HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELING
Spring is often a season of vacations, weekend getaways, and exotic excursions. But for many of us, traveling is also accompanied by a lack of sleep, little to no exercise, and indulging in processed or sugary foods.
It’s important to note that your healing journey won’t halt because you missed a week of workouts or drank three too many glasses of wine. However, we do have some healthy travel tips that will help you stay more or less on track.
Keep scrolling, as our integrative medicine practitioners are revealing how to stay healthy while traveling.
How to Stay Healthy While Traveling
Wondering how to stay healthy while traveling? Here are some tips:
Pack Healthy Travel Snacks
For many of us, vacations and dining out go hand in hand. However, packing healthy travel snacks is a great way to maintain some control over your meals. We recommend keeping the following on hand for whenever hunger strikes:
Artisana Nut Butter Packets. These travel snacks are ideal for balancing blood sugar. Not only are these pre-portioned packets full of protein and healthy fat, but they use simple, organic ingredients in various blends. Pair them with a piece of fruit to keep you feeling full and satisfied until your next meal.
Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Packets. Collagen packets are an easy way to boost protein intake. You can blend them into smoothies, mix them into your morning coffee or matcha, or stir them into oatmeal. Regardless, collagen will balance your blood sugar and keep you feeling satisfied and energized.
Paleovalley Beef Sticks. These gut-friendly, clean-protein snacks are ideal for nourishing your body on the go. We love that they’re made with 100% grass-fed/grass-finished beef and naturally fermented, organic spices.
Remember that it’s perfectly okay to indulge while on vacation – just be smart about it! If you want to try a high-calorie dish from that fancy restaurant, consider splitting it with a friend or family member. And instead of a sugary or soda-laden cocktail, opt for a ranch water with a splash of orange or pomegranate juice.
Of course, always make sure to balance your meals (if you had a big lunch, have a lighter dinner), monitor your portion sizes, eat slowly, and savor every bite.
Stay Hydrated
Kate Quintanilla always recommends traveling with a reusable, stainless steel water bottle to ensure you have safe, clean water on hand. And because it’s incredibly easy to become dehydrated while traveling, we also recommend packing electrolytes. (Our favorites are the LMNT packets – which you can purchase from our product and supplement shop.)
Eat Breakfast – But Keep It Simple!
Eating a balanced breakfast regulates your blood sugar, jumpstarts your metabolism, and prevents you from overindulging later in the day. Aim for a breakfast full of protein and fresh fruit. And if your meal contains carbohydrates, pair them with sources of plant-based fat, protein, and fiber.
Move Your Body Whenever You Can
Walking is one of the best ways to explore a new location. We also love trying local yoga studios or fitness classes while on vacation. Additionally, it’s never a bad idea to toss some resistance bands in your suitcase and do an online workout in your free time.
Make a Plan for When You Return
If your vacation was particularly indulgent, make a plan for detoxing upon your return. Our practitioners can help curate a personalized detox plan for your specific body and goals. But generally, that includes detoxifying foods, regular exercise, a trip to the infrared sauna, a Dermashape session, a glutathione IV drip, a detox foot soak, and other things of that nature.
Supplement
Everyone’s supplement routine should depend on their specific body, goals, and circumstances. (And our primary care physicians can help determine the right supplements and dosages for you.) Generally speaking, these are good supplements to pack while traveling:
Immune support. Altered routines, sleep patterns, and dietary changes can weaken your immune system. However, supplementing with nutrients like vitamin C, D3, and zinc can bolster immunity and ward off potential viruses and illnesses.
B Vitamins. B vitamins play a key role in converting food into glucose (aka energy). Therefore, they’re great for combatting fatigue and sustaining energy throughout the day.
Activated Charcoal. This is a tremendous way to relieve diarrhea and intestinal gas – both of which are common among travelers. We recommend Z-Binder by Ortho Molecular.
Probiotics. Similar to activated charcoal, research shows that taking probiotics reduces the risk of traveler’s diarrhea by 15%. Not only that, but probiotics also help prevent constipation and bloating.
Sleep support. Vacations are notorious for disrupting sleep patterns. However, taking magnesium glycinate before bed can help.
Again, make sure to check with your healthcare provider before embarking on a new supplement routine. Certain supplements interfere with medications, and we want to ensure any supplements you take are the right fit for you.
