Blog Spotlight: FitNut UAE
June 13, 2016 Blogs
Emirati fitness blogger Sarah Al Nowais established FitNut UAE to help like-minded health and wellness enthusiasts connect. She spoke to MediaSource about her blog’s message, her work with the #ADmovement, and how local businesses can collaborate.
What inspired you to start blogging?
I now manage FitNut UAE on my own, but started it with a friend a couple of years ago. We were both quite active growing up, though at the time we really did not have the right education when it came to proper nutrition. Through trial and error, the growth of the fitness industry and easy access to information, we learnt how to take care of our bodies and went through transformations we wanted to share with those around us. That’s when FitNut UAE was born.
The blog itself is a collaborative platform. I welcome any health, fitness and wellness enthusiasts to share ideas and content, and I especially love posting features. We all love a good story and there are so many inspiring stories to be told! Please get in touch by email if you are interested.
What message would you like people to get from your blog?
Healthy is a way of life. It is not a temporary period of time in which you deprive yourself of the things you like - and it’s not something you can change overnight. It’s something you practice day in and day out. It’s about getting to know your body and its needs (yes, you are basically your own lab rat), so it’s totally OK if you slip up. Don’t beat yourself about it, just get up and do it again. It’s about consistency, it’s about making it a habit and, in turn, a lifestyle. And most importantly, find a way for it to be enjoyable! What works for me, won’t necessarily work for everyone but that’s why I try to feature other people and encourage more to share their experiences. Who knows whose life you may change?
How do you measure the success of your blog?
The blog started in 2014, but I didn’t really get into the swing of things until recently. So for now, when people come up to me and say ‘You’re FitNut UAE - I love your page!’ I consider that a great success. Ask me again next year!
What have been some blogging highlights so far?
Through FitNut UAE, I have been able to meet some amazing people living in the UAE. An opportunity that I probably wouldn’t have got otherwise. I have also been invited to speak alongside other inspirational ladies, and co-founded #theADmovement with two of them, Abeer Amiri and Kristin Anderson.
Tell us about the concept behind the #theADmovement?
#theADmovement is a healthy-living movement in Abu Dhabi that takes a holistic approach to health and wellness. Through a series of ladies-only events, we introduce, in addition to physical and food-related activities, the elements of well-being, self-care, and mindfulness.
Abeer is an Emirati crossfit trainer and Kristin is an American nutrition advocate and fat-loss coach. We launched the concept in March 2016, after we realised there was a strong and unmet need in the city for events and activities geared towards information sharing and knowledge building around different aspects of healthy living. We are excited to bring more this Ramadan on June 15, in partnership with Yas Marina Circuit and the Fatima Bint Mubarak Sports Academy, so stay tuned and follow @theADmovement for more information!
How can local businesses and brands get involved?
We are all about bringing people and businesses together, collaborating to spread awareness. If you have a service to offer or business to promote in the health and wellness industry, #theADmovement is where you need to be! Please get in touch at theadmovement@gmail.com if you are interested in offering your services, setting up a booth or sponsoring our events.
How do you decide which brands and individuals to feature?
There are so many people out there with inspiring stories or simply great energy who, just by reading their blogs or even following them on Instagram give you a little push every day. Then there are people you meet and are instantly drawn to. And it usually starts from there. Curiosity to know more. If I want to know more then perhaps so do others. I am looking, however, to increasingly use FitNut UAE as a platform to promote businesses in the UAE involved in the health and wellness industry. So if you are one of them, I would love to get to know you!
Which social media platforms have proved most effective in promoting FitNut UAE and engaging with your audience?
In terms of getting people’s immediate attention, Instagram is definitely king. In today’s fast paced world, visuals work best. If a picture is attractive to them, they will stop and maybe read the caption.
Which regional health and fitness blogs do you follow?
The one blog I have been following on a more consistent basis is FitnessLink. It is focused on all things health and wellness in the UAE and a great go-to website for events, workshops, etc.
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