Healthy Living
Hit the Road, Jack (and Jill) But Be Sure to Bring Your Healthy Habits with You
By
Sep 13, 2005, 23:56

(ARA) - Swimsuit: $31.99. Good pair of walking shoes: $49.99. Assortment of healthy snacks, fresh fruit and bottled water: $8.99. Commitment to eat nutritiously and keep active while away from home: priceless.
Just because you’re on vacation or a business trip doesn’t mean you need to leave your healthy eating and exercise habits behind. Au contraire. Keeping on track is actually much easier than you’d think. All it takes is a little preplanning -- probably less than you spent organizing your trip -- and a lot of motivation.

“Many of our clients worry that when they leave home, they’ll also leave behind their resolve to manage their weight,” explains Lisa Talamini, RD, chief nutritionist and program director for Jenny Craig, Inc. “Our consultants give them helpful tips on making smart menu choices when dining out, incorporating physical activity in new surroundings, and maintaining their balanced approach to healthy living.

“That way, they’re able to concentrate on what’s truly important -- their friends, family or business objectives -- while remaining focused on their weight loss journey.”

Here are a few simple suggestions that can fit into even the busiest of itineraries:

Healthy Eating

* If your flight includes a meal, request a low-fat or vegetarian entree, fruit plate or seafood plate when booking your ticket. Not only will you save calories and fat, you may save time on getting your meal.

* Pack a few non-perishable, low-fat snacks to tide you over while traveling or in-between meetings.

* Pick up some fresh fruits, vegetables and bottles of water from the local market (or take them from home) to keep in your car, hotel room or at your desk. Having healthy snacks available will decrease your risk of turning to the mini-bar or vending machine.

* Walk to nearby restaurants for meals, rather than taking a cab or ordering room service.

* Remember to include fruits/veggies at every meal and watch your portions of other foods when dining out. Keep your starch serving to the size of your fist, your meat serving to the size of your palm, and load up on fresh vegetables.

* Replace "let's do lunch" with "let's take a walk." If you do go out for a business lunch (or breakfast or dinner), remember that the primary purpose is to conduct business!

Get Moving

* Plan an active vacation, such as a walking tour instead of a bus tour, or a tennis camp instead of a cruise. If on the latter, take full advantage of the ship’s workout facilities and enjoy an after-dinner stroll on deck each night.

* When traveling for business, remember to pack your exercise clothes and swimsuit so you can work out in your hotel's health club. If your hotel doesn't have a fitness room, find some stairs. Go up and down as many flights as you can for a terrific workout.

* Use your time at the airport to get in some extra walking. After checking in, power walk around the terminal rather than sitting at the gate.

* Ask your hotel's concierge to recommend a good walking path near or around the hotel.

* If your client's office isn’t on the ground floor, take the stairs instead of the elevator.

* Keep your workout gear in your car, so you can exercise at a moment's notice.

* Remember that every bit of activity counts throughout the day. Consider wearing a pedometer to track your steps and see how they add up, striving for at least 10,000 steps per day.

For more healthy eating and exercise tips, visit www.jennycraig.com. Courtesy of ARA Content

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