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How to Keep Healthy and Enjoy Your Travel Experience

  • February 8, 2018
  • By 50 Shades
  • 29 Comments
How to Keep Healthy and Enjoy Your Travel Experience

You have finally booked that longed-for holiday or trip and are now counting down until departure date. It is an exciting time but if you aren’t physically and mentally prepared then you may find that you don’t enjoy the trip as much as you thought you would.

The first thing to remember is there is a difference between taking a holiday (vacation) and travelling. A holiday is usually a time to take a break from life and just relax and restore your body and mind. Days are usually filled with reading, sleeping and just taking things easy.

Travelling is the opposite!

Living in Australia, travelling to the other side of the world to experience new cultures and adventures can take its toll. It takes 26 hours to get to Europe for example so just getting there can mean you are tired before your adventure even really begins.

Last year, my husband and I had a five week holiday to Spain/Italy. It was wonderful but because of limited time and the distance we had travelled we tried to see as much as possible. We came home feeling quite tired and it took some time to get back on track and find our mojo.

There are steps you can take to ensure that your travels will be enjoyable and create happy memories.

How to keep healthy and enjoy your travel experience

Prepare for the trip

I’m quite fit and active however, I was surprised that even I felt the rigours of travelling in my last trip. Sightseeing, long days, sleeping in different beds and walking over cobblestones or uneven ground can take their toll. Try to include a rest day when you arrive. This will give your body time to adjust to jet lag.

As soon as you book your travel:

  • start a fitness plan which includes walking and stretching. If you have purchased new walking shoes, wear them a few times before you leave. You don’t want any blisters while you are away!
  • eat healthier food
  • make an appointment with your doctor to discuss any health issues.
    • If you take medication, ask the doctor for a letter which details all the medication you have been prescribed.
    • If you have trouble sleeping, ask the doctor for some medication to help you sleep.
    • Going on a cruise? Ask the doctor for some motion sickness medication.
    • Do you require innoculations? Some need to be done a number of weeks before travelling so research what you need.
    • Antibiotics – I don’t like taking medications, but going to some places may not be as hygienic as what you are used to. Having a general antibiotic on hand can sometimes mean the difference between enjoying yourself or being miserable and spending the whole trip in the hotel bathroom!
  • select sensible walking shoes and clothing which will be appropriate to where you are travelling. Are you going to a different climate? Will you be walking on uneven ground?

During the trip

Whether you are travelling independently or with a tour there is always the expectation of seeing as much as you can each day.

  • Start the day with 5 -10 minutes of stretching
  • Have a healthy and nutritious breakfast to keep you going throughout the day
  • Take a water bottle and keep hydrated. Carry it with you everywhere.
  • Indulge in the local cuisine and wine but be selective and try to have days when you make healthier food choices
  • If you have time, take a ’rest’ day where you don’t get up too early and don’t plan to do much for the day.
  • If you are on a cruise – use the hand santizers! So many people get sick on cruises because they don’t adhere to hygiene rules.

How to keep healthy and enjoy your travel experience

Arriving home

After enjoying a wonderful experience it is quite natural to come home with the ‘holiday blues’. Coming back to reality can affect our mood, especially if we are also feeling tired. Getting back to normal doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

  • Give yourself a few days to recover from the experience and the flight
  • Start moving like walking or other forms of exercise that you enjoy but take it gently. Don’t jump straight back into a fitness regime that you were following before the trip. You have probably lost some fitness so avoid injury and ease back into exercise.
  • Start a healthy eating routine. Give the treats and desserts a miss for a while and eat fresh and nutritious meals. Include more fruit and vegetables each day rather than eating heavier meals.
  • Look at the photos of your trip and relive the experience. So often we tend to put our photos away rather than soaking up all that we have seen.
  • Book another adventure!

Many thanks to Sue for guest posting today on my blog. Sue is one of the fittest ladies I know and inspires me to get fitter every day with her uplifting blogs.

Sue Loncaric is an over 50 lifestyle blogger, lifestyle coach and the founder of Sizzling Towards Sixty & Beyond. Her mission is to encourage and inspire women Over 50 to live a fit, fabulous, healthier and happier lifestyle by guiding them to realise their full potential.

