Page 10 – find health travel news and trends for your international travels.

Recently, the team at Head sent me a gorgeous little retro pressie which seemed like the perfect companion for my trip to the South of France. It’s a brilliant white, leather look-and-feel gym holdall called the ‘1989 St. Moritz’, with perforated detailing, leather-grain texturing and chromed hardware which add to the overall feel of quality. As an extra bit of customisation, the tag can be monogrammed (mine has ‘F.O.T’, the initials the blog ) – If you want one, it won’t set you back an arm and a leg either, priced at £45.00 over on Asos, here. Click MORE to get the details and see my delicious breakfast after the stroll!

I took my holdall along as an ‘active’ beach-bag, but it works just as well as my gym-bag back in London! Also, the branding is subtle, by way of that little badge, which feels so much more sophisticated than the comically emblazoned logos of old; it’s a trip into Head’s aesthetic past and also, I think, quite forward looking in its design! After having just seen Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon, who’s own faux-vintage tennis bag is designed by Head, I feel that there’s proper momentum to their glamorous retro-revival!

In these photos (sadly, the last from my trip to St Jean Cap Ferrat) I was going for an early-morning stroll to Paloma Beach and back, followed by a delicious breakfast of fresh berries with plain yoghurt, freshly-squeezed orange juice, salmon and scrambled egg and mint tea.

I wore a beautiful floaty navy linen top with a distinct nautical feel, from my latest discovery, Charli London (featured in my previous post here), along with some lace Zara shorts.

Also in these photos is a super cool bond-villain yacht, remarkable not for its size (which was pretty restrained compared to some of the hulking private cruise liners along that coastline), but its menacing, shark-like poise!

So goodbye for another year Cap Ferrat; I’ll miss your gorgeous azure waters, and beautiful tranquility, and look forward to our next encounter!

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AT WIMBLEDON ’14

I’m so thrilled to say that I’ve been featured as one of Teen Vogue’s “8 fitness and health bloggers you need to know“! The Vogue brand is such an inspiration to so many around the world, including myself, and to be mentioned in it (especially in the Teen edition) is enormously flattering, and a bit of a dream really

I remember being a young, unsure teenage girl when I was growing up, experiencing the pressures of life, wanting to look a certain way but going about it all wrong; to think that FitnessOnToast might help just one girl through that journey is awesome!

Back then, I never stopped to think about how my mind and body really felt at that moment; that’s exactly what this blog is all about – being the healthiest & best version of yourself that you can be, as well as hoping to inspire the young and old to try new delicious healthy produce / recipes, training for strength and performance, taking care of your body and achieving your goals in the process.

You only have one body so invest in it, and it’ll stay ‘in vogue’ for many years to come

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AT WIMBLEDON ’14

I’m delighted to announce that I’ve partnered with O2 Travel for a really exciting project which is currently taking me to the beautiful city of Lisbon, Portugal (Europe’s #1 city break destination!). I’ll be taking part in all things ‘health and fitness’ whilst I’m out there, with a full schedule of active tasks and fitness-based exploration laid out for me! I’ll be sharing my cycle tours, runs, walks and swims of the city, along with the fabled delicious (& healthy) restaurants too! Keep an eye on my Twitter and Instagram to see the mini-updates, and I promise a proper post rounding up the experience here too, soon ? As a little preview, I thought I’d put up my ‘Holiday Travel Essentials’ insight into what I usually like to pack for these little weekend blog trips – click MORE to see it…

I took on this project because I wanted to help de-mystify the confusion that exists around posting snaps and emailing whilst abroad. These days, it’s not just keen bloggers that post content online from overseas; we ALL love to share our holiday experiences with friends & family, and whilst pictures might tell a thousand words, data-intensive videos tell a thousand pictures! “Errr but Faya, isn’t that going to be mind-bogglingly expensive?!”

Hmm. Confession time: I used to be roam-ophobic. I’d instantly switch off ‘data roaming’ even before I stepped foot off the plane, and only ever got my internet fix from the nearest free wifi hotspot. Through bitter past experiences, it had been drilled into me that I’d certainly pay eye-watering sums just to send a mere picture message to my Mum. Roll forward a technological decade and times have very much changed, but so many people still fear the unaffordable ‘roaming monster’! O2 Travel is today’s solution, and unsurprisingly, it’s O2’s data-roaming-in-Europe proposition. It lets you use ALL the data you need in a day for a wallet-friendly £1.99 per day, so that whatever your experiences are on the continent (even with 50 funky videos uploaded to Instagram), you’ll only ever end up paying £1.99 for the days you use data with O2 Travel. No upper limit, which is MUCH more 2014!

That was the bit I had to tell you, and I actually wanted to tell you too! So now here’s my little list of goodies that accompany me for these journeys…

1. PHONE: Samsung Galaxy S4 loaded with my O2 Travel App (which has saved me a lot of research, by letting me download TripAdvisor, city guides and maps to my phone – Handy! – get it at the App Store).

