The stress of traveling and being away from home can really mess with your bathroom schedule. Changing times zones, eating foods you're not used to, and skipping out on exercise doesn't help either. To prevent tummy issues, here are some tips on how to stay regular when traveling.
- Drink water whenever you can as your choice of beverage. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it'll also keep things moving.
- When traveling, bring your own snacks that are high in fiber. Nibble on carrot sticks, apples (with the peel), trail mix with dried fruit and nuts, granola bars, and high fiber cereal. Having healthy snacks on hand will prevent you from eating processed foods that can tie the digestive system in knots.
For more helpful tips keep reading.
- Include high fiber foods in all your meals. Dishes like: fresh salads and fruits, cooked veggie dishes, beans, and whole grains.
- Try to stick to your regular exercise routine. Skipping out on moving around slows your digestive system, and if you feel your lower GI tract slowing down, go for a run to get things moving.
- Pack some methylcellulose pills, such as Citrucel, in case you're really having problems. They're made of 100 percent soluble fiber so they'll help you go, and for most people, they don't cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea.
- Give yourself ample time when in the loo. The digestive track tends to slow down under pressure.
7 For All Mankind
Gabor
Versace
I don't usually have this problem, but I will advocate drinking a lot of water and eating plenty of fiber. And running is always a good fix...it gets your guts moving!
1I always have this problem when I travel. It doesn't matter if it's a day trip in the car or a flight across the country. It sucks.
Good tips - thanks.
2I always bring some probiotic supplements with me on trips, and they always seem to help.
3Thanks for this tip as I fall into this category. I am travelling soon and I dread what will happen due to changes in regular home schedule.
4I do try all of these things, but sometimes, it's impossible to avoid problems when you're going over seas and stuck in one of those flying prisons they call airplanes for 12+ hours!
5Do you think it's a mental thing? I always end up with constipation issues when I go away on holiday and I think it's partly because I don't like using public bathrooms and I feel more uncomfortable when I'm staying in a house with lots of people and more distant relatives. I always wonder if that mental reluctance totally manifests itself physically.
Er, sorry for the TMI.
6Wild Magelet - that's exactly how I feel too. You kinda feel that you wanna "go" but you're afraid that someone's going to call your name and wonder where you are for a moment, only to be told that you're in the bathroom....it can make you feel a bit uncomfortable...I agree with you. I too hate public bathrooms and once held it on a 9 hour flight!
7Wow, that's totally me. I try to remember things like high fiber snacks and meals and drinking lots of water but I think it's a mental thing with me. It's about nerves, I'm a very uptight person( no pun intended) in my everyday life and when I'm traveling I feel like I have less control and I can't relax properly. It takes a few days for me to relax and get my body back into it's regular mode.
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