Website: www.sizzlingtowardssixty.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sizzlingtowards60
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sizzling60
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/loncaric2047/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sizzlingtowards60

This post is part of the Lovin’ Life Linky with a Lovin’ Life Team of the “ageing positively” kind who are as keen as I am to promote the Lovin’ Life mindset.

The Lovin’ Life Team includes:

Lyndall from Seize the Day Project
Deb from DebbishDotCom
Min from Write of the Middle.
Leanne from Deep Fried Fruit
and of course me, Kathy from 50 Shades of Age


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By 50 Shades, February 8, 2018 Kathy was a 50 something year old when she started up this blog 6 years ago, but has since turned over another decade and is now in her early 60s. She is married with two adult children and lives on the Tweed Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Kathy enjoys living life to the fullest and loves to keep fit and active by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some of her interests include reading, photography, travelling, cooking and blogging! Kathy works part-time as a freelance writer but her real passion is travelling and photographing brilliant destinations both within Australia and overseas and writing about it.
  • 29

50 Shades

Kathy was a 50 something year old when she started up this blog 6 years ago, but has since turned over another decade and is now in her early 60s. She is married with two adult children and lives on the Tweed Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Kathy enjoys living life to the fullest and loves to keep fit and active by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some of her interests include reading, photography, travelling, cooking and blogging! Kathy works part-time as a freelance writer but her real passion is travelling and photographing brilliant destinations both within Australia and overseas and writing about it.

29 Comments
  • Jo Tracey
    February 8, 2018

    Great tips. It reminds me – I need to source some shoes perfect for early Spring in France and able to look good yet deal with cobblestones.

    • Kathy
      February 8, 2018

      It’s always a challenge finding comfy stylish shoes for travel, but I found the perfect pair or “Arches” casual shoes when I went to Italy last year. I think the Frankie 4s are also very good as well. France will be wonderful in Spring. #TeamLovinLife

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 9, 2018

      Hi Jo, yes good walking shoes are a must in the European cities. Sometimes we have to let the fashionista go and allow the practical side to come out. Your feet will love you for it!

  • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
    February 8, 2018

    Thanks Kathy for having me as your guest this week. Thank you also for the vote of confidence in my fitness it does get harder as we age but we just keep trying. I’m glad you feel inspired by my posts as you inspire me with your travels.

    • Kathy
      February 8, 2018

      You’re very welcome Sue. I think you provided my readers with some great tips for keeping healthy and fit when they travel. Sometimes I’ve been guilty of over-indulging during holidays and really should take better care of myself physically. Thanks again for guest posting Sue. #TeamLovinLife

  • Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au
    February 8, 2018

    These are all really sensible tips from someone who knows from experience what is important and what isn’t. I think sensible walking shoes are my biggest lesson – trying to do all the tours and all the strolling around on hard surfaces really impacts on my “dodgy” hip – so I err on the side of comfort rather than fashion – no-one cares what a tourist is wearing on their feet anyway! And I keep the nice shoes for the hotel or the cruise ship :)

    • Kathy
      February 8, 2018

      I agree whole heartedly Leanne. Your feet are your biggest asset when you’re doing a lot of walking whilst on holidays. I’ve made the mistake of wearing uncomfortable shoes in the past and have suffered as a result. #TeamLovinLife

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 9, 2018

      You are so right Leanne. I see tourists trying to walk all day in heels and I don’t know how they manage it. I just wear my good runners or walking shoes and as you say,no one is looking at what you are wearing. We are all soaking up the sights and atmosphere of where we are visiting.

  • Min@WriteoftheMiddle
    February 8, 2018

    Fantastic tips from Sue – thanks Sue & Kathy. I found out the hard way the difference between a holiday and travelling when hubby and I did the trip around Tasmania in 2015. Our itinerary was crammed and exhausting and there was lots of nature walks included that were not exactly easy. Valuable lessons were learned from that trip. We still had a blast though – had to drop a few things off the itinerary along the way though and arrived home exhausted but what a wonderful experience! :-) #TeamLovinLife

    • Kathy
      February 8, 2018

      Yes trying to cram too much into your holiday itinerary can be exhausting. These days I like to take it slowly and make sure I spend a few days in each place I visit, allowing for recovery days after a big day of walking or tours. #TeamLovinLife

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 9, 2018

      You can’t beat the experience Min and yes sometimes we try to cram in more than we should but it is hard not to want to see everything. After the last trip I would probably only do a short bus tour and allow more time for just wandering ourselves, like we usually do. It is always a wonderful experience though!

