Traveling can throw off your heart-healthy habits. Here are some tips to stay on track.
Pack Snacks: Eating out can derail your healthy eating habits. Take along some whole grain cereal, nuts, dried fruit, cereal, or granola bars to snack on or substitute for restaurant breakfasts. When eating out look for whole grains at breakfast, salads, soups, or stir-fries for lunch, and reasonably sized servings at dinner.
Pack a Pill Case: Of course you’ll bring your medication, but traveling can disrupt your schedule and make it difficult to remember to take your medication consistently. Use a daily pill case and be sure!
Pack in Chunks: Getting the exercise you need can be difficult on the road, particularly if you are traveling to a business meeting or conference. Two or three “chunks” of exercise (10 to 15 minutes in duration) will go a long way toward keeping your commitment to your health. A quick walk in the morning, even just 10 minutes around the hotel halls, and another at lunch and before bed will keep you on track. Taking a walk outside can clear your head and help digest the information from your meetings. If you are sight-seeing, choose walking tours. Pay attention to the weather, so you don’t get overheated, and drink plenty of water.
Pack an Emergency Card: Make sure you have the information you need in an emergency including your emergency contacts, doctor information, medications, and dosages. Print your information on brightly colored paper and keep it in your wallet.
Packing a few simple things will make your next trip more heart-healthy.
Eliz Greene is the Busy Woman’s Guide to a Health. Drawing on her experience surviving a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggling to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.