Q102 presenter Damien McCaul tells Patricia Westonhow he likes to go swimming to keep fit but feels he could be doing a lot more. However, when the guilt sets in, he trys to make up for his lack of a set exercise regime.
Do you take any regular exercise?
I wouldn't say regular because I tend to have weeks where I have bouts of activity and other times when I take it a lot easier and don't do any exercise at all.
What's your activity?
Swimming is the one exercise that I really enjoy and whenever I do have the time and energy I will go swimming for an hour or two. I always feel so refreshed and energised after it.
Would you consider yourself fit?
No, not at all. I know there is a lot more that I could and should be doing.
Do you worry about your appearance?
Not really, but I like to feel that I'm in good working order. Like everyone else, I know what is good and bad for my body and while I may neglect the recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day every now and again, when the guilt sets in I get motivated and do my best to make up for it. I hope that for the moment this is enough to keep everything ticking over.
Is there anything about your body you'd like to change?
No I don't think so. If you're happy in your own skin you will get over insecurities about your body. If ever I do want to tone up or lose weight, I know it's down to putting in the effort to get results and if I can't get around to doing that then I can't really complain.
What would you eat in a typical day?
Fruit and cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and in the evening it's usually a normal dinner of chicken or fish.
I wouldn't be too adventurous with my diet when I'm cooking myself but I do try to keep snacking down to a minimum and so have three proper meals a day.
Have you ever considered trying any other activity?
I've thought about giving yoga a go but just haven't gotten around to it yet.
What's your attitude towards exercise?
I honestly don't love it but I know that some form of exercise is necessary to keep my body and mind healthy.
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
Damien finds it difficult to fit the recommended 30 minutes of exercise into his day. Here are a few tips to keep you moving to keep your heart healthy:
Ditch the sedentary hobby. Swap your weekly trip to the pub or knitting class for an active hobby such salsa dancing, line dancing, yoga or Pilates.
You'll get in your exercise fix and feel great too.
Track your activities. Keep a portable exercise tracker with you to take to work and stick it on the fridge once you get home. Track all your daily activities, 25 minutes pushing the trolley around the supermarket or the 10-minute walk to the train station all count. Once it's written down you'll soon see how much activity you actually fit into each day.
Spend just five minutes weeding the garden. Five minutes weeding, five days a week in summer will clock up 25 minutes of activity weekly.
Get your family and friends involved. Plan weekend cycling trips or make an effort to get out to the park or beach with the kids each evening.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.