Pre-Planning for Healthy Active Travel

There tends to be two camps of thought in the area of vacationing. The first being, "Hey, its vacation and I should treat myself". The second stance being, "I've worked hard to make these lifestyle changes and I don't want to screw up now." Both of these philosophies are honorable but as I started pre-planning for my own vacation season I knew there had to be something in between. Going into this summer siesta season here are a few tips to keep you on track without becoming an overindulging under-active sloth or an under-eating overactive energizer rabbit.

Nutritious Nosh: 

Start every.single.day with a protein packed high fiber breakfast. Fiber is known the world over as a super satiater, keeping you full longer allowing you to make better choices.

Smart snacking starts with smart planning. Pair a strong protein with a good carb such as, Greek yogurt with almonds, veggies with nut butter, hummus with veggies, or cottage cheese and fruit.  If you can swing a fridge in your hotel room fill it with supplies and pack a cooler to bring them with you.  

Plan to cheat but only once! If you are drooling for a donut then buy one or if you can't stop eying the ice cream joint then stop in for a cone. How often "once" happens is up to you but deciding between eating that ice cream now or having smores around the campfire tonight will build self-control as you delay instant gratification.  Daily sweet or weekly treat?

Lively locomotion:

Bring the gear to move your rear.
We plan to fail when we fail to plan. If you expect to get in your weekend long run, yoga session, or a spin on the bike then add the necessary items to your packing list and make it a priority to see them actually make it into the car.
 

Sunset runs along the local waterways, cruising a cycle on enticing trails, or walking tours to learn the history and lore are only a few suggestions to make your sightseeing adventures active adventures.     

Restful relaxation:

Vacations are meant to bring about a certain amount of relaxation and refreshing. While our bodies need rest days to recover after a hard workout to remain healthy, our souls need some down time, too. Purpose to create quiet moments for reflection, time in nature to reconnect with creation, and peaceful presence in the Word or journaling your thoughts.

Take a nap....'nuff said!

What are your top 5 tips for healthy active travel? 

Red Eagle Run

Sunshine and I were blessed to participate in the inaugural Red Eagle Run for Barry County Christian School.

Fabulous weather, sweet friends kind enough to slow down for slow 'ole me, and yummy pancakes afterward. The best part? Despite having difficulty breathing, which I'll explain in a minute, I accomplished my two fastest miles to date with the middle mile faster than the first...

In January I was hit hard with a very difficult viral infection. I could run but breathing was very difficult. It felt and sounded like asthma but the wheezing was coming from my throat (vocal cord area) as opposed to the bronchial area and it never responded to asthma treatment....my throat was tight and would only get tighter when trying to move around. 

When I ran on my birthday I ran in the cool morning air, which, along with a small virus, triggered a return of the same symptoms. The symptoms continued during Saturday's 5K.

I am now trying figure out all the triggers and how to handle them and give myself a few days rest...

Finished in 41:30-ish....

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

A Fresh Start

My husband and I have been together for 10 years now, married for nearly 9, and like many married couples we have a great relationship where words are not always needed, in fact, we are so in tune he rarely even needs to say my name.

 Imagine, though, going days, weeks and months without being called by your given name. Your title is used or your designation (Mrs. O'Dell, Mom, Devin's wife, etc) but not your name. After awhile you begin to realize you are getting lost in those titles and forgetting who you are. What makes you unique. Your essence. 

Our family blog is a great place for me to remember our journey as a family of only three to nine and for me to continue to document our lives, however, the uniqness of me, Jolene, was getting lost. I was feeling lost. 

So, today, on my 36th birthday I am separating my family blog, with its emphasis on adoption, medically complex children, Reactive Attachment, and large family living, and my journey toward a lifetime of maximum health and fitness. 

I wanted one space that was about just me...while that might sound selfish, please remember I gladly give my all to eight other beings all the day long.

Welcome to the next year of my life!