Category: Fitness

Luxury Cruise Line Silversea Reveals Innovative Wellness Program

10/20/2021

Images courtesy of Silversea Cruises

By John Roberts
Silversea Cruises, one of the world's top luxury travel experiences, announced what we think is a fascinating new wellness program, Otium. The program will launch on Silversea's new ship Silver Dawn, which debuts in spring 2022.
Otium takes inspiration from the leisurely nature of the ancient Roman lifestyle, and the experience on Silver Dawn serves as a sort of tribute to the cruise line's Italian heritage. In Roman culture, Otium -- the opposite of negotium, the absence of leisure -- was a period of time dedicated to wellness and relaxation, in which people bathed, conversed, sung, theorized, ate and drank.
Several cruise lines offer some type of wellness programs, but Otium encourages balanced indulgence, pampering and pleasure over sacrifice and delayed gratification. Otium is built on the principles that wellness should be a natural, enjoyable part of the day; that living well and being well are not mutually exclusive; and that wellness need not be a solitary, silent experience but rather a social pursuit best enjoyed with fellow cruisers.
"Silversea has long excelled at enabling guests to travel deeper in luxury" says Barbara Muckermann, chief commercial officer of Silversea Cruises. "While the immersive aspect of our offering is easy to convey, the luxuriousness of our product can often seem intangible: guests really need to see it -- to live it -- to fully appreciate it.
"Otium is unlike any other wellness program . . . and will weave a tapestry of unprecedented comfort around our guests. It will revolve around instant gratification, extending the luxurious pampering for which Silversea is famous to different areas of the ship, from guests' suites to the redesigned spa area and beyond. Otium will transform the way guests relax and enjoy their personal space. It will be an elevation of our already high levels of comfort."
The program provides a customized wellness journey throughout Silver Dawn, including in some of the most spacious suites at sea. It features a curated range of treatments in the reimagined spa. Let's have a look at some of the top experiences you can expect from Otium on Silver Dawn:

Otium Sleeping
Cruisers spend at least a third of their time in bed, so the Otium wellness program begins with a great night's sleep. You get the finest Egyptian cotton linens, produced in Italy by ambassadors of premium artisanship. Aboard Silver Dawn, passengers in every suite category will also benefit from a special mattress, designed exclusively for Silversea for the ultimate sleep experience. The pillow menu has been expanded to include customizable down and feather blends, memory foam, firm down and improved down alternatives.

Otium Balcony
The program features the first dedicated balcony experience at sea. Otium encourages travelers to slow down and enjoy the breathtaking views of the calming seas, the beautiful horizon and everything cruising offers. You can tailor the experience to match the climate, whether cruising in cold- or warm-water regions. In cool conditions -- such as Antarctica, the Arctic or the Russian Far East -- Silversea offers a warm cashmere blanket, a selection of delectable appetizers and the first hot chocolate menu at sea. When sunbathing in warmer climates -- from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and beyond --you'll stay cool with refreshing body mists, luxurious sun creams, delicious cocktails and gourmet bites.

Otium Comfort Food
Silversea's culinary offering already is among the most luxurious at sea, with a range of fine restaurants on each ship, sustainable caviar, Champagne on-demand 24/7, one of the largest complimentary wine lists at sea and a vast range of signature delicacies. With Otium, Silversea is enhancing its food and drink offerings. Perhaps the most enriching aspect of the program is the addition of an in-suite comfort food menu, available 24 hours. Signature dishes on the comfort food menu range from lobster and caviar in brioche rolls to a selection of gourmet popcorn and other options that incorporate premium ingredients.

Otium Bathing
Otium even extends to suite bathrooms. Every suite category on Silver Dawn will offer you the use of both a walk-in shower and a bath, in some of the most spacious bathrooms at sea. The bathing experience, prepared by Silversea's butlers, allows cruisers to indulge in a multisensory soak for complete relaxation. The experience includes plush Otium bathrobes, exclusive bath salts and soothing candle lights. You can unwind to the playlist of your choice from a curated music menu, all while savoring a range of delicacies, including caviar canapes, chocolate truffles and champagne.

Otium Spa
Silver Dawn features a diverse menu of treatments, designed by wellness experts for optimum relaxation. As well as enjoying relaxing massages and a range of other treatments, you can unwind and socialize in the spa's thermal areas with a glass of Champagne or signature snacks -- enriched with trademark ingredients, from caviar to truffles.

Sounds like an amazing experience and just the type of luxurious and relaxing cruise to rejuvenate the soul. What do you think about it? Is this something that appeals to you?
Let us know in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading.
Travel fit! Travel happy! Travel often!
JR

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We're Keeping Things Flavorful During Extended At-Home Time

11/17/2020

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New workout routines and creative recipes with PBFit keep our spirits up while we can't travel

Prepping my daily protein shake with my new favorite flavor, PBFit peanut powder. Each serving offers 8 grams of protein and amazing peanut butter flavor.

