TRENDY SPORTS !!!

I recently hopped over to Florida for a photo shoot with Trendy Sports, one of the US’ leading online ‘fitness fashion’ destinations, now in Europe too. When they first got in contact, I took a look at their website and instantly wanted to be involved; they’ve curated a collection of many of my absolute favourite fitness brands in one place (Monreal, Lucas Hugh, J Linderberg, Peak Performance, Hugo Boss etc), and the original imagery on their sites definitely straddles the fitness/fashion boundary. ‘Golf’ may often conjure up dull images of the standard ‘white polos and chinos’ uniform; in these photos the mixture of styles – traditional as well as bold prints and colours were clearly taking 18th (& 19th-hole) fashion in a totally new direction! It was proving what I’ve always believed, that there is practically no separation between fashion and fitness wear. Fitness is a genuine, legitimate fashion occasion, and it’s ok to dress up for it! Click MORE to see some of their campaign images as well as some behind-the-scenes shots I snapped too!

We spent a week in sunny Florida shooting at the stunning and multi award winning StreamSongResort in Tampa; I shot a couple of the following pictures in the gorgeous orange sunlight to show the place at its best! P.s. mind the alligators…

 

You may have seen some ‘behind the scenes’ photos popping up on my INSTAGRAM, and I’m super happy finally to share the trip on the blog! The Trendy team were awesome fun, and I couldn’t have asked for a better active escape ? Steve Read was the photographer – I’m a big fan of his, especially his portrait photography. His fitness shots feel moody, aspirational and massively engaging. I tried snapping one of him below, for posterity

Below are some of Steve’s images from the new Spring/Summer 15 collections (those without watermarks at the bottom right are courtesy of Steve), as well as some of my behind the scene photos. Unfortunately my photographer couldn’t join me for the trip, so I took most of the behind-the-scenes shots myself – not up to the usual Fitness On Toast standard, but I hope you’ll like them all the same

 

Big thanks to team Trendy Sport for making the trip such fun! To find the looks I’m wearing, along with much more beautiful fitness fashion, click onto the Trendy Sports website! xx

TOP 5 ‘ACTIVE ESCAPES’ WISHLIST !!!

As regular readers may have noticed, I love to feature my active escapes on the blog; the series of posts grew as a reaction to an observation that clients, friends and family seem to want to stay in shape whilst on holiday, and even to use that very same 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’m super happy to have teamed up with Travelex for a collaboration highlighting my ‘top 5 active-escapes wishlist’ for 2015. Click MORE to get a feel for the sorts of escapes I think will prove a hit from both a culture AND wellness perspective…

People are in search of more healthy escapes, now more than ever before, whether it be an active escape or a more restorative holiday to recharge their batteries (spa, detox, yoga). Society is becoming ever more health conscious, and is increasingly seeking out a holiday which helps us to feel rested and energised as opposed to lethargic and guilty from an obscenely indulgent holiday. People chose based on living a healthy lifestyle, which has historically been an expensive pursuit. These days, as competition has increased, living fit is becoming ever-more affordable, both in the UK and abroad. People are increasingly being driven by fitness! Here’s my top 5 for 2015 (in no particular order)…

1) LAKE SKATING IN STOCKHOLM

Sweden’s my home country, and for many months of the year, it gets arctic-cold, especially in the northernmost parts. Because the culture has evolved around that, you can expect a lot of cold-weather activities, including skiing, snowboarding, ice-fishing, igloo-building, sledging, and cross-country skiing. One incredibly beautiful activity is long distance ice skating. My auntie first told me about it when I was very young; basically, because there are thousands of little islands dotted along the coast you can easily skate for miles in the depths of winter. Pack a picnic and the mandatory hot chocolate, and off you go. A bit of history; our courageous and slightly crazy king Karl X Gustav decided on the 30th january 1658 to take his entire army across the ice between Sweden and Denmark in order to launch a surprise attack on the Danes. Given the weight of an entire army on the ice, some unfortunately drowned on the way over but the majority survived and the ice held! These days, there are companies to help you achieve it safely, as a brief google will show!

TIPS: Training for ice skating; you’ll need a strong core, stability and balance. Staying upright for a long period on a slippery surface isn’t easy. A slouched posture will yield back pain at the very least. Overall strength training is a must, with special attention paid to core and lower back exercises, which work together to control balance and stability. I like to include some balance exercises in the workout routine; seek out unstable surfaces (such as the Bosu, wooden boards etc) and practice finding your centre of gravity! As with any exercise requiring the use of legs as the main source of power, I’d suggest a comprehensive squat regime too!

2) YOGA IN VENICE

Venice isn’t the most obvious choice of location for a relaxed yoga session. but having recently visited, I scouted out some exceptional spots high above the bustle of the waterfront and crowded canals, which afford some stunning views. My choice would be on the iconic terrace of the Danieli Hotel, where I’m pictured above.  To my mind, Yoga is an ethos unto itself, and a way of life – the goal is to achieve total health rather than just an aesthetic result. The opportunity to practise it overlooking the natural & man-made beauty of Venice, is too fabulous! This would be a great Spring-time activity to my mind.