2. PASSPORT & WALLET (Panama wallet in Nile blue, and Panama Passport Cover in Nile Blue, both Smythson).

3. MUSIC: via my favourite headphones (Bose QC 20i earphones, with a bit of noise-cancelling for a calm, screaming-children-free sleep on the plane!)

4. A5 NOTEPAD: Picked up my gorgeous cream-coloured one at Wimbledon last week

5. MAGAZINES: Men’s Health isn’t visible, but believe me it’s packed safely under my clothes. I’ve also included this month’s Red Magazine, in which I’ve written a feature about an active Surf Trip to Peniche (fairly close to Lisbon, as it happens!)

6. SNACKS: To avoid eating processed, artificial foods with refined sugar (which are guaranteed to make your blood sugars jump all over the place) why not bring some healthy snack along on your journey! I’ve got nuts (walnuts brazils and cashews) and chia seeds (to help raise the nutritional game of what I might find abroad), and a pack of Lindt 90% dark chocolate. See my previous post on travelling healthier HERE.

7. WATER: Absolutely crucial to stay hydrated, especially in those overly-airconditioned flight cabins! Here are my thoughts on the importance of water…

8. TRAINERS: Crucial, obviously! My trusted companions through holiday runs, hilly hikes and lazy walks. I’ve gone with a patriotic version of the Under Armour Speedform RCs (this version is as yet unreleased, but my friends at Under Armour correctly guessed that I’d love the Swedish colours :D)

9. TRAINING CLOTHES. Some ‘Virus’ range compression gear from Mayfair & Fifth, plus some Under Armour tops and leggings.

10. BIKINI: My latest find from Seafolly to help me through the spa journeys !

11. MEASUREMENTS AND STATS: Since I tend to walk a lot, ‘touristing’ around new cities, my Misfit Shine helps me stay on top of how many steps and how much daily exertion I record. Doubling as a watch, I wear it on my wrist, and it also keeps a check on my sleep patterns! It’s in the evaluation stage, and will get a full review on the blog soon! For now though, it’s certainly a pretty little thing

12. TOILETRIES; as per picture! at the top!

13. THE SUITCASE? My absolute favourite, the Rimowa Classic Flight, which looks so deliciously retro, but is so sturdy, functional, and feels quite glamorous too. Really perfectly sized to carry-on to any flight, and include all that I’ll need for the weekend!

Bon Voyage ? x

As you may have seen from my Twitter and Instagram feeds, last weekend I was in Lisbon for a fabulous blog trip in partnership with O2 Travel, and I discovered a true European gem! I’d been set a series of active and cultural challenges to complete; a city cycle, a 5k run, a winding hike, a harbour-side Yoga class, as well as cookery classes, a fresh market tour and some extensive sampling of the local fare. Having met my challenges head-on, I now understand why this is Europe’s #1 city break destination – and what a fabulous & sporty way to discover a city’s charming character! Read my full account, with plenty of lovely pictures, HERE…

Situated on the Atlantic coast, Lisbon boasts some breathtaking coastline real estate, close to some epic beaches (amongst them the western-most point of Europe in Cascais, but more on that shortly). I was totally bowled over by the richness of the culture, the town’s easy-going identity, the magnificence of the grand architecture – it all really took me by surprise!

Yes, Portugal has endured an especially tough financial crisis (evidenced by abandoned buildings left to peel in the sunshine) but in no way did it feel downbeat. Instead the city feels full of life, energy, character and endless potential. It could be the St. Tropez of Portugal, with stunning weather, delicious cuisine and magical buildings; it just needs a little time to flourish to its maximum potential! I would recommend it to anyone, in a heartbeat. Below is a quick run through of all the fun active adventures O2 Travel sent me on over the weekend.

You can find some extra pics on my Twitter & Instagram feeds; the specially designed tariff they put me on (for anyone travelling in Europe) let me chew through all the roaming data I could ever want in a day for £1.99. It felt like a bit of a guilty luxury to just *keep* getting emails abroad, to *keep* instagramming, to keep a check on my favourite bloggers, to Skype, to Tweet, to Facebook etc, without an £800 bill waiting at the end! So a big thanks from me to O2 for bringing my euro travel out of the technological dark ages!

