ashleyd /

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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ashleyd /

Spontaneous Date Night: Barbounia and Black Swan

Good morning! I’m up early so I can get my check list done before spending the afternoon in Hoboken with a girlfriend I haven’t seen in ages! Today’s list includes:

  • Grocery store for dinner ingredients and breakfast ingredients for the week
  • Gym elliptical and abs session
  • Put away laundry
  • Blog

Let’s rewind to yesterday. :)

After yesterday’s lovely girls day out , I was craving a date night with Bo.

After busy weeks, we tend to spend our weekend nights at home, relaxing. This is normally okay with me but last night I wanted nothing more than to sip a glass of wine over a delicious relaxing dinner.

We spent 30 minutes looking up some of our area restaurants and other restaurants that have been on our list to no avail. Everywhere had an hour to 2 hour wait time or they couldn’t ft us in at all. I even tweeted about our search, hoping to find somewhere. Unfortunately, New York isn’t the best city for spontaneous date nights.

imageWe finally decided to bundle up and walk in the direction of Union Square, hoping we’d find a bar spot at either ABC Kitchen, Craft Bar, Gramercy Tavern, or Barbounia. In the end, our stand by favorite, Barbounia, won with 2 corner seats at their bar. Barbounia NYC

Bo and I have been to Barbounia 6 times since we moved to Gramercy and we’ve never been disappointed! You can read my full review of the restaurant here .

Last night, we started with their mezze sampler which was delicious as always. We chose the hummus, spicy feta, and roasted eggplant. The spicy feat was especially delicious last night.IMG_1310

There was lots of energy in their bar as the restaurant was packed. Luckily however, our service was better than normal and we were able to order a glass of wine with ease and even enjoy our conversation.

IMG_1311We decided to try something new last night and sample some of their appetizers. We’ve never ordered any other appetizer than their mezze sampler so this was a treat.

The charred octopus was my favorite by far. It’s flavors were surprising mix of sweet and savory as the mint balanced the smoky octopus and the fennel provided a refreshing crunch. The portion size was perfect for sharing.

Barbounia Grilled OctopusBo was intrigued by the iron skillet shrimp after seeing it go out to three other parties. It did not disappoint, though the oil was a bit overwhelming for my taste. Bo loved the strong garlic flavor of the dish paired with the tender shrimp.

Barbounia Iron Skillet Shrimp

By the time our entree arrived, which we planned to split between us, we were stuffed. Instead of wasting it, we asked our bartender/waiter to box it up so we could enjoy it for leftovers.

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Our relaxing Saturday date didn’t end there. Instead, we finally saw The Black Swan together. We’ve heard so much about it through friends, bloggers, and the news that we had to experience it for ourselves. WOW! Natalie Portman was absolutely amazing in this role but the movie itself was quite intense. After the first hour I think my eyes were covered by my hands more time than not but it was still a wonderfully performed story. I think it shows the true side of the pressure we often put on ourselves to be perfect.

What did you think of Black Swan? Would you see it again? Do you think it’s too extreme?

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ashleyd /

Sensebowl: Fast, Fresh, Sensible

Every now and then, the angels listen. Tonight was one of those nights when luck was on my side.

IMG_1247After a long day of work  and miserable weather, following a lovely three day weekend, all I could think about on the treadmill tonight was what I was making for dinner. I knew I wanted something healthy, but my stomach was already growling and I was only half way through my workout, including some grueling TABATA intervals.

As I ascended the stairs from the Equinox locker room to the lobby, the faint aroma of Asian food engulfed me. There, in front of me, like a mirage, stood two tables and four employees serving up heaping bowls of Asian fare, FREE for Equinox members.

IMG_1252Tonight, JK, the owner and employees of Sensebowl, a new restaurant in midtown New York City, treated members to a taste of their bowl meals. Sensebowl opened their first location on November 29th, hoping to bring affordable, fast, and fresh Asian cuisine to hurried New Yorkers. Their head chef, Beena Yu, studied at the Culinary Institute of America and has experience at Jean Georges and Bouley. The flavor combinations on the folded menu are reflective of her commitment to bold flavors which stand apart from other fast food Asian restaurants. IMG_1267

Even tonight, on the two folding tables, the fresh flavors were overwhelming. It’s rare you see a setup like this, displaying multiple bins of fresh vegetables and a full rice and noodle setup.

IMG_1262 IMG_1251 IMG_1261 Their bowls or meals, are built through five steps:

  1. Base: 1 included, (Choose between white and brown Asian rice or white or buckwheat noodles)
  2. Protein 1 included (Choose between slow cooked beef, baked chicken breast, slow cooked chicken thigh, spicy pork loin, herb shrimp, or steamed tofu)
  3. Toppings: 3 included (Choose from baby bok choy, baby corn, broccoli, carrots, and more)
  4. Sauce/Dressing/or Broth: 1 included (Choose from one of 4 sauces or 3 different broths)
  5. Seasoning: 1 included (Toasted Seaweed, Sesame Seeds, or Furikake)

Tonight, I chose the following for my bowl of delicious goodness: brown rice, baked chicken breast, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, Kim chi, and bean sprouts, sensebowl Signature Sauce, and furikake seasoning.   IMG_1264IMG_1270 IMG_1265IMG_1266

This meal was incredible! It followed the perfect ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. The unique flavor combination and crunch left my senses satisfied and my stomach satiated. I will definitely be taking advantage of my free bowl coupon I received tonight.

Have you ever tried a restaurant like Sensebowl? Interested in finding out more? Head over to their website for the full menu and more information or follow them on Twitter!

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