Flight Health

It's not always easy to maintain your great, healthy lifestyle when you're high up in the air. Most of us tend to ease up on our diets when we travel for fun - and we generally consider that anything that goes into our mouths during the flight doesn't count. We are in the air, after all. How many calories can count that high up? Unfortunately, the calories still do count, and it's important to think about your health, even when you are 30,000 feet in the air. Here are a few good ideas when flying.

1. Start the flight on a full stomach. It's often difficult to do this, as you have to get to the airport so early these days for flights, and you are busy taking care of all of the check-in issues. If possible, however, eat something healthy before the flight, so that you aren't starving five minutes after take-off.

2. Bring your own food with you on board. The peanuts and coke that they serve you for a snack during flights aren't the best health options. There are really better ways for you to spend your calories. Choose seltzer water over coke and bring your own crackers, fruits, or granola bars for those times when you get hungry. Bring these for the kids as well, as they tend to be hungry a lot during flights.

3. Even if you are travelling far and changing time zones, try to maintain a normal eating schedule. Don't eat every two hours just because you are bored and have no idea what time of day it is anyway. Try to keep a good distance between meals and eat meals - don't just snack away the flight.

Hopefully, these tips will help you to stay on track, so that you can actually enjoy that bikini while you are on your vacation!

Sleep, Glorious Sleep

I happen to love sleep. I adore it actually. My husband goes on an overnight hike once a month with friends of his during the full moon. They let the moon guide them and light their path and they walk all night long to a destination. A lovely idea and a nice way to bond with friends - but, how in the world do they let themselves give up on a night of sleep? This is the thing that I just don't get. There is simply very little in life that is more important to me now than sleep. Now, I will admit that my view might be skewed a bit by the four children under 7 that I have in my house. OK - so I'm sleep deprived most of the time. But, even before having these kids, I just simply loved sleep.

I learned something interesting about sleep recently. Apparently, the hours before midnight are more important for your health and your sleep than the hours that you sleep after midnight. So, if I sleep from 11-12, that hour was more important than if I sleep from 1-2am, etc. And, many, many people tend to go to bed very late. This effects, among other people, teenagers and young adults a great deal who tend to stay up much later and then to sleep in. Even if they sleep for 8 hours, as they might have, they are not getting as good a night sleep as they would had if they had gone to be earlier. Isn't that interesting? It makes for a good excuse to go to bed earlier - but then again, I never need an excuse! Excuse me, I'm off to bed...

The Sun

I know we live in the 21st century, and not fifty years ago, but I'm still amazed at how many people don't know the powerful and deadly effects of the sun. The sun kills - period. And even if you really really want to look cute in the outfit and you are dying for that tan - you really and truly are DYING for that tan. It's amazing how powerful the sun's rays are and how quickly you can damage your skin. I slather my kids with sunscreen before they walk out the door to school and camp in the morning. And research has actually shown that sunscreen only lasts for a few hours. So, if you head out for a long hike or a day at the beach and you assume that you are fine, you may not be. It's vital to carry the sunscreen with you and to lather yourself up again after a few hours.

I've known far too many people how have had terrible effects from the sun, and unfortunately, even a few who have died. It's no laughing matter. And balancing the desire for a tan with the desire to live - isn't really a comparison. Furthermore, I've heard people complain that sunscreen is slimy or smelly or doesn't make them feel great. Find a sunscreen that you can live with and stick to that one. It doesn't matter how much it costs or how much of a pain it is to get another one. This is your life we are talking about, and nothing else really matters in this realm. Take care of yourself. Enjoy your time outdoors, but know that you need to also protect yourself. You are the only you that you've got!

Fresh Air

This is one of the old wive's tales, but I have to say that I think it's really true. Fresh air is a miracle worker. Now, that's not to say that fresh air will cure every problem and set every difficulty on the right track. Nothing like that. But, there is nothing as great as fresh air to clear the mind and get the body moving. I find that I have much more energy in the spring and summer than I have in the winter. It's something about being outside with the kids all afternoon (ALL afternoon) and running around in the glorious air. I also find these days, as I've been eating right and trying to treat my body well, that I must have walk in the morning. It's not an option - it's not something I'd like to do - it's something I must do. Period. And it's great. My day doesn't really start without a morning walk. A chance to see the trees, to hear the birds chirping, to say hi to the neighbors, and to feel alive. And then, once my body has moved and I've gotten some fresh air, I can come inside to my computer and get to work.

Fresh air is really an important thing. If you work all day inside, it's very important to keep this in mind, and to grab a few minutes for yourself throughout the day. Even if you don't tend to take much of a lunch break, run around the block a few times, poke your head outside, at least know what the weather is during the day. Even five minutes in the fresh air can make a difference in how you approach your work and in how you feel. Go ahead and try it out - you'll be surprised how it makes you feel!