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Fitness
On The Road - Tips for Frequent Flyers
by Alison Maxwell -
USA
TODAY For Michael Sena, it started with a Hollywood sex
scene.
In 1995, actor Chazz Palminteri asked the
personal trainer, now also United Airlines' in-flight fitness expert, to help
him get buff for a steamy shot with Linda Fiorentino in the movie
Jade.
The difficulty: Palminteri was in another
city. So Sena sent Palminteri a set of workout cards, a simple set of elastic
cords and a video of exercises created just for him.
Business travelers don't usually have the
luxury of calling their personal trainers for made-to-order hotel room fitness
tricks, but health is often a neglected necessity for the road warriors who
fill America's airlines.
''Average people aren't making movies. But
they're traveling several thousand miles a week, hustling through airports.
They get to the hotel room, close the door and forget about exercising,'' says
Sena, also a Chicago TV fitness personality and the director of corporate
wellness for Sara Lee.
Topping the list of mistakes made on the
road: plopping down on the plane with poor posture, lugging overloaded luggage,
not drinking enough water, unrelenting sitting on long flights and forgetting
fitness when you land.
All that can cause soreness, fatigue,
dehydration and even deep vein thrombosis — potentially lethal blood clots
in the legs caused by poor circulation.
They have been dubbed ''economy class
syndrome'' because the cheaper seats in a plane have less leg room, encouraging
minimal movement.
Sena has frequent-flier tips:
- Do the advance legwork to find a hotel
that provides a good health club or in-room fitness program.
- Ask your hotel about a heart-healthy
menu. ''Making the wrong food choices on the road is what sabotages all of
us,'' Sena says.
- Travel with your own water, and drink
plenty of it. ''I bring my own because they can never bring enough water to
you,'' Sena says.
- While flying, pay attention to staying
flexible and maintaining good circulation. Do periodic stretches and in-seat
exercises.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol intake in the
air and on the ground.
Suzanne Schlosberg, another on-the-road
fitness expert and author of a recent book on the topic, speaks often about how
difficult it can be to maintain an exercise routine while traveling. She
specializes in finding workout spots on the road, from airport gyms to spots in
exotic locales.
Among her recommended exercise spots in
an airport is the 24 Hour Fitness center at McCarran International Airport in
Las Vegas. A visit costs $15 and workout gear can be rented for $15.
Jo Lichten, author of several books on
the subject of staying healthy on the road, suggests travelers with long
layovers get their hands on a phone book and find a nearby gym where they can
blow off steam and work out at the same time.
Better yet, base your reservations on
the availability of a fitness center and check the Fitness Center option in
your preferences.
You can also look for a fitness event in
the area where you are staying.
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