TIPS: One of the things I love about yoga is that it’s not just for practised professionals. Anyone can participate, and indeed benefit from it. I wrote about the basics a while back, in this post. One factor which can only benefit the practise of yoga is flexibility; the inclusion of a 10-15 minute stretching regime before bed can only help. Further, I’d suggest giving thought to the benefits of meditation, as the concepts are very much complementary to much of the Yoga ethos.

3) HIKING IN THE MOROCCAN ‘ATLAS MOUNTAINS’

Hiking through the Atlas Mountains is a dramatically scenic experience and exceptional cardio at the same time! The culture is incredibly rich, the local foods are deliciously flavoursome, and the sights are epic. FYI ‘walking’ is not a word to describe hiking, as a proper hike like this involves the combination of a varieties of terrain quality, incline, altitude, weather conditions – it’s far more physically challenging, burns 240% of the calories (c.550 per hour for a 70kg individual who’s orienteering, vs c. 230 for the same individual walking at 3mph).

TIPS: To get yourself ready for this activity you should be (depending on your current fitness level) walking as it strengthens the muscles that you;ll be using as well as improving your cardiovascular fitness, Then  increase the intensity by time, frequency, distance, terrain, stair climbing. Check heart rate and recovery time and create a plan to improve it. Other than that get yourself into the gym and pick up some weight and focus on overall strength with particular focus on legs as they’ll be doing a lot of the work! Also don’t forget to stretch!

4) ALTITUDE TRAINING IN TANZANIA

I’ve always wanted to visit Tanzania, a country which has so much to offer – stunning beaches, safari, camping and whilst you’re there you may as well climb the highest mountain in Africa – Kilimanjaro (the peak rising to a monstrous 19,341 ft)! When climbing at high altitudes, the body needs to acclimatise to the thinness of the air (and thus sparseness of oxygen) fairly quickly.

TIPS: A high fitness level and strong, capacious lungs will help this. HIIT (high intensity interval training) which alternates between high intensity (elevating the heart rate) followed by brief active recoveries (and then elevating it again) forces the cardiovascular system to handle the stress of of limited oxygen, which is the same pressure it would experience in high altitude training. As with hiking also pay extra attention to training legs – the stair climber machine is fab, as are some thunderous deadlifts!

5) TRAPEZE TRAINING IN BALI

Just the thought of Bali conjures up memories of white sand, palm trees, lush green rain forest and delicious fresh foods. If you’ve never been, this small island is the perfect paradise escape – a place to stretch out in a hammock to de-stress and regenerate. There are also endless activities; my active trips would include trekking, scuba diving and even trapeze training as there’s a world-famous academy there. Throwing yourself into the air at an exhilarating speed, and at the same time learning some tricks for the body – including catches and somersaults is not only fun, it’s a workout too! Trapeze training is said to be a full body workout and great way to improve co-ordination, boost muscle strength, and increase flexibility. I always encourage the importance of variation in any training program – trapeze workouts certainly offer that variety!

TIPS: You’ll need overall strength but again a strong core and back. Spend some extra time working on your back and shoulders – pull-ups are a great exercise to strengthen the back using your own body weight. Weighted dips won’t hurt the deltoid/tricep strength required to lever yourself around when flying through the air! Head to travelex.co.uk/travelfit to find more tips on how to get fit for your trip and spend your pennies wisely.

DISCLOSURE: THIS IS A SPONSORED PIECE OF CONTENT, AND A COLLABORATION WITH TRAVELEX, THE WORLD’S LEADING FOREIGN EXCHANGE SPECIALIST. If you’d like to see more on these destinations or more fitness destinations in 2015 please visit Travelex.

ABU DHABI TENNIS TOURNAMENT !!!

