Mostly {Trying Not to Get Sick} Lately

Stay active, Stay healthy, Stay fit

(while flying or in an everyday life)

I will come back to this post and add pictures of every single product used, but for now, I tried to make the descriptions as helpful and informative as possible to create their own mental pictures for my readers.

This post isn't as random as it seems. I get a LOT of direct messages on my Instagram about maintaining a high functioning immune system while flying. I also get questions about how I handle physical stress at work, such as getting sick or fighting off a cold.

Also, I'll do a separate post on my workout routine and how I stay active in the gym, or around the house! 

In the airline industry, sick days are hoped to be avoided. At my airline, we are held to a really high standard, and it's just best to not take many sick days. Of course, like any job, we are given a certain amount of sick time per year. On top of this, we have a good amount of paid personal time. Although the PPT is something we bid for, it's not impossible to be granted this, but it also isn't always guaranteed. When/if this request fails, you opt to take a sick day. I try to avoid using my sick days because I've never been the type of person to take sick days from school or work, but I'm human and I do get sick. 

But, there are ways to stay healthy and energized while flying. The biggest fighter? 

Water! 

But everyone knows water is the answer. 

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, a nutritionist, or a health fitness coach. These are just the things that work for me right now, and this is the little system that I have going for myself.* 

Ever since I began flying, I have only had two major colds. One cold hit me hard and I was sick for about four days, and I had a lingering cough for about two weeks, but during this time I still stayed on top of things so that I could continue to function in my everyday life, as well as my flying life. I didn't take sick days for these because thankfully the intense *sick* days I had during my colds fell on my off days, so I lucked up here. 

So, here's what I use on a daily basis and the stuff that I use when I am feeling a little under the weather. 

1. Good Earth Sweet and Spicy Black Tea

This tea is so delicious as a stand alone tea. It has a really sweet cinnamon taste, with added spices. A flight attendant who was commuting to base on my working flight introduced me to this tea, and I fell in love. This tea requires no extra sweetening (I use honey to sweeten my tea), but it doesn't hurt to add any! 

2. Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate Green Tea

I have loved Yerba Mate for years. I was first introduced to this stuff my freshman year of college when I would go to a deli that was on my campus. The deli sold this tea, and all of the employees swore by this. This tea promotes extremely natural (high) energy, without the crash. It is an excellent caffeine boost, but I wouldn't recommend drinking more than three cups of this a day (unless you're attempting to pull an insane all-nighter and get some work done). 

3. Water! 

My favorite waters are Smart Water and Icelandic Water. Y'all. Icelandic water is delicious. I am by no means a water connoisseur, but Icelandic water has a noticeably delicious taste. I am not a huge fan of Fiji water or Evian water but a lot of people love it. I used to think I loved those two brands until I was introduced to Icelandic. Seriously, Icelandic should have me do ads for them. I will seriously do ads them for some weeks straight.  

4. Udi's Gluten Free Honey Vanilla Granola and Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Ever since hitting puberty, I was told that Yogurt is one of the best things for a healthy *area*. Although I used to have a texture problem and hate slimy yogurt, I now eat it religiously. Honestly, for not the *area*, but because it's delicious. If you're a female, I'm told and I've read that the probiotics in yogurt do fight against getting yeast infections and I mean, that's a plus. No one wants those! Everyone definitely wants a healthy *area* 

This is not a women's health blog (just yet. I need to do more research), so I will tread lightly on that part. But eat that yogurt, girl! 

5. EmergenC Dietary Drink Supplement 

I swear by EmergenC. However, I'm realistic about the results. There are people who think that as soon as they feel a cough or sneeze coming on, as long as you dump some of this in your water bottle and chug it, you'll be ok. That is wrong. Much like any vitamin results, EmergenC must be taken consistently, frequently, to do its proper job in your system. The flavors that are my *favorites* are the Tropical Punch flavor and the EmergenC+ raspberry flavor. I have been drinking EmergenC every single day since March. I also make sure to drink it in the morning so that my system is doing its thing with them. 

6. Daily Vitamins

My vitamin regimen is simple, but consistent. I take Vitamin C (calcium and immune system support), Biotin(to maintain my healthy, thick hair and my bouncy curls), B12 (for energy so I can fly long days and not be cranky), Vitamin D (African Americans have a high Vitamin D deficiency because our skin has natural SPF in it. With this, we don't absorb enough sunlight. So, I try to give my system enough vitamin D so that I can stay healthy and active), Vitamin E (healthy skin), cranberry pills (healthy urinary tract system), and fish oil (promotes a healthy heart! And, I have a big, loving heart. So it needs to be healthy, right?) 

The soldiers for when I'm actually sick:

I am not a big fan of medicine or any medication while I'm not feeling well. For one, I don't like feeling like I have to be dependent on something to feel better. Also, I don't like having to remember to take things that I feel like my life depends on. It makes me nervous, and it adds pressure, and at that point, I just give up on it and attempt to take a natural approach. But for those who don't want to buy natural oils or read up much on living an extremely natural life: there's other solutions! 

Here's what I use during a sick spell 

1. Mucinex DM  (green and white packet in picture)

I get an extremely annoying cough when I am getting sick or my allergies flare. It's to the point where I am waking up in the middle of the night coughing for five minutes straight. So far, this has been a little miracle worker. I prefer Mucinex, but my mom gave me a bottle of a CVS version of Mucinex that mainly focused on cough suppression, and it also helped.  

2. Claritin (blue box in picture)

(Or, the generic Walgreens version: Wal-Tin D). Taking this once every 24 hours is helpful. 

I never had allergy issues growing up. But, lately, traveling everywhere has added a level or irritation to my allergies, and now I am one of the unlucky allergy sufferers. So far, Wal-Tin/Claritin once daily have helped me, but I don't want to depend on that every day for life. So, I stick to tea and water. 

3. Ibuprofen  (orange bottle in picture)

For inflammation and my sore throat and sinus headaches