That's Fit

Vacation means getting away from it all, but you don't want to stray too far from your fitness goals.

Summer is the biggest "exercising yo yo" time of the year for me because the nice weather makes it more appealing to exercise outside on a regular basis, but vacations and fattening weekend getaways make for frequent interruptions. It's been a goal of mine recently to master the idea of keeping up some kind of fitness effort when I'm on the road, so naturally this article about easy ways to keep active while traveling caught my eye. And although the tips are all pretty basic, that's okay. The idea of staying active while traveling is also pretty basic. We just need to actually do this stuff! Pick out the ideas that work for you and then make a point to do them, and pull your family in to the effort too, so you're not in it by yourself.

For many people, the summer is a prime time for vacations. When you hit the road, it's important to keep good health in mind. You'll have more energy to enjoy your time away if you don't let healthy habits go to the wayside. Shape Magazine has some reasonable tips for staying fit while on the road:

• Eat healthfully. Does this mean you can't enjoy a decadent dinner at a restaurant? Of course not. But it does mean you should make wise choices. For example, if you're going on a road trip bring along a small cooler filled with fruit, healthy sandwiches, veggies, and other healthy foods. Having good choices handy may just save you from a trip through the drive through.
  
• Pack smart. Be sure to bring along any medications you and your family might need -- prescriptions, OTC pain relievers, etc. Band-aids and other basic first aid items are also a good idea. As for fitness, be sure to bring a good pair of walking shoes. You can also throw small fitness items like a jump rope and resistance bands in your suitcase.
• Keep moving. While your regular fitness routine is likely to chance while you're on vacation, there's no need to let it slip altogether. One of the best ways to stay active is to plan fun activities that require lots of walking. Go sightseeing or walk up and down the beach. You can also try swimming in the hotel pool (or the ocean). Any exerting activity will add to your fitness.
  
• Rest up. Don't let travel tire you out too much. Try to get to bed at a decent time each night and get a full night's sleep. If you're traveling to a different time zone, try to adjust your schedule to the new time zone as soon as possible.
  
• Unplug. Part of going on vacation is to relax, so put away the cell phone, laptop, and Blackberry, and unwind. Vacations can do wonders for reducing stress, but not if you're carrying work responsibilities with you the whole time.

"Live like you don't need a vacation," what does that mean exactly? This is a time of year when most people take some kind of time off work, and whether it's just a day or two or a couple of weeks it's always nice to get away. But what exactly are you getting away from? Anytime of year, anytime you take a vacation, what is it you need a break from -- your job? The routine? Or your life in general?

Sadly, for some people that last choice is the truest one. If you feel you need to get away "from it all" then maybe your life is out of balance. The concept of living like you don't need a vacation is about finding a balance in your life so that although you may still want vacations you won't necessarily need them to be happy. Vacations should be frosting on the cake of life -- although frosting does add serious flavor the cake is still pretty good without it. If your cake is unbearable without the frosting then you may want to look at fixing the recipe.

It's easier to build happiness in your life by investing in a family vacation than a plasma TV. That slick plasma will certainly provide great satisfaction in your TV viewing for years to come, however psychologists advise the memories made on a vacation contribute more to well-being and life satisfaction than any material goods.

Happiness researcher (cool job!) Leaf Van Boven of the University of Colorado at Boulder explained vacation memories improve over time. We forget any annoyances and tend to retain the joyful, positive moments. Also, memory-making experiences build social capital, and social relationships have everything to do with life happiness.

People can get caught in a trap of believing they'll have many years to take special vacations, when they should be investing in them now instead of the plethora of material belongings junking up the garage. Personally, we went camping with two other families we didn't know too well this past July. The memories and friendships cemented during those crazy three days have generated more smiles and warmth than the slick canoe we purchased in June.

If you enjoy being physically active chances are you've had at least a passing fantasy or two of doing something more exciting for exercise than whatever it is you normally do everyday, like the treadmill or the swimming pool. Ever pictured yourself hiking through the mountains or navigating a river in a kayak or canoe? How about horseback riding, backpacking, or even dog sledding? Whatever you dream of in regards to outdoor adventuring it may be closer to a reality than you think -- regular women like you and me are having fantastic outdoor adventures everyday through a place called Adventures in Good Company.

You can choose from pre-planned trips, or customize one of your own, and they'll feed you and house you and show you a good time. What are you waiting for?

Nothing can ruin the fun of a vacation faster than an allergy attack or an asthma flare-up, and since most of us don't get to take that many vacations it's obviously pretty frustrating when that happens. So try these tips this summer to help keep the fun and lose the sniffles and wheezing:

• If driving, open the windows and run the A/C for about 10 minutes first to clear out dust mites and mold.
• Keep the car windows closed if you have pollen or mold allergies.
• If sensitive to air pollution travel when air is cleaner in the early mornings and evenings.
• Inquire about allergy-proof rooms at hotels, or get a sunny dry room away from the pool.
• For those with food allergies always carry an epinephrine injection on your person and be careful when eating airline and restaurant foods as ingredients aren't always listed.
• Consider seeing your allergist/immunologist before your trip for a physical.
• If you have a sinus infection (sinusitis) try to delay flying until you've recovered, and if you can't do that try taking an oral or nasal decongestant about an hour before take-off.
• Use a saline nasal spray to keep your sinus membranes moist on long flights.
• And obviously be sure to pack all your medications and bring them with you -- but bring more than you think you'll need and store them in their original containers.

