Living the Could Life

Part 2 - Travel budgeting Italy: maximize energy and enjoyment with disability

Last time we mentioned several trip tips to help you maximize your money and your energy. When one is out of whack, the other is affected. Take time before your trip to consider what is really meaningful to you.

If you want to do something different than the typical tourist, go for it. You may have a special interest or a dream. It's entirely yours. We mention taking a gondola ride in Venice. Maximizing energy is especially important when a disability wants to challenge you.

Ahhhhhhhhh - Doesn't the Gondola Ride look Dreamy?

Your best trip remains one that brings happiness because you planned it from the start. Personalizing it makes it unforgettable. If there are glitches - and with travel, you should expect that - you have a Plan B.

Counting Spoons

Keep your energy in mind. Below you will find the episode on Spoon Theory. Keep that in mind during your travels.

Shout Out Again to Italy

We used Italy as an example for budgeting. We will continue using Italy as our example destination again the next time. It gets us excited about visiting. But, it is also preparing us to take our own advice.

Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

Transcript


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Theresa:

Robert:

(Transcribed by TurboScribe. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)

Robert:
Welcome back to Living the Good Life. Real travel for real bodies. If your body changed before you were ready, but you still want to see the world, this is the place for you.

We talk accessibility, mobility, energy, and joy. Because traveling isn't over. It's just different.

There's still so much travel you could do. I'm Robert.

Theresa:
And I'm Theresa. Today we're diving into episode 2 of our Italy planning series. That's how to use the perfect trip tips that we shared the last time.

Robert:
We're talking points, mobility equipment, spoon-based itineraries, and how to make smart choices when you don't have unlimited money or unlimited spoons.

Theresa:
Because, remember our guiding principle, if saving the money doesn't make your trip better, it isn't really a savings.

Robert:
Let's start with points, because they can make Italy dramatically more affordable, even if you're starting late.

Theresa:
And you don't need to have a wallet full of cards, and I know some people have more cards than I could ever imagine having. So just start with one. And find one, especially if you travel abroad, like to Italy, that has no foreign transaction fees.

Those can add up. It has a simple earning structure, and a good sign-up bonus, and easy redemption options, and I know I started with a lower cost credit card affiliated with the airline just because the luggage charges are now frightening. They can be 50 bucks or more each way for a check back.

Robert:
Most people think points come from flying. Nope. You earn them from groceries, prescriptions, gas, streaming services, utility bills, online shopping portal.

Theresa:
Oh, and I want to talk about online shopping portals, because that's something I often forget. And you can shop through those and earn miles. And these can be things that you always buy from companies you always use.

Robert:
Use points for flights, hotels, upgrades, airport lounges. Avoid redeeming for gift cards, merchandise, cashback conversions.

Theresa:
Remember that you can protect your spoons with points. So points aren't just about saving money. They can also be used to save spoons.

For example, maybe you can find a non-stop flight or one without a lot of connections. Again, like we said in the past episode, if you fly from a small airport, you may not have too many non-stop flight options. Maybe you'd like a hotel closer to the city, a hotel that has an elevator, or even upgrading to business or first class for your comfort.

Robert:
That's the travel advisor rule again. Spend where it protects your body, save where it doesn't cost joy.

Theresa:
And let's talk about mobility equipment, because having the right gear can make or break your trip. You know, be realistic about what you take. Don't say, oh, I don't think I need my walker or my cane or a wheelchair.

I mean, you may even decide to rent a wheelchair at the destination. But you can buy used mobility equipment. There's national online marketplaces, including Mobility Market USA, the Mobility Exchange, and by SellWheelchairs.com.

And of course, look locally as well. Those kind of sites, especially for local where you can check the equipment, they let you buy used scooters, lightweight wheelchairs, travel-friendly walkers. They let you compare prices and read owner reviews.

I mean, also look at estate sales.

Robert:
Italy has rental companies in major cities like Rome, Florence, and Milan. Renting can be cheaper than flying with heavy equipment.

Theresa:
Less stressful as well. Uses fewer of your spoons. Don't have to worry about the airline damaging your equipment or it getting lost or left or not working.

So remember to choose the right equipment that you need. Italy, well, has a lot of old cities, so there's cobblestones, hills, uneven terrain. Be sure your scooter has good battery life or you have a backup.

A wheelchair with sturdy wheels, a walker with strong brakes, or in a cane with a traction tip and good shoes.

Robert:
And always bring extra cane tips, a backup mobility aid, a small repair kit, and a printed accessibility note in Italian.

Theresa:
And that is the accessibility note is also good for admissions into some attractions. They have like an open-to-all policy in many countries in Europe. So in my case, I'm getting a note from my doctor because the note's not only helpful for people with disabilities but also with impairments.

And in my case, even though, you know, I can't drive or do much by myself, I have an impairment, not a disability. So I am bringing along a note from my doctor because that allows me to have my sea night guy come along with me. I mean, we're going to a lot of castles.

I don't always get to see much of them, but I still pay admission. So this letter from the doctor will help immensely. Besides that note, and that also helps reduce fatigue and spending.

If you, um, using your mobility aids might prevent you from having to splurge on an expensive taxi because it's unnecessary when you have the right equipment.

Robert:
Now let's build your itinerary around spoons, not around seeing everything.

Theresa:
And yeah, we all like to see everything because we never know when we'll get back to a place. But consider choosing one dream moment. It can be your anchor, your North Star, the perfect trip moment for you.

For example, maybe you want to see the Sistine Chapel, or you want to eat gelato during sunset in Florence, or ride a gondola in Venice, or visiting a vineyard and sampling wine in Tuscany. Everything else supports this moment.

Robert:
And you want to build recovery days. Every two, three days schedule a low spoon day. And that could include things like cafe sitting, neighborhood wandering, light shopping, scenic viewpoints, slow meals.

Theresa:
And that's really critical, I think, because if you put several high spoon days in a row, you may need a lot of low spoon days to recover. So use the 3-2-1 rule. For every three high spoon activities, add two medium spoon activities and a low spoon day.

Robert:
So plan your meals around energy. High spoon days equal predictable meals. Low spoon days equal exploring, wandering, trying new things.

Theresa:
And avoid false savings. Again, if the results don't make you happy, don't do it. So don't choose a cheaper, and these are examples because you, of course, have the final decision.

Don't choose a cheaper hotel that is far from transit. I mean, that works if you have a car or a long train route with stations that have stairs, but I will say the train stations in Italy are fairly accessible. Don't do a budget tour that is not accessible.

And try to avoid early morning flights if it takes you a long time to get ready. But remember, if you take the first flight out, if there are any problems, usually you have other options in case of delays or cancellations. Whereas if you take the latest flight and it gets canceled, you usually have to stay an extra day.

So any of these situations cost spoons, and spoons cost money.

Robert:
Okay, now let's revisit the downloadable list and talk about how to use it. Number one, choose your dream moment. Build your budget around it.

Number two, protect your body. Spend money where it reduces fatigue. Number three, save where it doesn't cost joy.

Use trains, markets, apartment hotels. Number four, build a fatigue buffer. Add 10 to 15% to your budget for tired day spending.