I’ve literally had some emails asking about my trip to Abu Dhabi which recently featured on my Instagram, so thought I’d pop a quick post up about it! One of the biggest upsides to “Active Travel” is that you get to combine a healthy lifestyle with the thrill of discovering somewhere new and exciting. When I recently had the awesome opportunity to hop over to Abu Dhabi to attend the annual Sheikh Mohammed bin Saeed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan tennis tournament, I instantly took the opportunity, having never visited before. Monreal London, one of the Sheikha’s favourite tennis brands, had been asked to join the Tournament, alongside legendary British brands Fortnum & Mason and Graff Diamonds, and I was invited along for the occasion! Click MORE to see some of my behind-the-scenes pics from a fabulous spectacle of fitness!
The Tournament is an annual event, hosted by H.H. Sheikha Shaikha bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, at her family residence, the Palace of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan. It’s a private, invitation only event, with 2015 being the 6th year in which it’s been held. The invitees are all female, ultra-VIP friends/family/guests (along with little old me) of Her Highness Sheikha Shaikha. For this reason, unfortunately I can’t share photos of the incredible palace, the tennis courts and the grounds, but I’ve included a few photos – glimpses into the event itself, which was truly spectacular! FYI, the set-up was incredibly pro, with Hawk-Eye technology, a 200-seat grandstand, and a host of ball-boys & girls!
As you might be able to tell from the above images, this year’s theme was very much pastel-coloured; from the tennis balls which were pastel pinks, blues and greens, to the newly redecorated interior schema of the pool house, which overlooked the Arabian Gulf. Inside the pool house, an island had been custom built amidst the water, with life size mannequins playing tennis. Fortnum & Mason were not only exhibiting, but also covered the catering at the event; beautiful tiered cakes and chocolate-coated grasshoppers were just some of the indulgent treats I sampled on a cheat day (some things are too good to turn down!). They were also joined by Graff, who hosted the most dazzling (literally) fashion show, unveiling gigantic exotic diamond after gigantic exotic diamond as their elegant models sashayed down the runway. What a treat! Below are some images I snapped whilst we were setting up.
As an extra bonus, I got to spend plenty of time with the founder of Monreal London, who is the creative director of one of my absolute favourite Fitness Fashion brands, who’ve uniquely pushed the envelope around what we consider to be sporty fashion. Stefani Grosse (pictured in the monochrome shot above, and the ones below too!), who was the subject of my mini-interview featured in a post last summer (HERE), has consistently imbued her first 3 collections with a minimal yet playful aesthetic which effortlessly delivers ‘high fashion’ to the wearable domain of the fitness environment. It’s a super forward-looking style which I think will continue to revolutionise the way we will dress to work out in the future. After the formalities were concluded, tourism was the name of the game for us! Hope you enjoy looking at some of these snaps

VENICE FITNESS FESTIVAL

OK so it’s not a fitness festival, but I wanted to showcase some of the beautiful behind-the-scenes encounters from when we shot our collaboration with Urban Outfitters in Venice – including this fun little blog video Travelling has always been one of the things I savour most in life. Growing up, I’d plastered maps on my walls, and installed a globe by my bedside, to let my imagination roam as my mind drifted off! Then, as well as now, if I’m ever feeling a bit down, I’ll conjure images of all the exciting places I’m yet to visit; the romantic, sinking city of Venice was always one of them, and this little ‘active escape’ was the perfect opportunity to check it off the list. Jogging around the canals was a great way to get to know the place a little better, and cancelled out a few of those irresistibly delicious Italian lattes! Click MORE to see all the snaps of my Venetian finds…

When you arrive in Venice, it all sort of instantly happens – you get on a boat from the mainland and then suddenly you’re enveloped by buildings literally flourishing from within the turquoise-green waters around you. It instills a film-set like sense of having arrived in a city which is completely illogical, unsustainable, downright bonkers… which makes it all the more magical. The architecture is so Italian – ornate, expressive, gesticulatory, really OTT, and absolutely stunning. You sort of pray it’s not all going to suddenly give way and collapse into the water!

One thing that hits you instantly: they love Masks. I arrived soon after the Venice Carnival, during which everyone masquerades around the city in full panto-costume, with ornate headgear and extravagant regalia stealing the show! I couldn’t resist…

During my trip, I stayed at the gorgeous Hotel Danieli which contains possibly the purest expression of ‘Italian decor’ I’ve ever seen. It occupies super-prime real estate, situated on one of the main waterfront promenades overlooking the venetian lagoons. Despite being one of the most iconic institutions of hospitality in Venice, if you’re not paying attention you could easily miss it; that’s quite something in a city where everything is loud and tourist-attracting. From the outside it’s a gorgeous orange building but you wouldn’t think it a hotel. When you enter, you’re greeted by an unexpected high ceiling carved in beautiful wood and italian trinkets as far as you can see. My favourite part of the hotel was the beautiful terrace on the 6th floor which overlooks the beautiful bay outside. You can watch the sunset whilst sipping the most gorgeous beeline or a fresh mint tea.

The hotel is a mere hop-and-a-skip from Piazza San Marco, the cultural heart of the city, to which all the authentic streets and little canals are connected like veins.

You also get treated to some epic evening delights, courtesy of mother nature;

More fitness-related content coming soon, and thanks for allowing me a brief foray into travel ?

 

SPRING INTO FITNESS !!!

Spring has finally sprung in London, and I’m totally throwing myself into it! I don’t know about you, but when the sun is out and the flowers start to bloom, it utterly transforms my mental state. In Spring, I want to be healthier more than ever – drink gallons of water, eat schools of fresh fish, and create beautiful light salads. Going for a run in the park is often my way of marking the arrival of spring, as watching the buds in the trees bursting into bloom is invigorating and gives me a dose of true happiness! Click MORE to see some of the shots from my Regent’s Park Spring shoot along with my 6 top tips for launching back into fitness!