Especially during the summer months, many couples will take a relaxing vacation when trying for a baby. However, recent reports from fertility experts suggest this may be the worst thing a hopeful father can do.

According to Australian researchers, too much heat can not only reduce sperm count, but also slow down those that survive.

They began their research after doctors at assisted conception clinics have recently noticed what they've come to believe is a "season effect" on men's sperm counts, but as far back as the 1950s some believed that men could take regular hot baths as a means of contraception.

That said, this report was conducted in England, a country infamous for its long months of cold, rainy weather. As noted by a UK fertility expert: "If there was a major effect, I think we would see people having problems conceiving in every country in the tropics."

But, he adds, "it's worth being cautious."

With February just about over and signs of spring popping into the air with a few warm days, the golf courses in my area saw a line at the tee box that hasn't been present in just about 4 months. I heard a lady at the grocery store telling one of her friends that it wasn't going to be long before her husband would be out of the house just about every day until after the sun sets and there was enough time for him to down a few cold brewskies. I love golf personally and share in the sentiment that time on the golf course helps me forget about everything else in the world and there is nothing better than chasing that hole in one. I would much rather stare at a nine iron than a waffle iron. So how do relationships survive when golf courses are thriving? Does the term "golf widow" ring a bell? Even summer vacations are planed around where interesting courses designed by big name architects can be played. Which leads many wives to boring days in a hotel room or an outlet mall or by the pool talking to other golf widows.

Here are a few tips to help your relationship survive the golf obsessions of your spouse.

1. Find a hobby of your own and don't feel guilty for spending time enjoying it.
2. Plan an outing with the two of you for one night a week and stick to it for respect of each other.
3. Split the household chores between you and do not nag each other about them if they are not done until the last day of the week.
4. Do not do each others chores. Respect each other and take care of the home responsibilities together.
5. Set a schedule for times that you each will spend time with the children or taking care of the pets.
6. Plan a vacation with another couple so that you have someone to hang out with while your spouses play golf. The time to make your pitch is definitely now so you can also pick a place that has something to do while your spouse plays golf.
7. Solicit joint participation in the game of golf from your spouse. This requires an open mind, a closed mouth, and the "Patience of Job".

I would like to close with a joke that I heard from one of my golf friends. There was this guy who went golfing every day, it didn't matter what kind of weather it was because he was hooked on golf. One day he left the house early and headed for the golf course, but it was so bitter cold that he decided he wouldn't golf that day and went back home. His wife was still in bed when he got there, so he took off his clothes and snuggled up to his wife's backside and said "Terrible weather out there." She replied, "Yeah, and can you believe my stupid husband went golfing?"

Wouldn't vacations be absolutely perfect if we didn't pack on pounds from all the sinfully delicious foods, or from slothfully laying around doing nothing? Sure, time off should be time off but after awhile laying around -- be it your house, a beach or on a cruise ship -- gets boring. Yawns. I've been on one cruise and nothing about it really knocked my socks off. Naturally, I was delighted to feel the breeze combing through my hair and to take time out from my everyday hustle, but the casinos weren't my thing and while the cuisine was great, I almost felt guilty eating so much. Where is the balance?

Thankfully, A Taste of Health and Vegetarian Times is hosting a seven day-trip built for the mind, body and spirit all aboard a ship! It's a little ways out, but if you're serious about putting in your request for much needed time off, check this one out now. Taking to the seas March 4-11, 2007, the Holistic Holiday at Sea IV - Voyage to Well-Being will include experts in holistic living and natural health to provide lectures and workshops for cruise participants. Start your day with yoga, Pilates, meditation or learn from a vegan and macrobiotic chef. Continuing education credits (CEU's) will also be available. The liner itself is said to be a world-premier Italian luxury liner and will stop at ports in the Dominica Republic, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Grand Turk and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to name only a healthy handful.

For a list of presenters, program overview and additional details, click here.

For most Americans, vacation comes in two different shapes and forms: some or none. Which is why when the time does roll around we can come off a bit picky about how we choose to use that time and where we intend to spend it. Remember, this is almost like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some. If you want to spend this well-earned time on an exciting, refreshing, and healthy journey away from home, consider a yoga vacation.

Currently, more than 20 retreats in the continental U.S. and much more abroad offer yoga getaways. According to Yoga Journal, picking your dream yoga destination can be just as tiring as the workload you carry in your 40-plus hour work week if you don't know what to look for. This article helps those ready to escape to happy holistic times by providing the 411 on retreats and resorts. Know the difference, because it can make or break your dreamy vision of the place upon arrival. They offer numbers to outfitters in Hawai'i and places as far out as Molivos in the Greek Isles and India. Naturally, you should have an idea of the kind of yoga practice you're into, but a new environment may also be a good time to try something completely new. Their best advice is to start with your local instructor, who may be able to recommend interesting yoga getaway options.

Want more tips? Check out the full article. Have you been on a mind-blowing yoga vacation and want to share? Throw some of your own suggestions out into the blogosphere.