On the road ... again!
Hi--
I've been spending lots of time in airports over the last couple of weeks—a lot more than I'd planned, actually. I will spare you the nasty details--I'm sure any of you who has tried to fly anywhere this summer has stories of her own. I should be sleeping right now to catch up from getting in at 11 p.m. insted of 7 p.m. on Wednesday from a trip to Las Vegas (for work, not fun!), but I was lying awake and thinking about blogging, so I got up. Anyway, all this travel got me thinking about how hard it can be to manage staying healthy on the road, so I thought I'd share what I do (and I'm hoping you have some secrets I can learn from too!).
What I pack:
--Always, always workout clothes and shoes. I have gotten to the point where I never check bags unless absolutely necessary, and even then, I put a workout outfit and sneakers in my carry on. I don't want my workouts to be a the mercy of the airlines!
--My Pilates DVD. The one I like is called the Rael System 17--there's a System 7 for beginners and a System 27 that's really hard--too hard for me. I usually have my laptop with me if I'm going away for work, so I can just pop that in at night in my hotel room and get a great strength workout. The thing about Pilates is that it's hard and all that, but you don't need a mat (lay a towel down on your nasty hotel carpet, please!), you don't sweat, and you get a workout that can really change your body very quickly. When I do this DVD consistently, I can see my posture changing and feel my body toning up in about 3 sessions. And it's such a small item--takes up zero space in your bag.
--Sometimes my jump rope, or my swimsuit, goggles, and cap. The jump rope has saved me--I can get a great workout really quickly and not have to count on a hotel having a great gym or anything. And I love to swim laps--if the hotel where I'm going has a lap-swimming pool, I'm there. I've also done water running on occasion if the pool isn't big enough for lap swimming.
What about snacks?
I believe in being prepared when I travel--I bring healthy foods in self-defense, just in case I'm stuck somewhere starving and all that's available is Sbarro's greasy pizza. (There's a time and a place for Sbarro's, but I want to have a choice!) First, I try to have a good, healthy meal BEFORE I leave. Sometimes, I'm tempted to wait, thinking that I will have something great when I get to wherever I'm going. But I've been burned by flight delays and everything too many times, and ended up trying to find something decent in an airport (and you know what a challenge that can be!). I choose really filling, super healthy things like oatmeal (for breakfast), or a big salad at lunch or dinner. I figure it's the last time before I leave that I will really have control over what I eat, so I should do the healthiest thing possible. And then, I stash lots of snacks. I always have an energy bar with me ... the Zone Peanut Butter/Chocolate bars are the best. They're 220 calories, so they're really not a snack--but I've eaten them for lunch on long flights or breakfast on short ones. I also bring things like 100 calorie packs and Fig Newtons, but I don't put too many of them in easy reach, or I'll end up eating them whether I'm hungry or not. For instance, I flew to Las Vegas the other day (a 3+ hour flight) with a Zone Bar and a 100 calorie pack of Chips Ahoy in my purse, with extras in my carry on. That's not much--I didn't even eat the Zone bar--but I did have two of those little bags of cocktail peanuts (60 calories each), which I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. See, that's the thing: I have to learn from my experiences here. I KNOW that I will want those peanuts, and will be tempted to eat whatever's in my purse whether I'm hungry or not. So why load up on goodies if I'm going to have to spend the whole flight arguing with my inner whiner ("But I'm sooooo bored ... and those snacks look soooo yummy. Can I just have a little?")?
Other stuff
I could go on forever about this. But I'll just mention a couple more things and then open it up to you to share your tips.
--I always work out the first morning of a business trip. Even if I have to get up super-early, it's better to do it then, because in my experience, I'm only going to get more tired and run down as the trip goes on. Also, I feel like it gives me a little ego boost if I've got a big meeting or something.
--I'm boring at breakfast and lunch. You're away, and you don't have much control over your meals ... eating at restaurants and all that. But I really try to stick with the same healthy breakfasts and lunches I have at home, with the idea that I will let myself go a little at dinner. So breakfast is usually cereal or oatmeal, or maybe fruit and yogurt and a piece of whole wheat toast. Lunch is almost always a salad--filling, and good insurance that you'll get all your veggies for the day in that meal.
