Flexible Travel: Feeling Great Again

Hurry Up and Relax
It's no wonder that rest and rejuvenation — not adventure and recreation — are now the primary travel objective of the leisure traveler.

We're all in constant need of rejuvenation caused by our hectic, stress-filled lives. We go from one activity to the next and the next — trying to pack everything in. Mental and physical stress builds. Over time, the damages of aging are clear. We gain weight. We can't sleep. Our energy is down. Our system is burnt-out, fatigued.

Even the time we take to restore ourselves is continually being condensed into shorter periods. Current trends evidence that the leisure traveler is taking shorter trips — the average time is three to four days where "high-performance relaxation" is our newest pursuit.

Yet quick-fix lifestyle changes are not enough. We need more than just temporary relief. We need the knowledge, understanding, motivation, and resolve it takes to improve the overall function of our body's systems so we can manage the cause of our aging, stress, fragmentation and fatigue.

Building-up vs. Using-up
According to Diana Schwarzbein, M.D., leading authority on metabolic healing, a healthy metabolism is the key to all aspects of health, aging and well-being. "Your metabolism is how your body does

what it needs to do. Every day cells in your body are destroyed or damaged by the wear and tear of living, and each day it is the job of your metabolism to regenerate or repair these cells."

"There are two sides to your metabolism — the building side and the using-up side. To be healthy, these two sides must be kept in chemical balance. When you eat well and rest, your body turns into a building machine. When you are not eating — not eating well — or you are running around doing things, your body switches into using-up mode. Your job is to keep your body functioning efficiently by keep your metabolism running at its optimum. Because the using-up side is constantly breaking you down, balance can only occur when you give yourself the means to rebuild what you use."

Staying Healthy While You Travel
Take control over your own health, especially while you travel. Traveling itself can throw you off balance — the stress of airports, flying, time changes, etc. But by integrating some of these simple practices on a regular basis, you can maintain physiological balance and increase your energy whenever you are away.

Healthy Nutrition
Take your supplements, protein powders and healthy snacks in your bag. And drink lots of water, even on the plane. Once you arrive, many hotels now have lobby coffee

shops with natural juices, fruit, freshly prepared sandwiches and snacks. Take them with you to the office or to your meetings. Make sure you keep your blood sugar up. Avoid foods with refined sugar — ask room service for honey if you need to. And try not to overload on caffeine. Most importantly, do not skip meals or snacks. Be prepared by taking your own healthy food and water with you.

Stress Management
Meditate or practice some yoga moves in the morning, right after you get back from your day or before you go out for dinner. Even a few minutes makes a big difference.

Smart Exercise
Exercise in your room with your favorite DVD, go down to the health center for a half hour; or take a walk or run near the hotel if you have time. Your body will be grateful for giving it renewed oxygen, circulation and blood flow.

Less Chemicals
Having some wine with dinner or after work is fine. But too much alcohol at company dinners or at the bar before bed will only throw off your metabolism and may hinder your sleep.

The Power of Sleep
Not sleeping enough while you travel is a physical stress that impacts your health. Start simply by making the time to sleep. Make sure that your environment — even

your hotel room — is favorable for sleep. Get a room on the upper floors away from the ice machine or elevators, not facing the street, if possible. Bring travel candles, lavender oil or other soothing aromatherapies. Have filtered water next to your bed. Make sure some soothing music is on your iPod. Take a hot shower or bath before bed. And dim the lights once you get in for the night — best to lower the lights and avoid the brightness of the television or computer screen even an hour prior to falling asleep.