Cabin Crew Life: Staying Fit & Healthy

Anyone who is anyone knows that the struggle to stay healthy and fit on a normal schedule is challenging enough, as cabin crew the struggle is even more. We work through the night, end up in 3 different climates in a week, have messed up sleeping patterns and are constantly tired and fatigued. Welcome to the glamorous life.
Now take all of that and pile on the need to stay fit and healthy, try to imagine yourself coming home after a 12-18hr work shift and going to the gym or waking up 3 hrs earlier than report time to workout before a long ass flight. Sound fun? No not really, but I do it and I know a few gym dedicated colleagues of mine who do it to. However if you aren't one of the bat shit crazy gym and fitness addicts like myself and the few selected others then here's a list of what you can do to take care of yourself while you fly.

DRINK ALL THE WATER:
This is my number one priority every single day whether I'm flying or not. I make sure I down 2-3 liters of water a day. Yes I pee a lot but the end results are worth it. I would rather be running to the toilet every 15 minutes instead of avoiding water and ruining myself plus I get massive headaches if I don't drink enough on a steady basis. You need to stay hydrated, working in an airplane dehydrates you like a raisin. Your skin will thank you, your kidney and liver will thank you and you will look and feel so much better. If you're one of those people who just don't like the taste of water because it just doesn't have a taste then you can add lemon slices, fruit slices, cucumber, celery, mint, or Green Tea X50 or any water flavoring you can think of. The US has a ton of these available at Walmart that I stock up on whenever I get flights there and Pinterest has some great ideas for stuff like this. 

PACK YOUR OWN MEALS:
I know how annoying and boring and tiresome it may be but airplane food is ugh. I've always had my own meals with me even when I was in training college. I would have a cooler bag with 2 meals and a selection of snacks to keep me through the day. I know I'm super organized (it's my Asian side) but even if you just bring a salad and a can of tuna you're good to go. Bringing your own food prevents you from grabbing a sandwich or cookies or chocolate bar when you feel peckish/hungry. It keeps you on track and when it's time to eat you don't instantly reach for those hot meal casseroles. If you don't believe me then ask any crew how much weight they put on since they started flying and eating those meals. Actually no don't ask them you might get slapped in the face. You're safer just taking my word for it. Some of the things I'll regularly pack with me are oats, fresh fruit, salads, dried fruits, nuts, chia seeds, falafel wraps/sandwiches, protein bars, protein balls (homemade), green tea, matcha green tea powder.

SAY NO TO ALCOHOL:
Yes. Unfortunately this is a must. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the occasional (OCCASIONAL being the key word here) glass of wine but if all you do on days off is find some reason to go out and drink then there goes all your hard work. Alcohol in abundance causes weight gain plus it also makes you want to stuff your face with junk food at ungodly hours of the morning. I know this from experience. This doesn't mean your social life has to suffer, you just need to practice self control and enjoy drinking water and diet soft drinks when you have a night out on the town. Sounds horrendous doesn't it but it is a small price to pay for health and fitness. It also means you get to be the sober one in the group and get to remind your hungover friends the next day of their stupidity😂 Plus your liver and kidneys could use a break and some extra loving you know.

GO TO THE GYM ON DAYS OFF:
 I don't expect everyone to have extreme discipline and gym it on layovers or wake up extra early to do so but I do think you are capable of going for a walk or short run or do something at the gym or outside or even a workout video in your room for 30 minutes. My favorite videos are the BeachBody series. I have them all on my iPad which allows me to do them in hotel rooms when I don't feel like going to the gym. They have videos from 20 minutes long to 90 minutes long and you don't need to be a professional athlete to do them plus the fact that they are videos means you can stop and pause as many times as you need to.

TAKE YO VITAMINS:
Invest in a good multi vitamin and take it daily. I take 3 pills daily, 1 multi vitamin for women, 1 hair skin and nails vitamin (because they can always use a little extra love) and 1 triple ginseng extract tablet. I buy my multi vitamin from Australia when I get layovers there but any multi vitamin will have the required nutrients, that doesn't mean you don't eat your fruits and veggies though. Vitamins are a supplement and should be taken along with a healthy diet full of fruits and veggies.

DRINK YO GREENS: 
 Green tea, green juices, green smoothies, green veggie powder, I have them all and I pack them when I can. Most airports or cities we layover at have plenty of juice bar/smoothie bars or bottled juices and smoothies you can grab for breakfast or a healthy snack.

BALANCE IS EVERYTHING:
Staying healthy is my number one but that doesn't mean I won't have a pizza or a veggie burger or try something delicious. I mean I'll pig out on gelato in Rome and pasta omg I freaking love pasta like if I could have carbs every single day I totally would but I don't because I'm a bit vain and I like having abs so every once in a while is good for me. Try new foods where you go, don't not eat something just because it doesn't fit in your macros. Make that shit fit. Everything in moderation is the way to go.

xoxo CL