Cut Your Air-miles with a Staycation

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

We all know that when it comes to travelling, aeroplanes are bad news for the environment. In his book The Rough Guide to Green Living, Duncan Clark says: “Two seats on a return trip from London to San Francisco produces the equivalent impact of around five tonnes of CO₂”. To put that into context, Clark explains that it’s equivalent to driving 20,000 miles in an average car.

 

But few of us want to give up our annual vacation, so what’s the alternative? Well, the ‘staycation’, which gets its name from combining ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’, is becoming an increasingly popular choice. And although a staycation means staying close to home rather than travelling overseas, it doesn’t mean you have to stay in your own home, doing the same things you do all the time. Here are some ideas for a fun staycation:

 

• Explore your local area – quite often we forget about the gems on our own doorstep. Pretend you’re a tourist in your own town and visit the places you normally pass by.


• Try new ways of travelling – you don’t have to jump on a plane to see parts of your own country. Why not try a walking or cycling holiday instead?


• Enjoy an activity holiday. There are many holidays that combine a relaxing break with the chance to learn a new skill so see what’s available in your local area. From writing retreats to cookery courses, they are a great way to try something new whilst taking a break from your usual routine.

 

 

Categories: catton, equivalent, jenny, local area, nbsp, staycation, staycation nbsp, travelling, vacation, written

How to Stay Healthy on Holidays

While it’s natural to focus on the exciting elements of travel, like seeing new places and enjoying fresh experiences, when it comes to getting the most out of all your holidays don’t forget to put some thought into staying healthy along the way as well. Whether you’re getting ready to book a hotel in Coffs Harbour for a quick weekend getaway or are preparing for a month-long trip to Europe, it’s a good idea to take care of your body and practice healthy habits even while you’re away. Read on for five top tips to consider during your next vacation.

 

 

Watch What You Eat in Transit

Travelling long distances, especially on planes, can be very dehydrating, so take precautions to ensure you keep your fluid levels up in transit.Steer clear of coffee or alcohol and stick with water for the duration of your journey. It can sometimes be difficult to get enough to drink on a long-haul flight so it’s a good idea to take an empty stainless steel water bottle with you in your hand luggage. You can ask the flight attendant to fill it up with the plane’s purified water during the trip. Similarly, if travelling long distances by road, always remember to take a water bottle and stop for plenty of breaks to top up your supply. You should also watch what you eat when travelling to your destination. Airline food is not generally particularly healthy, and neither is most food you find at stops along the highway. To help you be healthy during your journey take plenty of health-conscious foods with you instead. Many people are unaware that you can actually take food on board airplanes. While you can’t take fruit and veg off the plane as a general rule (due to quarantine restrictions) you can eat whatever you like while on board.

 

 

Research Restaurant Options

Similarly, you don’t want to undo all your good work by eating badly once you arrive at your destination. Eat nutritiously during your holiday and you’ll find yourself feeling much better along the way and when you return home as well. The longer your trip, the more you’re likely to be affected by an inadequate diet, so if you’re travelling for a week or longer, this is particularly important. To help you stay on track it is beneficial to suss out healthy and/or organic restaurants and supermarkets before you leave. When eating out use your judgement about what to eat and what to avoid. Pre-prepared foods can gather germs quite quickly so opt for freshly-made meals and always choose to have any meat well-cooked. You can also book accommodation that has a kitchen, (or at least the basic cooking equipment) so that you can make your own meals while away.

 

 

Make Time to Exercise

Flying, or many hours cramped in a car, train or bus, can be terrible for your circulation so make sure that you stretch as often as possible during your journey. When you arrive in your destination, ensure you fit in some time to exercise regularly as well. Apart from helping your circulation the exercise will also have the other standard health benefits associated with brisk movement, and will also help to regulate your body clock at the same time. Easy exercise options while away can include walking and running, cycling, swimming, yoga and using the hotel gym.

 

Staying clean and only drinking fresh, safe water while you travel is another effective way to keep illness at bay. Wash your hands regularly, or keep a bottle of hand sanitiser with you for those times when you can’t access soap and water. This is very effective in preventing the spread of nasty bacteria and is particularly important before and after meals; before you touch your eyes, nose or mouth; and if you aren’t able to shower for a while. If you’re travelling in a country where the quality of water is uncertain, then boiling water before you drink it is a tried and tested way to avoid most bugs.