By John Roberts
We've been doing a lot of working out and eating at home during the past year -- just like everyone else, of course.
Our gyms here in Colorado have closed, then opened with new health protocols and then closed again. It's been a challenging year trying to stay motivated and creative in our fitness and wellness routines.
I miss travel so much but have been trying to keep productive while at home, especially with staying active and continuing to pursue my workout goals. It's been a challenge, and sometimes I get upset about not being able to go out to see people.
But recently, we've been constructing a home gym and trying to remain positive and happy that we have our health. Some are struggling quite a bit more than we are.
To stay active and keep things fresh over the past several months, we have been doing plenty of things that get us outside in the fresh air and able to keep our distance from others.
Along with the home gym we are putting together in the garage of our newly refurbished home, we have been adding new flavors and food options to our diets. This helps keep us from getting bored and lazy in our eating.
I have recently discovered a delicious new product called PBFit. The company offered me a sample tub to give a try and review, and this tasty this peanut butter protein powder has been a fabulous addition to our kitchen.
I understand that I might be a little late to the party with this (I am seeing all kinds of fitness-focused online forums with members who swear by PBFit), but I am glad to get onboard.
I drink a protein-infused smoothie almost every day after my workouts. These supplement drinks aid recovery after workouts and to give me the macronutrients I need to maintain muscle. I use almond milk, flax seed, fresh fruits, spinach, honey and whey isolate protein powders in my smoothie drinks. One of my favorites has been my chocolate, peanut butter and banana recovery drinks.
PBFit has been a better option than traditional peanut butter for the smoothies, though. PBFit is a powder made from whole roasted peanuts, and it contains 87 percent less fat and about one-third of the calories from your typical peanut butters. But it still packs the protein punch that you want. Each scoop of PBFit provides 9 grams of healthy protein, and the flavor is everything you would expect from your favorite peanut butter.

Colleen has been prepping super breakfasts, complete with peanut butter and banana protein pancakes.

The idea of a "peanut butter" protein powder left me thinking that it would be a fine addition to my smoothies, with probably a decent enough taste to enhance the flavor of my health drinks. In my mind, though, I gave it no chance to taste like the "real" creamy and delicious peanut butter that I grew up loving.
This is where I was pleasantly surprised. PBFit wins because of its strong flavor, as well as versatility.
The powder can be used to concoct an endless array of healthy recipes. Peanut butter aficionados will be happy to try all kinds of treats that you can make with PBFit.
We are now making power-packed breakfasts of peanut butter and banana pancakes, made with PBFit and popular protein-infused pancakes like Kodiak Cakes or Krusteaz.
Colleen loves to make a healthy peanut butter-like spread with PBFit. This is done by adding egg whites (or water) to the powder until you get a consistency that you like.
Other recipes are available for chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies, peanut butter muffins, brownies, ice cream, chocolate peanut butter cups and even a Thai peanut sauce for dipping chicken.

The powder has just been a fantastic addition to our pantry. PBFit is gluten free, contains no GMOs and offers a low-fat option for people who can't imagine eliminating peanut butter from their diets. Now, you don't have to. No matter your fitness goals, this delicious peanut powder might be just what you are looking for to help give you more choices for your snacks. I love it just because it's a quick and easy solution to make my protein shakes even healthier and tastier.
Better Body Foods, which makes PBFit, also offers a sugar-free variety of PBFit peanut powder.
Thanks for reading.
Yours in fitness,
JR

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2020 Throws Plans into Chaos. It's Best to Keep Moving Forward.

10/9/2020

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By John Roberts
For more than five months, I trained and trained and trained. Still, I was fairly certain that the sweat, sore legs and lonely miles were probably going to be for nothing.
I was right.
My marathon was canceled.
Just another event that sat circled on my 2020 calendar to be scratched out, eliminated by the pandemic in this year of struggles.
In March, with the onset of sudden and unanticipated downtime because of the COVID-19 crisis, I decided that if I wasn't going to be traveling as much, I would refocus my efforts and energy into a new challenge. I had never wanted to try a marathon. The race itself seemed like a fun event and a worthy accomplishment. But the long hours training to complete a 26.2-mile race were not really something I could -- or wanted to -- fit into my schedule.
The shutdown of travel and extended period of time spent at home quarantining meant that I would finally have time to train. Plus, I needed a diversion from the constant gloomy news. So, I decided to finally take on a marathon, reviewing a program from Jeff Galloway and heading out for four training runs a week, mixed with days of biking and other cross training, listening to podcasts and getting tips and advice from friends who had run the distance.
With gyms closed and the weather ideal as I trained in New Jersey and then in Colorado (after a summer move) I gained endurance and the confidence that I would complete the challenge. That raised my spirits during this dark time in human history.
Organizers of the event -- the Cary Greenways Tour in Cary, N.C. -- kept entrants informed about the likelihood of carrying out the race live, and things were looking pretty good as the October 3 date approached. Ultimately, the race was canceled as a live event, however. It was not surprising, yet I was still disappointed. Mainly because I had put in all that training for nothing -- no, I would not be running it virtually all alone on the roads of Colorado -- and that I had lost more weight and muscle than I had wanted to because I had redirected my training regimen away from weights and more toward the mileage.

