Thinspired’s Rules of Travel
Hi guys! I told you I couldn’t stay away for long 
Thank you so much for your lovely comments and emails during this little blogging break—I am really feelin’ the love!
I leave tomorrow at 5am for my flight from London to California and I am so excited! I still don’t know what I am doing in terms of posting food intake for now. I do, however, have some fun guest posts planned (including a greeting from “Mr. Thinspired”) and in the mean time thought I would share with you some travel tips since I have been packing all night.
Source: Victoria’s Secret
After many long-haul and a few nightmarish travel journeys, there are a few set “rules,” I pretty much always stick to en route. I never considered myself a rules-person until recently, when I realized that things can really go to hell if you don’t have a plan. I hope these don’t come off too righteous or obnoxious. They are as much of a reminder for me as they are for anyone else who is interested in a smoother journey!
Not all of these are tips relating to diet and exercise, but I do think they are all relevant to general health and well being!
Without further ado, here are the rules I hope to stick to tomorrow:
- Leave the pepper spray at home and do not attempt to hide it in any luggage. The big scary security men will find it. Don’t ask me how I know.
- Wear comfortable clothes! It sounds obvious but there have been a few times when I have dressed to impress rather than for comfort and I have regretted it. I love the outfit pictured above from Victoria’s Secret. I have actually ordered it to wear on the ride back home! You can still look cute and be comfortable. There is nothing worse than sitting on a plane for 10+ hours having to adjust straps or waistbands.
- Buy a huge bottle of water straight after going through security. How much water do you typically drink over a 10-hour period? A lot more than those little airplane cups every two or three hours! Yikes. Must remember to hydrate while in the air.
- The last sentence of #2 is actually not true. There is something worse than being in uncomfortable clothes, and that is being hungry and stuck on a plane. I’ve been there too. So now I bring snacks. LOTS of snacks. More than I think I will eat. Enough to make a meal (or two) if need be, because sometimes plane food is just intolerable any way you slice it. This trip, my packed snacks include:
- a few of Tina’s Banana Oatmeal cookies (made with raisins because we didn’t have chocolate chips), a grapefruit, an apple, a protein bar, some nuts…you get the idea.
- Arrange to have a “special meal” choice. This might seem contrary to the above rule of bringing your own food, but there will probably be some point in life when you have little choice but to eat plane food, no matter how many snacks you pack. I read somewhere to always order the low-fat option. I tried it for the first time, very nervous that “low fat” would just equal a pile of bread or pasta. I was pleasantly surprised and always order it now. It’s simple switches like fruit for the breakfast plate instead of that scary cheese roll. Totally do-able.
- Avoid alcohol like the plague. Exception: the few times I have flown Business or First Class I have definitely accepted the complimentary champagne. Other than that, it’s bad news. Don’t ask me how I know.
- Plane accessories: sleep mask (personally I need one to sleep anywhere, but even if you don’t normally use one, you might be seated next to someone who wants to read the whole flight!), earplugs (aka screaming baby blocker), socks (I wear these old-lady flying socks to help circulation but anything to keep your feet warm), and reading material. I do not recommend any action novels that start with plane crashes. Don’t ask me how I know.
- Do not stop yourself from eating when you are hungry simply because it is not a mealtime in the countries you are traveling to or from. If you recall, this is a new rule I established the hard way during my last long flight. I tried to eat at set times while being awake for a 30+hours and it was hell. I was starving, cranky and in tears halfway there.
- That said, if you are going to eat, maintain your standards. In the delirium of hunger and boredom, a hot dog while sitting in Chicago O’Hare for 7 hours can become oddly appealing. Do not eat anything you wouldn’t otherwise accept as food in normal circumstances.
- Sleep whenever you can. I do not believe in this “let’s stay up all night so I can sleep on the plane,” theory. Most people will not get quality sleep on a plane, anyway. Sleep. Whenever and wherever you are able. Your body’s clock will adjust quicker than you think.
