Niall Power, presenter on Waterford's Beat 102-103FM, admits to Patricia Weston that he is not a huge fitness fan but hopes to do better in the future.
Do you exercise?
Exercise and myself have never been the best of pals. Like many children of the 1990s, I never took much interest in keeping fit, but recently I've tried to make more of an effort. I walk quite a bit, but that's mainly because I'm too tight to pay for car insurance in this wonderful rip-off country of ours.
What's your favourite exercise?
Without doubt, walking is my favourite form of exercise. A brisk walk early in the day is a great way to shake off a hangover and get the adrenalin pumping.
Walking also gives you the opportunity to think and to clear your head, which is essential in the business I'm in.
Any activities you'd like to try?
Apart from my hand to mouth co-ordination at the bar? If I were to try something new it would have be something easy. Maybe line dancing. Hey it worked for Colin Farrell.
Any unhealthy habits?
If you consider the fact that nowadays binge drinking is classed as having five or more alcoholic drinks in one session, then I suppose you could say I have a very unhealthy habit. I'm what the experts call a "binge drinker". But then again, so are nearly 90 per cent of my friends.
Is there anything about your body you'd like to change?
Unfortunately, I have legs like a sparrow. I'm not exaggerating when I say that you'd see better legs on a chicken drumstick. But as the weather in this country leaves a lot to be desired I have no need to show them off too regularly. I'm one of these people who can eat and eat and never put on weight. While most people seem to envy this, I'd love to healthily put on a little weight.
What's your attitude to exercise?
Like my old school report would say, "could do better". However, recent media campaigns are really encouraging me to become more conscious of my health. So, exercise will play a much bigger role in my life in 2005.
Patricia Weston recommends:
To build strong and toned leg muscles, try this workout:
Squats build muscles in the legs and backside. Stand with your feet hip distance apart, facing forward. Hold in your abs tight and keep your back straight. Bend your knees and squat down, keeping your bum parallel to your knees. Raise your arms out in front to shoulder level as you squat down or keep your hands on your hips. Repeat three sets of eight reps.
To tone the outer thigh muscles, lie on your side on the floor with your legs straight. Lift the lower leg and let it hover off the ground then lift the top leg and bring it forward and back slowly. Repeat three sets of eight reps on both legs.
To exercise the inner thigh muscles, lean on your back supported by your elbows on the floor. Extend your right leg and point your toe away from your body. Bend the left knee and raise the right leg up to the level of the opposite knee. Repeat for three sets of eight reps on both legs.
Tone the bum and hamstrings by kneeling on all fours and lifting the right leg off the floor. Extend this leg, flex the knee and then bend towards the floor and back up towards the ceiling. Repeat for two sets of eight reps on both legs.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.