The previous Great NEWS post Happy Healthy Travel Tales and Tips Part 1 Spain began a new mini series and today is Part 2 Ports of Call. After observing so many disturbing trends and troubles traveling around the US and world it seemed like a great time to blog about the obvious big challenges and offer better choices. Be careful to read carefully because there are many direct, indirect and subtle messages in these thought provoking posts to help you enjoy an even more happy and healthy life and travels. Happy Healthy Travel Tales & Tips Part 2 Ports of Call will summarize many trends observed and share some simple suggestions.
During my Royal Caribbean transatlantic cruise from Galveston, Texas to Barcelona, Spain many passengers questioned me about exercise, fitness, health, medical problems, nutrition, prescriptions and wellness. It required a significant amount of my time answering questions and being helpful but it was worth it to learn and serve at the same time. By sharing in group coaching sessions it was more effective and efficient to help them deal with health challenges and issues. The cruise director Steve even arranged a guest speaker opportunity for me to speak to about 80 travelers interested in learning more about Great NEWS Coaching for improving their health and well being.
During my transatlantic cruise from Galveston, Texas to Barcelona, Spain many passengers questioned me about exercise, fitness, health, medical problems, nutrition, prescriptions and wellness.
My interactions with the other travelers caused me great concern since so many of them were dealing with so many health and often multiple problems. They also inspired me to speak and write more about the health challenges out there and share holistic health and natural nutrition strategies. This series is part of my passion and vision to address the pains people are facing in order to educate, empower and excite them about the pleasure and possibility for perfect health without medicines.
The top issues mentioned were acid reflux, allergies, arthritis, back problems, brain fog, cancer, congestion, dementia, digestion, falls, Fibromyalgia, flu problems, frequent bronchitis and colds, gluten sensitivity, headaches, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, hormonal imbalances, indigestion, infections, joint problems, Multiple Sclerosis, muscle loss, pains, poor memory, sciatica, sleep apnea, tremors, weight gain and much more. While I am not a doctor and do not diagnosis or treat medical conditions it was obvious that most of them were struggling with common emotional, mental and physical challenges tied to health, lifestyle and nutrition choices.
As you read this post about observations during the cruise and ports of call see if you can spot many of the same challenges and issues that were obvious to me. During the cruise and ports of call in: Nassau, Bahamas; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal and Gibraltar, UK certain patterns were clear. Be sure to read the two earlier blog posts for great cruising tales and tips (Cruise Cautions and Concerns and Cruise Coaching and Common Sense) for further insights.
Most cruise line passengers enjoy cruising and look forward to some adventure, beverage packages, buffets, cocktail parties, eating, dancing, deserts, entertainment, drinking, great foods, party time, shore excursions, social activities and travel. While this is part of what cruising is all about most of them do not have a health and welfare mastery action plan in place to gauge and govern how much fun is just right and tolerable and how much fun is too much and detrimental.
While we all want to enjoy life and have fun it is imperative to have a holistic health and peak performance strategy, structure and system in place to regulate and reinforce the balance between quality of life and quantity of life.
While we all want to enjoy life and have fun it is imperative to have a holistic health and peak performance strategy, structure and system in place to regulate and reinforce the balance between quality of life and quantity of life. Another way of looking at this is the importance of learning, lifestyle, living, longevity, loving and leaving a legacy during our time on earth. Too many people work way too hard to earn a living and build a nest egg only to find their enjoyment, fun and time cut short due to poor health, lifestyle and nutrition choices.
Being happy, healthy and in harmony is a direct reflection of the choices we make every hour and meal of every day. An important question to ponder is: “Are you living to eat or eating to live”? Many people focus on eating too much and too often to the point that they are obsessed with beverages and foods. Rather than how tempting an item may look, smell or taste the key question might be how energizing, healthy, nourishing, rejuvenating and revitalizing is the item about to be consumed and become a part of me.
Challenges of Cruising in Comfort
During the cruise it was obvious the cruise line was committed to making sure passengers had a great time and enjoyed lots of beverages, deserts foods and fun. Cruising is an amazing adventure to enjoy and travel to other destinations in luxury and style. Visiting other countries is so easy with modern cruises since your floating hotel entertains, feeds, provides shelter and sleeping quarters while you travel. Cruising can offer the charm, class and comfort many people are looking for while traveling.
The variety of beverages, cultures, foods and tastes was absolutely amazing.
