Remember when you used to eat whatever you liked, and never gained an ounce?
And how you used to be able to drive all day and all night and still be able to get up and meet the new day? Well, forget it, those days are long behind you.
Does this mean you can't live it up on the road anymore?
No way.
But the time has come -- and maybe it's been that way for awhile though you'd like to deny it -- to get a little more ... conservative in the consuming and expending of your energy.
Sitting all day behind the wheel or as a passenger for hours at a time doesn't burn alot of calories no matter how much head bobbing and foot tapping goes on in time to the music on the radio or your favorite song mix on a CD.
The kind of food you'll find on the road is a recipe for weight gain. It can be fun to pull into a restaurant or fast food joint, and your favorite junk food looks pretty alluring when you've stopped for gas or a bathroom break.
But how long do you want to carry the consequences of this kind of caloric debauchery?
Better to get it under control before you end up with your own spare tire and I don't mean the one in your trunk. Your other trunk.
Be a grown up. If you're reading an article on seniors and travel, it's time, believe me.
Bring healthy food with you. Fill your cooler with veggies, fruit and yogurt.
Limit the amount of junk you lay out your money for. Fast food restaurants offer other items besides the calorie- and fat-laden favorites.
Keep from adding to your middle-aged spread while on your youth-inspired trip by getting some exercise when you can. Keep your hip flexors from getting tight, and protect yourself from back pain due to weak muscles.
Maybe you normally would make your road trip a marathon where you try to break your old record of miles covered, or try to last longer behind the wheel than you ever did before without a bathroom break.
But make yourself pull over every hour or so and stretch your legs. Walking can be done anywhere -- well, almost anywhere -- so keep that in mind and work it in to your vacation schedule.
If you normally do some resistance training, you can toss a few light weights in your car, or a resistance band to keep those guns toned.
Even while you're driving you can do some muscle tightening. Contract your abdominal muscles, or practice your Kegels.
Plan your stopovers so that you have some opportunities to get physical. Locations that offer space for hiking or biking will let you work off some steam while you enjoy the local scenery.
If you'd like something more organized, head for an area with a golf course or tennis courts. Does your hotel or motel have a swimming pool? Are you going to be near a gym? Take advantage of the proximity and enjoy the workout.
Sources:
Stay Healthy on Road Trips. Babyboomers.com. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
http://www.babyboomers.com.au/travel-brochures-holidays/stay-healthy-on-...
Staying Fit On A Road Trip. Myitchytravelfeet.com. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
http://myitchytravelfeet.com/2011/07/14/boomer-health-tips-road-trip
Visit Jody's website and blog at http://www.ncubator.ca and http://ncubator.ca/blogger
Reviewed on May 22, 2012
by Maryann Gromisch, RN