--When I'm staying at hotels, I always try to find out what kind of fitness facilities there are. If I can choose the place, I will choose a hotel with a great gym ... with the idea that I might actually look forward to going there if it seems to have new and different machines or classes or whatever. I'm also really loyal to hotel chains that have a commitment to health and wellness (and there are some, believe it or not!). Westin is one of the best--they typically have huge gyms, and some nice light food on their restaurant and room service menus. Hilton and Hyatt are coming up too, and many smaller chains as well. Do a little research before you choose ... and if it's not up to you where you stay, or you're on a budget, at least know what you're getting into so you can plan accordingly.
--Don't freak out. It's just plain hard to stick to a healthy routine when you're away. And even though I know I can do it (and that you can too!), stuff happens. You get tired and can't bear to work out. You stumble on a gelato shop you just have to try (and must! because you're away and you deserve some fun!). You're stuck on the tarmac for three hours and manage to go through your entire snack stash (and thank God you had it, right?). One of the hardest things for FFGs and Future FFGs is to FORGIVE yourself when you slip up. It's that damn perfectionism, that all-or-nothing thinking that has us feeling like complete failures for one digression ... and that, I KNOW, was one of the reasons I never could seem to lose weight in the past. ("I gave in and ate BOTH the rolls the room service guy brought ... so I might as well hit the minibar for an all-out binge!"). Just remember, it's ONE DAY. ONE DAY in this journey, this long journey that has peaks and valleys that balance each other out. So you hit a valley? There's a peak just around the corner. Trust me.
OK, that's enough musing. I want to hear about your travels ... your secrets for staying healthy (and I could use some lessons in keeping your cool when you get bumped, if you have those too!).
Lisa D
I've been spending lots of time in airports over the last couple of weeks—a lot more than I'd planned, actually. I will spare you the nasty details--I'm sure any of you who has tried to fly anywhere this summer has stories of her own. I should be sleeping right now to catch up from getting in at 11 p.m. insted of 7 p.m. on Wednesday from a trip to Las Vegas (for work, not fun!), but I was lying awake and thinking about blogging, so I got up. Anyway, all this travel got me thinking about how hard it can be to manage staying healthy on the road, so I thought I'd share what I do (and I'm hoping you have some secrets I can learn from too!).
What I pack:
--Always, always workout clothes and shoes. I have gotten to the point where I never check bags unless absolutely necessary, and even then, I put a workout outfit and sneakers in my carry on. I don't want my workouts to be a the mercy of the airlines!
--My Pilates DVD. The one I like is called the Rael System 17--there's a System 7 for beginners and a System 27 that's really hard--too hard for me. I usually have my laptop with me if I'm going away for work, so I can just pop that in at night in my hotel room and get a great strength workout. The thing about Pilates is that it's hard and all that, but you don't need a mat (lay a towel down on your nasty hotel carpet, please!), you don't sweat, and you get a workout that can really change your body very quickly. When I do this DVD consistently, I can see my posture changing and feel my body toning up in about 3 sessions. And it's such a small item--takes up zero space in your bag.
--Sometimes my jump rope, or my swimsuit, goggles, and cap. The jump rope has saved me--I can get a great workout really quickly and not have to count on a hotel having a great gym or anything. And I love to swim laps--if the hotel where I'm going has a lap-swimming pool, I'm there. I've also done water running on occasion if the pool isn't big enough for lap swimming.
What about snacks?
I believe in being prepared when I travel--I bring healthy foods in self-defense, just in case I'm stuck somewhere starving and all that's available is Sbarro's greasy pizza. (There's a time and a place for Sbarro's, but I want to have a choice!) First, I try to have a good, healthy meal BEFORE I leave. Sometimes, I'm tempted to wait, thinking that I will have something great when I get to wherever I'm going. But I've been burned by flight delays and everything too many times, and ended up trying to find something decent in an airport (and you know what a challenge that can be!). I choose really filling, super healthy things like oatmeal (for breakfast), or a big salad at lunch or dinner. I figure it's the last time before I leave that I will really have control over what I eat, so I should do the healthiest thing possible. And then, I stash lots of snacks. I always have an energy bar with me ... the Zone Peanut Butter/Chocolate bars are the best. They're 220 calories, so they're really not a snack--but I've eaten them for lunch on long flights or breakfast on short ones. I also bring things like 100 calorie packs and Fig Newtons, but I don't put too many of them in easy reach, or I'll end up eating them whether I'm hungry or not. For instance, I flew to Las Vegas the other day (a 3+ hour flight) with a Zone Bar and a 100 calorie pack of Chips Ahoy in my purse, with extras in my carry on. That's not much--I didn't even eat the Zone bar--but I did have two of those little bags of cocktail peanuts (60 calories each), which I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. See, that's the thing: I have to learn from my experiences here. I KNOW that I will want those peanuts, and will be tempted to eat whatever's in my purse whether I'm hungry or not. So why load up on goodies if I'm going to have to spend the whole flight arguing with my inner whiner ("But I'm sooooo bored ... and those snacks look soooo yummy. Can I just have a little?")?