Number five, use your points strategically. Upgrade for comfort, reduce stress. Number six, use mobility marketplaces.

Buy or rent equipment that supports your body. Number seven, plan meals around spoons. Predictable meals on high spoon days.

Number eight, book accessible rooms early. They always sell out first.

Theresa:
So let's look at a real world example. We will kind of base this on our upcoming trip to Italy.

Robert:
Here's a dream moment. A sunset gondola ride in Venice.

Theresa:
That's something a lot of people want to do. Also, a lot of people say, oh, that's just a touristy thing. So take anything that's considered a touristy thing with a grain of salt.

If it's a tourist scam, that's one thing. But if it's popular with tourists, that might be because there's something interesting or good about it, something that attracts people to that destination, monument, museum, restaurant, whatever. It's all what you find beneficial, or it's, you know, on a bucket list, or you've always dreamed of doing.

So like in the case of taking a Vaporetto in Venice, do a little bit of planning ahead. So to support both your monetary and spoon budget, maybe look for a hotel that's near a Vaporetto. So if you want to do the gondola, the Vaporetto will take you to the gondola station.

You could also find a hotel that's near a place to get the gondola, and maybe book in advance, see if there's any packages, check Venice Tourism for, you know, any specific package tours that might be helpful. And then maybe after that, you would like a nice, relaxed, predictable dinner. And then the next day, have a slow morning and don't rush it.

Robert:
Your points can cover a nonstop flight, a hotel upgrade, lounge access for mobility comfort.

Theresa:
Exactly. And that hotel upgrade might be the one that maybe overlooks the canal. So you can't, instead of just doing your own gondola excursion, you can watch others.

So another, so you also want to look at mobility equipment. Again, in the example of the gondola, see what's available. If you have a wheelchair, a walker, or some other assistive aid, but you'll want a lightweight wheelchair, a cane, and maybe a backup cane, extra tips for the cane, and a repair kit for your wheelchair, scooter, walker, or whatever you're taking with you.

Robert:
And remember the spoon-based itinerary. Three high-spoon days, two medium-spoon days, one low-spoon day. Repeat.

Theresa:
And again, the hotel upgrade could be an apartment, and having a spoken hub itinerary can help with your spoon budget. It's all up to you, whatever makes you feel most comfortable. Thanks for joining us and listening to episode two.

Remember, your perfect trip doesn't require unlimited money or unlimited spoons. It just requires thoughtful choices that protect your body and your joy.

Robert:
And your downloadable perfect trip tips are waiting for you. Use them to build the idly adventure your body can comfortably enjoy.

Theresa:
Arrivederci!

Robert:
free audio post-production biophonic.com

(Transcribed by TurboScribe. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)

Show Notes

Music

Links to Referenced Resources

Perfect Trip Tips Download

Point-Earning Strategies

Samples of Workbook Spaces

Your 70-Day Workbook Space Quick Setup Guide

Living The Could Life - A 70-Day Workbook For Living Well After Body Change

Part 1 - Plan Your Best Trip on Your Budget

Your best trip happens when you stick to your budget. In this episode we explore some of the hidden costs to travel. But, we also offer some helpful tips and considerations.

Is Your Budget Just About Money?

As big fans of the Spoon Theory, we must advise that your energy is a big part of your budget. It actually affects your budget immensely. Low energy can definitely increase your budget.

Take a listen to this and the next few episodes to learn more about budgeting for travel. Below, you will find a worksheet with a list of things to consider. There are some hidden items and events that you should be aware of when planning your budget. It's always wise to add some comfort funds.

Never forget that what may seem like savings, may come with a price in time or energy.

Shout Out to Italy

We used Italy as an example for budgeting, However, you can use the same techniques for any destination. Remember, it's your trip!

Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

Transcript


Click Here for Transcript










Theresa:
Welcome back to Living the Could Life. Real travel for real bodies. If your body changed before you were ready, but you still want to see the world, this is the place for you.

We talk accessibility, mobility, energy, and joy, because traveling isn't over. It's just different. There's still so much travel you can do.

I'm Robert.

Theresa:
And I'm Theresa. Today we're diving into a topic that so many people ask about. How to budget a trip?

And we're letting you follow along with an upcoming trip to Italy that we're planning. But how do you budget it, especially when you're navigating later-in-life disabilities?

Theresa:
We're talking hidden costs, spoon theory as a budgeting tool, essential documents, all the money-saving strategies that make travel doable, joyful, and sustainable.

Theresa:
So let's start at the very beginning. That's with planning, because budgeting doesn't necessarily start with just money. It starts with information.

Theresa:
Before you spend a dollar, you need your documents in order. For Italy, the basics are passport, travel insurance, and we'll talk about why this is crucial, medical summary from your doctor, medication list with generic names, copies of prescriptions, emergency contacts, accessibility documentation, if you use mobility aids or need assistance, credit card travel notices, and backup digital copies stored in your phone and

Theresa:
another thing I like to add to that list, or should have added, are apps that you can use in planning, like to the Italy government, to see what they need. There is a new document that they've been trying to implement in the EU, but you should be safe at least until the end of this year.

You won't need to have that document. It's pretty much a verification. So I do want to emphasize that documents aren't just for emergencies.

We kind of go by the saying, if you pack it, you hopefully don't need it, but don't go without it. So one thing is airport assistance, and usually you can request that when you're booking a ticket, and that's not only mobility assistance, but also for those with hearing or visual problems, and if you have any dietary needs. If you're seated or flying with an airline that actually gives you any kind of food or food service on the flight, there's hotel accessibility requests.

Often there are a few accessible rooms in a lodging place. And then you may have to visit a pharmacy, so have your prescription. You may need to have any of your mobility aids repaired.

You may want to have a copy of your insurance with you to file claims, or at least to get in touch with them to see if something's covered, or how to go through a procedure to be sure it's covered. So all of that reduces stress, which comes to your budgeting of spoons. It's just as important as budgeting money, maybe even more so.

Theresa:
Exactly. And speaking of spoons, let's bring spoon theory into the planning phase.

Theresa:
We've talked about spoon theory a lot until doing this podcast. Neither of us had ever heard of it, but now we talk about our spoons all the time. So your spoon energy is not just about your energy, but it does figure into your financial planning, because high spoon days often cost more money.

Theresa:
Travel days, high spoons. Use-in days, medium to high spoons. Rest days, low spoons, and usually low cost.

Theresa:
And remember, we are kind of generalizing here. Everybody has their own spoon spending, so just because one person spends so many spoons on one activity, maybe that's not the case for you. You know yourself better than anybody.

When you're budgeting, think of how spoons and dollars are connected. For example, high spoon days, you might eat a taxi, your mobility aids, or pre-booked tours or other arrangements. Low spoon days could be neighborhood walks, cafes, or simple meals.

And a medium spoon day could be flexible, independent sightseeing, or short excursions.

Theresa:
This helps you avoid overscheduling and overspending. Build-in recovery days. They're good for your body and your wallet.

Theresa:
And remember, budgeting spoons means budgeting time. Rushing costs money. Slow travel saves it.