 

We’re way past the historic remnants of ‘New Year’s Resolutions’, which means we’re through the toughest, longest, darkest part of the year. From here, nature gives you a bit of a lift to boost your training regime, by way of wonderful weather! Spring is a time when I feel rejuvenated, refreshed, and its a time for innovation, as well as a good mental and physical spring clean! Setting goals isn’t restricted to any particular time of year, so why not re-engage with your targets! Here are my top 6 tips to get things going again…

1) THINK SUSTAINABLE
Try not to think of the way you eat as a ‘diet’. I have found that diets are unsustainable, often unhealthy and ultimately fail. Eating healthily is the opposite to that. It’s not something you pursue on-and-off, but it’s a long term solution. This way when or if you ‘slip up’ you be less likely to give up, be despondent and realise that one or two meals/days of less-than-perfect eating won’t undermine your overall commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

2) RELAX ABOUT ‘WEIGHT LOSS’
If your end-goal is weight loss, then de-prioritise it; I’ve found that if you set realistic, specific goals which all involve healthy eating and regular fitness, then weight loss will come as an extra bonus! The ultimate goal is to be genuinely healthy, to see your body get stronger, and enjoy that wonderful feeling of achievement! Body-weight is merely a corollary of that.

3) BE REALISTIC:
If, like me, you love chocolate, then the likelihood is ZERO that you’ll one day wake up and decide never to have chocolate again, and stick to it. So instead, just be realistic and incorporate those treats into your mostly healthy eating. Switch to 80% dark chocolate, for example, as a healthier option, and just have a few squares in the evening along with a mint tea. Trying to be a monk won’t yield success!

4) TREAT YOURSELF:
Reaching your goals along the way deserves a little reward, whether it’s a delicious scoop of indulgent ice-cream during the week, or a relaxing sports massage after all your hard work in the gym. Perhaps a manicure or spa experience. Enjoy it, only after you’ve earned it. Those mini-targets are a great way to keep yourself pushing on from week to week!

5) SET MANAGEABLE GOALS: 
If you set unrealistic goals, you’re setting yourself up for rapid failure, will feel miserable and are statistically more likely to give up altogether. If you detest running, don’t force it, and instead do something else – bicycle, spin, row, cross train – go outdoors. Introduce more diverse activities into your everyday routine. Take the stairs at work instead of the lift. Mix it up to prevent boredom setting in!

6) DRINK GALLONS OF WATER!
Surely some ice cold water with a slice of lemon is the best drink to quench your thirst in these sunnier times? Water will totally transform your physical and mental state as well as progress your fitness goals. Read more on the on the benefits of staying hydrated here.

Hope that helps with a sprinkling of spring-time resolve for your fitness regime! Good luck!

_________________________

I WAS WEARING:

PANTS: Fifi Leggings by NoJiggle
TOP: Lola Top by NoJiggle
SHOES: Nike FlyKnit TR
TOP: Adidas Shell Jacket similar here

UK BLOG AWARD !!!

Last Friday evening, an absolutely awesome thing happened! You might remember that Fitness On Toast was short-listed for ‘Best Lifestyle Blog’ in the 2015 UK Blog Awards, and over the past three months, we’ve eagerly awaited the result. The venue for the ‘bloggers soiree’ (themed in the wacky style of ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass‘) was at London’s prestigious Montcalm Hotel; as with the Cosmo event last October, this was an awards ceremony that offered attendees the chance to network with hundreds of other bloggers, both individuals and company-representatives. This year there were over 40,000 entries, and a similar number of votes, with some seriously distinguished bloggers in attendance!

I’m over the moon to report that the representatives from Debenhams (sponsors of the Lifestyle category) announced Fitness On Toast as the ‘Best Lifestyle Blog’ at the awards. I was utterly bowled over, and danced my way up to the stage! GUSH ALERT: I don’t take any of this for granted! This award is the [naturally-sweetened] icing on the [gluten-free, quinoa-flour] cake, and tops off the most amazing twelve months of my blogging life; I want to thank every single one of my readers who took the time to cast a vote for FOT – it fills me with joy, and makes me want to work double-hard on new projects to keep bringing you my best fitness-related content! Thank you again with all my heart 

(Click MORE to see my pics from the event!)

 

I love an occasion to dress things up a little! My outfit for the night: Satin Maix Dress from Coast, Bottega Venetta clutch, Daisy ‘Crown Chakra’ necklace and bracelet set, and my trusty Louboutin Pigalles, fresh back from the specialist cobblers & looking like new again!

MODEL BEHAVIOUR !!!

This post features a training session & an interview with the super-charismatic top Model, Max Rendell, revealing how he wholly pursues a fit and healthy lifestyle amidst the chaotic travel demands placed upon a world-class beautiful person! His schedule is relentless, but his discipline around wellness comfortably matches it. What amazes me most is that whilst Max is in his early twenties, his knowledge and understanding of all things ‘healthy’ is incredibly advanced; it’s almost unthinkable that 20 years ago, young adults would have professed such an ethos – I think that’s a super-positive result of ‘health & fitness trends‘ meeting ‘the internet‘, and helping us all to school-up before we tone-up! Click MORE to see pics from our session, and to get the ‘Model Tips & Tricks’ from our interview!

