August 9, 2011
This morning at Orlando International Airport TSA gave me the finger — that come hither finger (no, not that other finger signal!) signaling that I was selected to go through the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) unit (aka the “full-body scanner”). Since these machines have been put into operation, I have gone through them numerous times, with a miniscule fear that the radiation emitted would pose a health risk. To me, this was preferable to the full body pat-down alternative.
Back in March, USA Today reported that the TSA would be re-testing airport body scanners for radiation after they found maintenance records for some of the machines showed radiation levels ten times higher than expected. TSA said these records reflected math mistakes and that the machines passed all inspections. My miniscule fear grew. I’ve since tried to avert these machines by using lanes that have a regular x-ray machine (much less radiation here, right? Please say yes!).
Then today I read this article on Radiation Overdose at the Airport reporting that “A large number of workers have been falling victim to cancer, strokes and heart disease.” This got my fear ball growing.
Just how far does this radiation reach? Could people standing in the nearby x-ray lane, just a few feet away, be affected by this radiation, as well? What is the cumulative impact of going through (and standing near) these machines? Add to that the radiation we’re exposed to by flying on a plane and then what does the impact of radiation look like?
While I await scientific answers to the above, I’ll be more attentive to what security lane I enter. I’ll be looking for a lane where the full body scanner isn’t in operation and thus will get the regular x-ray lane by default. If a regular x-ray machine is abutting a full-body scanner lane, I’ll head to the x-ray lane and keep my conversation to myself.
I think what got me the ‘come hither finger’ today was that I said a friendly Good Morning to the TSA Agent standing at the entrance of the full body scanner. When our eyes met, ‘the finger’ came next!
Here’s a recap of your options to avoid the full body scanner:
- Opt out of the scanner and submit to a full body pat-down;
- Be vigilant in getting into security lanes with the old-style x-ray machines;
- Avoid flying and instead take a car, a bus, a train, a boat, or charter a private plane
And watch out for the ‘come hither finger!’
To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Health, Travel |
July 19, 2011
When you travel, do you ever end up with more bags upon arrival than you left with? Yes, those are the ‘bags’ under your eyes! Here’s an easy beauty tip to help you ditch those extra bags! Best news yet – no baggage fees!
To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Health, Travel |
April 28, 2011
Eating healthy and Travel – Do they go together? They sure can! Take a look at these easy to pack foods that give you healthy options for snacking in-flight, morning breakfast and hunger attacks.
And if you think a ultra-heavy suitcase is needed to pack all of this, think again! Take a peek into my actual packed luggage here.
To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Food and Drink, Health |
March 4, 2011
I eat in restaurants a lot. Fifty weeks of travel last year alone with this year following the same pattern. So that’s a lot of restaurant meals.
Many of these restaurant meals are at hotels. Some hotels I stay at often, while others are for a one-time event.
One of the hotels I’ve been frequenting a lot lately is the Hilton Garden Inn in Aberdeen, Scotland. About seven stays of two weeks each – more than enough time to try every item on their Granite City Restaurant’s menu, at least several times each. And enough time to get really bored with looking at the same foods night after night.
But I didn’t’ get bored – not at all. In fact, I was sad when I had my last dinner at the HGI restaurant.
How could I have gotten so attached to one hotel restaurant? Easy. It was Chef Brian and his team.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Food and Drink, Health, Hotel Living |
February 19, 2011
I’ve been wearing a pedometer since the first of the year to measure my steps each day. A travel day, sprinting through airports, almost always gets me a few thousand steps towards my 10,000 step goal. This got me wondering about which airports are most favorable to walkers?
Minneapolis (MSP) has got to be towards the top of the list. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking between two cities in this airport. (Maybe that’s why they called it Minneapolis / St. Paul because it’s the bridge between the two cities!)
Atlanta (ATL) is surely in the running, since their lack of moving walkways keeps us putting one foot in front of the other. And when you just get to gate B32, your gate may change to A1! That walk alone could get you 10,000 steps just for one flight!
Dallas? Chicago’s United terminal (or checking in at Continental’s terminal, then having a gate at the end of Terminal C)? London Heathrow? Amsterdam?
Usually the longer the walk, the more us travelers complain. But I’m trying to look at the ‘healthy’ side of things, so the distance can actually be a good thing!
Where do you think the airport walks are the longest?
Posted by Carol Margolis under Health, Places to See; Things to Do |
February 2, 2011
I stayed at the Westin Dublin this past weekend and had a beautiful room overlooking the Temple Bar area. Before hitting the pubs, I took advantage of the Westin’s workout room to get in a calorie deficit before BG (Before Guinness). Their workout room was small in area, but very full in equipment. Free weights, weight machines, treadmill, bike, elliptical and more. And I had the room all to myself when I used it. Very nice!
Then I saw a sign in the elevator for WestinFitness rooms (also known as WestinWorkout rooms) – guestrooms with their own fitness equipment. What a great idea! I asked for a tour and the hotel’s staff was glad to take me to one of these rooms.
When I saw the room, my first thought was “I could really get used to this!”
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Health, Hotel Living |
August 20, 2010
Most traveling women complain about gaining weight when traveling, challenges of finding healthy food, and finding the time to exercise with a busy schedule. To see if it is possible to find healthy food choices in restaurants, airports and hotels, I am keeping a healthy eating journal at http://www.smartwomentravelers.com/category/health-fitness-on-the-road/healthy-eating-journal.
