Happy Sunday! I hope that you all had a great week. This week was a little crazy for me as I was in New Orleans from Wednesday-Friday for a conference. It was my first time visiting the city and I’ll definitely be back! As with any work travel, I had a limited time to get in workouts but I was successful two out of the three days I was there so I will call that a win! Here’s how the week went.
Monday, June 18
No workout.
I had to do my last round of pre-surgical testing (more on that later on in the post) and ended up donating blood (in case I need a transfusion) so I couldn’t workout. This was fine by me because between that and a busy afternoon at work, I was toast!
Tuesday, June 19
Body Works + Abs Class (45 minutes).
Always feels good to get a good strength training workout during the week.
Wednesday, June 20
3 mile run.
I was up at 3:30 to catch my morning flight to New Orleans. Once I checked into my hotel, I changed into my run clothes to hit the gym tradmill for 3 miles. I had a short window of free time so I had to take it!
After the workout, my colleague and I met up for lunch at Felix’s Restaurant. Apparently they have some of the best oysters in town. I don’t eat oysters but had a really good caesar salad with grilled shrimp.
After a few afternoon learning sessions, it was time to see a little but of the city. I did an hour long carriage tour and took in a few sights, including Bourbon street.
Thursday, June 21
3 mile run.
Woke up early to get this run done before starting a full day of networking and conference sessions. The weather was already hot and muggy at 6am so it was back to the gym treadmill for this run.
How is the real feel 90 degrees at 6am?!?!
I had another great lunch with my colleagues at Bayona – BBQ shrimp and another awesome salad.
Later that night all the conference attendees met up for drinks and to our surprise, we had a marching band escort to Arnaud’s Restaurant for dinner. This was the coolest experience! We were literally walking down the streets, including Bourbon Street, with a marching band. I pretty much danced and threw out beads to people for about 15 minutes. It was SO much fun!!
Dinner at Arnaud’s was amazing and I ate my weight in food and topped that off with a Hurricane drink.
Friday, June 22
No workout.
Last day of the conference and then my flight left New Orleans at 5:30pm so I didn’t get back to CT until almost 11:00pm. Looking back, I should have gotten up early to get in another gym workout but to be honest, I appreciated the extra hour of sleep.
However, I did manage to go to the famous Cafe du Monde for breakfast to try some beignets!
These were SO good! I shook off most of the powdered sugar because they was way too much!
Saturday, June 23
No workout.
Ugh, I’m so mad at myself for this one. It looked like it was going to rain, actually downpour, at 7:30am so I cancelled the group run. Now I could have just done my run on the treadmill, but extra sleep sounded very appealing (I only averaged about 4-5 hours of sleep overnight since Tuesday). Then of course I got busy doing errands and laundry the rest of the day, so I didn’t get in any workout at all.
Sunday, June 24
Body Works + Abs Class (45 mins) + Spinning (50 mins)
I had to make up for my lack of Friday/Saturday workouts so of course that meant a double workout today! Maybe those days off were good because I had so much energy for both classes.
Total Weekly Mileage: 6
10,000 Steps per day: Complete
Weekly Weight Loss: +1 pound weight gain
Grade This Week – B
I definitely could have done better this week. I normally like to do 6 workouts a week so I feel a little weird that I only had 4 days of workouts this week, but travel always seems to throw things off a bit. I really enjoyed New Orleans and I hop to visit again when I’m not there for work. There were so much I wanted to do but I just ran out of time!
With the amount of food and the type of food, I ate I NOLA, I’m pleasantly surprised that I only gained a pound this week LOL. I got back on track yesterday so it’s all good, but I feel that when you’re in a new city, you have to experience the cuisine!
Next week will be very different for me. Almost a decade ago, I joined the BeTheMatch bone marrow registry. Back in late March, I was contacted that I might be a potential match for a patient with cancer. After lots of additional testing throughout the past few months, it was determined that I’m the best/only match for this patient. My surgery to donate bone marrow will be tomorrow mid-morning. Luckily the surgery isn’t too long (about 90 minutes) and I’ll be able to go home the same day, but I can’t do any workouts next week (just walking). I’ll be posting a blog about the whole experience this week. Wish me luck!
Did you have a good week? Are you currently training for anything?
I’m linking up with Holly and Wendy for the Weekly Wrap.
That is so great that you are donating bone marrow! I was also traveling for work this week, but I just had to drive a few hours vs fly anywhere. I was in NoLa a few years ago for work. It’s such a great city! And Cafe du Monde is so good!
I really can’t wait to go back to NOLA again, maybe when it’s a little less hot and humid lol.
Looks like you hit all the hotspots in NOLA! Yeah its definitely not the place to diet. What a selfless and meaningful decision you made to donate bone marrow. It literally means the world to the person who needs it. Mad props to you.
Yup I hit a lot of the hotspots but I’d love to go back and do a swamp tour and take in some other sights!
Thanks so much for the well wishes! By this time tomorrow I’ll be on the other side of the surgery and very thankful that the process is over and that I can help the patient in need!