Other stuff
I could go on forever about this. But I'll just mention a couple more things and then open it up to you to share your tips.
--I always work out the first morning of a business trip. Even if I have to get up super-early, it's better to do it then, because in my experience, I'm only going to get more tired and run down as the trip goes on. Also, I feel like it gives me a little ego boost if I've got a big meeting or something.
--I'm boring at breakfast and lunch. You're away, and you don't have much control over your meals ... eating at restaurants and all that. But I really try to stick with the same healthy breakfasts and lunches I have at home, with the idea that I will let myself go a little at dinner. So breakfast is usually cereal or oatmeal, or maybe fruit and yogurt and a piece of whole wheat toast. Lunch is almost always a salad--filling, and good insurance that you'll get all your veggies for the day in that meal.
--When I'm staying at hotels, I always try to find out what kind of fitness facilities there are. If I can choose the place, I will choose a hotel with a great gym ... with the idea that I might actually look forward to going there if it seems to have new and different machines or classes or whatever. I'm also really loyal to hotel chains that have a commitment to health and wellness (and there are some, believe it or not!). Westin is one of the best--they typically have huge gyms, and some nice light food on their restaurant and room service menus. Hilton and Hyatt are coming up too, and many smaller chains as well. Do a little research before you choose ... and if it's not up to you where you stay, or you're on a budget, at least know what you're getting into so you can plan accordingly.
--Don't freak out. It's just plain hard to stick to a healthy routine when you're away. And even though I know I can do it (and that you can too!), stuff happens. You get tired and can't bear to work out. You stumble on a gelato shop you just have to try (and must! because you're away and you deserve some fun!). You're stuck on the tarmac for three hours and manage to go through your entire snack stash (and thank God you had it, right?). One of the hardest things for FFGs and Future FFGs is to FORGIVE yourself when you slip up. It's that damn perfectionism, that all-or-nothing thinking that has us feeling like complete failures for one digression ... and that, I KNOW, was one of the reasons I never could seem to lose weight in the past. ("I gave in and ate BOTH the rolls the room service guy brought ... so I might as well hit the minibar for an all-out binge!"). Just remember, it's ONE DAY. ONE DAY in this journey, this long journey that has peaks and valleys that balance each other out. So you hit a valley? There's a peak just around the corner. Trust me.
OK, that's enough musing. I want to hear about your travels ... your secrets for staying healthy (and I could use some lessons in keeping your cool when you get bumped, if you have those too!).
Lisa D
3 Comments:
Just a quickie: when you get to your hotel, clean out the mini-bar - and I don't mean eat it! Stash all that stuff in a drawer, and re-stock it with your own healthy choices (including refreshing beverages). In a pinch, I have been known to fill a hotel sink with ice just to keep a lowfat yogurt chilled for the next day's breakfast!
Also, the edge of the bath-tub is perfect for doing some tricep dips. :-)
So I know that this isn't what we are supposed to be talking about on here... but you mentioned something in this post that I think is so incredibly important for us Soon to Be FFG and FFGs... and that is how to forgive yourself. I find myself so many times just caught up in a momentum of "Oh my gosh how could I have let things get this bad, oh my gosh how could I have eaten that". Its so hard when you feel so down on yourself... to just get back up and try again. Does anyone else have the same problems as me, or am I just crazy?
Tracy, your comment is an important point . . .I'm 5'4 about 153 lbs, for months I've been trying to get under 150, but when I get close I cheat, actually I binge. Why? I had red velvet cake and two cup cakes for breakast? Why? I felt powerless to stop myself from eating. In fact I've been feeling powerless since Tuesday. Now I' struggling to get back on track. Why, what happened in my head?
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