Theresa:
Let's talk about the hidden costs people don't plan for, especially travelers with latent life disabilities. Number one, mobility aid fees, wheelchair batteries, repairs abroad, replacement parts, airline damage, where insurance can help. Number two, accessible transportation, taxis instead of buses, private transfers, accessible trains or ferries.

Number three, medical needs, extra medication, over-the- counter items, compression socks, hydration packets, airport medical assistance. Usually free tipping is customary. Number four, food and hydration, buying water frequently, needing predictable meals, paying more for seating comfort.

Theresa:
Number five, that's fatigue costs. And that's a big one. When you are tired, you spend more.

You grab the nearest restaurant, the nearest taxi, the nearest or the quickest anything, no matter the cost.

Theresa:
And budgeting for fatigue means planning. Rest blocks, easy meal options, nearby cafes, accessible routes, backup plans.

Theresa:
And insurance is a non-negotiable. It's not a luxury. It's really a budget protector.

And I know some people say, and I know all of us now who are listening to this, or a lot of us might have some kind of disability or health condition. But even if you get along perfectly well or you're young, you don't say, well, I'm young, I'm healthy, because on the way to the airport or strolling around in Rome, you could trip and fall and break an arm. And that doesn't matter what age you are.

So be sure to get insurance and watch for the gaps. Check on pre-existing coverage, mobility aid coverage, emergency evacuation, and that's a big one, and there's a huge cost if you need to be evacuated, and then trip interruption or delay. So there's a travel advisor role, and I learned this when I did a stint as a travel advisor.

Not all of the savings are worth it, especially if you're on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. You want to save 10 bucks to skip something important that means a lot to you, or to take transportation that requires a lot of transfers. Time is money, so spending more money to get to a place quicker or to have fewer transfers is worth it.

So if the saving money doesn't make your trip better, it's not really savings. And for late-in-life travelers, this is everything you could be doing a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and budget is still a consideration.

Theresa:
A cheaper hotel up a steep hill? Not really a savings. A long train route with stairs and transfers?

Not savings. A 6 a.m. flight with three connections? Definitely not savings.

Theresa:
KIDD And for people like us who live four hours or more from a major airport, driving that distance to save 50 or 100 bucks, especially with the cost of gas, and then having to pay for parking, is not necessarily savings, and you can't predict traffic. We always are, I'll say 90% of the time, have to make a connection in a hub. So for us, we're used to it, but we do not like to find flights that are 18 hours long because they're $50 less, or you may have three connections or 10-hour layovers.

It's not worth it. So you really have to evaluate that. But if you have a perfect trip, you also need to protect your spoons, which means protecting your comfort, means protecting your comfort and your joy.

Theresa:
Now let's talk about saving money, because Italy doesn't have to break the bank.

Theresa:
Nor does any place you travel to. You may just need to adjust how long you stay there, where you stay, having a home base. It's all what matters to you, what's important, and what maintains your energy.

So one tip is to travel off-season, which we really enjoy. Part of it, there's fewer crowds, and like in my case, because I don't see well, crowds are really difficult for me. So in places in, I'll say, the northern hemisphere, October to April can be very budget-friendly.

There's fewer crowds, the weather can be cooler, and the prices can be lower. Shorter season is also good, and again in the northern hemisphere, because the southern is just the opposite. So late September, early October, late April and May are still good times to travel, and we even have done it in December and January.

But we're used to cooler weather and snow, and it didn't bother us at all. Another tip is to use credit card points and frequent flyer miles.

Theresa:
If you're late to the points game, don't worry. You can still use a travel card with no foreign transaction fees. You can earn points on groceries and prescriptions, you can redeem for flights or hotels, use companion passes, use airline shopping portals for extra miles.

Theresa:
And one thing that I think is really good is if you get even the basic credit card, you can save money on your luggage fees, because they're getting out of control these days. One round trip can almost pay for the credit card fee. Another tip is to book early, and remember accessible rooms are limited, so they can go early and go fast.

We especially enjoy apartment hotels. We do a hub and spoke type of travel, usually and just do day trips. You know there are transportation costs for that as well.

So that's something to consider, you know, if you're paying excessive train fares or paying a lot for gasoline, you need to either move or figure out something else. We like kitchens because we can store food, we can cook our food, we can reheat food. We have plenty of space for mobility aids, and I like to have a place to sit down.

Does anybody really want to spend any more than, I think, 15 minutes having to sit on a bed and the one desk chair that's there? And there can be laundry access, which is helpful for us because then we can travel with less luggage. The environment is usually more quiet.

You don't have to listen to slamming doors like you might in a large hotel. And then we do try to use public transportation. In Italy, again, the trains are affordable, comfortable, mobility friendly, and easy to navigate.

They are accessible. For medical needs, be sure you have extra medication because people don't always know what it is in another country or it has a different name. That might be difficult to get.

Over-the-counter items, bring those with you. They can cost a lot abroad. Compression socks are always something good to wear.

Buy those at home before you leave. You may need hydration packets. You might want to pre-arrange, and that's also when you book your ticket, medical assistance.

It's always been free, but we always leave a tip.

Theresa:
Another money-saving strategy is to look for free or low-cost activities. Visiting piazzas, churches, markets, neighborhood walks, scenic overlooks, public gardens.

Theresa:
Those are all perfect places for people watching to get a real sense of the place you're visiting. So Italy's amazing for budget. There's panini shops, aperitivo hours, like happy hour, and be sure you check on hours of opening at certain places because Italy's siesta is called a riposo.

So, you know, shops close, restaurants close, so basically like lunch times 12.30 to 2.30 or 3-ish. They also have bakery, breakfast, house wines save money, there's street markets, and local grocery stores that have, you know, salads and fruit or something quick. And then you can also save money or at least get a space by pre-booking trains, tours, museums, and maybe airport transfers.

Theresa:
Okay, let's outline a sample budget for a 10-day Italy trip.

Theresa:
So flights will be a huge part of your budget. I like to track flights. There are flight trackers.

If you follow points, there's different clubs you can join or newsletters that can say, hey there's a flight to Rome that's only so many points, you can jump on that. But otherwise, especially now with the cost of fuel, flights are crazy. So if you see a good deal, jump on it.

I think our flight, which I found on Delta, they had a points special. I think we paid $60, which I'm happy with. The flight jumps all around.

I've seen it as high as $2,000. So watch your flights. Lodging, I would say off-season and especially for a hotel, be on the lower end.

And it depends on the hotel you want. If this is a once-in-a-life trip, don't just go for the least expensive hotel. And they would probably run you about, I'd say $80 to $200 or $90 in the off-season and a tad more in the shorter season and a lot more in the high season.

And depend on what you eat. If you enjoy trying food, you could eat out three meals a day. So your budget will be different from somebody like us, who often do like a late lunch, early dinner, which will be harder in Italy because of opening times.

But again, we have an apartment where we could cook or get carryout. Most of the restaurants have menus. So you could check that before leaving.

And transportation, if you're just staying in a base, you may just enjoy staying in that city. But if you're going out for day trips, that's an additional cost to consider. And then consider museum admissions.

And if you go to a concert, things like that for your budget. Always allow a buffer for medical inaccessibility. Maybe the weather's bad and you decide on a taxi or you hurt yourself and you have to get a knee brace or something like that.