F.O.T: As a full time model you’re aways on the go; how do you manage to stay fit and healthy?
MR: Thankfully we get quite a lot of luxuries in this job, including free usage of gyms and if I’m not in the country, then usually in our hotels. I take my ab roller with me where ever I go, I really enjoy using it. I also always play football when I’m out and about. I also play a lot of golf, though I’m not saying that’s a strenuous sport. I’ve recently started getting into my swimming too. I use my ab roller everyday as well as a circuit of squats, pushup, flutter kicks, sit-ups, mountain climbers, planks, side planks. I do it everyday, to keep my body ticking over. I find I don’t always have a massive amount of time, I guess it’s the same for everyone. At the end of the day I don’t always have the dedication to go to the gym so I’ll do a circuit in my room for circa 45 minutes.
F.O.T: Do you do any cardio, skipping for example?
MR: I dont do any skipping, I have bad memories. When I was 5-6 we had a skipping rope competition at school and fell after one skip, flat on my face. I haven’t really picked a rope up ever since.
F.O.T: With #fitspiration trending, have you noticed a shift in the model world? Is a ‘strong’ look more popular now would you say?
MR: It’s a good question, when I first got into the industry I thought I was far from a model because I thought the model was like the big latino looking, tanned, muscular guy shall we say and I didn’t really see this side of the fashion industry where you got the skinny pale looking type. So theres two different sides to the industry really – you’ve got the fashion side and then you’ve got the commercial side which are obviously the bigger more muscular guys and hopefully with age I can skip into the other side. I think there has beens sort of a wave where its gone from skinny to muscular to skinny – a constant wave. I wouldn’t know what to say about the women’s fashion industry. I can’t only say what I see in the papers and it’s too skinny for my liking.
F.O.T: Do you ever feel there’s a pressure on you as a model as representative image of brands etc to change or to hone your body in a different way or are you comfortable as it is?
MR: At the end of the day you are your own brand. If you want to do something *for yourself*, thats more important. For example with Burberry they’ll never pick a muscular look – it’s so different for each brand. As a skinny model you probably won’t do Armani, you wont do Dolce & Gabbana, but you’ll do the likes of Dior and Burberry, and vice versa so it’s where you want to place yourself and more about being your own brand – you work for yourself in a way.
F.O.T: Do you think male models are subjected to weight pressures?
MR:  I don’t think so; the pressure on females is a lot higher. As soon as you put on half an inch around your waist, you’re off. With men, I’ve seen men walk around with big macs and its all a big laugh, with women its far more of a competition. I spoke to a girl the other day who said that all she’d had to eat, all day, was an apple and nuts – for the whole day and I thought HOW? I mean I have to eat four meals a day. Theres not a lot of pressure for guys to keep the weight off but I think it’s a lot stronger on women.
F.O.T: What’s your typical nutrition during a day?
MR: So breakfast will vary I’ll either have a four-five egg omelette or I’ll have oatmeal or fruit and natural yoghurt. I tend to eat quite healthy – I’d like to think anyway. Watching all these programs you never know. Snacks will be a bag full of nuts, left over continental breakfast – the odd croissant or whatever, and then I usually have a healthy lunch and dinner as well. Always a source of protein, carbohydrates, some vegetables. I was told by the dentist recently that I eat too much fruit – the acidity is ruining my teeth. So I’ve had to cut back, but to be fair I probably was eating 6-7 pieces of fruit a day. I’ve just bought a juicer so I’m juicing more vegetable based juices now.
F.O.T: What are your go-to snacks when you travel?
MR: I always take a bag of unsalted nuts with me, and for lift-off a bag of sweets because I still can’t bare that bit – thats the only unhealthy part. I’ll make my own lunch whether it’s a sandwich or a tub full of chicken.
F.O.T: Your biggest vice?
MR: It used to be fizzy soft drinks and then I watched a program about 3-5months ago on how much sugar was in fizzy drinks. Although it was hard to cut back I’m glad to say I haven’t had one in a long time. I think I knew how much sugar was in it but that was the thrill of it – you drink a can of coke and you’re awake again. Now you realise! I was watching something the other day – truth about calories and sugar; its all hidden and you haven’t got a clue, unless you know. My biggest advice would probably be stick away from fizzy drinks!
F.O.T: What about alcohol?
MR: I’m a sucker for alcohol. I would say stick away from alcohol of course but, ahem…
F.O.T: What about the other night (we were at the same party) did you have a lot to drink?
MR: (laughs) You could say that.
F.O.T: So you still enjoy yourself…
MR: You’ve got to. I would never say take it to the extreme where your not enjoying it, you know. Got to live!
F.O.T: Sounds like you have a good balance
MR: I like to think so. I do more cardio instead of weights which is a shame as I’m looking to put on a little bit of weight which I’m never going to get from cardio alone.
F.O.T: You mentioned you’re interested in studying to become a nutritionist – what’s drove you in that direction?
MR: Due to the fact, I suppose, that this industry has influenced it in a way; regularly speaking to people on what they are and aren’t eating. As I said earlier there was a girl who ate cat food shall we say, and I think it needs to be put out there more that there are good nourishing things we can eat. People are so weight conscious, but there are things out there that won’t necessarily make you put on weight. I think not just due to physical wellbeing, but my skin used to be really bad as well and I think that helped me to clock what I should and shouldn’t eat. I think thats more than anything what led me into the idea of studying nutrition, but its only really developed into a real idea in the last year or so. At the moment I’m still just enjoying myself travelling and whatnot. In the next few years is when I’ll settle down and start thinking about it – long term career I suppose.
F.O.T: This might be just that – your long term career… Would you want it to be?
MR: It could well be, I’ve really enjoyed it. The first year I struggled, I never wanted to travel. I was a real home-boy, really a mummy’s-boy, I didn’t want to leave home at all. The last year or so I’ve really enjoyed seeing other places  and different cultures and what not. So part of me would say ‘yeah I want to do it for as long as possible’ but I’d also like to do something else.
F.O.T: Any favourite spots so far, best place/s you’ve travelled to so far?
MR: Tokyo, its incredible, I was there for six weeks, I got back last month. It was just the best experience because its a whole different culture shock. It’s not like Europe, it’s not like the americanisation, they’ve very much grown themselves and its just so polite and clean and its a real nice place to go. The food’s absolutely fantastic, it’s just awesome.
F.O.T: Working within the fashion world, have you noticed a fitness-fashion crossover at all?
MR: I haven’t really noticed it massively aside from on Ig a bit. Theres always sporty bits from big brands, but I haven’t really seen anything that sporty.
F.O.T: And finally, fave Exercise?
MR: Ab roller, and perhaps mountain climbers too. Absolute least favourite: legs. Hate training them!