Integrative Primary Care Physician Fort Worth
It’s important to remember that your health and progress won’t deteriorate because you lounged for a week or indulged in some sweet(er) treats. But if you do have a vacation on the calendar, we hope today’s blog post helped you grasp how to stay healthy while traveling.
If you’re interested in personalized suggestions that are tailored to your specific body, lifestyle, and goals, schedule an appointment with our integrative primary care physicians. We’d be happy to curate a personalized healing plan for you and your family.
Weight loss fort worth: it’s not just about calories
Many people start the new year with lofty goals for weight loss. And most of us were taught that losing weight is a simple matter of counting calories. While it’s true that a calorie deficit does play a role, there’s a lot more involved in weight loss in Fort Worth.
What do we mean by that? Well, everyone burns calories differently. How many calories an individual burns depends on a variety of factors – the type of food eaten, metabolism, gut health, etc. Therefore, two individuals can consume and burn the same number of calories, and yet they’d still lose different amounts of weight.
If you’re trying to lose weight, don’t focus all your energy on consuming fewer calories than you burn. Instead, work to improve your overall diet quality and make sustainable life improvements to help you achieve your weight and health goals.
Why Weight Loss Isn’t Only About Calories
As registered nutritionists and health coaches in Fort Worth, we can attest that everyone processes calories differently. Here are some reasons why:
Gut Microbiome
The organisms in our gut microbiome impact how our bodies extract calories from food. Researchers have found that naturally thin people have different gut microbial communities than those who are overweight. Additionally, other studies have shown that transferring the gut bacteria from people with obesity into mice causes the mice to gain weight. This suggests that gut bacteria influence weight.
Metabolism
Your metabolic rate is influenced by many factors – age, genetic makeup, gender, muscle-to-fat ratio, hormones, physical activity levels, etc. And of course, many of those factors are beyond our control. However, people with high (aka fast) metabolisms burn more calories at rest and during activity than their slower metabolic counterparts.
If you’re interested in learning what your specific metabolic rate is, we encourage you to enroll in our Metabolic Meal Plan.
Type of Food Consumed
The type of food you choose to consume also influences your caloric intake – and we’re not just talking about its specific caloric content. A study published in Cell Metabolism found that people ate significantly more calories and gained more weight when they were fed a diet of ultra-processed foods. (A processed diet led the subjects to consume an additional 500 calories per day, resulting in an average of two pounds gained per week.) This is because processed foods spark an increase in hunger hormones compared to whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, grilled chicken, fish and meats, nuts, and seeds.
Holistic Weight Loss Strategies
Instead of counting calories, here are some tactics we recommend for weight loss in Fort Worth:
Diet Quality
As we mentioned, processed foods drive your body to consume more. Therefore, try to eliminate (or at least reduce) the amount of processed foods in your diet. Instead of consuming foods full of refined carbs and added sugars, fill your plate with organic, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy fats.
If you’re unsure where to begin, schedule a nutrition consult (virtual or in-person) with our team. During the initial appointment, we’ll take the time to get to know you, your family history, medical history, symptoms, weight and dieting history, and your feelings about food and your body. After reviewing your food preferences, likes, dislikes, schedule, knowledge, and skills, our nutritionists will construct a plan that helps you achieve your weight loss and health goals.
Regular Exercise
Moreso than how much you weigh, losing fat while gaining and maintaining muscle mass is the key to optimal health. Therefore, we recommend a combination of moderately intense aerobic exercise and strength training. Keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat, so your body composition can change without changing the number on the scale.
Sleep and Recovery
Sleep and recovery are two powerful tools for combatting weight gain and supporting weight loss. Sleep and weight loss studies reveal that nearly double the amount of calories are burned if a subject sleeps for eight hours, compared to just five and a half. Additionally, research confirms that sleep deprivation interferes with hormones that regulate appetite – increasing your caloric intake.
Make sure you’re getting seven to nine hours of quality sleep. And if you’re interested in weight loss in Fort Worth, our Revive Room can regulate your body’s energetic systems, resulting in a healthy metabolism that maximizes fat burn.
Balance Blood Sugar
If your blood sugar is constantly spiking, your body is making more insulin. And because insulin is a growth hormone, elevated levels make it easier to put on fat and harder to lose weight. To regulate your blood sugar, we recommend pairing macronutrients and consuming nutrient-dense foods (lean proteins, healthy fats, etc.). If you’d like a personalized plan to regulate your blood sugar, our practitioners would be happy to help.