- When you aren’t sleeping, stretch. Walk around. I do stretches in the galley of the plane and roll my ankles and wrists in my seat. I’ve walked circles around airports, and up and down the aisles of a 747.
- Be kind. I have pretty much decided that travelling unfortunately brings out the absolute worse in human nature. Pushing at airports, screaming at flight attendants…I have witnessed crazy behavior. More than usual, I try to be extra forgiving while travelling. Sometimes it’s hard and I am tempted to become the crazy person. I will not. I will breathe.
Well, that’s all I got, but I could always use more guidance. Do you have any travel rules to live by? Any tips you want to share would be great!
No related posts.
Great tips!
I tried (accidentally!) bringing my pepper spray into the courthouse. Ooops! (They didn’t like it!)
I LOVE this list! Being someone who also travels a lot I live by a lot of these. I definitely go for the ‘low-calorie’ option on planes. The last time I did the people sitting next to me were staring at me because the flight attendant came to me and said “Miss? Your low fat option is here.” lol I was a bit embarrassed but oh well!!
Water water water!!!!
Oh, and I always try to stay on the time zone that I am flying into. Meaning I will not nap. When I fly into Canada it usually means i’ll be up for 24 hours.. but I am quick to adjust. I go to bed when everyone else does, and get up in the morning when everyone else does.
Have you ever tried one of those neck pillow things? I’ve been thinking about getting one so my head doesn’t bob everywhere.
Good luck on your flight! So glad to see you blogging!
Ah I totally agree with you about being comfortable! There’s nothing worse than sitting for an extended period of time and having clothes dig into you.
haha your tip on the novels and not reading about plane crashes cracked me up! Have a good flight!!
Lara,
I know you are so excited about going home!! Have a safe journey and thanks for all the tips. I always bring warm socks too because my feet usually get really cold on long flights, and packed snacks are a must. Chocolate, I must always bring a few squares of dark chocolate…keeps me sane! I’ll have to remember to order the low-fat meal next trip. Good to know.
Hope you find some oat bran soon. Can’t believe those Brits don’t sell it. Guess they’re just all about Wheetabix and Cadbury…oh, and Digestives (yum!)
You are BACK!
Enjoy your time at home and hopefully some CA sunshine!
My biggest travel rule is like you said: dress comfortably! Of course, that’s kind of just my life rule in general.
Have a safe trip!
Great tips! I loved the “don’t ask me how I know comments”. You’re hilarious
I hate those tiny waters on the plane. I bought one before the flight to Singapore (after going through security) and it was taken away from me right before stepping on the plane. Boo!
I love that VS outfit too. Tret chic!
Have a good flight and an awesome trip!!! Don’t blog if you don’t feel like it. Hopefully you’ll report on how much fun you had when you’re back
love the tips
have a great trip girlie!!
Thanks for posting those very helpful tips! I’ve tried traveling with only one pair of shoes, to save space in my bag, but now I always bring at least two or three: nice-looking but sturdy walking shoes, sneakers (to squeeze in a workout or jog), and, if necessary, dress shoes. It might make my bag a little heavier, but there’s nothing worse than having ill-fitting or inappropriate shoes while you’re trying to explore a new city!
SAFE TRAVELS, DEAR LARA!!!!!!!!!!
Great post! Have a great flight Lara! (LOVED the “don’t ask me how I know” lines …. classic!) And I’ll know you’ll be rockin’ that VS outfit even more then the model!!
Awesome post and tips Lara! I travel a ton so I live by a ton of these- especially the comfy clothes, extra water, and extra snacks rules. I also usually try to pack one outfit in my carry on in case my checked bag gets lost or delayed- that way if takes an extra day for them to get my bag to me I still have clean cute clothes to wear
I am happy to hear from you!!
These tips are GREAT, travelling is such a pain, and some of these I wouldn’t have thought of. Preparation is definitely key.
I love that outfit btw!