Of course, have insurance, which you will have bought before going on the trip. For your spoons, be sure to add a fatigue buffer. Maybe it's 10 to 15 percent of your budget as well.

Like, I want to get back to the hotel right now. So just grab the nearest cab.

Theresa:
So your Italy budget isn't just numbers. It's your spoons, your mobility needs, your comfort, your pace, your backup plans, and your energy.

Theresa:
Budgeting truly is self-advocacy. You're saying to yourself, I deserve a trip that fits my body, my needs, and my desires. And I want something that I am happy and satisfied with.

Theresa:
And Italy is one of the best places to do that. Accessible, beautiful, delicious, and full of gentle experiences. We've created a downloadable list for listeners.

Perfect Trip Tips. How to plan Italy with limited spoons and limited funds.

Theresa:
What you will find on that list, which you will again find in the show notes. Some of the tips, and these are downloadable. You can do whatever you want with them.

Choose one dream moment and budget around that. Spend money where it protects your body and save money where it doesn't cost any pleasure. Build in recovery days.

They save both spoons and money. Book accessible rooms early. Use points when you can for flights and hotels.

Travel off-season or the shoulder season. Beware though, in Europe, August is when almost everything closes up. So it may be more difficult doing what you were hoping to do.

Bring a medical summary and a medication list. Choose apartment hotels for comfort and savings. Use trains or public transport instead of taxis when possible.

Pack your mobility aids wisely. That includes backups. Use a dedicated online marketplace for finding used equipment.

Create a fatigue buffer into your budget. Plan meals around energy levels, and don't chase every site. And that's hard for those of us with FOMO, but it can really save on your spoon usage.

So order them according to how important it is to you.

Theresa:
Episode 2 will teach you how to use these tips, including how to get into the points game, how to find used mobility equipment, and how to build a spoon-based itinerary.

Theresa:
Thanks for joining Living the Good Life today. If you're planning a trip to Italy or anywhere else for that matter, remember, your body is your compass. Budget for it, honor it, and let it guide you.

Theresa:
We'll be back next week with more real-world travel tips for real bodies.

Theresa:
Until then, take care of your And I'd say ciao for now, but I have been reading up and ciao is not just a casual word. It's really used for people you know, but I'll use it here because we're getting to know all of our listeners. See you next time.

Theresa:

(Transcribed by TurboScribe.

Show Notes

Music

Links to Referenced Resources

Perfect Trip Tips Download

Samples of Workbook Spaces

Your 70-Day Workbook Space Quick Setup Guide

Living The Could Life - A 70-Day Workbook For Living Well After Body Change

Should You Travel With a Mini-Kitchen?

Traveling with dietary issues requires special planning. One thing to consider is a mini-kitchen. Especially when you need food to maintain a healthy dietary condition, consider packing a few mini-kitchen items.

What should my travel mini-kitchen include?

For those with dietary needs, restrictions and issues, the importance of this add-on is significant. Are you always scrambling to find products and equipment to make your life easier. In this episode, we discuss some of the items that you might need to ease your travel with a mini-kitchen.

However, what you add to your person mini-kitchen is up to you. You can make it as big or small as you like. After all, the reason to travel with a mini-kitchen is to customize it to your personal needs.

Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

Transcript


Click Here for Transcript









Welcome back to Living the Could Life. Today, we're going to talk a little bit more about traveling with the food that you may need for your health conditions or for your nourishment when you travel. I'm Teresa.

How to prepare for traveling with Dietary Issues

Traveling with dietary issues may discourage some from traveling at all. Fortunately, there are many ways to plan ahead if you have dietary issues, a problem that some find embarrassing, limiting and depressing

But, there is hope in the travel world for those willing to make some changes in how they are traveling with dietary issues. In this episode, we offer several suggestions. As with any type of body disruptors, changes need to be made. If you are willing to make the effort, you may benefit from some of the suggestions that we have made. Fortunately, you will be able to prepare yourself for traveling with dietary issues

Check the show notes for a free downloadable printout to help you plan yourself for traveling with dietary issues. Happy Travels.

Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

Transcript


Click Here for Transcript










Welcome to Living the Qud Life. Today, we're going to talk about traveling with dietary issues, and those can be chronic issues or random acute issues. It can be allergies, it can be digestive issues, it could be things like Crohn's, or it could just be that your system doesn't like certain things.

So we want to treat food just as we would any other logistics for travel. So you'll need to plan ahead, pack intentionally, research your destination's food landscape, and have a reliable backup system. This will reduce stress, prevent emergencies, and keep you nourished even when options are limited.

We're planning a trip to northern Italy in a few months, and I have started transitioning to a strict vegan diet, and I'm a little concerned about how I'm going to be able to maintain that diet. And I'm also thinking about how other people, when they're traveling, might have very restrictive diets and how that's going to work. Right, and that's something you can't just wait until you get to Italy to think about.

I mean, things are different there. And already, I like to have a place, especially when we base ourself in a hub and are in a place for several days, to have kitchen access. And that's especially good when you are following a certain diet.

And if you need to take certain medications that need to be refrigerated, maybe, like for me, tea makes everything better, so having a kettle is good, having a microwave is good, especially if you don't want to go out a lot, or if you have certain favorites that you like to cook no matter where you go. Some of those may not be available locally, and you can do your research before. I'm working on a book about using AI to plan travel, and for our upcoming Italy trip, we are using that to find out where we can find certain things.

And I think we're going to Parma, and I think that will be a real challenge for Robert. I will follow along with his diet, but there's like cheese and prosciutto, so we may have to eat separately. That kind of brings us to the core questions that are going to shape our entire food plan and sort of general food plan for anyone who's traveling with dietary issues, concerns.

And the first question is, will you have kitchen access? Will you have a fridge, a microwave, a kettle, or even a full kitchen? And this is going to determine how much you need to pack and prep.

And some things you do automatically if you're used to it, but especially when you travel abroad, you don't know exactly where you might find gluten-free, low sugar, no sugar, no oil, dairy-free. I mean, if you have lactose intolerance, will that be in the refrigerator at the local supermarket like it is at home, or do you have to go to a separate store to find things like that? So it's just good to plan.

And then one thing that I think both of us have learned is that you can only take care of yourself. Nobody's going to take care of you, so don't assume that, oh, we'll just go to Italy and we'll find what we need. We can find stuff to eat on the plane.

Don't do that. If you need certain foods, say you have hypoglycemia, you have to eat regularly, don't count on getting food on the airplane. You know there are times, oh, we ran out of a certain meal or they forgot to load something to the cart.

So be responsible for yourself and always have your little emergency snacks or medications with you. And I've been thinking about that. I'm going to order a vegan meal for the plane trip across and then coming back also.

So I'll see how that works. That's the first time I'll have done that. Some destinations can be extremely accommodating.

Italy has a gluten-free awareness, so I'm going to be interested in that. I'm not gluten-free, but I'm just curious to how they're approaching that. And then there's other things too you need to think about.

