Author Sheila O'Flanagan tells Patricia Weston about her routine
Do you take any regular exercise?
I play badminton with Raheny badminton club two nights a week and often on Sunday evenings as well. We're a very competitive club with lots of league teams and we play in a number of competitions. So if I'm not playing in the club I'm usually at a match.
Do you use the gym to exercise?
Occasionally I go to Westwood gym and use the rowing machine. I love the gym itself but I find exercise without competition boring!
What's your attitude to exercise?
The badminton season runs from September to May and I notice the difference when I stop playing which is why I go to the gym. Our bodies were designed to be used.
Would you consider yourself fit?
Yes, relatively. I'm about the right weight for my height and I can manage to do most things.
Do you use public transport or do you walk or cycle to work?
Because I only have to climb the stairs to work it's not really an issue. When I worked in the IFSC I used to drive. I tried cycling a couple of times but any day I chose the bike it rained. Besides, arriving in work lathered in perspiration isn't a great idea.
Is your job active or sedentary?
Sadly sedentary. I'm waiting for the technology that allows thoughts to be transcribed onto the computer so that I can write while I'm doing something else.
Do you worry about your appearance?
I like to look good but I'm not a slave to it. I try to choose clothes that suit me but wouldn't try to change my body to suit clothes. I wear make up when I'm going out but not otherwise.
Do you eat a balanced diet?
I try to. My cholesterol level is slightly high so I try to avoid foods with saturated fat. I know I should eat loads of fruit and veg and I do when I'm on holiday but less so at home. I find it impossible to drink a litre of water or whatever it is you're meant to a day.
What would you eat in a typical day?
A light breakfast, then a sandwich, bap or cracker for lunch, usually tuna with salad. I'd have chicken and rice with sauce for dinner.
Ever tried dieting?
No, I think the Atkins diet is potentially very dangerous. The reality is that if you cut out eating between meals and cut down on food with a high saturated fat content you will lose weight. Most people fail with diets because we all like comfort food and that's the sort that piles on the pounds!
What causes you stress?
I'm a bit of a road rage person -- I can't bear indecisive drivers or people parking in such a way as to foul up traffic. I hate people lighting up cigarettes in areas that say no smoking. Technology failing drives me crazy and I get stressed if I'm late for anything. And that's all just for starters!
How do you unwind?
I read a lot. I used to think beach holidays were boring but now I love them.
Do you go for regular check-ups to the doctor?
I usually see the doctor once a year but probably because I need a prescription renewed (I have asthma and use an inhaler). At that point we always have a general health discussion.
Patricia Weston's recommendations:
• Why not incorporate a gentle form of exercise, like yoga or Pilates, into the regime to relax, de-stress and increase flexibility for sport such as badminton.
• Gym instructors can help vary programmes to prevent boredom; maybe combine weight training with a high intensity high impact class such as step aerobics or spinning (stationary cycling) to vary the routine. The National Training Centre, which tutors fitness instructors, recommend programmes be changed at least every six weeks.
• A pleasant and quick way of getting essential vitamins and minerals from fruit and vegetables is juicing. You can purchase a juicer and juice at home or drop into one of the many juice bars popping up everywhere.
• Many find it impossible to drink enough water each day. The Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute recommend drinking up to two litres of water per day but agree that by juicing you can also take in essential water for the body. Also, drinking green tea or herbal teas count as water intake.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates instructor.
Always make sure you consult your GP before embarking on any exercise regime.