When you think of the stereotype of the fitness junkie and that of the tech geek, they're hardly a pair that go hand in hand. Yet the two have long been interlinked, with technology playing a much bigger role in sports than some people might initially think. Sure, the varsity jock and AV nerd depicted in most high school coming-of-age movies would certainly suggest the opposite - that the two worlds are more like chalk and cheese - but in real life, they form a pretty damn be

Growing up in the UAE, big brand names from the Western world were among the most coveted items anyone could own. I'd eagerly flip through the pages of Tiger Beat magazine (yes, no shame here - I was a tween growing up in the 90's, what did you expect?) and among all of the pages of pictures of celebrities like Jonathan Taylor Thomas, I'd lust over items as simple as Lip Smackers chapstick, Hard Candy nail polish, and Con Air hair crimpers. "They had them in America where all

If you ever truly want a "Hollywood smile", the first place to start is at the dentist - but that isn't just because there are now a plethora of seriously fast and easy ways to "perfect" your teeth (with veneers and more now impressively quickly made and put in, for instance) and other aesthetic treatments. Nope, as with most things, the first place that begins is with your health. Just like the way your skin will look its best when the base - the healthy condition of your sk

While anyone who's ever truly committed to living a fit and healthy lifestyle knows that there aren't any genuine quick fixes (and fad diets are a terrible idea, for many reasons!) when it comes to getting fit and/or losing weight, sometimes you just need to speed things up a bit - whether that's because you've got a holiday, wedding, or school reunion coming up (or an anticipated run-in with your ex), or you're trying to get into shape for a fitness-related goal (be it a 10k

Earlier this year, I was invited to give a talk as part of the inaugural Harvey Nichols Wellness Week. My topic? Motivation. While most of this is mental (that's another post for another day), there are still some actually practical tips you can use to get your butt out the door when you need to exercise. Here are some I've used. Always keep a spare gym kit in your car. This way if you finish work early or find yourself full of energy, you can just go straight to a workout wi

When it comes to the good life - living in boardies and bikinis by the beach, chilling out with an acoustic guitar, enjoying a cold beverage and a hearty meal after a day spent splashing around in the ocean, feeling at one with nature, being happy with the simpler things in life, and seeing the sunrise or sunset every day - surfers have got the formula down pat, according to many stereotypes anyway. And while to a certain extent, the subculture that surrounds this awesome spo

Back when I was a kid, I'd never have believed you if you told me that when I was 31 years old, I'd spend 3 months intensely training for, and then fighting in, some boxing matches in a ring in front of hundreds of people. But that's exactly what I did, when I took part in Fighting Fit DXB, a boxing competition that was being filmed for a reality TV show under that same name, no less (that's a Big Deal for someone who isn't a big fan of reality TV, whether that be watching it