1) THE LOCAL MARKET TOUR: There’s no better way to get a feel for a local culture than to sample the food. Thanks to my fabulously knowledgeable guide, Filipa from Taste of Lisboa, I discovered the Mercado Da Ribeira – it’s a bit of a ‘Jekyl & Hide’, with a 132 year-old fish market adjoining a brand new gastronomic zone (which stylishly showcases the finest of Portugal’s culinary concepts), separated by a cavernous hangar full of ripe fruit-&-veg. I picked up my super-fresh ingredients of choice (avoiding tourist prices – thanks Filipa ? ), and moved on to stage 2…

2) THE COOKERY CLASS: Chef Isabel Caramelo from Cooking Lisbon had the unenviable task of schooling me in authentic Portuguese cuisine. My menu?
– Starter: Caldo Verde Soup (Potato and Cabbage soup with Chorizo)
– Fish Main: Cuttle fish, Algarve style
– Meat Main: Portuguese Pork dish
– Dessert: Farofias (Portugese egg-white sweets)
With her expert instruction, I made light work of a 4 course extravaganza! My personal highlight was the Fish, remarkable for its lightness and unbeatable freshness, partly thanks to the Market’s authenticity, and partly thanks to Isabel – but it was certainly not my doing! After a very rich and delicious dessert, I’d need to burn it all off!

3) THE 5k RUN: The farofias simply evaporated with my exertion. Walking, jogging or running a city must be one of the best ways to see the sights, and Lisbon was an utter joy! The waterside stretch between the two bridges is so picturesque and punctuated by such a beautiful mix of buildings and landmarks, it was the perfect setting for my run!

4) THE DINNER CHALLENGE: To locate and dine at Sol E Pesca, a tiny fishing tackle-shop-turned-bar made famous by owner Henrique Vaz Pato, whose award-winning cookbook of the same name helped elevate one of Lisbon’s most famous staples – the tinned sardine – from cheap basic to gourmands’ favourite. Objective complete!

5) THE YOGA SESSION: On Sunday I awoke bright and early and headed to the idyllic, secluded beach of Guincho, 5km outside the gorgeous little town of Cascais, which looks out onto the most western point in Europe (the Capa da Roca). Normally, it’s about as good as it gets. HOWEVER, less than ideally, there was an unseasonal July monsoon, so I met up with a wonderful friend who has a summer house in Cascais overlooking the bay, where we enjoyed a yoga session together on her balcony. Afterwards, a delicious fresh fruit salad with yoghurt and honey, and a restorative coffee to prepare me for the next challenge, by which time the sun had peeped through again

6) THE BICYCLE TOUR: I took a bicycle tour of the city with Bikeiberia, checking out sites from around the city, from the majestic ‘Avenida do Liberdad’ (aka Lisbon’s Bond Street) all the way to the majestic Belem Tower! This is where the O2 Travel app came in handy, with its integrated TripAdvisor city guide to help conquer my shocking sense of direction! I also discovered a fantastic coffee house, Browns Coffee Shop!

I WAS WEARING:
TOP: Under Armour women’s Heatgear Pink Roundneck training top, similar HERE
T-SHIRT: ‘More Issues Than Vogue’ Ebay find
LEGGINGS: Under Armour Stunner Stretch Woven Capris
SHOES: Under Armour Speedform Apollos

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There aren’t many vegan restaurants a non-believer would dare approach, and for many, the term ‘vegan’ carries a stigma, conjuring up images of bizarre nut-cheeses that are dry and uninviting. You’re certainly be unlikely to associate the term with ‘elegance’, ‘flavour’ and ‘pleasure’. But you’d be wrong. Recently, I was invited along to The Montagu at the Hyatt Churchill, In London’s Portman Square, just opposite Selfridges ‘Food Halls’. It’s part ‘in-house hotel restaurant’, part ‘piano bar’, but upon request, can dispatch an intricate 5-course vegan degustation menu, deisgned by the celebrated LA vegan chef, Ali Parvinjah! I was asked to sample the fare and share my reflections, which I’m more than happy to do because I was quite blown away! Click below to read the full review…

COURSE 1: TOMATO SOUP (Pictured below)

First up is the tomato soup; served cold, it’s not sharp in the slightest, but is beautifully balanced, light, and feels as if it’s cleansing the palate. Surprisingly full in taste for something that you’ve probably had a million times in the past, and the ‘not-red’ colour surprises. It’s simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar in flavour and texture, so the taste buds take a while to think. Also, the crunch of the naturally dried Kale complements the smooth creaminess of the soup. A winner.

COURSE 2: ASPARAGUS (Pictured below)

The plate arrives, accompanied by the rich odour of truffle. The asparagus is cooked to perfection, both crunchy and soft, whilst totally fresh. Their almond ricotta is fascinating with the texture of tahini and the flavour of a cheese tinged with almond. It totally glorifies the humble asparagus by embellishing it with these indulgent and raw, nutritious touches, and it really works. Usually vegetables are the accompaniment to a dish, but here, the chef successfully makes them the focal point they deserve to be.

COURSE 3: BLACKENED TOFU (Pictured below)

The description in the menu makes it sound like a rainbow orgasm of flavours, which is odd given that Tofu is one of the most bland foodstuffs in the world, but they’ve done an incredible job of imbuing it with personality and life. A vibrant coconut mustard sauce frames the delicately charred tofu parcel, whilst the cardamom carrots and dainty ‘grilled exotic broccoli’ play off against each other; presided over by a very subtle parsley, and a chilli kick from within the tofu! Boiled, grilled and fresh; It is a balanced, light yet fulfilling dish.

