tower@inmet.UUCP (08/19/83)
#N:inmet:8900006:000:352 inmet!tower Aug 18 14:05:00 1983 I recently heard that there was a dietary strategy for reducing the effects of jet lag (similiar to the carbohydrate loading marathoners do before a race). Unfortunately, the friend who told me, forgot the details and which magazine it appeared in. Any help? Mail please, and i'll summarize. -len tower harpo!inmet!tower Cambridge, MA
johnl@ima.UUCP (08/20/83)
#R:inmet:8900006:ima:20100003:000:440 ima!johnl Aug 19 15:43:00 1983 It's hard to believe that you can eat your way out of jet lag. I find that the secret is to get into the "no" section of the airplane, with no smoking, no movie, no dinner, no nothing. Then you sleep. On eastbound flights which often go overnight, the usual airline strategy is to feed you dinner, and then show you a movie, and then feed you breakfast, and you're there, having had no sleep. Skip it and sleep. John Levine, ima!johnl
warren@ihnss.UUCP (08/24/83)
I (and I believe most people) have little trouble going west, since it's just like having a long day. Going east, however, it's hard not to spend a night on a plane and I find it impossible to sleep there. My advice to anyone shifting over 4 or so timezones who can't sleep on the plane is not to schedule anything you care about the next day, and just go straight through. I have done it a couple of times and find that the second day after the flight is just fine, and the first day is usable, but not great. Maybe this is more of a problem for other people, but it really is no worse than the aftereffects of a good party and I don't see why people spend so much time worrying about it. -- Warren Montgomery ihnss!warren IH x2494
bdot@hogpd.UUCP (J.BARRETT) (08/25/83)
I have found that by not sleeping at all on the day I arrive back in the east that jet lag doesn't bother me at all. You are tired the next day but are really looking forward to a good night's sleep.
ms@houti.UUCP (M.STUDD) (08/25/83)
Seing as the subject of Jet lag and Flying long distances has now almost reached discussion level I thought I'd add my 6 cents (3p in England). My family and many friends line in England and I have travelled back there but did not suffer too much from jet-lag but more from just lack of sleep. Firstly, in reference to the flight, the majority of people find it almost impossible to get much sleep - the best time however is when the film is on. If you've never seen a film on a plane i can assure you it's not too pleasurable en experience trying to watch it. The quality of headset is terrible and I personally can never find a comfortable position for the headset - either it irritates or is not far enough in my ear so I can hear everything. The major problem is that it gives you a headache trying to concentrate on the sound and also watch the film. Definately, even if the headsets are free, don't bother watching the film take a 'kip'. When you arrive - don't attempt to drive to Scotland that day ! Stay at least one night in London, most hotels will let you move into a room as soon as you arrive, take another knap ! Now it's midday so best head down the boozer for a couple of pints, they'll chuck you out between 2 - 3pm so go back to the hotel and take another knap. By 5 o'clock you're ready for an evening on the town - stay up till about 11pm and then you should get a good nights sleep. Next morning - wake up - voila, no jet Lag ! This is how the events took place when I last returned to my homeland. I did forget to mention that plenty of showers and teeth cleaning also works wonders. Bon Voyage Martin Studd houti!ms hou5c!mcs 949-3524
rosin@hogpc.UUCP (R.ROSIN) (08/26/83)
A few other tips: 1) Try the daytime flight to London. (I don't believe one can get daytime flights to any other European city.) Leave JFK ~10am, arrive LHR ~9:45pm, have supper and sack out, if at all possible. Fell remarkably fresh when you wake up at 10-11 am. [Fell -> Feel] 2) Don't take a flight leaving earlier than 10pm from JFK (or other east coast airport). We once left JFK ~6pm for Prestwick, Scotland and arrived at 5am local time (= 11pm EST) not having slept at all and finding the airport so dead we couldn't get food, find public transport running, etc. 3) On late flights from North America, off season, I have a glss of juice, grab two pillows and a blanket, stretch out across 3 or 4 seats (I said 'off season'), put the blanket over my head, and sleep 5+ hours. I really works! 4) On flights to Israel, don't fly El Al. Not only is their service poor, but their flights are always jammed. E.g., TWA has (or used to have) a 10pm Saturday non-stop, same as El Al. "Everyone" takes the El Al flight, often resulting in empty seats on TWA. This allows one to follow #3 above, but sleep for >=6 hours! Bob Rosin, ATTIS, Lincroft, NJ, 201-576-3549