Wow, Kim!!! I love that you are donating bone marrow!!! That is a significant thing! I seriously could not love that more!!! <3 <3
And don't beat yourself up for Saturday. Things happen and maybe they happen for a reason. You probably really needed the break and that was just the way of all the things coming together to make sure you took one.
How fun to have a marching band escort!! I adore marching bands. I might be a little jealous right now! lol
Thanks so much Jennifer! I am just very happy that I’m in the position to help someone – it gives me a lot of joy! 🙂
I think you’re right about needing a break and I was able to kill my two classes today so that’s good!
NOLA was awesome and I want to go back, maybe for a race! RnR New Orleans has been on my bucket list for awhile so I’m hoping I can do it in 2019 or 2020.
I have never been to New Orleans!! Always looks like such a fun place to visit. I’ve thought about the RnR race too. Sounds like it was crazy hot everywhere last week. It’s going to be a long summer
I would love to the the RnR race there! I’m considering it for 2019 or 2020, just depends on how expensive the flights are!
If I were near you, I’d hug you right now. You.are.awesome. So great that you are donating bone marrow. You are doing more than that, you’re giving someone hope. Fingers crossed that everything goes well for you and the recipient.
I’m glad you got to see some of NOLA. I never understand why conferences are held in amazing places and then they don’t give you a lot of time to explore the city! The food sounds amazing. We haven’t been there for years. I’d like to go back.
Awwe thanks so much Wendy! Thank you for the well wishes and I’ll can in on that hug when I see you next month in Chicago 🙂
I totally agree with you about conferences picking nice places, lol. I think next year it might be in Atlanta or Boston, both cities I’ll never been too so I’ll have to fit in time for exploring there as well, lol
Wow, bless you, Kim, for your bone marrow donation. That is such a selfless gesture, and will be a true gift of life to the recipient. I have thought about doing it, but have not followed through. I’m looking forward to hearing about your experience. Hope all goes well for you tomorrow 😉
Thanks so much Kim. I feel blessed to be in this position to help someone and I hope that I can contact the patient eventually. I’m hoping my experience will encourage others to join the registry.
It’s so awesome that you are donating bone marrow! I hope it all goes well, and am very interested in learning more. We went to New Orleans a few times when my daughter was going to school there. Getting beignets at Cafe Du Monde was definitely more important than getting in another workout. I think you did a great job fitting in so many workouts and remember, rest is important too!
Thanks Coco! I am looking forward to sharing my experience and hope that it encourages more people to sign up for the registry!
Cafe du Monde was so cool and it was really crowded when we went at 8:30 in the morning! I guess it’s definitely a local hot spot.
Yummy! All the NOLA food looks so good! I’m glad you took the carriage ride. You can cover more ground that way, especially if your trip is short! Great job in doing what you could while there. It’s even hotter there than it is here. I would have definitely used the gym too! Thanks for linking!
The NOLA food was absolutely delicious! I even purchased the boxed beignet mix so that I can try to make them at home. The carriage ride was so cool ut I felt bad for the poor mule that had to drag us in the carriage because it was so hot that day!
That’s awesome that you’re donating bone marrow.
I want a beignet or six now. I’ll eat all the oysters and you can have shrimp. Deal?
Thanks so much Cari! OMG – the beignets were delicious and I could have eaten them everyday, lol.
Sounds like a good deal to me about the oysters and shrimp!
Good luck tomorrow! I had season to FC Dallas, and a few years ago, our starting goalie was a bone marrow match. the team did some articles on him and the process he went through.
Thanks so much Lesley! So great that you know someone that has gone through the procedure. The more I learn about the process, the more I want to spread the word about it.
Good luck with your procedure, and how awesome is it that you’re going to be a donor! I’m sure it will be life changing for someone, which is just amazing. I LOVED reading about your trip. We go every year (usually in a cooler month) and now I want to go and try out some of those spots!
Thanks so much Sarah! I am blessed to be in the position to help someone.
I would love to go back to NOLA when it’s cooler too – maybe in Feb or March.
Wow, you are giving such an incredible gift to someone …the gift of life! That’s just wonderful Kim! I’ll be praying for you tomorrow that all goes well!
Sounds like you did NOLA right and hit all the hot spots …literally and figuratively. Lol Glad you enjoyed it, there is nothing quite like it, right?
Thanks so much for the prayers and well wishes Teresa – I really appreciate it! 🙂
You are so right about NOLA! It really can’t be described and you just have to experience it.
don’t be mad at yourself – traveling and working out isn’t always easy! just don’t sweat it. looks like you had a FAB time!
amazing what you are going to be doing this week. I am registered here too, but I have never been asked. If it happens, I’m ready!
last week was pretty good. I completed week 2 of 16 marathon training for Warsaw.
You’re so right – traveling and working out certainly isn’t easy! But we just do the best that we can.
That’s so cool that you are on their registry! I am really trying to get the word out about the registry and get more people to join.
I’m looking forward to following your marathon training for Warsaw!
All the food porn is making me hungry! I’ve been to NOLA twice ( first time was also a work trip for me), and would definitely go back — and yes, I totally ate my way through it. Being in a parade sounds pretty amazing, too!
