That's Fit

With all the talk these days about airlines hiking up rates and charging passengers extra for each bag they check, flying the friendly skies seems to be somewhat of an outdated and grossly inaccurate tag line. This is especially true when you consider that, because of rising fuel costs, many planes will now be flying at slower speeds. This, in turn, will cause two things to happen: 1) Flights may take longer than they did in the past, and 2) The risk for airliner-related health issues increase.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is of particular concern, for a growing body of evidence -- including a recent study from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands -- suggests that long plane rides are a common cause of this potentially fatal health problem. A second issue related to spending more time on a plane is the increased risk of catching a cold, which, according to the Journal of Environmental Health, is 100 times more likely to occur in this enclosed environment.

Since Airborne proved to be no help whatsoever in staving off colds, your best bet for a long plane ride is to go into them as healthy as possible -- which can be achieved with most success with proper diet and regular exercise. As for DVT, many experts suggest taking occasional walks around the cabin and doing some basic stretches during flights.

For the weight I've lost, the healthy eating habits I've gained, the workout tricks I've gathered, and the wellness tips I now practice, I thank Canyon Ranch. They do a lot of good there in Tucson, Arizona -- the location I visited -- and this very health and healing spa destination is now cooking up a new way to make a difference in others' lives.

In addition to their Thriving After Breast Cancer programs, Canyon Ranch is expanding their efforts to support finding a cure for breast cancer. They're tackling their mission by hosting 10 breast cancer survivors for Cook for the Cure Survivors Week, taking place April 10-14. Each trip is being auctioned with 100 percent of the proceeds -- yep, that's everything -- benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Made possible by KitchenAid, Canyon Ranch, and Continental Airlines, selected survivors will not only bask in the glory of luxurious accommodations, healthy meals, endless fitness and wellness classes, powerful nutrition consultations, and spa services -- they'll also receive hands-on cooking lessons in a fully-equipped KitchenAid demonstration kitchen. Wow. I'm jealous. Mostly, though, I'm happy for those who will benefit from this week -- those whose spirits will soar at Canyon Ranch and those who just might live a little longer because of the funds raised during this week.

Interested in more information about this Canyon Ranch venture? Contact Stewart Goodbody at sgoodbod@digitas.com.

Want to get a leg up on healthier airplane travel? It's not a bad idea, given the threat of dangerous blood clots -- also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) -- that comes from extended periods of time spent sitting.

The longer you're airborne and the more you fly in short time frames, the greater your risk for DVT. Fortunately, there's something you can do to prevent this serious condition from striking: Exercise.

Exercising right in your airplane seat will keep your blood circulating properly. Northwest Airlines recommends a whole list of exercises -- ankle turns, knee lifts, shoulder circles, knee bends and more -- and you can access them right here. Take a peek, jot them down, and pack them in your carry-on bag. They'll surely come in handy next time you fly the friendly skies.

We've all had crummy experiences while flying, but with Delta 'crummy experience' seems to be a theme. Late departures and late arrivals, which always ends up forcing me and the others around me to run full speed across enormous airports trying to make connecting flights. The amount of sprints I've completed while flying Delta are probably the reason I stay so lean. My air travel was no different this past weekend.

Now, I understand that air travel and flight schedules are often subject to delay. We'd be fools not to know it's a possibility. I'd at least like the airline employees to be considerate and motivated to do what they can to improve the situation of their customers. Compassionate even. My flight out of Chicago was delayed about two hours Monday morning, which was to make it impossible for me to make my connecting flight home. Unfortunately this was going to force me to miss my four year old daughter's special preschool program, which was really important to her. I give her the news in the morning and as expected, she was devastated. I'm bummed and torture myself over missing it throughout my entire two hour Chicago to Atlanta flight.

As my friend and I debark the plain we check to see which gate our flight home will be leaving from when we are surprised to see that the original flight we were booked for has also been delayed (surprise, surprise!) and is now boarding. With that, while carrying laptops, purses and more we run full speed across what I believe they listed to be about seven football fields in length to Terminal D. We bolt and weave to gate D26, and arrive exactly at the moment the ticket lady changes the sign from boarding to closed. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

This post is not about the end of a study, but about the beginning of one. As of now there is no data on record to suggest that flying frequently has any negative health consequences, but there are many instances of airplane passengers and crew members complaining of ailments like headaches and dry eyes. So many, in fact, that the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers is launching a 2 year study to look at links between aircraft cabin air and crew/passenger complaints of discomfort.

Two years is a long wait, and the experts don't have much to say in the way of coping suggestions in the meantime. Try keeping to your schedule as much as possible, drink lots of water, and put a wet handkerchief over your mouth if it's dry. Other than that, apparently your guess is as good as anyone else's.

News flash: traveling can be stressful, especially in the air! Okay so maybe you didn't need the heads-up, but many of us have flown with people who needed a notice of a different kind. Barbara Correa hammers out a list of pointers which schools travelers on cooperative flying to keep annoying habits at bay. They're not only painfully overt but some of them are downright hilarious as well.

For instance, she knows how drinking and flying don't make a very prudent combination. Just imagine flying with a colleague who couldn't find where to stick the ignition key to drive a rental car to the hotel after landing. Barbara also has some great suggestions for airlines. After having to deal with bladder-full passengers who make her get up and move, she suggests that a mother figure should be hired by the airlines to ask that important initial question of "Did you go to the bathroom before you left?"

It's a facetious way of hammering home the fact that a simple trip to the bathroom before boarding can avoid bothering other passengers. She has more pointers just like it which are novel and should be required reading for people who frequently fly. We could all use the stress reduction anyway since flights can often prove trying on the nerves. Check out the full article here for more!

Depending on where your family lives and how you celebrate the holidays, you might find yourself on a few planes over the next several weeks. So not only do you have to manage your diet around all the obnoxious holiday goodies, but around airline meals and snacks in between. Thankfully, there are not only more choices but more health-conscious options onboard most flights than ever before. This website does a nice job of breaking down the nutritional information for several of the major airlines' food offerings, complete with "best bet" categories and "exercise equivalent" scores, for how long it will take to walk off the calories of a specific snack.

Of the airlines surveyed, which came out on top? United Airlines offers both the most variety and the healthiest options. For example, its "Snack Pack" is both trans-fat-free and vegetarian-friendly.

It's been a long time since I've had to fly anywhere, but looking at some of these menu items I'm impressed! For some carriers anyway, the stereotypical "airline food" seems to be turning into a thing of the past.