3 Essentials for future travel

Firstly let me start by saying that my wife is a good cook! I would go as far as to say that my wife is an outstanding cook. So much so that over the last 12 months, I have had to alter my wardrobe accordingly!! After nearly 12 months of intermittent lockdown, I feel the size of a small country! Not a problem when you are in your 20s and can burn this off but a challenge in later years.

So what is the big issue?

According to the latest scientific information, Covid-19 prefers the 50+ age bracket. As “baby boomers”, this places us into the higher risk bracket. When we finally emerge from this dreadful time, we need to be mindful that many travel and medical insurance companies may start to scrutinise "the boomer generation", based on current health risk factors. It may even prohibit visiting certain countries without encountering increased premiums.

Why should we fix this?

The pandemic has been a wake-up call, particularly if we want to continue travelling overseas to those wonderful countries which lack some of the more robust medical facilities that we are used to and expect. To continue our travel adventures, we need to do three things; get vaccinated, address our diet, and maintain a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise.

Getting ready for future adventures

Taking inspiration from the official government guidance, we reviewed our diet, but it was more my action as I had more to lose! This meant minimising alcohol consumption, reducing sugar intake, and cutting out carbohydrates or replacing them with healthy alternatives. It also meant following an exercise regime to tighten up core strength and general all-round fitness objectives.

So with a bicycle courtesy of the taxman many years ago, an indoor cycle trainer and a cheap set of kettlebells, the gym inside my garage took shape. Throughout the winter, I was able to squeeze into the obligatory Lycra material synonymous with cycling, and looking like an overstuffed couch, mount the steel steed.

Has it worked?

Absolutely but not without issues! Firstly, the lost joy of cycling came back as the pain in my nether regions throbbed for three days until I once again familiarised myself with the saddle. Secondly, I forgot that I was in my late 50s. Setting the benchmark at exercises I did in my 30s was totally inappropriate, leaving me gasping for air and feeling the pain of every joint.

After administrating a lot of pain relief, I decided a more considered approach was required. I did look at the NHS Couch to 5K as an option. After some deliberation, I suspected my knee joints would struggle. Instead, I still do 60 minutes walking, dedicated to chasing my Border Collie around the field as she tries to hug every passing walker.

My evening routine captures a more leisurely pace of 30-minutes on the bike and an additional 15 minutes using kettlebells. I found the cycle ride very boring and decided I needed to lift the interest up a little. So now, I read my online paper and listen to the radio before getting off and completing a single circuit of kettlebell exercises, limited to lower weights and press-ups from the knees or against a wall. It is not, nor should it be, the same intensity as my old military days. Instead, it is a common-sense approach to do the exercise and the enjoyment of completing it.

Choosing a more healthy diet

We also explored dietary options, and as everyone will appreciate, there are recipes and books out there based on the latest diets. We have taken a mix and match from a couple of resources including, Scott Baptie, Dr Michael Moseley and various UK newspapers.

The benefits are starting to show, and my old wardrobe is beginning to fit once again. Just got to stop my wife cooking such gorgeous meals!