5 Ways You Can Stay Healthy While Traveling
Eating a gelato while relaxing on a beach. Trying out different cuisines. Long road trips in the countryside. Lazy rail rides in the mountains of Switzerland. Oh, the joys of traveling are endless. While we are busy eating pizza in Naples and noodles in Beijing, and enjoying the delights of doing nothing in Bali, our body is slowly adding some pounds. When we finally come to the reality of our homes, we’re not only hit with travel blues but also the disappointment of gaining a few extra pounds. Come on, admit it, we’ve all been there. So, the next you plan for a trip, make sure to include these simple tips to enjoy a stress free, healthy holiday!
Walk, Walk, and Walk some more
Walking is perhaps the easiest way you can make sure you stay fit as well as explore new places. It’s also a great way to discover hidden locales and meet new people while burning calories! A great way to ensure walking into your travels is by creating your own walking tours. Simply map out the sights you want to explore on Google Maps or a paper map if you want to go old school!
Include Physical Activities in your itineraries
A great way to stay active while traveling is including activities that make you work those muscles. When you’re exploring urban areas, go on cycling tours around the city. If you’re holidaying on the beach, take surfing lessons. Go hiking if you’re visiting a hilly region. These activities will not only keep you fit but also help you discover some offbeat delights.
5-minute workouts
Remember all those 5 to 7 minute workouts you watch on Facebook or Youtube? Travel gives you the perfect opportunity to put them to use. All you need to do is wake up 10 minutes earlier than usual, put on your sneakers and do some exercises. If that seems too much, then you can definitely sneak in some simple exercises to stretch your arms, legs, back, shoulders, and neck. You can’t make any more excuses, seriously!
Hara Hachi Bu
Hara Hachi Bu is a Japanese concept that means you should eat only till you are 80 percent full. The trick though is figuring out if you really are 80 percent full. So how do you know? Simple, just don’t overeat or stop eating before you start feeling full. It’s an ideal way to make sure you’re not over eating especially when traveling and the temptation to indulge in food and alcohol is too hard to resist. You might want to listen to the Japs; after all they have the highest healthy life expectancy.
A Good Night’s Sleep
Traveling can often disrupt your sleeping habits. While it’s important to be physically active, don’t forget the effect of a good night’s sleep on your health. It is scientifically proven that sleep deprivation creates a viscous cycle in your body and increases cortisol, a stress hormone that increases your appetite, making you more likely to gain weight.
Happy healthy traveling, folks!