 

 

Be Choosy in YourTravel Partner

It’s helpful to select a travel partner who is in the same frame of mind as you when it comes to staying healthy on holidays. Although of course you can keep up good habits and hygiene no matter who your companion is, it certainly makes the trip more fun (and the amount of willpower needed less) if you spend your holiday with someone who is also keen to stay fit and healthy.

 

 

About the Author:

Fiona Spruce is a travel writer with a passion for international vacations, cycling and organic foods who has visited more than 50 countries around the world.

Categories: Healthy, holidays, long distances, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, staying healthy, travelling, travelling long, Water, water bottle

How to Make Sure You Don’t Gain Weight While Travelling

When many people are going travelling, the biggest question on their minds is whether they can maintain their fitness levels and not gain weight whilst still having a good time. It’s more important than ever to look after your wellness and wellbeing whilst travelling, as you need to be in the best of health when you are in unfamiliar locations.

 

The best way to help you achieve this whilst on holiday is to stick to an eating schedule. It’s tempting and very easy to disregard normal mealtimes whilst you are on the move, but if you start just eating random snacks in the airport or in the car (half a scone, a bag of crisps etc.) then you will find that the calories soon add up. Instead, stop at a proper café or restaurant and buy proper food such as a sandwich or salad. As an added bonus, many of these places have calorie counts listed on the back of the packages that the food comes in, which will help you keep track of exactly what you are consuming. Taking the time to sit down and eat proper food, rather than snacking on the go, makes your body register the food better too. You’re more likely to enjoy the food and eat less if you take the time to focus on what you are eating – snacking on the go can frequently  mean that your body is not aware that it is taking in calories.

 

If you are feeling particularly organised, you could even pack your own snacks and lunches to have along the way. Things like carrot, cucumber and almond butter sandwiches are ideal, as you don’t have to refrigerate a vegetarian option like this. When it comes to snacks, fruit is ideal and things like apples, oranges and pears are very portable. You could also try little packets of nuts or dried fruit.

Categories: eating, Food, gain weight, proper, proper food, snacks, time, travelling, weight

How to Fight Back Against Life’s Challenges with Your Diet

A lot of things can throw your wellbeing off track; sleep deprivation, pregnancy, public speaking – you name it and life will hurl it your way. However, you can fight back against the disturbances of life through your diet, so we gathered the best tips from wellness experts to show you how.

 

1. Fighting off a cold: When the sniffles come your way, your best defences are warm fluids and garlic – so adding garlic to soup combines the best of both worlds. The warm liquid will help to thin the mucus, ease your dry cough and fend off that fever-induced dehydration. Samantha Heller, clinical nutrition coordinator at the Centre for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut, adds, ‘Garlic has disease-fighting compounds that can give your body a little boost.’

 

2. Can’t sleep: If a good night’s sleep eludes you, try a wholegrain-and-protein snack to help you unwind. The carbohydrates in whole grains increase the serotonin in your brain, helping you to relax, while the amino acid tryptophan found in proteins can also assuage insomnia. Roughly an hour and a half before you go to sleep, try eating half-a-cup of wholegrain cereal with skimmed milk, hummus on a whole-wheat pita or a rice cake topped with tomato and a slice of turkey breast.

 

3. Trying to conceive: When you want to have a baby, complex carbs and protein can aid fertility by keeping your insulin levels stable. Jeremy Groll, MD, co-author of Fertility Foods, explains, ‘High insulin levels prohibit normal ovulation.’ Dr. Groll also recommends talking to your doctor about taking prenatal vitamins, and filling up on folic acid-rich foods to reduce your baby’s risk of spinal-cord defects. For your carb and protein duo, go for a fruit smoothie with yogurt and protein powder. Then, top your chances up with asparagus, leafy greens, oranges, and fortified cereals to get your folate fix.

 

4. Public speaking: A high-protein, low-fat meal is the perfect recipe for concentration and calming nerves. According to Marisa Moore, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, ‘Amino acids from the protein will not only help you with the ability to learn and recall information, but they’ll also enhance your ability to concentrate and stay alert.’ Go easy on the greens as the fibre can make you feel gassy or bloated. Instead, incorporate some chicken, fish, beef, or tofu with some veggies or whole grains. Good options include a lightly dressed tuna salad with whole-wheat bread or grilled chicken on a small bed of greens.