If you have allergies, and you know some people can say, oh yeah, this is gluten-free or this hasn't been mixed with nuts or any other contaminants that may upset your system, you do need to carry your own EpiPens, antihistamines, and you know some people wear the bracelets, especially traveling abroad. Take all of your medications in their original packaging. If you are going to bring some food with you, you need to be aware that some countries do restrict meat, dairy, and fresh produce.

So you need to check the rules before packing any of those items. It's just always good to have backup supplies. I remember one time we were taking the train from Seattle to Portland, and the train just died.

And even though the train was kind of dying along the way, nobody thought about having buses ready to meet us along the route. And one thing that was really interesting was they had provisions on board the train that were designed for just this kind of emergency. However, their food provisions had expired two years earlier.

Right. So some of the things, you know, it's not like it was refrigerated food, but maybe starving could be a better option than eating the expired food. And, you know, nobody showed up with like, oh, you guys haven't had it.

It was also very hot in the train and nobody showed up with water or anything like that. So you really need to plan for those worst case scenarios, delays, closures, limited stock. And an important thing is to build redundancy into your food plan.

Exactly. I go in with the attitude that really nobody cares about me, so I need to take care of myself and plan for the extra snack or the extra water, extra food or whatever it is. So what you need to do is, or a recommendation, you don't need to do anything that we say, but in the first 24 hours, think about what you will need then when you arrive in a new destination, what you need for daily staples or emergency backups and medical essentials.

So this is going to be packing and you need to think about this in layers. So packing in layers and packing for your first 24 hours is what Teresa is talking about. Take things like, I guess, those provisions on the train, like things that are stable and don't expire or haven't expired.

So maybe like nuts, dried fruits, granola bars, maybe candy, sturdy vegetables like pre-washed apples, carrots. And again, just be careful when you arrive in a different country, they may not allow produce. Right.

And then maybe have some meal replacement. Like Ensure, like the milkshakes or those shakes, but you may not be able to travel with those in your carry-on luggage, right, because they're large. Correct.

Although they are medically necessary, I wouldn't trust it. Traveling with kids, you know, they also have dietary considerations, you need to take care of, so be sure you pack and are prepared for them. And then you also need to think about further along in the trip, you need to pack smart staples.

And those are things that will travel well and fill nutritional gaps. Things like rice crackers, dried soups, boxed beans, microwavable grains like oatmeal, rice, shelf stable proteins, tuna packets, jerky, shelf stable tofu, specialty items that sometimes are hard to find, gluten-free bread, dairy-free snacks. Just be sure if you have any perishables, you pack those safely.

You might consider vacuum sealing proteins, taking things that last longer, like yogurts, fruit or cooked meals. Use insulated bags or ice packs while you're traveling. And depending upon where you're going to stay in your hotel rooms, if you don't have, if you don't have a kitchen available, you could sort of build your own mini kitchen.

You could take travel size oil, vinegar, spice blends, collapsible containers, mason jars, maybe a small knife and a cutting board, tiny can opener, sporks. But watch out, you know, with the small knife, don't put it in your carry-on. If you don't have a room with a kitchen, and even if you do, you might want to wait to buy things like oil and vinegar.

Besides foods and a mini kitchen, be sure you have your medical and communication essentials with you. Everybody doesn't know what your needs are or what you may be allergic to, so maybe you want to take two EpiPens and keep those in a carry-on, not in your truck luggage because they'd be useless. Allergy translation cards in the local language and a printed allergy plan.

Like I said, some people do wear the bracelets. Then carry along things like hand sanitizer. And disinfectant wipes.

And disinfectant wipes because you know how well they clean planes. You'll want to research your food options at your destination. This will help reduce uncertainty and build confidence.

You can look at what the local cuisine will entail and find out what ingredients are common, are hidden, maybe unavoidable. For example, in Japan, they use seafood in many different broths. And like we said before, Italy is becoming highly gluten aware.

And that's something I'm also looking forward to trying, to see just, you know, what the difference in taste is. And even though I don't need to watch out for gluten, it's just nice to know what kind of substitute that is. And especially when it comes to your digestive system or your health.

The last thing you want to be is sick or spending hours in your hotel room or in the bathroom. And that is another thing to check on. If you have digestive issues of any kind, search out where there are toilets.

There is an app, and I can't remember what the name is. I'll look it up and put it in the show notes. But there are other apps too.

So if you're looking for vegan, vegetarian options, and this is a worldwide spotter, it's Happy Cow. There's Allergy Eats for allergy-friendly restaurants. Find Me Gluten Free is a global gluten-free dining app.

And then there's another that can scan packaged foods for allergens. That one is called Content Checked. And then be sure you use translation tools too.

When we were in Europe, the nutrition labeling was quite different from ours. And I was quite impressed with the EU program in which they were labeling foods from giving it a grade A down to a grade E, I think it was, on how often you should eat it and how healthy and nutritional it is. I think they say how much energy you get out of it, which actually means how many calories.

And I want to say they use kilocalories or joules, different than us.

[Speaker 2]
Do you remember?

[Speaker 1]
I don't, but I remember it was quite different from how we had organized our nutrition labels. Right. It's very different.

And then one thing to be sure is like a translation app is really good. Like there's Google Translate and there's others. And you can get pre-written dietary cards at celiactravel.com.

And that's just good to have because if you have an incident and pass out or something happens, somebody could maybe see your card. So keep that handy. You can also contact your accommodation place ahead.

Some will have restaurants along with your lodging. You can ask them, can they prepare special meals? Do they have a fridge or microwave?

Could they shop for you before arrival? Which I think is more popular if you're in a long term accommodation. Another thing is to check the grocery options.

And that was one of my favorite things to do when we were in Europe the last couple of times was to go to the Aldi store or the Little and just walk the aisles and just see how it differed. And also something similar to how we would shop for groceries and to also watch how the locals were buying their groceries. So the local supermarkets are a good place to go.

There are usually health food stores around and there may be specialty shops like gluten free bakeries or vegan cafes. And there were also in the cities, there were enough markets on the street displaying fresh produce and fruits and baked goods and such. And so you could certainly explore, investigate and ask questions.

And a lot of it, it's good to plan ahead with that. And that's something else that we use AI to help with, you know, what's close. And if you need something special, you could even do that research, find a place that has what you need and find a hotel that's close to whatever supermarket or health food store works for you.

And then you really need to have a backup plan just in case. Again, we mentioned this before, keep some emergency food available. Find two to three restaurants near your hotel that, you know, have the options that you need, say you're vegan or vegetarian or gluten free.

Check out the menus in advance and then again, see where they are and have a good map to get to your new favorite grocery store. So we can review and we can put this all together into a simple travel outline for our pre-trip planning. Remember to identify your dietary needs.

Research the local cuisine. Check for kitchen access in your accommodations. Enlist your must-have foods and pack them.

Prepare your medical documents. And have what you may need for the first 24 hours and have that in your little food kit. And that's especially important if you have some kind of flight delay or there's a strike or something else happens.

Remember that's part of the layering strategy for packing. Have some shelf-stable staples. And if possible, think about your perishable items.

And if you're in a place that will have a kitchen, find those and put them in the fridge or freezer right away. We mentioned the mini kitchen kit too. And don't forget your allergy medical kit.