COURSE 4: RISOTTO (Pictured below)

Combining a candied lemon slice, semi dried tomato, foraged mushrooms, coconut butter and cashew cream, this risotto is simply one of the best I’ve eaten. It is even verging on a dessert when a the ingredients are sampled simultaneously. The lemon cuts through the richness of the coconut & cashew and neutralises any heaviness whatsoever.

COURSE 5: DESSERT ASSORTMENT (Pictured below)

This was always going to be the hardest for them to pull off as vegan ingredients definitely lend themselves best to savoury interpretations. The simulation Hazlenut-and-Espresso ice cream (which contains no dairy) could be considered merely ‘a valiant attempt’, but I think it’s more than that; don’t look at it as ice cream, but rather a whole new texture, which boasts strong flavours of its constituents. The ‘Raw Cacao Vanilla-bean crusted Cheesecake’ is the standout for me.

THE BILL:
It’s a mere £26 for 2 courses, £30 for 3. I consider that to be exceptional value for the innovation, quality of ingredients, effort and delicacy of execution they achieve here. And you feel full. It’s not trying to prove anything about the vegan ethos here, it’s just being what it is. It’s not a pretentious gastro-environment, it’s not a hippy vegan commune; it just happens to have some seriously creative vegan food. I would comfortably recommend a try!

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Recently, I worked with Red Magazine on a fabulous ‘active break’ project. I know what you’re thinking; given my recent posts, it might seem as though I do nothing other than ‘go on active breaks’ these days, but I can assure you, this was around 4 months back now! Travelling alongside a handful of national journalists, we hopped over to the ‘Surfing Capital of Europe’, Peniche, Portugal, where we spent a few days at the ice-cool, super-sleek ‘Surfer’s Lodge’. The brief: to master the sport in 3 days. Not an easy task, and frankly, one at which I slightly failed, but had fun in the process ? – You can read my full review in this month’s issue of ‘Red’, and in the meantime, below are my 8 reasons why I think surfing’s a fantastic summer fitness activity if you happen to be heading off on holiday!

Cameron Diaz supposedly thanks surfing (clearly amongst other things) for her fabulously sculpted body – lean arms, perky bottom and abs of steel! After just 3 days of intense surfing, I’d discovered new muscles to feel sore. You can see why it’s considered a full body workout which happens to be incredibly good fun! You overlook the pain and minor embarrassment, and focus more on the rewarding spirit of achievement; the challenge of braving the waves, the sense of freedom and that rarefied euphoria when you’re flying on a crest of pure foam! Here are the 8 things I like about it most;

1) PADDLING: having to paddle out to every wave (over and over again) you obviously require some serious arm, shoulder and back strength. The journey to the waves is a fabulous toning routine in itself!

2) STANDING UP: in order to get up and surf a wave you must first manoeuvre into a narrow-grip push-up position from lying, which will work out the chest and triceps! The movement is then completed with a sideways-ninja-burpee type of leap, and a firmly engaged set of quads!

3) CARDIO: it’s a repetitive endurance exercise, paddling out every time, getting up on the board, retaining stability, pushing through the difficulty… the waves are so strong that you’re going to need some serious strength to keep going.

4) LEGS: pushing through the waves at first feels like a piece of cake, but doing it over and over (and depending on the wave strength) eventually causes the legs to scream out in agony! Then once you’re standing up on the board (very much in a squat position) you’ll need a pair of strong legs to hold you there, and get you back to standing. This is where you seriously target those glutes!

5) CORE STRENGTH: not only do strong legs come in handy on the board, but a strong core will also keep you upright and on the wave for longer. You really need to engage the torso to keep your body upright and also to avoid back pain.

6) BALANCE: there’s a slippery board, tidal power and waves that pitch-and-yaw at difficult and unpredictable angles; trying to navigate and control your direction will help you to develop a good sense of balance!

7) OUTDOORSY: a wonderful way to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Perhaps even pick up a gentle tan?

8) MENTAL RELEASE: if you’re feeling slightly wired and/or city-stressed I couldn’t recommend this more. It’s a fabulous way to rid yourself of some unwanted tension and shut out the rest of the world (there’s no time to think of anything else in the event) and just let the waves (and adrenaline) take over! Physical exertion wins out over the mental ?