Genetics
Your genetics also play a significant role in weight loss. Therefore, we recommend using genetic testing to determine the specific types of food and exercise that are most effective for you. If you’re interested in a genetic test for weight loss, reach out to our team!
Stress Management
Chronic stress can disrupt your sleep patterns, and as we mentioned, improper sleep is associated with weight gain. Not only that, but elevated cortisol levels signal your body to conserve energy (not burn as many calories) and store fat, which often leads to weight gain.
Again, our Revive Room is a fantastic resource for managing stress.
Dermashape
Dermashape is an innovative device that uses heat and vacuum suction massage to enhance the body’s lymphatic system and drain fat content. Essentially, the device manipulates your tissues to break up fat congestion. Then, the released triglycerides are transported via the lymphatic system to be metabolized by your liver.
Book a Dermashape appointment today.
Weight Loss in Fort Worth
If you’re trying to lose weight in Fort Worth, consider our Metabolic Meal Plan. Essentially, our registered nutritionist and health coach will dive deeply into your body’s unique data to create the most effective meal plan and protocol for you. That includes a body composition analysis, medical metabolic rate assessment, and individualized meal plan created just for you.
As an integrative primary care practice in Fort Worth, our integrative medicine practitioners are here to help you reach your weight loss and healthy living goals. We firmly believe there is a healthy and unhealthy way to pursue weight loss. And our mission is to help you make individualized, sustainable changes that do not compromise your overall well-being. Contact our team to get started.
BREASTFEEDING WHILE TRAVELING: HOW TO TRAVEL AS A PUMPING MOM
With the packing of suitcases and booking of reservations, family travel is an adventure in itself. However, breastfeeding while traveling poses a unique set of challenges. Not only do breastfeeding moms need to pack extra bags and supplies, but they have to navigate logistical details like where to pump, TSA regulations, and more.
The key to successfully breastfeeding while traveling is planning ahead. That’s why our Integrative Lactation Consultant, Marisa Baker, is revealing what you need to know about traveling as a pumping mom. Keep scrolling for guidance on where to pump, what to pack, and everything in between.
Tips for Breastfeeding While Traveling
Our Fort Worth lactation consultant shares her tips for traveling as a pumping mom:
Stick To Your Schedule
Whether you’re traveling by car, train, or airplane, the best way to preserve your milk supply is to stick to your regular breastfeeding or pumping schedule. Resist the temptation to skip sessions, as even short(er) sessions are better than nothing.
What to Pack as a Pumping Mom
Here’s what you’ll need to pack when breastfeeding while traveling:
Wireless pump. A cordless travel breast pump allows you to pump milk just about anywhere.
Insulated travel breastmilk tumbler. We love the OG Breastmilk Chiller from Ceres Chill because you can pump directly into it. It holds anywhere from 12 to 34 ounces of breast milk for up to 20 hours of safe chilling.*
Travel nursing pillow. A travel nursing pillow is ideal for feeding on the go. We like this Boppy Anywhere Support Nursing Pillow.
Extras. Make sure to pack multiple bottles and storage bags. You’ll also want to check for adaptors to pump.
Comfortable and accessible clothing. Trust us – this makes pumping and/or breastfeeding while traveling significantly easier.
*If you don’t have an insulated travel breastmilk tumbler, you’ll need translucent storage bottles and ice packs. Note that you can bring breast milk and/or formula cooling accessories (aka ice packs) through airport security – regardless of the presence of breast milk.
Getting Your Milk Through Security
Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and food are allowed in carry-on baggage in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, as they're considered medically necessary. Additionally, your infant doesn’t need to be present for you to carry on breast milk, formula, and supplies. Simply inform the TSA officer that you're carrying breast milk or related items. Then, remove said items from your bag for a separate screening. (Note that TSA X-ray machines are not harmful to food or medicine.)
Where to Pump at the Airport
So, where do you pump at an airport? The Friendly Airports for Mothers Act mandates that all small, medium, and large hub U.S. airports provide a lactation station in each terminal. If you’re struggling to find it, simply ask a customer service representative.
Lactation Consultant Fort Worth
Breastfeeding while traveling can be an exciting, emotional, and overwhelming experience. However, our Fort Worth lactation consultant, Marisa Baker, is here to help you every step of the way.
Whether you have upcoming travel plans or simply want guidance throughout the breastfeeding process, Marisa’s lactation and newborn services will support you throughout your transition into parenthood. Regardless of your needs, she’ll develop an individualized feeding plan that works for you.
Contact our team to learn more or book an initial consultation.