It's that time of year...for travel, holiday parties, and more social engagements. How did it come so quick again? These events and celebrations do not have to derail your progress towards your health goals and can be a nice pause from the day-to-day to enjoy and celebrate with your friends and family.
While on-the-go this holiday season, you can use some of these healthy tips to keep you on track and feeling your best from now until the ball drops.
TIP #1:
NEVER FLY OR DRIVE HUNGRY
Travel days can cause a release of cortisol (the stress hormone) which can increase your appetite, leaving you "snack-ish" the whole day. The best way to head off these cravings is to consume at least 20-25 grams of quality protein before you jet set or arrive to the party. Enter the Airport Shake! More travel snacks and supplies (like single serving salad dressings & olive packs) can be found below:
TIP #2:
CREATE A NIGHTTIME SANCTUARY
There is hardly anything as rejuvenating as a good night's sleep, which can sometimes be elusive while on vacation (or if you have young kids!). The late nights, time changes, and happy hour drinks can all contribute to a harder time falling and staying asleep. A travel essential is a quality eye mask to wear in bed to shelter your eyes from external light. Set your room's thermostat at 68-70 degrees. Your body can get into REM sleep (the restorative kind) easier when in a cool space.
TIP #3:
SYNC WITH THE SUN
Upon first waking, try to get some natural sunlight to sync with your circadian rhythm. This is especially important if you are in a different time zone. This is a jet lag hack for sure. Go ahead and enjoy your almond milk latte out on a sunny patio to soak up some Vitamin D and sync your clock. Once you're sufficiently caffeinated and hydrated, it's time to kick-start your day with some movement.
TIP #4:
MOVE YOUR BODY DAILY
Even short bursts of movement can increase your endorphins and decrease your cravings for all the pie. You can: power walk to get your morning coffee, find a local gym or use ClassPass, download a fitness app (like TMAC20), or simply stretch on a yoga mat in your hotel room or Airbnb.
TIP #5:
HYDRATE LIKE AN ATHLETE
Your body loses a lot of fluid while flying, and it’s easy to forget to drink 8-10 cups of water while on-the-go. Replenish your body’s electrolytes and rebalance your cells with an electrolyte supplement like LMNT. Sometimes simple water is only part of the hydration equation. We want to balance our potassium, sodium, and magnesium to their optimal levels to properly hydrate at the cellular level.
TIP #6:
KEEP REGULAR
Also while traveling, your body’s natural rhythm can go awry. Try having magnesium before bed in the form of a capsule, like NOW Foods Magnesium, or in a powder drink form like Calm, to stay regular. Magnesium will also help to calm and relax your body, which is usually much-needed after a long day of travel.
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