This photo was taken in New Jersey mid-training -- when I still thought I would be running my first marathon scheduled for October 3 in Cary, North Carolina.

But I do have perspective. I can't be too sad. The months of training in themselves provided a certain level of discipline and accountability that helped keep me occupied and sane.
Plus, many other people have been hit much harder than I have during the crisis of the pandemic. Even though my business has been hit hard with the cancellation or postponement of more than a dozen planned trips this year, I have my health and a great group of friends and family who have helped me stay engaged.
I set out on my training runs -- starting around May -- to get ready for the race. The program consisted of four runs a week, with a series of shorter runs, hill workouts, Sunday long runs and days mixed in for cross training (like biking or swimming). I did a lot of stretching, started eating more carbs, bought new Brooks running shoes to break in for the race and made a pair of Nabee compression socks part of my training uniform.

After moving to Colorado during the summer, I was able to add a lot of bike rides to my weekly training.

The Nabee socks were a terrific revelation for me and a product that suits my lifestyle for a number of reasons. The brand reached out to me just as I was beginning my marathon program.
I probably would have offered to review them because these types of socks have always made sense to me for long-haul air travel. Compression socks help travelers have fresh and healthy legs and circulation by combating the dangers of deep-vein thrombosis and blood clots (which can be more than four times as likely to occur in frequent flyers).
Also, being older than 50, compression socks like those from Nabee are beneficial to aid proper circulation. I have a few varicose veins in the back of my calves, and my doctor recently recommended I think of compression socks as a therapeutic way to help with blood pressure regulation.
Aside from those two reasons, though, I was excited to have them for my training and ultimately race day. This period of time saw me take the longest runs of my life, spending hours on my feet. The Nabee socks kept my feet and lower legs feeling great, and I have to think they helped in keeping me injury-free while training.

The Nabee compression socks are useful to me for a number of reasons, including travel, running and overall wellness.

So, compression socks, in general, are a good choice for travelers, runners and people who maybe need help optimizing blood flow. The Nabee socks, in particular, proved to be a great product because of their range of cool designs. I chose the red, white and blue patriotic "Freedom" style.
They are tough to slip on and off, but once on, they offer a comfortable snug fit. Nabee compression socks are to be machine-washed on delicate, air dried and expected to last three to four years.
Nabee offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee on your first sock purchase if returned within 90 days.

OK, so that's my short review of my new socks: Ideal for travel, training and overall wellness.
With the marathon called off, Colleen and I still planned to go to North Carolina. The whole idea was to run a race and hang out with Colleen's brother Ryan and his wife, Kelly, for a fun long weekend getaway.
Even though the marathon was off, that didn't mean we were going to cancel our much-needed time with our family. So, we hopped on our first flight since the shutdown in early March. It was admittedly kind of strange to be back at airports after being away for so long -- and this for people who are used to regularly flying somewhere every week or so.

We had a nice lunch and little sampling session at Haw River Farmhouse Ales in Saxapahaw.

We always put Carolina barbecue and craft beers on the agenda when visiting the state.

But our travel muscles kicked back in, and we masked up, boarded our flight in Denver and arrived in Raleigh about three hours later. Ryan and Kelly are much more than family to us; they are great friends and so much fun to hang out and travel with. We have had several group trips canceled this year, including our highly anticipated expeditions in the Galapagos with Silversea and Alaska with UnCruise Adventures.

So, it was fantastic to get to enjoy a few closer-to-their-home adventures in beautiful North Carolina. Good food, new brews, new games (we did axe throwing) and plenty of laughs throughout our five-day stay made me quickly forget that I was supposed to be disappointed about my canceled marathon.

We had such a great time throwing axes for the first time at Chatham Axes in Pittsboro, N.C.

In these strange times, we have learned that we can either be flexible and savor our time together, making every encounter as fun as possible, or we can wallow in self-pity because our lives have been disrupted.
You know what we'll choose!
Until we can travel the world again safely, we'll find plenty of ways to get out and enjoy time with friends in safe ways, getting out in the fresh air and sunshine, knocking back craft beers on a patio, crushing tasty Carolina barbecue (for example) and finding new places to hike and explore.

Kelly and Ryan planned an action-packed weekend in North Carolina for us. There was no marathon, but we got plenty of exercise with hikes almost every day.

This past year has thrown everyone too many curveballs. But as long as we are healthy and can get together with family and friends, we will always be happy.

Stay cheerful, everyone, and thanks for reading,
JR

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Luxury Cruise Line Silversea Reveals Innovative Wellness Program

We're Keeping Things Flavorful During Extended At-Home Time

2020 Throws Plans into Chaos. It's Best to Keep Moving Forward.

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