More on staying healthy while traveling

Hey guys! I've been thinking about how quiet I've been on Facebook lately (so unlike me!) and so on my walk/run this morning, I wanted to say hello :)

The days here in culinary school are long and consist of lots of sitting and standing for long periods of time, so I've been walk/running for about 30 minutes every morning since I've been here and it's definitely been a great addition to my routine. I can't stress enough how important it is to pack workout clothes when you travel so you can at least give yourself the option to get some exercise in while you're away from home.

I'm up in Fort Bragg, CA (about 3 hours north of San Francisco), on Day 3 of my culinary arts training. It's been a great experience so far and I'm looking forward to incorporating what I've learned into my recipes, coaching, blog posts, and Facebook posts in order to share my knowledge and help you become healthier while improving your relationship to food.

If you've been following me on Facebook, you may have noticed that I've been traveling quite a bit in the last 3 weeks. It's been really nice to get out of town and explore new places on these little mini weekend getaways. However, I can definitely feel my body getting tighter as a result of spending so much time in the car and on the plane, so I've been very conscious about incorporating stretching and working out while I've been away from home.

A lot of people tell me that sticking to a healthy routine while traveling is really challenging for them and I totally get it. I promise, you are not alone, as this is something many people struggle with.  One thing that helps me when I am away from home is the idea of:

"Wherever you go, there you are."

Your body doesn't hit the pause button when you're traveling or when you're in a situation that deviates from your daily routine. (That would be nice though, wouldn't it?) How much more enjoyable would your travels be if you continued to take care of yourself with the love and care you give yourself when you are at home? Imagine coming back from your travels still being able to fit into the same pants as you could before you left. How often have you come home from a trip feeling like you have to spend the next week detoxing from all the eating, drinking, and sitting you did while you're away?

Understand and accept that you might have to make some adjustments to your routine based on how much time you have, weather, food options, facilities, etc.  

If you're someone who is an all-or-nothing thinker, modifying your current routine might be challenging for you. For instance, if you typically exercise for an hour every day, you might fall into the thinking that if you don't have an hour to workout while you're away from home, that you shouldn't workout at all. Remember that some exercise is better than no exercise, even if you can only squeeze in 20 minutes instead of your usual hour. Even going for a brisk walk or doing a 10 minute squat/push-up/crunch routine in your hotel room can be very invigorating.

You might find yourself going out to restaurants more often than usual while you're out of town. What are some choices you can make in those situations that will keep your body and mind feeling healthy and happy? Perhaps you will opt to eat smaller portion sizes or order a salad instead of something that makes you feel weighed down. Something that I've been doing lately in restaurants has been splitting entrees. It is amazing how satisfying only half of a portion is. My tummy and my wallet are always happier once I get up from the table.

This week, I've been going to sleep between 9:30pm and 10:30pm every night, getting in at least 8 hours of sleep and starting off the day with movement in the fresh air. I am very fortunate to be sharing a room with two wonderful women who are on the same sleep/wake schedule as I am. During this program, I have had very little time to be online during the day and when I do, the internet is not always reliable, so it's been nice to partake in a bit of a "media fast" these last few days particularly since I typically find myself in front of the computer or glued to my phone for the majority of my waking hours when I'm in my normal routine back home.

Anyways, I could go on and on but it's getting close to my bedtime. If you had the day off from work today, I hope you enjoyed your long, well-deserved weekend. Sending love and positive energy to you from Northern California as you begin and create for yourself a week filled with joy and laughter.

xxEmily