And again, I'm going to put all of these notes in the show notes so you can have a list. When you do your destination research, look at apps and tools, translation cards, grocery stores, restaurants that can accommodate your diet, and accommodation support. They may be able to help you.

And for your daily travel strategy, carry snacks, communicate clearly, wipe surfaces, pace your meals, and keep backups. Thanks for joining us today and hope this helps a little with planning for your diet while you are traveling. See you next week.

(Transcribed by TurboScribe.

Show Notes

Music

Links to Referenced Resources

Specialized Food Apps and Pre-trip Planning Tips

Living The Could Life - A 70-Day Workbook For Living Well After Body Change

Our travel improves when we understand change theories.

Ouch! A later-in-life bodily issue forced us to look at some change theories. No way would we give up travel, but no way could we travel in the same way that we used to. Searching the web showed us a few change theories that seemed strange at first. However, we started using such change theories in our daily lives.

Of the several change theories that we learned about, one of our favorites is the Spoon Theory. We use that personally quite often. Considering that we had never heard of it until recently, we have added it to the top of our list of change theories.

Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

Transcript


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Speaker2:
Imagine waking up, walking into your kitchen, and opening the silverware drawer, only to realize that the handful of random spoons sitting inside are literally the only currency you have to survive the rest of the day.

Speaker1:
Right. Yeah, it's a completely different reality.

Speaker2:
Exactly. Every single thing you do, you know, showering, making coffee, answering a quick email, it can cost you one of those spoons. And when they're gone, I mean, you are just done.

So if you're prepping for a meeting, or maybe you're just incredibly curious about how humans adapt, this deep dive is for you. We're looking at a stack of transcripts today from a project called Living the Could Life.

Speaker1:
Yeah, and it's this massive, really fascinating synthesis of discussions. It serves as this incredible overview of how people actually rebuild their lives after major physical or energetic shifts.

Speaker2:
It's just so relevant for anyone dealing with, well, having a human body.

Speaker1:
Totally. We're decoding the behavioral psychology, the neurobiology, and, you know, the really gritty logistical realities of living with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or even just natural age-related changes.

Speaker2:
Because aging comes for all of us.

Speaker1:
Exactly. It's basically a masterclass in how to construct a life that feels positive, realistic, and highly intentional, without all the info overload.

Speaker2:
And by the end of this deep dive, you will seriously never look at a drawer full of silverware, or the word should, the same way ever again.

Speaker1:
Oh, absolutely not. The sources make this bold claim right out of the gate, which is that before we can even talk about changing our physical habits, you know, our daily routines or energy management adaptation has to start with our vocabulary.

Speaker2:
Yeah, the language we use to process our reality, it basically dictates what we can physically do.

Speaker1:
It does. And it starts specifically with the words we use in our own heads. The sources lean really heavily on Dr. Shad Helmstetter's research on self-talk.

Speaker2:
Right. The brain as a literal processor.

Speaker1:
Exactly. He points out something foundational to neurobiology. The brain is a literal processor.

It literally does not distinguish between a casual wish and a direct command. It just follows the strongest programming you feed it.

Speaker2:
It's basically an obedient machine. Like, it doesn't have a sense of irony or nuance when it comes to your internal dialogue.

Speaker1:
Precisely. And that brings us to the immense biological danger of the word should. Helmstetter classifies should as level two self-talk.

Speaker2:
Level two, okay.

Speaker1:
Yeah. It's a level of recognition, but it's deeply tied to disbelief, pressure, and guilt. When you tell yourself, like, I should get more exercise, but I'm tired, your brain hears that should and instantly triggers a subtle threat response.

Speaker2:
Because should feels like, um, like a nagging external boss standing over your shoulder with a clipboard.

Speaker1:
Yes. That's exactly it.

Speaker2:
It just makes you feel inadequate, which immediately makes you want to rebel and, I don't know, sit on the couch instead.

Speaker1:
And that external pressure creates a measurable physiological reaction. Should activates the amygdala, which is, you know, the brain as fear center. It induces mild stress and guilt.

Speaker2:
Wow. Just from one word.

Speaker1:
Just from that one word. And when the brain feels threatened or pressured, it goes into a defensive posture. It justifies why you aren't doing the thing.

It actually inhibits the prefrontal cortex.

Speaker2:
Which is the part responsible for problem solving.

Speaker1:
Yeah. Exactly. Problem solving and forward action.

It literally shuts that down.

Speaker2:
Which is why the sources heavily contrast should with the word could. They classify could as level three self-talk. Right.

Level three. So if should is the demanding boss, could is more like an internal explorer handing you a map. It moves the brain away from obligation and toward choice.

But I mean, let me quiz back a little here. Is it really as simple as swapping one single word? Does the brain actually rewire just because you said could instead of should?

Speaker1:
It sounds too easy. Right. But the underlying mechanism is actually profound.

Could lowers that threat response we just talked about. It shifts the brain into a state of possibility, curiosity, and most importantly, safety.

Speaker2:
And a safe brain is ready to learn.

Speaker1:
Exactly. A brain that feels safe is primed for neuroplasticity. The ability to form new neural connections.

But we have to be incredibly careful here because the sources identify two very different types of could.

Speaker2:
Wait. The grief could versus the agency could.

Speaker1:
Yes. The grief could operates entirely in the past tense. It is saying something like, I could run faster 10 years ago, or I could navigate this airport without help before I got sick.

Speaker2:
It anchors you in loss.

Speaker1:
Completely. You are programming your literal processor with a continuous loop of mourning, which reinforces a state of helplessness.

Speaker2:
So the antidote to that is the agency could.

Speaker1:
Exactly. The agency could operates strictly in the present or future tense. I could take a 10 minute walk today or, you know, I could try a modified seated version of this task.

Speaker2:
That activates self-efficacy. It tells your brain that you have capability right now in the exact body you currently have, not the one you used to have.

Speaker1:
Right. And there's also this concept mentioned in the sources called the pink elephant rule.

Speaker2:
Oh, I love this one. The visual cortex struggles with the word not.

Speaker1:
Yes. If you tell yourself, uh, I shouldn't be nervous about this doctor's appointment, your brain skips right over the shouldn't and zeros in on the word nervous. It visualizes the anxiety.

Speaker2:
It's like telling someone, whatever you do, do not think of a pink elephant.

Speaker1:
And boom, there's the pink elephant. Your visual cortex conjures the exact image you supply. But if you shift that to an agency could and say, I could be calm, you feed the brain a positive target to move toward.

Speaker2:
It's one thing to change your vocabulary to. I could though. I mean, that positive self-talk kind of falls apart if you're constantly haunted by the exact precise memories of what your healthy body used to be able to do.

Speaker1:
Yeah. That's a huge roadblock for a lot of people.

Speaker2:
Right. So to actually adapt, we have to look at how the brain fundamentally alters the way it stores memories as we age or as we go through these major life shifts.

Speaker1:
Which takes us into this fascinating concept called fuzzy trace theory or FTT.

Speaker2:
FTT. Yeah.

Speaker1:
It's a dual process model of memory that explains how we actually extract meaning from our lives. So we store two types of memories for any event. First, we have verbatim traces.

Speaker2:
Which are the exact objective details.