Good luck on the surgery. You are doing such an awesome thing — kudos!
I can’t say enough great things about the food in NOLA – so so good!
Thanks for the week wishes for today – I really appreciate it!
I don’t think anyone goes to NOLA and complains about the food. 🙂
haha so true!
It’s so tough to get workouts in during work travel, and I think even harder to get back on track when you get home. You did a great job getting your workouts in.
Kudos to you for donating your bone marrow! What a generous and wonderful thing you are doing! Good luck with the surgery. I hope it is all smooth sailing and you will recover quickly.
It’s always so hard to find the balance between work, sight seeing and working out when traveling for work.
Thanks so much for the well wishes. The surgery went well and I’m now home resting. Still very sore and bruised but overall I can’t complain.
I’m glad you had a great time in New Orleans…I LOVE that city! That’s awesome that you are donating bone marrow to a patient in need…I can’t wait to hear about your experience. I feel like a badass just from giving blood, lol – I’d love to do even more to help.
I think you still did a great job with all your workouts, don’t be too hard on yourself for having a couple extra days of rest!
Thanks so much Janelle! And you are a total badass for donating blood. I wish more people would do that more often!
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. I do not like oysters either, but they have plenty other great seafood there.With all the good food, I feel like I need to set up a race next time I am down there. That way I won’t feel bad in over indulging as much.
The seafood there was out of this world. I ate a lot of shrimp lol.
I would love to do Rock n Roll New Orleans one year.
How fabulous that you’re donating bone marrow – brilliant to do that. I hope it all goes well and you enjoy some gentle walks next week.
Thanks so much Liz! Recovery has been slow but I feel a little less sore each day so I can’t complain.
I think its amazing that you’re donating marrow to someone…you could save that person’s life. I wish I had the guts to go for something like that, but I’m terrified of needles and don’t like hospitals, so I try to stay out of them unless absolutely necessary.
I’m always hard on myself about missing workouts too but sometimes the extra sleep is good for you! Your body probably needed it. NOLA sounds awesome…the food there is amazing, especially those beignets.
Thanks so much Montana! Although nothing is guaranteed, I do hope that my marrow donation helps to save his life. I’m back home and recovering slowly but feeling better each day.
NOLA was amazing and I can’t wait to visit again when I have more free time.
That is awesome that you are going to be a bone marrow donor! Huge props to you!! Hope all goes smoothly for you and your donor recipient.
Your trip to NOLA sounds like fun! You got a lot done in just a couple of days – I don’t blame you for being tired when you got home. This is one city I really want to see!
Thanks so much Michelle. Recovery is going slow but I’m feeling better every day.
I would definitely recommend visiting NOLA if you can!
I feel like work travel definitely throws the workout schedule off. I’m impressed you got in the two work outs while you were down there. It sounds like you really took advantage of the time you had in New Orleans!
Totally! For each day I looked at the schedule to see when I could get in a 30 minute workout.
looks like a really great weekend. Right now I’m training for a half so I get mad at myself any time I miss a run. I just try to remember missing one workout isn’t going to change my fitness enough to worry about, as long as it doesn’t become a habit.
Yes, missing one run will not affect your training.I think it’s easy for us to be hard on ourselves especially when training.
I’ve never been to New Orleans although I’ve always wanted to visit! You had so many good eats there! *-* I love your tank top too! :]!
You should totally visit New Orleans if you get the chance!
I traveled for work last week too and man, staying on track is not easy! I got all my workouts in, but all the different food options got the best of me haha.
It’s so hard right?! But we just have to do the best we can do!
Oh, my goodness! Best wishes with your donation! I hope everything goes smoothly!
I haven’t been to New Orleans since college – we went for Mardi Gras and I would love to see it during a time of non-festivities to really appreciate everything.
Thanks so much Jenn – The surgery went well but I’m still really sore!
So fun that you went to Mardi Gras! I can’t imagine how crazy that must have been.
Kudos to you for getting the workouts in that you did. Its always so hard to keep up with a workout routine when traveling, especially when your schedule while away is super tight. Way to go!
Thanks so much Kathryn!
NOLA is always fun! Looks like you had a great time and ate amazing food! That carragie ride looks so fun and a great way to see the sites.
That’s amazing about the be the match and your willingness to donate!
Prayers that it all goes well!!
The carriage ride was awesome and a great way to see some parts of the city. It was super hot so I was happy we didn’t have to walk around lol
Thanks so much for the prayers and well wishes. I am 4 days post surgery and feeling much better.
I agree with you 100% – when you are visiting a new place you have to eat the food! So long as when you return, you get back on track which is exactly what you did! Love all the New Orleans photos – looks like quite a special place. As for the bone marrow donation – wow, wow, wow – best of luck for the surgery. What a ray of hope you are for the recipient. Lots of prayers for both of you.
Totally! I was like when will I be down here next? Since I don’t know the answer, I took advantage of all the food!
Thanks so much for the prayers. I’m 4 days post surgery and feeling much better and moving around much better too!