Stayin' fit when you fly!

Some of you may be thinking, “I’m fit and fly all the time!?” Today we’re talking about how to stay healthy and fit while flying in an airplane. Flying in pressurized cabins with a hundred strangers can put a lot of stress on our bodies. If you’re changing time zones or flying out of the country, that shocks our bodies even more. Globetrotter Wellness Solutions’ very own Steven Trotter is a frequent flyer as he does a lot of traveling for work. Follow these tips to stay fly, even when you’re high in the sky.

1. Hydrate. Drink water before and during your flight! The combination of less oxygen and thin air inside airplanes makes you prone to dehydration. But don’t forget that you will be asked to throw away water bottles before you can get through security - so see #2.

2. Bring an empty water bottle with you through the security lines. This way you have a no excuses! Fill up at a fountain once you pass through the lines.

3. Eat a healthy meal before your flight. You never know what may happen (flight delay, long layover, no complimentary snack- you know what airline I’m talking about). The hopes of a peanut snack is always welcomed, but not always promised.  

4. Bring disinfecting wipes. The place where you are most susceptible to germs while flying are on the tray table, arm rests, and bathroom. You don’t know who was sitting there before you were. Wipe it down or it might wipe you out next week!

5. Exercise your mind. Flying can be a great time to catch up on sleep, listen to a podcast, or read a book. If you’re serious about listening to music or an audio book, I recommend wearing something that can block out the loud noises of the huge plane engines. Make sure to charge those Kindles beforehand.

6. Physical exercise. If you couldn't get a workout in before your travels, take your flight time to do some simple exercises such as calf raises, ankle rolls, plantar flexion. Stretch out before you cramp out. If you do have time before your flight and you don’t have too much luggage, take a walk around your area. Airports have more and more scenery depending on the size. The CVG airport has fully constructed skeletons of dinosaurs and some other Ice Age animals donated by the Cincinnati Museum. Explore your surroundings and get that step count up!

7. Sitting too long. We’re all guilty of slouching one way or another. It’s even more common when we’re sitting in one place for a long period of time. Try to focus on your posture and sit straight against the back of your chair, keeping your back straight and chest upright. One step today goes a long ways to improvement tomorrow!

                                                              Safe travels every one!

By: Alicia Everette

A millennial wellness enthusiast trying to figure out life. Coupon Queen. Experimental Chef. Personal Trainer. Aspiring Health Coach.