Speaker1:
Right. The precise facts of what happens. Second, we have just traces.

These represent the bottom line, meaning the emotional truth or like the core lesson of the event.

Speaker2:
And the research here shows something that completely upends how we normally view cognitive aging. As we get older, our brains naturally move away from retaining those sharp verbatim details and lean way more heavily into just reasoning.

Speaker1:
Which the sources emphasize is not necessarily cognitive decline, it is an upgrade to wisdom.

Speaker2:
Okay, wait. I have to push back a bit on that. Isn't losing exact details genuinely a bad thing?

It sounds a little bit like we're just trying to put a cheerful, positive spin on memory loss to make people feel better about it.

Speaker1:
I totally get that. And it is a completely valid fear. Losing those sharp details is genuinely a form of grief.

And we really shouldn't minimize the frustration of, you know, forgetting a specific name or a date.

Speaker2:
It's scary.

Speaker1:
It is. But from a purely neurological survival standpoint, the brain is trading that verbatim data for something far more useful. Accumulating verbatim details takes up immense metabolic energy.

Speaker2:
Oh, so it's a resources thing.

Speaker1:
Exactly. As we gain experience, the brain filters out the noise to extract the core lesson. People change their behavior when the meaning of an event shifts, not when they memorize a list of facts.

Gist is what actually drives human decision making.

Speaker2:
The sources give a really clear medical example of this. So imagine a doctor tells a patient they have exactly a 22.2% risk of a surgical complication.

Speaker1:
Right, so that 22.2% is the verbatim trace.

Speaker2:
But no human being makes a life-altering medical decision based on visualizing the number 22.2. They extract the gist of that data, like, that risk feels too high, I need to protect my body, or that risk is negligible, let's do the surgery.

Speaker1:
We act on the gist always. And when we apply this to body disruptions, letting go of the verbatim details of your old healthy body is the only way to accept the gist of what you can still do.

Speaker2:
Like the example with Parkinson's in the text. The verbatim detail is the physical tremor. It's the mechanical difficulty of the movement.

But the gist is their deep intention to move, to connect, to be part of the room. Or for someone experiencing memory loss, the verbatim is forgetting the specific details of a past vacation. But the gist is the enduring joy and the emotional bond they share with the person sitting right next to them.

Speaker1:
I love that. You stop worrying about the verbatim shoulds of your physical limitations and you start living in the gist-coulds of your human spirit.

Speaker2:
It's a beautiful foundation. But, I mean, eventually you have to execute these intentions in the real physical world. And what happens when your body simply hits a wall?

A positive gist mindset cannot manufacture cellular energy out of thin air.

Speaker1:
No, it definitely can't. And that brings us to the cold, hard economics of chronic illness.

Speaker2:
Which brings us right back to that silverware drawer we started with. The origin story of spoon theory is just famous in the chronic illness community.

Speaker1:
Oh yeah, it's legendary.

Speaker2:
It started in a diner in 2003. A woman named Christine Miserandino was trying to explain to her healthy friend what it physically cost to live with lupus. Words just weren't working.

So she grabbed 12 spoons from the tables around them, handed them to her friend and said, this is your energy for the day.

Speaker1:
Right, those spoons represented her daily biological budget. And the profound realization of spoon theory is that healthy people wake up with an abundant, almost limitless reserve of energy.

Speaker2:
They don't even calculate the cost of existing.

Speaker1:
Exactly. But for someone with a systemic body disruption, every single action has a tangible, non-refundable cost.

Speaker2:
The breakdown in the sources is staggering when you actually look at the mechanics. If you are healthy, waking up and taking a shower costs zero spoons. You don't even think about it.

Speaker1:
No, not at all.

Speaker2:
But if you have lupus, waking up with severe joint inflammation costs two spoons before your feet even hit the floor. And if you have ME-CFS, which is myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome, waking up unrefreshed might cost four spoons.

Speaker1:
And then taking a hot shower could cost three more because the heat causes blood to pool in your lower extremities, which leads to this intense dizziness.

Speaker2:
So by the time the commute to work is over, the healthy person might have spent, what, zero to three spoons?

Speaker1:
Yeah, at most. While the person with lupus has spent seven and the person with ME-CFS has spent 18 spoons before they even reach lunchtime.

Speaker2:
That's incredible. They're operating in severe biological debt before the day has really even begun.

Speaker1:
And we aren't just talking about a person being tired. That's a huge misconception. We are talking about literal cellular failure.

With ME-CFS, the mitochondria in the cells are failing to convert ATP, the molecular currency of cellular energy, into usable fuel.

Speaker2:
Wow. The sources also mention POTS, right? Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

Speaker1:
Yes, POTS is a perfect example. This is where your autonomic nervous system misfires so badly that just standing up to brush your teeth causes your heart rate to spike to 150 beats per minute.

Speaker2:
So your body is running a marathon while you are literally just standing at the bathroom sink. Exactly. So having a chronic illness is basically like living on a prepaid debit card with a randomized wildly fluctuating balance every single morning while everyone else around you is walking around with a limitless credit card.

Speaker1:
That is a perfect analogy. And to manage that randomized debit card, you have to use a clinical tool called activity aggregation scoring.

Speaker2:
Activity aggregation scoring. It sounds complicated.

Speaker1:
It just means evaluating the true comprehensive spoon price of a task. It's not just the physical cost of like walking or lifting. You have to calculate the cognitive cost of focusing on a screen, the sensory cost of navigating bright fluorescent lights, and you know, the emotional cost of interacting with people.

Speaker2:
That is just an exhausting amount of mental math just to exist.

Speaker1:
It really is, which is why occupational therapists rely on the four P's to help people survive this economy.

Speaker2:
Okay, the four P's. Pacing, planning, prioritizing, and positioning.

Speaker1:
Right, and positioning is a prime example of changing the physical mechanics of a task to save a spoon. It can be as simple as just sitting on a tall stool while you chop vegetables at the counter.

Speaker2:
Because by sitting, your heart doesn't have to work as hard against gravity to pump blood.

Speaker1:
Exactly. Which preserves your energy for something more meaningful later in the day.

Speaker2:
It's the same with managing the cognitive load of a disability. Like if someone experiences vision loss, their brain is suddenly working twice as hard neurologically just to keep them balanced and to navigate a familiar room.

Speaker1:
Every little thing costs extra.

Speaker2:
Right. But, you know, when your daily spoon count is consistently that low, despite all the pacing and planning, you eventually have no choice but to rely on external support. I mean, running out of spoons just means you need help.

Speaker1:
Yes, and bringing someone into your fragile energy economy requires extreme care. The dynamic between a care receiver and a caregiver is incredibly delicate.

Speaker2:
It can fall apart so easily if the fit is wrong.

Speaker1:
Totally. The sources outline some major red flags that indicate this partnership is going to fail.

Speaker2:
Like what?

Speaker1:
Well, for caregivers, red flags include operating with a savior complex, or becoming easily frustrated when tasks take longer than expected, or routinely ignoring the care receiver's stated spoon limits.

Speaker2:
Oh, that's a big one.

Speaker1:
Yeah, or frankly, just lacking the physical strength to safely help with heavy transfers from a bed to a chair.

