Stay healthy as a road warrior

Many of us spend day after day in the airport, on the road or in a hotel traveling for work. Meanwhile at home, our spouse and our children are going about their lives without us. The best thing you can do for yourself on the road is to stay in shape and get healthy so you are at your best when you get back home. That means you have to consider a few critical elements when planning your trips.

• What hotel should you stay in?
• We have many options when we are on the road for hotels. The best ones to stay in are not necessarily the most expensive ones. The most important considerations in my mind are cleanliness and location. What I mean by location may surprise you, I am talking about if it is located in an area that will let you get out and exercise. Is it safe to go out for a jog or a walk or is there a trail nearby that you can use? If the hotel can not offer these, do they have a good onsite gym (cardio and weight equipment), plenty of space in your room to work out(this means bringing some of your own supplies), or a negotiated offer with a local gym that you can utilize while you are there? Stay tuned to read future blogs on hotels that I recommend in key cities.

• What restaurants will you eat at?
• Eating out is a necessity when you are on the road, but the options you have can help you make good decisions. Know your options before you get to your destination. Take some time to read up on dining options and smart choices as well. Take a read of "Eat This, Not That" as a start. They give you great information on what you should order that is the most healthy at the most popular chain restaurants. Also, ask at your hotel for local restaurants that potentially carry organic and local ingredients. This is your healthiest option if you can find it. More on this later, but organic is the best way to minimize toxins that you are putting in your body which can cause weight gain and make you tired. Do some research on common fast food restaurants that you may visit on what your healthiest options are when you go. For example, Chic-fil-a has many options under 500 calories, Einstein Bagels has great lower calorie meals and even a McDonald's egg mcmuffin can be a reasonable breakfast option compared to your other fast food choices.

• When and how will you work out?
• You MUST make time to work out on the road. When I am traveling, I make a deal with myself. I MUST work out everyday that I am on the road, so that the first day that I am home, I can take as a rest day. This allows me to feel energized on the road and then to spend time with my family, unwind, and get reorganized when I get home without having to find time to exercise. I will write more on exercise options in my later posts. I will focus in those posts on the best exercise options on the road and programs that you can fit into your schedule and do in your hotel room. In the meantime, get out there and walk, jog or get to the gym.

Begin by rethinking your travel plans and start making healthy choices. You can't change everything overnight, but the more healthy options you have while you are on the road, the more likely you will be to make healthy choices. I will be back with more on the topics above to help you plan the healthiest business trips that you can. The idea is that if we can stay healthy and get in shape while we are on the road, we will be better for our families when we get home. You will have more time with them, because you worked out everyday that you were away and saved your rest days for home. You will also be less jet lagged and worn out from your trip because you have increased the endorphins in your body while you are on the road and decreased your toxin intake which will drag you down over time. The bottom line, more time to enjoy your family and have fun with them when you get home!