 

5. Preparing for a workout: 30-60 minutes before you exercise, eating a light snack with carbs and water will give you staying power without wearing you down. Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, author of Managing Your Mind and Mood through Food, notes, ‘It takes the edge off hunger and gives your body some calories.’ If you’ve got an hour or more before your workout, try yoghurt with a few whole-grain crackers. If you have less time, half a banana or six ounces of orange juice turns into energy (glucose) faster.

 

6. Hitting the road: Whether you’re sitting for hours in a car or a plane, a low-calorie meal that travels well is your best bet. You don’t need a lot of calories as you won’t be expending much energy, and you won’t be able to keep foods fresh so you want things that are non-perishable and portable foods, while healthy enough to keep you away from fat-filled fast foods. At the airport, go for a pre-packaged green salad with chicken or soup and a whole-wheat roll. For a short flight, Wurtman recommends a protein bar with about 15 grams of protein, while Heller suggests trail mix made with whole-grain cereal, nuts, and dried fruit for a long road trip.

Categories: chicken, conception, foods, insulin levels, nbsp, Protein, Public Speaking, sleep, travelling

How You Can Lose Weight Even When You Are Travelling

When you are travelling, it is very easy to gain weight. Without the time and space to focus on a weight loss and fitness regime, it is easy to see the pounds creeping on. Whether you are travelling for work or for your own personal enjoyment, there are lots of incentives that offer themselves up along the way to give in to your food-related desires! Fortunately, there are lots of things that you can do to help keep the weight at bay even when you are travelling.

Being on holiday offers lots of great opportunities for you to walk. Although there may be opportunities to rent a car or take a cab, try to avoid the temptation and instead walk wherever you need to know. This way, you actually get to see a lot more of the country that you are visiting, and you may even find shops or attractions along the way that you would have missed if you had been in a vehicle.

On the other hand, you could also look into renting a bike to explore the local area. Cycling is a great way to lose weight and tone up your leg muscles as well as some upper body muscles, plus it will be a lot faster than walking.

You should also carry water with you at all times. This is especially important in hot countries, of course, but even if you are not in a hot climate, water is still one of the best ways to help keep your weight loss on track. Drinking regular water should help to keep the hunger pangs at bay, and will also stop you from drinking other, sweeter, unhealthier foods.

There’s also nothing to stop you finding out if there is a local gym in the place where you are visiting, and doing a couple of workouts in your spare time.

 

Categories: Lose weight, lots, opportunities, pounds, travelling, Water, weight, Weight Loss

Travel Fitness: How to Incorporate More Active-ities

When you go travelling, on holiday or take a business trip, fitness and wellness are probably the last two things on your mind. However, while travel fitness can feel like a chore, making it part of your trip can help you to feel more vibrant and energetic, and take care of your wellbeing, so that you actually enjoy your travels. Let’s be clear: I’m not saying you need to hit the hotel gym after a long day of seeing the sights; you simply need to follow a few practical, realistic options for taking care of your body when you’re far from home.

 

1. Get out of the car: When you’re in new and unfamiliar territory, it can be tempting to drive everywhere as you don’t know how safe or far away the destination is. However, if you’re searching for a nice place to eat dinner, setting out on foot and wandering around the area – instead of driving – can help you to get a bit of exercise and really experience the place you’re visiting. You can also try parking five minutes further away from places you’re visiting, and this will help you to burn more calories, increase your cardiovascular stamina, and promote relaxation, all without forcing you to break an embarrassing sweat.

 

2. Make time for yourself in the morning: If you’re travelling with friends, colleagues or children, it can be difficult to work in your travel fitness regime. However, you can reap lots of benefits –and have a nice breather from difficult travelling companions – by setting aside even just twenty minutes or half an hour as solo time. In the morning before the day’s activities begin, use the peace and quiet to go for a walk or a run. If you’ve got your own hotel room, lock the door and do some jumping jacks, knee lifts or have a bit of a boogie and shake off that family holiday stress. Starting your day with a quick bout of independent travel fitness enables you to mentally reflect and relax while also giving your energy levels a boost. This can brighten up your whole trip and prepare you for a day spent with other travellers.