Happy surfing!! x

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I was recently invited by my friends at Asics to their flagship Oxford Street store to undergo a full body analysis in their running lab. Presiding over the shop floor in a glass fronted mezzanine gallery, they clearly take this seriously given that the investment in the mechanised kit alone is a 6-figure sum, not to mention the expertise needed to operate it and interpret the output. That task fell to Andrew Tew, a professional Sports Scientist who operates this facility full time to help people get the best out of their bodies during physical activity. At £200, it’s a costly up-front investment, but in light of what it involves and what you get out of it, I think that price tag is not expensive. Click MORE below to see my full write-up of what you learn about your body…

Everyone’s run is different, as is their body (bone structure, musculature, joint strength), so asking for a ‘textbook’ run is maybe a bit unreasonable. However there are some lazy, uneducated habits within most people’s run movements (guilty!) that are unnecessary – they waste energy and could lead to injury. By empirical discovery, you can start working on them.

For total beginners, established gym-rats and Olympians alike, this process of data gathering strips away years of guesswork and ego, and leaves you with a core level of knowledge based on 23 pages of data and personal stats, from which to build. It’s absolutely not just for super-elite athletes, but reveals practical information about how YOU, specifically, should exercise in the most effective and sustainable way. A relatively small investment in this knowledge now can save years of pain further down the line. It’s just another downpayment into your body’s health pension! Indeed, just the ‘anaerobic threshold test’ at those cycle shops who offer it will cost £160. This includes far more, over a 2.5 hour window, for practically the same cost.

For someone about to undertake thousands of miles of marathon training, this is an essential ‘form analysis’. As humans, we’re never taught how to run, but we’d certainly be taught how to play tennis, or golf. Typically a runner’s performance is measured on two axes – speed and distance. At Asics the ‘Running Ability Measurement’ use a total of six factors to calculate how you can optimise your run, and reduce associated injuries. Here’s how it looks;

THE ASSESSMENT:

1. MEASURING FOOT SHAPE
Using a INFOOT 3D foot scanner it calculates 7 dimensions (such as the length & circumference of the foot, arch height, heel height, heel angle) before making a comparison by age and sex. The reason behind mapping the foot is that it’s the platform off which your running is based, and this gives an idea of its physiological strengths & weaknesses before you even start to run. In combination with the following data points, it gives them a far deeper understanding of your running anatomy.

2. MEASURING LEG ALIGNMENT
Checking leg alignment can determine the range of motion in your leg joints. Substantial differences in these dimensions can cause unstable horizontal alignment, which is to be avoided, generally. Once again this maps the physiological contours along the leg.

3. CHECKING ANKLE FLEXIBILITY
Lateral and vertical flexibility in the ankle joints, charted and measured.

4. MEASURING BODY COMPOSITION
Asics use a bio-electrical impedance analysis to calculate what percentage or the body is made up of muscle, fat and bone. The machine is far more advanced than anything you might have seen at your local gym. It measures body fat percentage by sending minute electrical currents (with a more diverse frequency range) through your body. The breadth of information it yields is quite impressive (think weight, fat%, fat mass, muscle mass, BMI, Bone mass, visceral fat evaluation, physique ratings, fat ratings, muscle mass ratings…)

5. MEASURING MUSCULAR STRENGTH & BALANCE
The test uses an isokinetic training device which measures how much strength you can exert against a lever moving at a constant speed. They test this because running can exert a load of as much as two to three times your bodyweight on a single leg as it comes into contact with the ground! Therefore an awareness of your degree of muscular strength is crucial to see how you hold up in the run! They also check for right-left balance, as well as the ratio of knee flexion/extension.

6. VIDEO GAIT ANALYSIS
Having a pair of objective, very knowledgeable eyes, a live, multi-angle video recording, and respirometer evaluating your running form is a real treat! By determining your foot landing position, leg movement & lower back position, vertical motion etc, Asics can form a constructive critique of your style to skill you with the tools to improve your run. There’s also a measurement of endurance, by testing your respiratory metabolism, which allows continuous recording of data without the person having to perform all-out sprints.

THE LEARNING:

You take away a 23-page customised report, written by Andrew, filled with a tailored analysis covering all of the above. The qualitative report is what helps you to interpret the measurements, and to begin to translate what you’ve seen on the screens and charts. They also include a reference textbook on ‘Running Science’ to help understand the logic behind some of the suggestions. Everyone’s results will yield something different, so I won’t run into what mine showed – needless to say, I’ll be making some tweaks!

I’d like to thank Asics & Andrew for the incredibly insightful day; I’ve walked away having gained a lot of practical knowledge

If you’d like to get a similar evaluation from Asics, you can book in using the following contact details:

Andrew Tew
londonoxfordst.runninglab@asics.com

+44 (0) 207 629 0154

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An increasing number of clients, friends and family seem to want to stay in shape whilst on holiday, and even to use holiday as a chance to become a little more healthy. The ‘active escape’ is a proper, growing trend in today’s health-aware world, and whilst I’m not talking about abstinent, monk-like Zen retreats, discerning travellers are after indulgence, with the optional facility to stay fit. With that in mind, I wanted to share my experience of quite simply one of the finest active destinations I’ve ever visited. At the ‘Il San Pietro‘, which is organically (and dramatically) crafted onto a cliff top, nestled on a headland between the towns of Positano and Praiano, I was utterly spoilt by the range of fitness activities on offer, from the most spectacular tennis ‘amphitheatres’ I’ve encountered, to an awe-inspiring spinning location. Click MORE for my fitness-oriented review of the place!

