Here are my top tips for staying as healthy as possible while travelling. Whether it be for business or for pleasure, modern day travel is a stressful event. We often have to deal with delays, long security checks, a lack of healthy food choices and un-comfortable airplane seats. There is also the issue of time differences at our destinations along with the inevitable barage of airborne viruses that love to attack the vulnerable and de-hydrated traveller. I am glad to say that I don’t have to travel often for my job but for those of you who find yourselves on a plane more often than not, maybe these tips will help you remain a fit and healthy road warrior.

STAY HYDRATED …Make sure that you are hydrated well before you travel. Try and drink lots of fluids the day before your flight and during your flight, even if this means you end up going to the toilet every 5 minutes! Staying hydrated is possibly the most beneficial thing you can do for your body during your journey. Also try and avoid things that will de-hydrate you such as alcohol and coffee and any other caffeinated drinks that you may think of.

PLAN AHEAD…Check out the hotel that you are going to stay at ahead of time and see if they have a gym. Also take a look at the surrounding areas to see if there is a park near by or any running paths that you can use. Running is a great way to get some exercise in while travelling and it will also give you a chance to do some sight seeing.

STAY FOCUSED…This is a hard one! It is important to establish an effective exercise routine for when you are on the road. If you have an indivudualised training programme that consists of body weight exercises and a simple cardio routine, there is no reason why you cannot stick with it while away. Pack a few resistance bands, a TRX* or some Valslides* and you will never have to enter the gym!

SLEEP….One of the most annoying things about travel and time differences is the jet lag. You might have left your home in the morning, travelled all day, not slept a wink during the flight and be ready to crash when you land, only to discover that it is still the morning at your destination and you have a day of meetings ahead of you! The only solution to this is to be prepared. If you know you are going to have this kind of situation, then it is essential that you use the flight to get some shut eye. So, take a sedative, have earplugs and a cosy blanket with you and do your best! Not always easy, I know, but it will at least help you face the day ahead.

EAT SMART….This can be one of the most challenging areas when you travel for business. Airplane food is….not really food….and generally loaded with salt and preservatives, I am talking economy flights here, and best avoided. I always pack nuts and protein bars when travelling and buy fruit once I get past security. If you have to eat most of your meals at the hotel or at a restaurant, then try and make the right choices. Choose a protein and a vegetable or fruit for most of your meals and avoid the refined carbs and bread basket. When having salad, make sure it is not laden with croutons and bacon bits, cheese and mayonnaise. Ask for a simple oil and vinegar dressing or some freshly squeezed lemon juice instead. The other danger zone for travellers who are watching their weight is the buffet. Personally, I love a good buffet. All that choice and visual stimulation will have you going back for seconds and thirds and no doubt a dessert or two! Willpower will not be enough to hold you back, so my advice would be to choose something from the a la carte menu and save your calories.

STAY HEALTHY….And by healthy, I mean try and stay virus free. It is a common fact that airborne viruses love airplanes and when you are sitting next to a sneezer or someone who keeps running to the toilet with a bad case of the squits, then chances are high that you are going to catch it too. The best way to tackle this is to take precautions. I always take extra Vitamin C when travelling and some rescue remedy (just to keep me calm and keep the cortisol levels down) and I also carry anti-bacterial wipes which I use obsessively throughout the trip! I wouldn’t go as far as to wear a face mask, but, if it meant protecting myself against a nasty flu virus, then I would probably go ahead and humiliate myself for a while!

These are just a few examples of what you can do while travelling. I am fighting off the jet lag as I write this and am thinking that a quick swim would be a great way to revive my body and get the circulation moving again. I would love to hear your travel stories and any tips that you might like to share, so drop a comment below if you have a moment

In health,

Tamara