 

3. Use the toilet: By the phrase “use the toilet,” I’m not talking about that natural thing that everyone needs to do, I’m talking about making use of those time in which nature calls for travel fitness. Every time you head to use the toilet, take a few minutes and turn the facilities into your temporary personal travel fitness station! Try having a quick burst of fast movement to get your heart rate going a little bit. Even a quick session of jumping up and down can help you to give your metabolism a quick jolt so that you burn more calories throughout the day. This tip is great because it allows you the privacy of getting your travel fitness party on without the embarrassment of other people seeing. Moreover, as you’ll be using the loo a few times a day anyway, so you don’t need to worry about remembering to find the time to fit travel fitness into your schedule.

 

4. Plan activities: Making exercise part of the day’s fun is a great way to trick yourself, and your travelling companions, into getting some extra fitness under your belt. If there’s a natural landmark nearby, check out some hiking trails. If you’re staying in a town or city, there’s always sight-seeing, bowling or miniature golf. Anything that gets you moving counts, so try to incorporate as many active-ities as possible.

Categories: active ities, fitness, Me Time, nbsp, time, toilet, Travel, travel fitness, travelling, travelling companions

How To Protect Your Wellness When You’re Travelling

When you are travelling, it can be all too easy to focus on relaxation, sightseeing and to forget about the seeming ‘chore’ of taking care of your wellness and wellbeing. This is a big mistake, though, as it is precisely when you are away from home that you should be looking after your health, as any problems with your health can have a very adverse effect on your enjoyment of your travelling or vacation.

 

There are a number of key areas that you should focus on when considering the implications of staying healthy and safe when you’re travelling.

 

The number one consideration is probably the impact of the sun. This remains the case whether you are travelling within the UK or in hotter climates, as the sun can be equally damaging in both. Getting sun burnt is extremely uncomfortable but can also be very dangerous to your health as it increases your risk of skin cancer. If you burn just five times, your risk of getting skin cancer are more than doubled – and by this we mean the most lethal kind of skin cancer. To combat this, make sure you are well covered up with sun cream and that you wear a sun hat if you are going to be outside for any length of time.

 

Secondly, don’t forget to eat healthily and take exercise even when on holiday. Most people gain weight when on holiday or travelling, and have to go on a strict diet when they get home. Instead of yoyo-ing in this way, why not keep to a healthy diet whilst away and take some moderate exercise. You can often find fun holiday exercises to do, such as swimming in the sea or going horse riding.

 

Whilst travelling you should also make sure that you wash your hands. This is the most effective way to help prevent diseases. A study has recently found that only five percent of people actually wash their hands properly so make sure you give them a good scrub.

Categories: health, holiday, nbsp, skin, Skin Cancer, travelling, Wellness

Maintain Your Weight When You Travel With These Tips

Travelling and visiting new and exciting places can make it difficult for those trying to maintain their weight loss regime. It’s not easy to enjoy your holiday if you’re counting calories every enticing meal put in front of you. If you want to make it through your break without gaining a few extra pounds, try following these tips for a healthy and enjoyable getaway.

1 – Try to listen to your appetite and don’t just eat for the sake of it. It can be easy to gorge on snacks while you’re away, because you’re on holiday – but your waistline won’t thank you when you return home. If you feel hungry, opt for a filling and healthy meal instead of low-calorie foods which will leave you craving more.

2 – Try to stay hydrated, as many people mistake thirst for hunger. By keeping yourself topped up with water, you’ll be able to spot a genuine hunger craving rather than eating when you don’t really need to.

3 – Pay attention to your portion sizes and try not to overeat simply by finishing your plate, even when you’re full. Stopping yourself from overindulging is the key to maintaining your weight loss.

4 – You’re on holiday, so naturally you’ll want to relax, but don’t lead a sedentary lifestyle for the entire trip – get up, go swimming or exploring, and enjoy taking part in active pursuits.

5 – Stay on top of your alcohol intake, as this is filled with empty calories and can leave you feeling vastly dehydrated – for every alcoholic beverage you have, follow it up with a glass of water to reduce your calories and reduce the risk of a headache the following morning!

6 – Separate your emotions from your genuine desire to eat – if you’re feeling a little homesick, it might be tempting to comfort eat. Instead, go for a walk, listen to some music, or explore your new city and lean about the culture. It will take your mind off it and help you stay on top of your weight.

Categories: diet, travelling, Weight Control