The cruise passengers and staff was a cosmopolitan melting pot that represented all corners of the world. The variety of beverages, cultures, foods and tastes was absolutely amazing. We enjoyed food choices from Standard American Diet – SAD, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Italian, Lebanese, Spanish, Thai, Turkish cuisine and more.
Unfortunately most people over indulged in: alcohol, bakery items, breads, burgers, cakes, chocolate, coffee with artificial sweetener or sugar, cookies, dairy, deserts, French fries, fried chicken, fried foods, ice cream, juices, latte’s, meats, pancakes, pasta, pizza, potatoes, pasteurized dairy, rice, rolls, sodas, table salt, tea with sugar and treats. People were on “vacation” so they indulged in extra servings and treats and made up excuses and stories to hide from the truth and lie to themselves and others. While this seems harsh it is true. People tell themselves a story to avoid dealing with reality and escape their issues.
SAD, Sick and Stressed is Standard
The Standard American Diet (SAD) has been adopted as a part of almost every culture. In every port of call it seems the big American franchises of Burger King, Coca Cola, Domino’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway and Starbucks are well established. Burgers, French fries and a soda or pizza are one of the top meal choices of most people. Processed and refined foods have replaced many of the traditional foods in most countries and the people are paying a major price with disease and health problems.
When you look at how people eat and live it is easy to see why they are dealing with blood pressure, blood sugar, diabetes and weight gain while losing their energy, health and well being. Many are under medical care and on medications as a result.
Most people are not consuming adequate berries, fresh fruits, good oils, greens, herbs, nuts, roots, salads, sea vegetables, seeds, spices, vegetables, tubers and wild foods.
Most people are not consuming adequate berries, fresh fruits, good oils, greens, herbs, nuts, roots, salads, sea vegetables, seeds, spices, vegetables, tubers and wild foods. While at the same time they are eating too many servings of processed and refined breads, cereals, pasta, pizza, potatoes, starches and sugars. Many people also eat too late which impacts their digestion, biorhythms and sleep thus impacting their ability to be happy and healthy.
Out of fairness to the ship and other passengers there were many people that walked on the walking track and worked out in the exercise roon. There was a full line of cardio bikes, ellipticals, equipment, treadmills and weights to keep most exercise enthusiasts happy. Unfortunately it appeared to be a relatively small percentage of the passenger (less than 10%) with some over lap between maybe 10 – 20 % walking on the waling track. Those that are more active and fit due to their more active lifestyle, restricted intake of SAD foods and walking more each day seem to have the least issues. Very few people used the sauna which is a real shame since it is one of the best health routines to indulge in.
While in port at Nassau, Madeira and Gibraltar many people rode in buses, taxis or vans most of the time on sight seeing excursions and tours. When they got off the transportation they often looked for an American franchise to order SAD beverages and foods. Imagine if they would ride the hop on hop off double decker sight seeing bus instead. Then passengers could get exercise and be walking for fitness while enjoying the sights and then ride when they needed a rest. They might also learn something about new foods and spices for health.
In the different ports, passengers could get exercise and be walking for fitness while enjoying the sights and then ride when they needed a rest.
Hopefully more of the passengers and people in general will wake up and realize that fast, fake and junk foods harm your health and even exercise will not undo most of the harm. When people begin to understand that their food and lifestyle choices are what penalize and punish them they may begin to make better choices. A happy, healthy and holistic lifestyle will allow you to enjoy more travel and trips during your life time and time of your life.
The alcohol, beer and wine consumption that occurred late into the night is definitely a huge factor in regards to health and sleep problems. Late night partying affects your performance, preference, priorities and productivity. As a result of poor eating habits, excess alcohol, coffee and tea, lifestyle choices and too little exercise the majority of people are dehydrated and damaging their body beyond normal repair. This behavior negatively impacts every area of life for any person who desires to be happy and healthy.
This Great NEWS post is the Happy Healthy Travel Tales & Tips Part 2 Ports of Call. There are always simple steps and smart solutions to help anyone committed to fresh foods, holistic health and terrific travel. This post on Happy Healthy Travel Tales and Tips is shared to help you discover the big challenges and decide on better choices.
What is your current Gap?
How educated and empowered do you feel for being happy and healthy?
Mastery Action Plan (MAP)
What action plans will help you be even more happy and healthy at home and while traveling? What great books or websites have been helpful for you?
Call to Action
What comments, commitments or concerns do you have regarding being happy and healthy at home or while traveling?
Next week the Great NEWS blog will share:
Happy Healthy Travel Tales and Tips Part 3 England
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