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BY THEMBA ZIKHALI

BY THEMBA ZIKHALI

Health and Fitness

May 12, 2026

Themba Zikhali is MOG’s Health and Fitness Writer. A Creative Writing graduate from AFDA Durban. With a strong passion for storytelling, he has developed story-driven content for marketing campaigns, social media, and various creative projects throughout his university journey.

During his time at AFDA, Themba gained experience in copywriting and content creation, contributing to marketing campaigns, social media content, and creative projects. He also played a role in coordinating marketing efforts for two anthology book launches, assisting with Instagram and TikTok campaigns as well as print promotional materials. His talent for storytelling was further recognised when five of his short stories were selected and adapted into short films during his time at university.

Outside of his professional and creative pursuits, Themba has a strong interest in narrative analysis and runs a personal YouTube channel exploring storytelling in video games, with a particular focus on the Fallout series. He is deeply passionate about short fiction and scriptwriting, and also enjoys the technical side of storytelling through Canva and video editing software.

Modern Opulent Gazette

Health and Fitness

Posts (8)

Sep 2, 2026 ∙ 3 min

What Really Is Zone 2 Training? Separating the Hype From the Science

In the world of fitness and health, trends tend to cycle between high-intensity workouts and total rest. Recently however, a new sweet spot has captured the internet's attention. In recent years, “Zone 2 training” has exploded into fitness culture, driven by longevity influencers, podcast hosts, and biohackers claiming it's the ultimate key to optimal health. But stripped of the social media hype, what does the actual science say? Here’s what you need to know about Zone 2 training, from how...

Aug 10, 2026 ∙ 3 min

The Science of Looksmaxxing: All You Need to Know About Peptides

Image from SNL From high-end skincare serums promising eternal youth to mind-bending weight loss injections dominating global health headlines and social media, “peptides” have quickly become the ultimate buzzword in modern wellness. But behind all the aggressive marketing on traditional ads and viral social media trends, found in the “looksmaxxing” community, what is the actual science driving this biological revolution in 2026? To truly understand the rise of peptides in 2026, it helps to...

Jul 27, 2026 ∙ 4 min

What Happened When I Replaced Morning Doomscrolling With Reading for 14 Days

I Swapped Doomscrolling for Reading Every Morning for 2 Weeks—Here's What Happened

Jul 26, 2026 ∙ 3 min

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Silent Threat of Hepatitis

Each year, World Hepatitis Day on the 28th of July serves as a global call to action, shedding light on health challenges that quietly affect millions. Unlike conditions that present immediate, unmistakable warning signs, viral hepatitis—particularly types B and C—is infamous for progressing silently, often leading many to seek help when it's too late. Merilynn Steenkamp, General Manager of Southern Africa, Multi-Country Network at Roche Diagnostics, believes that routine testing and earlier...

Jul 15, 2026 ∙ 2 min

Why Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir Is More Than a Logistical Upgrade

When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on June 5th about the rollout of Lenacapavir, the new breakthrough in HIV medication, the discourse was focused on public health, logistics, and structural deployment. While these systemic metrics matter, they don’t tell the whole story about how this breakthrough medication is leading to a more optimized relationship people have with their personal health in South Africa—moving away from continuous compliance to long-acting...

Jun 10, 2026 ∙ 2 min

Can Diet Affect Depression? 5 Foods That May Help

For many Gen Zs, the world for the last six years has felt like it has been in constant crisis. For those of us entering adulthood, it has been waking up, scrolling through our social media and witnessing a new global crisis break out that we have no real power to stop. We try to go about our days normally, but as the 2020s have shown us, nothing about this decade is normal. From global pandemics, to wars in Europe, the Middle East and the growing youth unemployment crisis, this has led to a...

Jun 2, 2026 ∙ 3 min

Why The 5-Minute Rule Works: The Secret To Achieving Your Goals

Image Credits: Marcelo Leal, Unsplash We’ve all been there, that feeling of unwillingness that rushes in whenever a deadline approaches. Whether work, school, exercise or just regular home life chores, there's an invisible feeling of comfort that sneaks in whenever a mentally or physically demanding task needs to be done. Much like a snake, this feeling of unwillingness slowly wraps itself around us, pinning us down to our beds and couches, making us put off our work. This ladies and...

May 12, 2026 ∙ 3 min

The Analog Athlete: Why Digital Detox Is Becoming The New Status Symbol

As burnout and screen fatigue rise, a new generation of analog athletes is embracing digital detoxing, intentional movement, mindfulness, and offline wellness routines.

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