The review is split into 4 sections, comprising 1) the fitness activities, 2) the facilities/highlights, 3) the nutrition and 4) the service.

SECTION 1) THE FITNESS ACTIVITIES

– Tennis Court: almost carved into the mountain-side itself, their regulation-sized hard court is skirted by grass, and overlooks the ocean bay. It’s a spectacular setting for a game, and is well shaded for a good portion of the day.

– Private ocean bay: A morning swim in the fresh ocean waters works wonders for both the metabolism and immune system, as well as being fabulous cardio to kick off with.

– Boating, Kayaking & Paddleboarding: Fabulous upper-body cardio, with the paddleboarding offering the added benefit of extra balance-work and core engagement.

– Hill walks: the winding roads of Positano are so picturesque, and afford such a gorgeous view of the shore below that it’s the cardio that keeps on giving!

– Gymming: 3 treadmills, cross trainers, bikes, freeweights and resistance machines (all Technogym, all modern) with an air-conditioned environment, and a view over the bay below. Plus TRX, stretch-rack, swiss balls, Bosu and resistance bands etc.

– Yoga: A recent addition to their roster, the hotel lays on yoga classes led by the fabulous Farida Amitrano, at 09:00 as the sun is starting to creep around the corner of the bay. Both the enclosed setting and the intimate nature of the class size make it an exceptionally relaxing yet invigorating experience, and an excellent way to start the day!

– Spinning: A spin bike stands shaded under the lemon grove on lacquered decking, overlooking the organic gardens and the superyachts moored below. Pretty cool!

– Swimming Pool: Not Olympic sized, but they’ve got one, high atop the structure, overlooking everything. The swimming is better executed in the ocean!

SECTION 2) THE HOTEL FACILITIES & HIGHLIGHTS

– The Room – Every single one of their rooms has a balcony with a panoramic sea view. Nobody faces the gardens. That makes a big difference.

– The Lift – They have their own lift which goes through the earth’s crust down to the hotel’s private beach platform. Very ‘James Bond’. Alternatively, there’s a steep, all-stairs route up to the top, 3 circuits of which formed a fabulous cardio session for me one afternoon!

– The Private Beach – not so much a classic ‘beach’ as rocky platform, but bedecked with all the comforts you’d expect, including the capacity to produce sumptuous fresh fruit plates on demand. You arrive at the hotel here (it’s a pier), you sunbathe here, you dive into the crystal-clear ocean from here… it serves many purposes!

– The Private Boat – the hotel operates a complimentary 2-hour cruise every day, which includes a trip along the Amalfi coast, a dip in the ocean and a beautiful glass of Sangria.

– Expansive breakfast – For the health-freak, they offer pretty much every nut and seed you can think of along with the likes of egg white omelettes etc. For the morning indulgence, there are home-made freshly-baked cake & pastry selections to die for!

– The Terrace – nearly 100m above the sea, and overlooking the entire ocean below, there’s a 270-degree wrap-around panoramic centrepiece terrace. It’s the place for one of the exquisite peach Bellinis, for which they’re known!

– The Spa – offering up 22 treatments to de-stress, detox and dissolve post exercise! All products are supplied by hyper-luxe beauty brand, La Prairie. Ahh!

– ‘Zass’ restaurant – serving up options of ‘fresh catch of the day’, with Michelin starred interpretation and innovation, complemented by organic produce from the veggie garden)

SECTION 3) THE NUTRITION:

– The Organic Garden; Occupying the many-tiered ledges of the mountain slope, the hotel’s own vegetable gardens enjoy the freshness of the sea-breeze, and the nurture of the coastal sun. There’s quite a range of produce, it’s all organic and it all goes into the hotel’s own cooking, every day. Unbeatable for its freshness and local sourcing!

– The Freshness: their Michelin-starred, respected chef Alois Vanlangenaeker, gets access to freshest and finest catches of the local hauls. You can even take cooking classes with him!

– Fussiness?: They accommodate bespoke dietary requests, anywhere, any time. If something doesn’t work for you, they’re only too happy to make it work some other way.

SECTION 4) THE SERVICE:

In a word, immaculate; it is at all times respectful, attentive, and supremely subtle. It’s what lifts this destination from just a ‘fine hotel’ to a prodigious one. Endowed with reassuring smiles and a fabulously humble manner, almost every member of staff feels as if they’re part of a family, helping you to believe you’ve walked into their family house during your stay. It is a very comfortable, perfectly judged service ethic, and just enables you to make the very most of your every moment. Il San Pietro gives an absolute masterclass in world-class service.