MONOCHROME MOTIVATION !!!

Yesterday was a cloudy and cold day in London; motivation naturally dips in those conditions, and the temptation is to lie in bed, watch a movie and just be lazy! But it’s so worth combating the trough; following a bout of some mental ‘self-discipline’, I shot out of bed, donned my Old Navy camo kit, and dispatched some sprints along the beautiful Regents Canal – which at this point in the year resembles something tropical and Amazonian; the lush canopy is in full bloom! Aside from the runs, I brought my beloved kettle bell and powered out a little circuit consisting of kettle bell swings, some (not so beloved) burpees with narrow grip push up, lunges with a twist, and bear crawls (currently my favourite!). Click MORE to see the full routine as well as some fun GIFs and the outfit details!

I kicked off with some stretches followed by squat holds and kettle bell squats (as per the above 2 images), just to warm up a tad. Then it’s time to move on to kettle bells swings, which keep the muscles working throughout the entire motion; they work all together which avoids imbalances, and is softer on the joints / bones. As such, they’re great overall muscle-conditioners. The swing works your core and legs, as well as developing muscle through the arms, the shoulders and the other stabiliser muscles too! See below 2 images for the kettle bell swings.

Lunge + oblique twist: Lunge forward with your left leg (though alternate once complete), hands held out in front of you grasping the kettle bell, twist from your torso in a 90 degree arc of motion, bringing kettle bell in the direction of your front-extended leg . Targets: legs, glutes, core. Ouch.

As per the below illustration, bear crawls rely on your own body weight. It looks super easy but don’t be fooled by this one, as when executed correctly, it is exhausting. The exercise builds strength and muscular endurance in, effectively, the entire body, but particularly in the arms, shoulders, triceps and chest. You must ensure to engage your core (no slouching or arching, keep the hips square and place your hands directly underneath your shoulders. The knees should at no point touch the ground.Then start crawling forward, in a slow and controlled fashion. Roaring is optional.

Burpees again rely on your own body weight. They target the entire body and combine explosive power, anaerobic endurance and will get your heart rate up rapidly. Start in a squat position, simultaneously shoot your legs back behind you and place both hands in line with your shoulder, adopting a high plank position. Execute a narrow grip pushup, then jump your legs in towards your feet again, so that you’re back in a squat position; then jump up into air, extending the arms upwards. Thats one rep! Now repeat 10x minimum, or until exhaustion! Good luck x

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I WAS WEARING:

I collaborated with Old Navy on this look because I think their outfits demonstrate that you can dress stylishly in your activewear without breaking the bank. I’m a particular fan of the geometric / digital camouflage print on the pants ? I’ve chosen to dress the look up with some accessories, but the core gear amounts to little over £30!

Old Navy Top
Old Navy Hoodie
Old Navy Pants
Adidas Ultra Boot Trainers 
Celine Sunglasses 
Bag Chanel

THIS IS A SPONSORED PIECE OF CONTENT PRODUCED FOR OLD NAVY

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SKINSPIRATION !

