DIET...



- Don't starve yourself before your trip. Dramatically cutting back on calories will send your body into the starvation mode, which means it will burn fewer calories to conserve energy.

- Choose airport food carefully. The best airports for healthful food, according to a survey from the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, are Chicago's O'Hare, Detroit Metropolitan, San Francisco, New York's JFK, Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver.

If you only have time for fast food, try Burger King's vegetarian burger. If you skip the mayo, it only has 310 calories and 7 grams of fat.

- Drink water. Bring several bottles on every flight. Water will keep you hydrated and also curb your appetite. Drinking bottled water also can reduced your chances of getting sick. One in 6 airplanes has unsafe drinking water.

- Beware of 'healthy' menus. Just because a restraurant labels an entree 'healthy' doesn't mean it is. Ask for grilled chicken or fish with sauce on the side. Order salad with dressing on the side, then use it sparingly.

- Pay attention to portion size. Pick 2 appetizers but no entree, or choose an entree but skip the starters. And eat dinner before 8PM.

- Don't open the hotel minibar. Either have it removed or do not accept the key. The snacks are fattening and expensive.

- Watch what you drink. Cream, soda pop or a drink mixer can add several hundred calories to that of the alcohol alone. Stick with wine or light beer. As an alternative, have a mixed drink with club soda or water.

EXERCISE...

- Burn calories at the airport. You won't break a sweat by sitting and reading a magazine, but you can by walking thru the airport to meet a connecting flight. Sometimes connecting flights are at the other side of a rather large airport, so there can be a long walk. If you have lots of time before your flight, keep on the move as much as you can - the exercise will do you good!

- Buy a pedometer. With this gadget, you can monitor how many steps you're taking daily. Aim for 10,000 steps a day for weight loss.

- Use hotel gyms. If you expect a long layover between flights, why not work out? You may be able to buy a day pass for the gym at an airport hotel. Passes usually start at about $10 a day.