I hope that gives a feel for the place. It’s not cheap, and whilst it’s costly, it is not expensive. By that, I mean that you’re not being ripped off, because if you use the fullness of their many facilities, you get a remarkable amount of value for your money, and any one day of unwinding here feels like 3 days anywhere else. A truly fabulous active escape!

FYI, the Hotel’s own info-video on YouTube gives a good feel…

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I WAS WEARING: (more detail in forthcoming posts)

Shoes: Under Armour UA Speedform XC Trail Running Shoes, HERE
Sports Top: Lorna Jane aphrodite tank, similar HERE

Yoga Wear:
Activ88 Floral Print Capris from Fat Face, HERE
Activ88 Abstract Floral Trim Vest from Fat Face, HERE

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RUN SMARTER !!!

EASY DESSERT!

MONREAL @ BYBLOS

MOROCCAN SALAD

Just a little video from my recent trip to Cap Ferrat. For some of the gorgeous fitness fashion I was wearing (you might remember the posts HERE), the photographic stills just couldn’t capture the floaty weightlessness of the fabrics which feel so summery – a video was called for! This is just a brief one-minute clip which gives a far better feel for the clothes, and is set to some wonderfully blissed-out music. Hope you like it, and there are some fun posts to come from my Italian adventures soon, which I’m really excited to share

As part of my recent Italian adventure, I took advantage of the breathtaking tennis court at the Il San Pietro (from my previous post HERE) to shoot some of the gorgeous, new-collection clothes from my favourite tennis fashion house, Monreal London. This post also contains my interview with the brand’s founder, Stefani Grosse, formerly senior designer at Donna Karan and Calvin Klein. I think it gives a fantastic insight into the evolution of the way we’re dressing to burn calories! Click ‘continue reading‘ for the full interview & my pictures, plus a list of what I’m wearing…

I first discovered the brand last year at The Queens Club, and fell in love with the revolutionary approach to fitness fashion; Monreal genuinely blends the clean lines of the catwalk with wearable, functional sportswear which is super-elegant both on and off the court. I’ve since featured them in my posts from Monaco, St. Tropez and London (all HERE); it remains the brand which most elegantly captures the zeitgeist of our times, where mainstream fashion and sport fashion are fusing together. Monreal’s beautiful clothes celebrate the fact that it’s OK to dress for the gym as you might for a night out – or at least, that was my perception. Here’s what their founder had to say…

1) What sparked your original interest in fashion?
I have a great passion for fashion, lifestyle and sports; my upbringing allowed me to pursue both. My father worked in the sports industry, and my mother in the fashion industry. Combining these two worlds into one seemed very natural and the obvious thing to do, which is how Monreal came to life in 2012!

2) How would you describe your own style in and outside the gym?
My style is very much the same whether I go to the gym or attend private matters; that is the beauty of the Monreal London collection being versatile and able to wear for any occasion.
Also, the American influence is growing ever-stronger, and the lines between active wear and day wear continue to blur. Active wear leggings are worn with jumpers and high heels throughout the day to almost every occasion. The new active wear fashion is comfortable and sexy and also has a much higher degree in quality, fashion and style. This makes it suitable for most occasions in our busy lives. Constant changing of clothes is no longer appropriate, or indeed needed; the goal is to feel comfortable and well-dressed at the same time.

3) You had a fantastic career steering some of the most iconic and prominent brands in fashion. What made you want to launch your own label?
I really felt that there was a gap in the luxury sports apparel market, for a sportswear brand to create beautiful garments for sporty, fashion-forward-thinking women. It’s a really exciting time to have started my own brand, and to be able to make a difference in the sportswear industry!
From a fashion, style-conscious perspective I was never fond of the clothes I played tennis in. Convinced that I could create something that is as functional as it is flattering and sexy I founded Monreal. The collection was snapped up by Harrods and Matches which I am really happy about!

4) How have your previous creative directorships influenced your current design aesthetic?
Jil Sander was my first big hero in the fashion industry; I just love the minimal stripped back yet functional design. She has definitely influenced my designs in terms of quality, technology and functionality.

5) Similarly, how does your cultural heritage influence the Monreal look?
Well probably my German sense for efficiency, durability and functionality. My schooling, along with having spent 11 years in New York during very formative years, have been an even stronger influence on my style in general. Sporty, clean, relaxed and comfortable, healthy and sexy!

6) Your brand is fronting the newly-launched Net-A-Sporter campaign. Why do you think consumers want luxury sportswear these days?
Sport is an important aspect in most people’s lives and there is no reason why it should be treated differently to formal wear or evening wear. Fitness wear is becoming more fashionable, because women who often pay a lot of attention to their appearance and properly invest in their fashion, absolutely want to look great no matter what they do. Gyms, sports clubs and country clubs are also a social platform, where people meet, play sport and generally spend quite a lot of time with each other – much as they would in restaurants, bars and cafés.