Around this sunny time of year when the flowers bloom and the air is fragranced with honeyed pollen, I always want to detox and clear my system. I’m a firm believer in eating the highest-quality organic produce available, and am convinced that how you treat your body will show from the inside out. The condition of your skin depends on a number of factors; age, genetics, levels of UV exposure, amount of alcohol consumed, nicotine, diet, hydration, general health, environment etc. However, I think that the skin is a great indicator into your overall health; throughout my teens I struggled with my skin – like many teenagers, I’d get breakouts of acne which really got me down, and I still get the odd spots here and there. The interesting pattern I’ve noticed is that they tend to appear when I’m stressed, or when I’ve eaten a surplus of sugar (natural or otherwise), so I think it’s very much a hormonal consequence of those triggers. Through my struggles with my skin, I found early on how I could help to improve it through diet and behaviours that help my complexion. Click MORE to get the full insights into the 10 factors I consider critical to maintain healthy skin…

As part of an investigation into whether healthy eating combined with natural supplementation can improve my skin, I recently underwent a derma scan with the Scandinavian skincare brand Imedeen (with whom I’m commercially collaborating on the project – if you want to join me in my 90 day trial, click here); the scan showed a ‘before‘ picture of a healthy dermal layer, and a reticular layer with plenty of collagen – so a good base on which to build ahead of my ‘after‘ scan in 3 months time. The daily tablet contains a Marine Complex (protein strings containing elements similar to those naturally found in the skin) Vitamin C (to help protect cells from oxidative stress and support collagen formation) and Zinc (which helps with maintenance and repair of normal skin cells). I’ll bring you the results in a dedicated post when I get them!

In the meantime, if you are run down or haven’t had the time to pamper your face, here are some tips to help you on your way as well as my thoughts for foods which will benefit your skin!

MINI BACKGROUND ON THE SKIN:

It’s the largest organ of our bodies, performing a protective injury-preventative role, keeping out bacteria, enabling ‘sensation’, thermo-regulating via the sweat glands, and forming vitamin D for our bodies. There are 3 key layers; the Epidermis (the thin, wafer-like top layer, which is protective, and allows the secretion of sweat and the formation of new epidermal cells, along with enabling ‘tanning’ via the melanocyte secretion of pigment), the Dermis (the cushioning layer, broken into 3 divisions, all of which are thicker than the epidermis, and which house structures like follicles, sweat glands, fat cells, nerves, blood vessels etc) and the Subcutaneous (the deepest of the layers, including the collagen producing centre of the skin; there are roots, nerve endings, fats and even some insulation).

10 FACTORS FOR HEALTHY SKIN:

i) LEMON WATER
– Packed with vitamin C as well as a good source of potassium & calcium.
– Antibacterial – It’s super nutritious but also boats antibacterial properties.
– Detoxifying – I drink a big glass of freshly-squeezed lemon water first thing in the morning as it works wonders on kicking your digestive system into life, and as a powerful natural cleanser. Best to drink through a straw though, in order to protect your teeth.

ii) COLD PRESSED JUICES
– I use my cold press juicer as it preserves the nutritional value of the food (high speed juicers heat the contents and render the sugars more ‘simple’.
– Natural multivitamin – it acts an instant natural multivitamin hit.
– Plant based – I try to maximise my intake of plant based vegetables as they are lower on the glycemic index (less simple sugars). Phyto-estrogens are natural chemicals found in plant-based foods – a natural hormone which has been shown to help keep your own chemistry in balance.
– Flavouring – whether it’s ginger, lime, berries etc it’ll instantly give any juice some delicious flavour.

iii) FISH
– Omega 3 & 6 fats – contains plenty of these essential fatty acids (which simply cannot be made by your body alone), and these are great fats for your skin
– Anti inflammatory – can especially help inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psorasis.

iv) HOME MADE FACE SCRUB
When I say scrub up for may I literally meant get some of the following natural ingredients – avocado, sea salt, coconut oil. Mix up a batch of nourishing, exfoliating remedy to get rid of dead skin cells. I find a good face (and body) scrub once a week helps. Just don’t go too aggressive, too often!

v) HERBS
-Parsley – a ‘super herb’ chock block with skin goodness including potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. There’s also something called ‘myricetin’ which is a flavonol known to have preventative effects on forms of skin cancer. Foods such as sweet potato, cranberries and blackberries are some of the foods that contain the highest concentrations of myricetin, but parsley is right up there with them too.

vi) HYDRATION
– It’s crucial to remember to drink plenty of water in order to flush out the toxins, which in turn helps to keep your skin pure, taut and healthy. Taking extra water on board will ensure your skin stays hydrated, as water acts like a moisturiser from the inside out.

vii) SLEEP
Sleep is critical for overall health including the quality of your skin. I can certainly tell if I’ve been sleeping badly – my skin is less supple, I have dark storms brewing under my eyes etc etc.
– Restore and repair – the body works hard during sleep at restoring and repairing organs, bones, and tissue.
– Immune system – a great time to replenish and strengthen the immune processes.
– I find if I’ve had a bad night’s sleep it increases my appetite the following day and I crave more unhealthy foods. Plenty of sleep helps everything else fit in properly!

viii) COCONUT OIL
– You may have read my post on Coconut oil – I’m a huge fan of using it both as a makeup remover and moisturiser. Since your body generally absorbs 70% of whatever you put on your skin, you’ll want to make sure it’s good for you!
a) Everyday – I use it as a daily facial/body moisturiser. The smallest amount goes a long way, and too much starts to get a little greasy.
b) Natural – whatever you put onto your skin is absorbed by the body, directly into the bloodstream. So whilst I stay clear of eating too many toxins (colourings and flavourings etc.), I try to do the same for my skin. Coconut boasts antibacterial properties too which help to deter spots.
c) The skin is thought to “age” through the oxidation of fats that are housed within the skin; coconut acts as an antioxidant. And whilst it’s not a sunblock, the antioxidant properties help to protect the skin from free radical damage caused by the sun.

