On The Road Again

Sometimes, taking a road trip with family can be a big adventure. You get to visit some big cities as well as coast through quaint small towns where life is a little slower. The question of the day is how do you keep healthy and stay in shape while on the road? It's all a matter of common sense and applying some of the same healthy principles you practice at home.

Basic health while traveling on the road

1. Take the time to stop every once in a while to stretch your legs. Sitting in one position for too long can be tiring. By taking a walk and stretching, you are basically waking your body back up and oxygenating it.

2. Take bathroom breaks as needed. Sometimes, holding your urine in for so long can be painful. Urinary tract infections can occur when this happens. It is definitely no fun to experience that on the road!

3. Stop to take a nap or sleep. If you are trying to stick to a certain time table, either have a driving partner who can take over or stop off at a hotel to take a nap or sleep. Your body needs sleep to rejuvenate. By being rested for your trip, you will enjoy it that much more.

4. Take your medications at the same time everyday, even if you are on the road. Certain medications have to be taken the same time every day for it to work at its maximum effect.

5. If you exercise at home, don't slack off just because you are on a road trip vacation. If your hotel doesn't have a gym or pool, look for a park during each rest stop. Walk the trails; use the monkey bars for pull-ups. You can also carry an exercise band. It folds up neatly and takes practically no room in your suitcase.

6. Don't eat junk food. Pack a cooler and keep if stocked with healthy finger foods like carrots, grapes, orange slices, apples and so on. Keep some tortillas along with meat and cheese handy to create sandwich roll-ups. If you just have to stop and eat at a fast food place, choose a salad. It won't weigh you down and while it will feel you up, it won't make you feel sluggish.

7. Water bottles should be a staple product in your cooler. While driving, you may become immersed in the road music that you might forget to eat or drink. Keep that water near you at all times and make a concerted effort to drink several bottles of water a day to keep dehydration at bay.

It is so easy to fall into bad habits and practices when you are far away from home on the road. You figure, it's my vacation and I can indulge a little if I want to. The problem is if that is your mentality for each and every stop you make, eventually that junk food and lack of exercise becomes your new way of life. Don't let that happen! It's ok to indulge every once in a while; however, be true to your regular healthy routines and chances are you can seemingly segue back into your life after the road trip seamlessly.

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