Vacation, All We Ever Wanted: How To Do Wellness Travel 🧳💫
Cracking some hacks. With snacks!
4 min read
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THE LIFE OF BRYAN
It’s peak couch rot season and in this golden age of mid TV, you may have come across Don’t Die, the new Netflix documentary about tech mogul-turned-longevity wizard Bryan Johnson, a man who does not appear to believe in mid or moderate anything. He made headlines in 2023 when he initiated the first ever human plasma swap with both his father (70), and his son (17), chronicled in the film along with his 100-plus supplements a day, pure foods, light blocking, sleep optimizing extreme protocol called Blueprint (catchy, no? 👀 ) in the name of adding years to his life (spoiler: it’s working) and pushing the boundaries of science to show what is humanly possible. His extremes have extremes, and many people are quick with an eye roll at his seemingly ego-driven, out-of-touch, multimillion dollar antics in search of immortality, present company once included. But if the movie is a basic intro and not a well-constructed narrative, hearing him speak live or on podcasts like Knowledge Project might inspire you to take just one page from his tome of teachings, if it means adding even one more season of mid TV to your life.
Celebrate National Popcorn Day on January 19 with my probably-not-Johnson-approved but super delish recipe and tuck in to watch the man on his mission to gain immortality, or for something more relaxing, there’s always Monday’s Inauguration Day coverage. 🫠 Panic snacks: check. ☑️
BEST REST EVER
🧘🏻♀️If a getaway is on your list this winter but you’re looking for a trip that leaves you feeling like you actually had a vacation instead of sleep-deprived and bloated, there is a renaissance in health-minded travel that is striking an balance between indulgent and too-precious-to-be-fun. Toto, we’re not in Canyon Ranch anymore.
Palmaïa: The House of AïA, Riviera Maya, Mexico: lush jungle on one side, ocean on the other, with multiple private cenotes and wildlife like spider monkeys and coatis joining you for breakfast, this family-owned resort infuses a spiritual journey with luxury accommodations, 5-star seed oil-free plant-centric cuisine and a range of choices from soul searching with a shaman to chilling on the crystal clear beach with live music. I plan to return many times.
Lake Austin Spa Resort Austin, TX: when there IS such a thing as too much queso, this is a gem of an escape on the serene shores of Lake Austin with an award-winning spa and a full program of lakeside activities. Feels like fancy summer camp for grown-ups, with way better food.
Equinox Hotel, Hudson Yards: for an NYC visit or staycation that emphasizes sleep but promises to tire you out with fun and state-of-the-art fitness and recovery first. Come for the polenta fries, stay for the sleeping. They’ve just announced a partnership with sleep guru Dr. Matt Walker so you can rest assured (ha) that they will deliver on the promise.
IS THIS ANYTHING?
Our favorite new section in which we take a buzzy topic to examine, debunk and give you the scoop from all sides of the conversation so you can decide for yourself if it’s for you. Today we’re looking at CREATINE. The popular supplement once only associated with gym bros, it is now understood to be a powerful tool not just for performance and muscle recovery but also for its neuroprotective and cognitive benefits.
TikTok says: 5g of creatine for 30 days will give you powerful gains, transform your body and also probably cause hair loss.
The science says: The body naturally produces and excretes creatine on a daily basis, so supplementing can help replace what is lost, to help you produce more energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and over time, improve muscle strength and recovery and cognitive function.
📣 Attention LADIES: we naturally produce less creatine than men, yet we need more of it as we age and lose muscle mass, particularly if you don’t consume a lot of animal protein. Adding creatine HCL (more absorable and less GI distress than creatine monohydrate) has shown powerful results in increasing muscle, therefore improving bone density, and brain health.
Older adults can benefit from creatine supplementation to ward off age-related muscle loss and protect against falls.
I say: I have been using it for about 8 months and have seen a noticeable difference in my own strength-building practice, and my energy levels have never been better. So I’m basically a gym bro now. 💪🏻
Extra Credit: After a night of poor sleep, taking a double dose (up to 10g) can help chase away brain fog and get you firing on all cylinders again.
Be well, stay cozy, keep your mind on happy thoughts.
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