ix) GOOD FATS
They’re responsible for growth, repair, and the development of tissue including muscle cells.
Nuts – brazil, pecan, cashewsm, pine nuts – any unsalted nuts are packed with good fats and work wonders for your skin. Take almonds for example – theyr’re a great source of vitamin E, a nutrient which has been shown to help improve the texture of your skin. The almond skin itself is also high in flavonoids, which is a heart-protecting compound.
Avocado – is full of the healthy monounsaturated fat, which can lower your blood cholesterol and decrease your risk of heart disease as well as help improve your skin.

x) EXERCISE
– When working out, the skin is being supplied with oxygenated blood (responsible for those rosy cheeks and a nice glow)! This exertion invariably boosts circulation and nourishes the skin, helping to rid it of toxins.
– The Sweating-and-rehydration cycle cleans your pores and blocked-up skin, and encourages you to drink yet more water!

Here are the rest of the shots from my wander around the beautiful Clifton Nurseries!

 

CLIFF-TOP HIKING IN IBIZA!

On my recent active escape to Ibiza (full review coming up!), I embarked upon a breathtaking clifftop hike, blessed with some of the most spellbinding views the island has to offer. I made my way along the jagged sandstone peaks towards the famous landmarks, Es Vedrà and Atlantis. You may have read my previous post on the Benefits of Hiking, from my Morocco adventure last year; this Ibizan trek included all those same ‘workout’ benefits as in Morocco – a leg workout seriously targeting glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves – PLUS the added work required to achieve stability, coordination, balance, core work and fun! It certainly toasts calories whilst you sweat in the sun and pick up some healthy colour! Staying hydrated in that draining scenario is critical, so I took my BRITA Fill & Go for a swig on the move! Read MORE for the details on my trek, & what I found along the way!

My hike in Morocco was slow and steady and a true test of aerobic fitness & endurance. This hike was no less intense, but was steep with multiple pitch changes and loose terrain; that combination quickly exhausted my muscles. I especially felt it in my lower body, as there was a lot more stop-start and explosive movement required, which is a real challenge for me as I’m naturally stronger on the ‘endurance’ front. Once you reach the top it’s a fabulous sense of achievement followed by a sense of peace and tranquility. There is the indescribably breathtaking reward from that view, standing atop the island’s lookout point, listening to the silent whispers of the gentle winds. Perhaps a great little place to meditate and good for the soul. Regardless hiking remains one of my favoured forms of cardiovascular training, and with the steep hill you’ll undoubtedly get the same benefits as doing a tough weighted leg workout in the gym!

Prior to my hike, I undertook a little warm up session, including some mountain runners (above) and a full-body stretch routine!

Es Vedra (below) is a mysterious, uninhabited island which protrudes volcanically from the ocean, peaking at a height of almost 420 meters above the water-level. Whilst I didn’t climb the monstrous rock itself, on the mainland you can hike the to the top of the island’s uppermost point whereby you can rest your eyes upon the surrounding natural beauty or possibly break for some meditation. Climbing the path leading to the summit, you’ll find man made stone assemblies, carved masks, glyphs and runes in the mountain faces, and other pseudo-tribal artistic gems! The spiritual and colourful types on the island believe Es Vedra to be a place for aliens to land… Others say it’s the majestic tip of Atlantis. Some just think it’s a rock, but they probably lack imagination. It supposedly has a strong magnetic force which can be very strong on sensitive souls, so beware [though it has been found to be 150-million-year-old Mesozoic limestone with no magnetic constituents whatsoever…]. Regardless of your degrees of spiritually, the walk itself conjures up some true fitness inspiration. It requires masses of leg strength, balance and coordination, as well as a resolute spirit and strong determination!

Atlantis is more of a steeply downhill battle (and obviously uphill on your return). It’s quite a challenging descent with a slippery surface so make sure to bring shoes with a strong grip and decent support. At the bottom you’ll find turquoise sea and soft sand (more than ample reward for the exertion) as well as a cave with all sorts of deities carved on its cliff-face!

It’s spring in Ibiza now and a wonderful time to visit as the island is green and lush and quieter, as the tourist party season hasn’t yet exploded. The weather was also perfect for exercising outside, but it’s crucial to stay properly hydrated. I brought my trusted Brita Fill & Go, which I’m using to tie in with the Better with BRITA campaign running at the moment.

 

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I WAS WEARING: 
Top: VARLEY Gloria White Tee
Pants: SUKISHUFU, Universe Taupe
Trainers: Under Armour Women’s UA SpeedForm Gemini 

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DISCLOSURE: THE PRODUCT PICTURED ABOVE IS A ‘FILL & GO‘ – THIS IS A SPONSORED COLLABORATION WITH BRITA AS PART OF THEIR ‘BETTER WITH BRITA’ CAMPAIGN