7) How do you create a luxury brand from scratch; does it need heritage?
I think it is really important to have a clear vision to create something innovative and unique in the saturated fashion market. For Monreal London it was more about reinventing heritage and creating a new fashion sense in sportswear.

8) What’s your ethic around performance materials, and what fabrics go into the Monreal signature dress?
In the design process we look at every aspect of the garment to ensure that each design element is considered, has a purpose and can be worn while playing sports.
Material development plays an important role in the manufacturing process; using functional, high-tech performance fabrics from Italy, with plenty of stretch and a UV 50+ filter, the collection is both supportive and feminine, with built-in sports bras with removable cups for a beautiful silhouette.

9) Where are your clothes made and does that impact upon the quality?
We pay a lot of attention to the quality of our garments and always look at ways to innovate fabrication, to feel more modern and interesting. All of Monreal London’s garments are made in Europe, predominantly in Portugal where there are many factories specialising in active wear, with the required expertise to execute fashionable details at the same time.

10) Are there a lot of changes from the initial sketch to the finished product. Does the vision change as you execute, or is it born fully formed?
No, normally it goes straight from sketch to product sample with maybe one or two minor changes along the way. My experience has taught me to envision the outcome of a garment at concept stage.

11) Do you take inspiration from any catwalk designers for your collections?
Yes. I take inspiration from designers who take their inspiration from the sports industry, creating versatile and interesting sporty looking pieces. A great example is Céline, where you can clearly see the sportswear influence.

12) You use a lot of neon accents to punctuate your block whites. Is that a colour minefield, and how do you settle on them?
We don’t always use neon colours, but lively accented colours in general do play an important role in the active wear industry, reflecting freshness, newness and a sense of movement.

13) What are the 5 words that beat capture Monreal‘s essence?
– Performance
– Luxury
– Lifestyle
– Innovation
– Functional

14) Who is the Monreal woman?
Monreal caters to women who care as much about style as they do about scoring. Our core customers share their sense of style, confidence and personality. They all have busy lifestyles and are interested in current issues – sports, cultural as well as financial and political, and of course, fashion! This group of girlfriends tend to be confident, style-conscious and have a big-city mind-set. They also appreciate exceptional quality and value in every element of their lives, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle!
We feel that our customer is aware of trends and changes in fashion/sportswear industry and were happy to find a brand like Monreal, which can be worn both on and off court.

15) What was your inspiration for the latest collection? Is the look and feel seasonally based or does it remain consistent throughout?
For Monreal London’s 2015 Pre-Spring collection, inspiration was taken from Gerhard Richter’s vivid and abstract paintings as well as the movie Rush, directed by Ron Howard. These sources of inspiration resulted in a dynamic collection, which gets you in the mood to work out and get in shape! The inspiration for each collection is seasonally based but there is definitely a certain signature which we build upon, season after season.
Monreal creates a selection of core products which reappear every season; it is important in the sense of always prioritising good fabrics and design, to always address ‘iconic’ styles and re-visit classic pieces. These core products never stop us moving forward or playing with fashion; change is after all the nature of fashion, and as much as we love ‘core products’or essentials, we get super excited about new ideas, new proportions, new fabric developments and colour ways.

16) For Monreal, when you design a collection: Is it tennis influencing fashion or is it fashion governing tennis? Which comes first in the creative process?
Functionality, in active wear comes first. This is a given for me, but it’s not the first thing that I want people to see and talk about. All the garments I design have to make sense in terms of functionality, and in relation to performance wear. I absolutely create anything that hinders performance or makes you look ‘frilly and silly’ and therefore ‘unsporty’.

17) As an accomplished tennis player yourself, how have your experiences borne out in the clothes you’ve designed?
It is crucial to design clothes you can actually play your sports in; therefore I test out all of our clothes prior to producing them!

I WAS WEARING:

JACKET: Monreal Hooded Stretch Jersey Jacket
DRESS: Monreal Stretch Jersey Mini Dress
SHORTS: Monreal Metallic Stretch Jersey Shorts
SHOES: Asics Gel Solution Lyte 2 Tennis Shoes
SUNGLASSES: Ray Ban Wayfarer D

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UNREAL MONREAL

INTERVIEW @ SW. BETTY

REVIEW: ‘IL SAN PIETRO’

VEVIE LA REVOLUTION !!!

GET A HEAD START !!!

FITNESS ON VOGUE !!!

MY HEALTHY HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS !!!

ACTIVE TRIP TO LISBON WITH O2 TRAVEL !!!

HAUTE VEGAN CUISINE ???

FITNESS ON WAVES !!!

RUN SMARTER !!!

ACTIVE ESCAPE TO ‘IL SAN PIETRO’

A LITTLE VIDEO FROM CAP FERRAT !!!

GAME, SET AND MATCHY-MATCHY !!!