Post a comment with your healthy eating suggestions. I’d really like to hear where to find restaurants that serve organic foods.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Food and Drink, Health |
February 4, 2010
Many of us save our air miles and hotel points for that special international trip or for retirement when we dream of having lots of time (and hopefully money!) to travel. In a perfect world, the day we expire is the day we’re on a trip enjoying the last of our rewards. But chance are, there may be a few miles, or million miles, in your account when you head to your permanent vacation spot in the skies.
So can you will your miles to someone else? Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Current Affairs, Health, Random Thoughts, Relationships |
June 15, 2009
It's another travel Monday. My bag is packed, my laptop tote is ready to go, bills have been paid and the house has been organized (the maid is coming this week so I need to pre-clean). All that needs to get done is to put a fresh coat of nail polish on. Unfortunately, there is no time to do so before heading out the door, and I did not even think about getting my nails done while I was home over the weekend. So what's a girl to do when nails are bare, time is slim and an airport visit is in your future?
I first checked online to see if the Orlando airport offered any spa or nail service. Sure enough, a facility named XpresSpa is located in MCO. They offer a Mani-Xpress, custom fit for traveling schedules. XpresSpa also offer massages, facials, pedicures, waxing and cater to both female and male. They sell products at their stores and online and are located in several U.S. airports as well as international. Each spa is open 7 days a week, 16 hours a day. Check XpresSpa's website to see if they are in an airport near you. D_Parture Spa is also in Orlando. They offer similar services to XpresSpa and also offer haircuts for the entire family. Their menu of services has a nice feature of showing the number of minutes involved in each service so you can plan accordingly before a flight. A third choice you may find in your airport (or mall) is 10MinuteManicure. Not only can you get a quick manicure, teeth whitening is an option as well. Between these three companies (as well as others offering spa services at many airports), there is something for everyone, and hopefully within the right time schedule.
Unfortunately for my timeframe, I will be at the airport in the early morning hours and the spas in Orlando are not yet open, so I'll be getting on the plane without a fresh coat of polish. However, it might be easier for me to find a nail spa in my arrival city, as it will be easier to get my nails polished and not have to worry about going through security, extracting my driver's license from my wallet, and pulling my laptop out of my tote … things that can easily destroy just-polished nails.
A massage would be fantastic if a long flight delay is now in your schedule. Why stress over the flight delay? Go find a spa and enjoy a wonderful massage, then get on the flight and fall asleep. Though If I had a massage prior to boarding, I would probably be a no-show for my flight – I'd be sleeping right on the massage table.
If your schedule is always go, go, go like mine, whether at home or on the road, you rarely make time to enjoy a massage or even a manicure. Some of these great airport services may be just the ticket to relax and put a bit of enjoyment into your journey.
To find a spa in an airport you travel through, there is a good list by airport tracked by Travel To Wellness. About.com also has a list of airport spas for the U.S. and Canada.
If you have used any airport spa services, let us know your thoughts. I'd really like to know if nail polish really hardens within 10 minutes so I can stroll though the TSA process with no dings to my just-done nails.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Health |
June 11, 2009
It’s so easy to say that weight loss is futile when you travel. With unhealthy airline food (when you can even get food), dining out for all your meals, conference luncheons of pasta and dessert that follow the morning bagel and sweet roll … no wonder you can get off the plane with an extra pound or two. Add in years of travel and the pounds add up faster than your air miles do.
Thousands of times I have used the excuse of “I travel” to explain why I am over my desired weight. Long work days and hours spent in travel time are great for explaining why I have little time to exercise. And when girl-talk gets going, I find I am not the only one with digestive issues when on the road. Now, all of that is changing. I am on my way to a lean, fit body and travel will no longer be an excuse.
So what am I doing differently that I have not been doing in my many years of travel?
First, I am bringing a high-quality protein shake mix that I can make in my hotel room for my breakfast. I’ve mixed up my protein shake mix with a spoon in a 12 oz. cup and added ice. If I am using the blender (I like to have my Magic Bullet
with me), I also blend in a cup of berries. Without the blender, the berries can be eaten separately.
Second, I am asking restaurants to prepare a meal without sauces, gravies, butter or lots of oil. Instead, I ask for a grilled chicken breast or salmon, for example, with a double-side of grilled vegetables. No pasta, potato or bread. Salads topped with the same types of grilled protein, along with oil and vinegar dressing, and I have a great lunch. I also like to grab lunch or dinner at Whole Foods if there is one nearby, as their salads and meat choices make for great meals.
Third, I am traveling with exercise bands. They’re a great way to get in a decent workout when there is either no fitness center in a hotel or very limited time to exercise. I also have my X-Iser in my hotel room so I can get a great workout in just minutes (you can travel with the X-Iser as it fits in many roller bags and weighs just 14 pounds).
Fourth, and very importantly, I am using a coach to help me accomplish my goals. I have tried unsuccessfully over the years to get fit myself (“I’m smart enough to do this on my own,” or so I thought), and have realized that I need to enlist the help of an expert. I am working via phone and email with JJ Virgin, Nutritionist to the Stars and expert from shows like Dr. Phil and Extreme Makeover. In just a few weeks, I have gotten into a very healthy eating habit, even in hotels and airports, my weight is heading down and I’m losing inches. I am very excited! JJ has a free call this Saturday if you’d like to hear about the 21-day Detox program that I followed. Go to JJ’s Lose Weight call and listen in.
I’ll put together a list of healthier eating choices in airports so you, too, can grab a better meal before boarding a flight. If you have favorites that you’d like to share, post a comment and we’ll get it on the list.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Health |