Have a safe and wonderful trip!!
Have an awesome trip
Nice list!!
FABULOUS list!! I just wanted to add a few of my tips:
- Instead of buying the $9.00 water bottle after security, bring your own refillable water bottle EMPTY and fill it up after you pass through
Cheese stuffed shells anyone?!
- Special order meals are SO the way to go but beware! Just because you’re requesting vegetarian doesn’t mean that you won’t get a different meal than everyone else and it won’t necessarily be healthy
Have a SAFE trip and I hope you stock up on some Kashi Crunch while you’re in Cali
that was the shortest blogging break ever, which is a good thing. have a great trip
Take a wedge of cash so you can treat yourself to some goodies at the airport. You always have time to kill before your flight and some lovely make-up or perfume will stop you heading for the restaurant instead!
have a safe flight and enjoy your trip!
Great travel tips! Wish I had some of them before I went to Cuba, I was one of those starving people in the airport!
My biggest tip is the same as yours, always carry way more water than you’ll think you’ll need! Also, toilet paper and hand sanitizer are good things to have in your purse. Airport/plane washrooms can be completely unreliable.
Have a wonderful and safe trip!!!
wow those are some great tips! so happy to see a post from you
have a WONDERFUL trip with your family and enjoy every second of it!
Have a great trip!!! Your tips are great!
thanks for the great tips! that Victoria’s Secret outfit is so cute! you gotta get a picture in it! THe only travel tip I really swear by is packing light – there have been way too many times when I have over-packed and regretted it when I had to haul around all my luggage!
TRAVEL SAFE!!! I love all the tips… so helpful! I don’t travel enough to really know much.
FANTASTIC TIPS!! I hope that you have a great trip, Lara. I look forward to using these tips on my next big trip.
Love all the tips! I’ll have to share this with my daughter – she’s been packing her own things since she was 8!
Happy travels!!
I am originally a California girl, so I am a little envious of you right now… My tip is never board a plane without sleazy celebrity gossip magazines, diet coke, and excedrin!
i am SO excited for you!! my plane musts are neck pillows and dramamine, to take when the flight is bumpy
dont ask me how i know that THAT is a must for me!!
Those are great tips! I am flying tomorrow and its great to be reminded of those things! I am only flying an hour so thats a TINY difference from ten hours.
Have a great time! That VS outfit is adorable!!
have a safe trip!!!! cant wait to hear what happens in CA!
i have never flown without making sure my parents know where my will is. sounds crazy- but hey- as long as they remember where it is, my sisters will know who gets what in my closet! : )
my other fav thing to do while traveling is read celebrity gossip mags or other mags i wouldnt normally read.
Such great travel tips!!! I wish I had these tips when I flew from Pittsburgh PA to South Africa! ahh… we changed planes 3 times and had 2 10-11 hour flights! I had never flown ANYWHERE and I choose Africa!
Yay you’re back! Well done for taking a break. I LOVE that outfit! I too have flown in dessed-to-impress style and it’s soo uncomfortable. I love all your tips for traveling!
Here are mine:
1. Bring wet wipes for your hands and if possible your face. For one they’ll help you feel fresher and secondly if you get the hand cleanser type you can ward of the evil germs that are abundant in airplanes.
2. Remember that since the smoking ban on airplanes the air on the plane is refreshed TEN times less than it used to, leaving fresh air low. This is why you feel so fatigued and dehydrated. It’s not really a tip, but I feel it helps me to know this, so I know it’s not me going crazy or needing something to eat.
3. Bring a cushion and/or blanket (special travel ones are compact). They make the greatest difference in trying to find a slightly comfortable position to sleep in.
4. Bring gum or chewy candy for the ascent and descent to prevent your ears from popping.
5. Bring something that smells good. This could be the face wipes or maybe some perfume (although they probably don’t allow the bottles anymore) or a small sachet/tester of face cream. Smelling something fresh like that always makes me feel instantly better for some reason!