  • jodie filogomo
    February 8, 2018

    I love the idea of stretching every morning….it’s so important yet one of those things I tend to put on the back burner!!
    Thanks for the reminder!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • Kathy
      February 8, 2018

      Yes I agree Jodie, I wish I stretched more in the mornings. I normally start my day off with a walk or a Pilates class, but stretching at home would be also be beneficial. #TeamLovinLife

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 9, 2018

      Hi Jodie! Yes a quick stretch before the day starts does wonders. I have a dodgy back sometimes, so after a long flight of just sitting or a long day of exploring I need to stretch my body. It is a great way to wake up as well – maybe after the first coffee thought:)4

  • Raychael Case
    February 8, 2018

    Great tips. Health issues mean my travel prep (especially if it involves a flight) needs to start 30 days out with a diet that helps with the inflammation and gut issues. I fly to the Gold Coast this weekend and haven’t been as strict as I would have liked with the prep leading up, I’m really hoping it doesn’t impact my trip too much.

    • Kathy
      February 8, 2018

      There is nothing worse than having bad health during your holiday. I think the prep, as you say is extremely important. I hope you have a lovely time in my city – the Gold Coast. I’m currently away on holidays. Enjoy. #TeamLovinLife

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 9, 2018

      Hi Raychael ! You are so sensible trying to prepare for your holidays especially if you know you may have issues. Many just hop on the plane and haven’t even thought of what might happen when visiting another country or eating different foods to what they are used to. They think ‘it won’t happen to me’ but there is nothing worse than being sick when you aren’t at home! Enjoy the Gold Coast it is going to be a hot few days!.

  • Natalie
    February 9, 2018

    Thank you, Kathy, for featuring Sue here. A great post full of sensible tips, Sue! Please feel free to link it to the Wellness Wednesday link that’s still opened. Other readers and bloggers would benefit from your tips.

  • Deborah
    February 10, 2018

    Great tips Sue and I’ve not done much (any) travel in years but have my Italy/England trip later this year. Friends have suggested I ‘keep going’ once I arrive in London and I’m thinking of doing that. I get there at some ungodly hour in the morning (5am or something) and so I’m thinking of catching a train from the airport to Bath or similar so I start that next part of my journey.

    I’m more than happy to take advice from people who’ve done it before…. x

    • Kathy
      February 12, 2018

      Thanks Deb. Sue did a wonderful job of sharing her travel tips. I agree that you need to try and adapt to the time change when travelling to a distant place. We generally stay awake for as long as we’re able and then go to bed according to local time.

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 12, 2018

      Hi Deb how exciting for you and you are going to have a ball. If we arrive early I do try to keep going so my body can adjust to the new time. Oh Bath is beautiful can’t wait to see your photos.

  • Lyndall @ SeizeThe Day Project
    February 10, 2018

    Love your travel tips Sue! I agree that it’s important to be fit and healthy before you go, so that you can enjoy everything without being too tired :) #TeamLovinLife

    • Kathy
      February 12, 2018

      Yes I agree with everything Sue has written here Lyndall. I normally try to be as healthy as I can when travelling as I don’t wont to miss one little part of it.

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 12, 2018

      Thanks Lyndall. I thought I was fit but our last trip really was too hectic. I enjoyed every minute but paid when I got home. The next one will be a little more sedate!

  • Sunena
    February 10, 2018

    Amazing tips and all I agree with. Travelling can make even the strongest very tired and can take fun out of it. So, whenever I am out, I always make sure I do not go overboard with my eating and always stick to salads. Of course, I cheat sometimes, but stick to my biological clock – which is what has kept me in good shape even at 46. Thanks for writing this; I’m a share it with my troupe.

    • Kathy
      February 12, 2018

      Thanks Sunena. I agree that eating healthily and not over-indulging too much with food and alcohol certainly helps keeping you well during your travels. #TeamLovinLife

    • Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
      February 12, 2018

      Thanks for sharing Sunena and I agree that if you stick to your healthy regime your travel will be more enjoyable. However, I also like to indulge in the culture and food so it is a matter of balance.

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