Squeezing in Health and Fitness at the Airport

Greetings from Cincinnati! As promised, this trip has been a quick one and I’m already sitting at the Cincinnati airport waiting on my flight.

Last night was just as wonderful as I was hoping it would be!

I had a two hour date with this perfect sized desk while catching up on work.

IMG_1330I was delighted by the Westin’s healthy dinner options and thoroughly enjoyed their “lighter tomato soup” complete with Greek yogurt stirred in for extra creaminess.  There were literally chunks of tomato in the soup and the flavor was spot on!

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IMG_1332I was curled up in bed with my book by 10pm!

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This morning I woke up at 5am in order to snag a spot in the Westin’s gym. I can’t complain about their gym facility as it is modern, clean, and every machine works! However, there are only 3 elliptical, 2 bikes, and 4 treadmills. This means that cardio machines are a hot commodity on a week day morning. I’ve learned over the years that between 6 and 7am it is virtually impossibly to find an open machine. Therefore, I tend to wake up a little early when I am on business travel. I use the extra time after my workout to catch up on work I would have normally done the night before.

This morning’s workout included:

20 minutes on the stationary bike (treadmills were all taken)

3 miles on the treadmill in 28:02 (I felt awesome during the entire run and the speed never went under 6.2)

200 abs

10 minutes of arms (tricep dips, lat raises, lat pulldown, and hammer curls with 12.5 lb weights in each hand)

My meetings started early which meant I enjoyed breakfast during the meeting. The food options allowed me to replicate my daily breakfast except granola was substituted for All Bran.

Due to efficient meetings, I arrived to the airport 2 hours early which means I’ve been able to take advantage of the time and ensure this trip ends on a healthy note.

Most often, travel is stressful and rushed. But, when time allows, here are a few suggestions which can lead to a better experience while also allowing you to squeeze in some health and fitness.

Walk between terminals instead of riding a tram.  I was able to squeeze in a 3/4 mile walk today at the Cincinnati airport just by walking from security to my gate. If you have a long delay, drag your wheeling suitcase behind you while people watching in the airport by taking a 30-45 minute walk.

IMG_1340Do your research ahead of time in order to find healthy, satisfying meal options. There weren’t a lot of healthy food options in my end of the terminal today but I had time to walk to the other end and buy a lunch which sounded appealing and satiated my hunger. Take advantage of airport websites, terminal maps, and airport staff to find different restaurant options!  IMG_1341IMG_1342

Ask airline staff where the nearest charging or work station is located. Most airports now feature airport or airline sponsored “recharge” stations which allow you to relax, charge your phone or computer, and spend your time being productive or relaxing. While every airport may not have these amenities yet, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Also, it’s very inexpensive to invest in an extra computer battery but it can make a world of difference during a flight delay or busy trip. Carrying an extra battery ensured I was able to send 2 important work emails today AND finish this blog post. :)

IMG_1343I reached out to my Twitter friends for more healthy travel tips and was amazed at the responses. Here are a few great ideas to remember next time you travel:

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What are your “stay healthy” travel tips?

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Hotel Chains Making Healthy Travel Easier

Good evening from scenic Cincinnati! As you all may remember, my travel schedule this May is absolutely insane! It looks a bit like this:

-Three days in South Bend

-Two days in Cincinnati

-Six days in Las Vegas

Are you traveling at all this month? Do you travel a lot for work? Well, spending 11 days out of town on travel in one month, means that I can’t look at each trip as a time of indulgence and fun. I have to find compromise and ensure that I keep to some sort of healthy schedule and routine.

Last weekend and today I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what each hotel has done to help travelers find a healthy balance. Last weekend I stayed at the Hilton Garden Hotel and was offered an awesome Stay Fit Kit. Their new slogan blends perfectly with healthy living:

When tomorrow’s a big day, get prepared with a great workout.

The kit was in a huge sling bag and included yoga blocks, an 8lb medicine ball, resistance band, 3lb hand weights, and a yoga mat. It also included some great workout cards including pilates moves and resistance training. I was able to enjoy this in room amenity two mornings while Bo was still peacefully snoozing. Have you ever seen a kit like this at a hotel? Did you take advantage of it? Was it free?

My second healthy hotel experience occurred tonight upon my arrival to the Westin. It was 9pm when I finally got settled in my hotel room. I was absolutely starving after a long day of work and 3 hours of travel. Unfortunately those Delta pretzels just don’t cut it! I quickly pulled out the room service menu hoping I could find at least a plain grilled chicken sandwich or simple salad. To my surprise, I was absolutely floored by the thorough menu which promised to

 

Feed the body, nourish the soul

The All-Day dining menu is six pages and includes superfood menu items. Their superfood menu items are items that contain the following ingredients as a primary ingredient:

Tomatoes, broccoli, onion, oats, soy, garlic, olive oil, yogurt, avocado, spinach, nuts, or salmon

There were 12 different Super Food menu items throughout the menu including appetizers, salads, main dishes, and even dessert items. I went with an appetizer and salad tonight as I didn’t want anything too heavy as it was already late.

Confetti of Field Greens: candied walnuts, beets, goat cheese, apples, and champagne vinaigrette on the side

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This salad further reaffirmed my belief that any mixed green salad is improved when mixed with goat cheese and beets! I’ve been on a beet trip lately. What is your favorite salad ingredient?

Pan-Flashed Coastal Crab Cake and Griddled Tofu spicy orange chili sauce and spinach

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This dish was delicious though I wish the crab cakes weren’t quite so heavy. I only ate two of the crab cakes but loved the tofu and spinach. I would like to recreate this dish at home while reducing the sauce.

These two experiences have provided me with a renewed faith in healthy travel. For more healthy travel tips, check out this great article by Health.com.

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What I’m Wearing Today: Comfy yet office acceptable Monday

What im wearing today

JCrew White Roll Sleeve Tunic Blouse– Outlet find

Tory Burch Gold Reva flats– I bought these as my wedding day shoes and have absolutely loved them! The gold goes with so many colors and outfits.

Gold JCrew Skinny belt: The above belt is the belt i’m wearing today except mine is gold to match the bracelet and Tory Burch flats.

JCrew Black Everyday leggings: I found these on sale at the outlets and love them. They are long enough for my long legs and aren’t sheer.

I owe you all an amazing moving weekend recap! I have already blocked out time tonight after my appointment, Pottery Barn pickup, UPS pickup, and more organizing to do this! Happy Monday!

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