Speaker2:
But there are red flags for the care receivers to watch for in their own behavior, too, right?

Speaker1:
Oh, absolutely. Things like expecting your caregiver to be available 247 without their own rest, or stubbornly refusing to use adaptive tools like a shower chair that would make the caregiver's job significantly easier.

Speaker2:
Or operating with the expectation that the caregiver can just magically read your mind.

Speaker1:
Exactly. Which is where spoon theory comes back in as this vital, neutral language to bridge the gap, saying, I am out of spoons removes the moral weight from the situation.

Speaker2:
It establishes a hard biological boundary, rather than sounding like a personal failure or some passive-aggressive excuse to get out of an activity. Right, it depersonalizes it. But practically speaking, how do you actually avoid the silent resentment that inevitably seems to build up when one person relies so heavily on another for their basic daily needs?

Speaker1:
It's tough, but the sources emphasize proactive, structured communication. Before committing to a long-term caregiving dynamic, you do a trial run.

Speaker2:
Like a weekend stress test.

Speaker1:
Exactly. Treat a weekend as a stress test to evaluate the physical and emotional compatibility. Use clear I-statements.

But the most effective protocol they suggest is explicitly checking both people's spoon levels before discussing anything logistical or emotional.

Speaker2:
Oh, that makes so much sense. If the caregiver has zero spoons left after a long shift, and the receiver has zero spoons because of a symptom flare, trying to discuss finances or scheduling is guaranteed to end in a massive argument.

Speaker1:
Guaranteed. You have to acknowledge the biological debt first, and delay the conversation until the bank accounts are replenished.

Speaker2:
So taking all of this out of theory and turning it into a real, sustainable life obviously requires a blueprint. We have the new language of could, the just reasoning for memory, the spoon counting, the caregiving boundaries. The sources provide a framework for integrating all this called a 70-day change plan.

Speaker1:
Yes, and they suggest using travel as the ultimate stress test for this new lifestyle.

Speaker2:
Travel is definitely a stress test, but why 70 days?

Speaker1:
The timeline of 70 days is rooted in hard neurological data. Dr. Filippolali's behavioral research demonstrates that it takes an average of 66 days for a new complex behavior to become automatic.

Speaker2:
Okay, so roughly two months.

Speaker1:
Right. And furthermore, a recent 2025 study from McGill University showed that 10 weeks, which is 70 days of consistent cognitive practice, actually rejuvenates the brain's cholinergic system in older adults.

Speaker2:
Wait, how does that actually work mechanically? I mean, does the thinking positive thoughts just magically heal the brain?

Speaker1:
Not magically, mechanically. The cholinergic system is the neural network responsible for flexibility, learning, and readiness to change. The plan revolves around a daily noticing practice.

Speaker2:
It's not just forcing toxic positivity.

Speaker1:
No, not at all. You ask yourself five simple questions every day, such as, what did I notice in my body today? What felt easier by just 1%?

What surprised me?

Speaker2:
Okay, small things.

Speaker1:
Exactly. By forcing your brain to scan for novel positive stimuli, you are giving that cholinergic system a daily workout. This practice literally thickens the neural pathways associated with adaptation.

You stimulate acetylcholine production. Wow. Yeah, and over 70 days, this repetition moves you from level three self-talk, I could, into level four self-talk, which is identity-driven.

I am.

Speaker2:
Oh, I see. So you evolve from saying, I can be patient with my fatigue, to, I am someone who honors my body's current pace.

Speaker1:
Precisely. And when you apply this recalibrated identity to travel, you realize you need a highly practical approach, because travel is a chaotic environment practically designed to steal your spoons.

Speaker2:
It really is. So the sources recommend something called the buffer protocol. The first rule is physiological.

Never book a 5 a.m. flight. Never. Because waking up at 2 a.m. completely disrupts your circadian rhythm, it spikes your cortisol levels, and it bankrupts your baseline energy before you even reach the airport doors.

Speaker1:
You're starting in the negative. And the second rule is logistical. Swallow your pride and use TSA Cares or the airport wheelchairs.

Speaker2:
I mean, the psychological resistance to accepting a wheelchair at an airport is massive. For a lot of people, it feels like giving up or publicly signaling a loss of independence.

Speaker1:
And that right there is the verbatim memory of a healthy body haunting the present reality. But the occupational therapy math is undeniable. Walking 500 yards on a hard airport concourse while pulling a heavy bag costs 4 spoons.

Riding in a wheelchair costs zero.

Speaker2:
So it's not giving up. It is a highly strategic move to protect your investment in the trip.

Speaker1:
Exactly. You save those 4 spoons so you actually have the cellular energy to enjoy a meal when you land at your destination.

Speaker2:
You shift travel from being a gamble with your health into a controlled environment where you manage your spoons rather than letting the environment steal them.

Speaker1:
Which is also the logic behind the one major event rule.

Speaker2:
Right. A healthy tourist itinerary is, like, a museum at 9am, a walking tour at noon, and a dinner show at night.

Speaker1:
Which is a spoon nightmare. A spoon-managed itinerary allows for just one anchor event per day. You do the midday museum, perhaps using a rented mobility scooter, followed by a mandatory horizontal rest period in a dark, climate-controlled hotel room.

Speaker2:
Just to drop your heart rate and let your autonomic nervous system reset.

Speaker1:
Exactly. You are intentionally building environmental redundancies. You're designing a vacation.

And really, by extension, a life around the concrete reality of your biology, rather than the memory of your past capabilities.

Speaker2:
Adaptation really is a quiet, continuous recalibration, isn't it?

Speaker1:
It really is. It requires shifting from the pressure of should to the possibility of could. It requires focusing on the core meaning of your experiences, the gist, rather than mourning the exact verbatim details of the past.

Speaker2:
Than respecting your biological bank account. Which brings up this massive, thought-provoking shift in perspective regarding how we view human vitality as a whole. We are so conditioned by modern society to view health as the absolute absence of illness.

Speaker1:
Right, like if you're not perfectly able-bodied, you aren't healthy.

Speaker2:
Exactly. We think of vitality as the total absence of physical limitation. But what if the way modern society measures health entirely misses the point?

Speaker1:
Oh, I love this question. What if true vitality is actually the mastery of your specific energy economy? What if your current physical limitations are not a wall blocking your path, but they are the exact architectural blueprint you need to design your most intentional, authentic life?

Speaker2:
When you have a limitless credit card of energy, it is incredibly easy to waste your days on things that lack actual meaning. But when you only have 12 spoons, you become fiercely, beautifully intentional about where every single one goes.

Speaker1:
That limitation forces profound clarity.

Speaker2:
It really does. So tomorrow morning, when you open that drawer to grab a spoon for your coffee, take a second to look at that silverware a little differently. Notice where you are choosing to spend your biological currency today.

Catch yourself using the word should, and see what happens when you replace it with could. Thank you for joining us on this deep dive, respect your baseline, and we will catch you next time.

(Transcribed by TurboScribe. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)
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Links to Referenced Resources

Victory Cruise Lines

The Boat Company

Spoon Spending Chart

Living The Could Life - A 70-Day Workbook For Living Well After Body Change