If you’re reading this article there’s a good chance that you’re a mover and a shaker, an exercise junkie, and/or a fitness guru who’s also a consummate globetrotter and takes pride in living a healthy, active, high-intensity lifestyle. I would further predict that you thrive on forward motion, your eclectic culture weaves into your highly social and fast-paced life, and the intensity of your life is not something that you wish to change. Is this correct? Great, then let’s continue. You also love to motivate others with your infectious energy and they appreciate that it’s so contagious. And you love to quench your thirst for mind-body ascension —meet a challenge with optimism—and sometimes enough is just never enough.
If everything here applies to you then the undercurrent of travel is an undeniable constant and you most probably have a tendency for frequent air travel. Consequently, you may have experienced social situations where you have encountered some turbulence—the unexpected variable that compromises your wingspan and causes you to stumble, fall or even take a nosedive. Fear nothing in the downslide my frequent and fearless flyer—this is all about how to fly anew should you fall and how to ascend with the flight of fitness fancy with grace and delight!
While traveling is a fabulous way to unplug and have an opportunity to recharge and refresh our spiritual and physical batteries, quite often it is accompanied by its own costs. Air travel in particular is one of the hardest modes of transportation to bounce back from physically especially if you’re taking a long flight that transports you to a different time zone. Why does this occur? What happens to your digestive system when you fly? Why do many of you get constipated when you land? What causes intestinal bloating and how do you offset that nagging pressure in your skull? These are the most popular questions that I receive from my clients when they are embarking on, or returning from, air travel.
I will explain why this happens to our internal landscape and also provide you with some simple practices and easy-to-employ remedies that will help you best prepare for, and properly adjust, after a long flight.
Turmoil begins with the pressure that you feel in your head shortly after the plane takes off and there’s a need to pop your ears. That’s cabin pressure, and not only is it affecting your cranium, but it’s also affecting the rest of your body including your digestive system. The pressure forces your bodily waste backwards into a stagnant position, creating what is referred to as reverse gas pressure. This is why many people experience constipation once they land or even while in flight, especially on a long plane ride. Since no one wants to start a trip feeling constipated, you may want to consider packing a “survival kit.” Here are some suggestions to help you best beat this force of nature.
The Best Way To Prepare For A Flight:
The Day Before:
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Hydrate with water and (non pasteurized) coconut water: The time to
hydrate is in advance. Waiting until you feel dehydrated makes it
challenging to catch up and be effective throughout your day. -
Get A Gravity Colonic: Schedule your appointment as close to the flight as
possible for maximum “lightness of being” on and off the plane! -
Do A One Day Juice Fast: Juice fasting the day before or the day of your
flight if you have a late night trip, coupled with a gravity-based colonic, is without a doubt the absolute best way to set yourself up for success upon landing. - Eat As Little Or As Light As Possible: Choose vegetable juices, fruit, salads, and avocados; raw is best but if you’re not a raw foodist and enjoy cooked fare it’s best to eat cooked vegetables and avoid the starches and animal proteins, if you’re able.
During Flight:
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Stay Hydrated: Drink water throughout the flight. Staying hydrated is
crucial to proper bowel function. Also, the cabin air is recycled, so you need to keep your cells as “bouncy” and active as possible with proper hydration to avoid feeling sluggish. - Drinking Suggestion: Bring sliced lemons in a zip-lock bag (a bottle of Doterra lemon essential oil is ingestible, more convenient, and less messy), a small bottle of maple syrup or stevia packets and add to water. It makes for a tastier beverage and more alkaline you!
- Mega Hydrate: I love this product and take it with me when I fly. It increases cell hydration and energy, and reduces swelling, inflammation, and pain by releasing H-ions—recognized as the most powerful known antioxidants. I take 2 or more capsules per hour.
- Refrain From Eating: If you’re able, just drink liquids throughout your flight and avoid eating solid food altogether for the best results. This lessens the likelihood that the colon will wind up congested and constipated.
