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.
I 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!
I was curled up in bed with my book by 10pm!
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.
Do 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! 
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. 
I 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:
What are your “stay healthy” travel tips?
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?
