After all the rain from Hurricane Florence this weekend, Gabe and I got tired of feeling stir crazy and decided it would be fun to accept my friend Kelly’s “Dare To” Challenge, which consists of trying one new thing each week! We would love to hear your suggestions for what we should try. It can be anything – new recipes, local activities, fitness, road trips, parks, music, books, etc. We’re excited for what the next year will bring and look forward to sharing our experiences with you each week! Continue reading “52 Weeks Of Trying New Things | Week 1 | Sally Challenge”
Author: Emily Adams The Planking Traveler
Easy Meal Prep – Oktoberfest Edition
How do you feel about breakfast? Is it the most important meal of the day? Easily skippable? Wish you could eat it but never have time in your hectic morning? This recipe has been a lifesaver to prepare ahead of time (only takes 5 minutes) for mornings I have to grab and go! You’ve probably seen or heard of this premise before, but I guarantee not with these ingredients. Yes, the thought of cold and uncooked oatmeal was weird to me too, but don’t knock it until you try it!
Five Tools To Keep You Healthy and Fit On The Go
Whether you travel every day for business or you’re a weekend road trip warrior, you’ve likely realized that staying healthy on the go can be quite challenging. I previously had the mindset that I’d start to take care of my body and focus on my nutrition and fitness AFTER a whole host of things – my next vacation, upcoming food-indulgent holiday, family gathering, social event, etc. It wasn’t until several trips and holidays were ruined by my own sickness that I began to see my perspective was flawed.
On our recent trip to the Baltics, I made it a point to focus more on taking care of my body with various kinds of daily movement and nutrient dense meals/snacks along with a few supplements. It was refreshing to have the energy to see and do so much more in each place we visited when my body was functioning at its peak, and surprisingly simple to make those few needed changes to my routine. Things like staying hydrated and walking/biking instead of driving might already be on your radar, but here are some additional tools that have helped to support my health and fitness on my recent journeys. I hope you find them useful!
Bodyweight/HIIT workouts – Having a variety of workouts you can perform whether or not you have access to a gym is a key way to eliminate obstacles and allow you to challenge yourself with new movements. I am a big fan of the Monkii Adventure Kit that takes up very little space and offers over 100 workout possibilities. Other ideas that don’t take up much space – a jump rope and any type of resistance bands. I like using the bands to help me stretch during layovers or on long flights and a jump rope is great for HIIT style cardio. Whether or not you opt to pack any bands or a jump rope, this app will guide you through short HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts that don’t require any equipment. My favorite is, of course, holding a plank in as many places as possible!
Activated Charcoal Pills – Always have these with you when you travel. Trust me on this one, your body will thank you. Unfamiliar food and water can wreak havoc on a normally iron stomach. I have been so thankful for these pills several times when I’ve gotten food poisoning or just had an upset stomach from eating new types of food. They do a great job of absorbing toxins in your system, helping you detox and eliminate them, and getting your digestive system back on track quickly.
Healthy snacks – I like to bring at least a few non-perishable snacks from home to keep me from starving. Though a lot of airports are starting to carry more healthy food, the prices are still outrageous and airplane meals are usually loaded with artificial preservatives and other junk. Some of my favorite snacks to bring are EPIC Bars (jerky and fruit/nut) , Kalahari Biltong (air-dried beef with no sugar) , Veggie-Go’s, raw nuts/trail mix, Lily’s chocolate bars(sugar free), and Kasandrinos Extra Virgin Olive Oil travel packets to use as a dressing for salads.
Adaptogens – You’ve probably heard or seen this buzzword, but have you wondered what adaptogens really do? They are made of a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and herbs that modulate your response to both toxins and emotional stressors in a changing environment (source: Organifi.com) Check out this overview to determine which adaptogen might be the best fit for your needs – they will quickly become your favorite travel companion for their ability to help your body adjust to new environments and stressors (flight anxiety, anyone?). I really enjoy using the Green Juice Superfood powder from Organifi which includes Ashwagandha. It comes in individual packets which are perfect to throw in your bag when you’re traveling. You can use my code (EMILYADAMS15) to receive 15% off your order at Organifi.
Blue light blocking glasses – Exposure to blue light has many negative consequences, but the one most relevant to travel : sleep. Blue light from phones, TV screens, alarm clocks, and even kitchen/bathroom lights basically tricks your body into thinking it is daytime so it won’t produce as much Melatonin (which regulates our sleep cycles). Wearing blue-light blocking glasses on long plane rides (when you’re watching movies, on your phone a lot, or playing games) will both protect your eyes and help to keep your body clock in a normal rhythm.
Note – I’m still learning to follow my own suggestions in these areas. This past weekend, I overindulged on sugar and junk while on a road trip and my body is still paying the price. Be encouraged that we’re all a work in progress when it comes to embracing health as a lifestyle and no one has it all together! It’s all about making small improvements each day.
*****Keep an eye out for a travel wellness giveaway on my Instagram page this week. You will have the chance to win a Monkii Adventure Kit, the new book Fit for Travel, and a 30-minute Nutrition Consultation with me!*****
What’s been your biggest challenge when trying to stay healthy on the go? What’s been your biggest success? I’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks so much for reading!
Emily
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping me continue to share great products with you!
10 Things That Make Me Happy
Life is so much more enjoyable when I focus on the good, so I was thankful to be tagged in the 10 Things That Make Me Happy Challenge by the lovely Ania from The Sane Mum. You can check out her post here. Here are my 10 things, in no particular order:
- Free Fitness – I’ve never been someone that has enjoyed working out in a traditional gym or being tied to annual contracts. Whether traveling or at home, I enjoy outdoor workouts and using whatever setting I’m in to find ways to make my body stronger and challenge myself. Lately, I’ve been going to a weekly community workout (Freefitsboro) which is part of a global free fitness movement called November Project. Check their site to find a location near you! I’ve also attended workouts with Females in Action, which has locations in 8 states – F3 is the equivalent for men. You will be surprised at the variety you can find when you Google free fitness near you!
Skydiving – A Fearful Flyer’s Tale
As someone who has a major fear of flying, the idea of skydiving never appealed to me. Though I’ve taken hundreds of flights over the years, I still get nervous each and every time there’s turbulence, so the thought of hurling myself out of a plane made my palms sweat. If I had given myself time to think about it, I definitely would have backed out, but last year I planned an impromptu birthday trip to the Virginia Skydiving Center for my husband, Gabe. I figured I’d share my experience for those of you who are considering skydiving for the first time. Many people have this on their adrenaline junky bucket list with no fear and only excitement, but I was not one of those people. Continue reading “Skydiving – A Fearful Flyer’s Tale”
Quick And Dirty Guide To 24 Hours in Copenhagen
You can read plenty of in-depth travel guides elsewhere. Here is the CliffsNotes version of how we spent our time in the fascinating and vastly underrated city of Copenhagen!
Arrival: Train from Stockholm. Central Station was nice and even had a Joe & The Juice. Do not take the overnight train. Toilets were all broken and reeked of poop! If you have time, definitely take the day train to see the countryside. Continue reading “Quick And Dirty Guide To 24 Hours in Copenhagen”
10 Ways We Save Money For Travel
Travel can be costly, but in reality, it’s all about what you choose to prioritize. I know it’s cliche, but if you skipped a daily Starbucks (or for me, a Kombucha), how much could you save in 6 months? Almost $600! That’s more than enough for a ticket to Europe if you’re savvy!