- What To Eat If Not Fasting: Pack some sliced fruit and/or raw vegetables and an avocado. Crisp breads (such as Ryvita) or organic rice cakes are also good choices, transport easily, and are much cleaner foods than processed, fried, junk food options.
- Get Up And Boogie: You may not be able to dance in the aisles of the plane, but you can get up and walk back and forth when the captain says that it’s safe. I suggest doing this once every hour—and more frequently if you have an aisle seat. Standing in the back of the plane and stretching is also important and keeps your energy from getting too stagnant from sitting for long periods of time.
- Breathe Deeply: “Square Breathing” is a simple breathing method for calming your nerves and quieting your brain. Breathe in to the count of four, hold your breath to the count of four, exhale to the count of four, and hold your breath to the count of four. You can do this exercise for a few minutes periodically throughout the flight or longer if you desire.
After Landing And Throughout Your Trip:
- Digestive Enzymes: I recommend taking digestive enzymes throughout your trip to ensure optimal digestion and elimination. Once you’re in a rut it’s challenging to dig yourself out. Stay on top of your game from the start.
- Probiotics: Take probiotics for the same reason as digestive enzymes. Bowel activity slows down for many people when they are away from home —especially if in a foreign environment. Keep your internal landscape thriving so you don’t fall under the weather.
- Baking Soda: Ahhhh, earth’s neutralizer! This is the common name for sodium bicarbonate. It has dozens of fabulous uses—household as well as cosmetic. 1. Use it for stomach upset or indigestion from eating overindulgently as many tend to do when on vacation. Simple dosage: drink 1⁄2 teaspoon dissolved in 6-8 ounces of warm water. 2. It’s also incredibly helpful if you want to address yeast overgrowth or sense a yeast infection may be present but you can’t get to a doctor immediately. If you experience any fungal skin breakouts, or have itchy hemorrhoids—use the same dosage. ***It’s ok to drink this 1-3 times throughout the day and the results are usually experienced within the 1st hour after ingesting. It really works!
- Enema: Give yourself an enema if you’re feeling like your bowels are not moving satisfactorily. Bring an enema bag with you instead of trying to find one after you get to your destination.
Food & Alcohol:
- Food: Let’s face it, most people indulge more with food when on vacation or on work-related trips. If this is true for you, and you’re not happy with the menu options, kindly ask for what suit your needs. For the sake of digestion and optimum elimination, it’s best to eat as healthy as possible throughout the day and save the most indulgent choices for dinner. Be aware of brunches since the smorgasbord of improper food combinations tends to be rather tempting and will cause a formidable onset of gas, bloating, and indigestion. If you can be selective and choose wisely, then enjoy!
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Alcohol: If eating out of your comfort zone is also accompanied by alcohol, sometimes the recovery period can really shut you down—even for days. Some healthier options follow and allow you to be back on your feet with less interruption from a potential hangover. Organic Wine vs. Conventional (less sulfites means less dehydration, less chance of headache, and a decrease in cotton head as well as cotton mouth.)
- Tequila
- Cognac
- Hot Saki
- Non-Alcoholic Beer
- Drink slowly and savor the experience.
Tip: Even a glass of tonic water w/ lime looks appealing and no one will know if there is alcohol in it or not. TIP: Enjoy one glass with alcohol and then the next round without.
Alkaline Balancing Act:
The baking soda remedy from above works well in assisting the body to regain balance after an indulgent night of eating and/or drinking. But most of all, while it’s ok to occasionally indulge, it’s in your best interest to be smart, make good choices, and not go overboard.
Personal Note: I hope these suggestions support you and help you maintain your fervor for fitness and adventure with a more empowered perspective on self-care. Preparation is key! Make sure to pack your “survival kit” in advance so you’ll have your go-to supplies on hand should you experience a momentary lapse of good health and comfort. Wishing you the best of future flights in whatever parts of the world you may be traveling!
Writer: Joyce Rockwood
