Benefits Of Fasting When You Travel

Let’s explore the possible benefits of fasting when you travel.

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I’m not talking about skipping meals on vacations. For many of us, enjoying food in other places is the main attraction. This post is about considering intermittent fasting while you travel to and from your destination.

For example, when we traveled to Italy (a long-awaited trip of a lifetime), there was no way I was planning to fast when we got there. But fasting on the way to and from Italy made perfect sense.

Honestly, though, we ended up fasting through breakfast most days because we had more energy to walk around and sightsee when we weren’t full from breakfast. It was no problem waiting until lunch to sit, relax, and enjoy a delicious snack or meal. And we never skipped dinner in Italy!

Whether you travel by plane or on a road trip, there are potential benefits of fasting when you travel.

Let’s explore the benefits of fasting when you travel by plane.

Cost

First, the food in airports is expensive compared to what you’ll pay at the grocery store or other similar restaurants. 

It used to be a novelty for me to sit at an airport and eat a snack, lunch, or dinner. I don’t know why. It’s like going to a carnival and not getting some of that carnival food. It was an expensive habit of mine for many years.

But now that I live an intermittent fasting lifestyle, it feels like I’m going out of my way to spend my money and eat something when I’d likely be fasting anyway.

Time

If you’re not in a rush or running to a gate, then not stopping to eat gives you time to observe the surroundings – watch the people, window shop the stores, or watch the planes come and go through the window. 

Or, find a seat and read a book or bring word search puzzle books and similar puzzle and activity games.

This can be a time when your only responsibility is to quietly entertain yourself (or your family).

Less stress

When I walk past and see all the people standing in line to get something to eat, I think, “That used to be me! Now I can relax more and not worry about getting some food before I board the plane.” 

And I also think, “Ooh, the money I save not buying this airport food will go toward something fun on this vacation! This feels great!”

See what I mean? Just the mental lift of passing up waiting in lines and instead keeping your money in your account for something fun will put you in a better mood. 

You’ll feel more relaxed when you’re not worried about finding time to get food at a busy airport.

Plan ahead

Planning your fasts during travel is a must. Be prepared if your travel gets delayed and your fasting window runs into your eating window before you arrive at your destination. 

To pack a couple of snacks just in case is a good idea. These organic trail mix snack packs are one idea.

Plan to be hydrated before and during travel. Being dehydrated can bring on food cravings, cause headaches, and drain your energy. Especially when flying or in the mountains because higher elevations can cause dehydration. 

Consider taking travel-size (no sugar added) electrolyte powder when you travel. Electrolytes help the body to absorb water (www.sciencedaily.com article), aiding in hydration.

Plan your fasting window in advance. How long will it take you to travel to your destination? How long do you feel comfortable fasting? If you’re used to fasting for 12 hours, plan your meals before, sometimes during, and after you travel to line up to a 12-hour fast.

Benefits of fasting on road trips

If you travel by car, you can implement the same regimen of fasting that we talked about when you travel by plane. It’s more a matter of convenience when flying, but there are also benefits of fasting when you travel by car.

If you’re the driver, you might avoid that after-meal sleepiness. 

Also, if you’re fasting, you won’t need to stop driving and take time to eat. You can limit your pit stops to fueling and restroom breaks.

In my experience, finding good, healthy food when traveling highways is challenging. So, fasting is often a great option.

In Summary

Consider fasting while you travel to and from your destination. If you have yet to try fasting before and want to get started, here’s a great article – How To Start Intermittent Fasting.

Whether you fast for 8, 12, or 16+ hours, there are benefits you can enjoy: save your sanity, money, and time. Keep yourself alert by staying hydrated and avoid potentially feeling sluggish after a meal.

Look forward to a vacation-type meal when you arrive at your destination. Somewhere you can sit and relax and enjoy the food and where you are.

Happy travels!