key at check-in. Stop at a local grocery store and stock up on fresh fruit, reduced-fat cheese, nonfat yogurts and vegetables. If there is not a refrigerator in your room, purchase breakfast cereal, peanut butter, nuts, popcorn and crackers. If you just have to partake in the minibar, choose the healthiest items, such as tomato juice, cranberry juice, and citrus juices.
Don't skip the gym
You can pack a resistance band which can be attached to the hotel-room door to do any number of exercises. For arms you can do basic push-ups , for legs, focus on squats and lunges, and don't forget to take the stairs! If your hotel has a pool swim laps, tread water or cycle your legs while holding the side of the pool for 10-15 minutes a day. Most importantly, set aside a specific time of day to work out, and stick with it. I like to exercise in the morning so that I am done with it the rest of the day. Keep these things in mind as you travel during the Holiday Season!
Merry Christmas.
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