Life

Armagh's Caroline O'Hanlon tops up training with chocolate and yoga

Gail Bell asks experts and people in the public eye what keeps them going. This week, Armagh Ladies GAA Allstar, Northern Ireland netball supremo and GP Caroline O'Hanlon

Nutrition is very important to me, says Caroline O'Hanlon. That said, it is a long year, so when I have a break between seasons, I relax my regime and indulge a little in treats. Picture by Piaras Ó Mídheach, SPORTSFILE
Nutrition is very important to me, says Caroline O'Hanlon. That said, it is a long year, so when I have a break between seasons, I relax my regime and indulge a little in treats. Picture by Piaras Ó Mídheach, SPORTSFILE Nutrition is very important to me, says Caroline O'Hanlon. That said, it is a long year, so when I have a break between seasons, I relax my regime and indulge a little in treats. Picture by Piaras Ó Mídheach, SPORTSFILE

1 Up and at it – what is your morning routine?

The daily struggle makes every extra second in bed so precious, so, most mornings I’m faced with this recurring dilemma: sleep verses food. Breakfast is so important and I can feel a massive improvement in energy levels, concentration and even mood after a good breakfast. But, having said that, I often sacrifice all that for an extra five minutes in bed.

2 What might you eat in a typical working day for:

Breakfast? Coffee and a cereal bar on the go if I’m lucky. But, when I’m training or have a match, I have to be very particular about my food. I like a lot of variety in my diet, so something like poached eggs, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, or an omelette is usually my breakfast of choice.

Lunch: I try to eat a substantial volume at lunchtime because I have training most evenings. Chicken salad, or pasta, usually.

Evening meal: Depends on my training time. I often have to travel quite a distance to training, so I need to have something prepared to eat immediately when I'm finished.

3 Is nutrition important to you?

Yes, it’s very important. If I didn’t plan my foods and eat properly, it would have a significant impact on my performance levels, both in training and in matches. That said, it is a long year, so when I have a break between seasons, I relax my regime and indulge a little in treats.

4 Am I calorie counter?

No, but I am conscious of what I eat and I try to ensure I have a balance.

5 Best meal ever?

It would have to say breakfast after finishing a week of night shifts as a hospital doctor while training as a GP. Nothing beats a Grounded breakfast in Newry – sweet potato hash with poached eggs and bacon. Perfect.

6 Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Yes, my guilty pleasure is always chocolate.

7 Have you ever been on a diet? If so, how did it go?

No, I've never been on a diet, but during the competitive season I am very aware of my diet and need to plan well in advance. I have a busy work and training schedule so, if don’t plan, then I end up snacking - particularly in work - and I certainly would feel the difference.

8 Do you take health supplements?

I try to eat a balanced diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables, but given the intense strain my body is under, I do take supplements. I take protein supplements, a multivitamin, iron and omega 3 on a daily basis.

9 Teetotal or tipple?

Given the hectic schedule I have, there is a very heavy reliance on tea and coffee.

10 Fruit or fry-up?

Fruit daily, but a fry-up on a special occasion doesn’t do any harm.

11 Stairs or lift?

It depends how heavy the session has been the night before – that will determine my choice of lift or stairs.

12 Do you have a daily exercise regime?

I train daily, either on the court, on the pitch, in the gym, or in the pool. The variety is important to keep me motivated.

13 On a scale of one to 10, how fit do you think you are; how fit would you like to be?

I am pretty fit, but relative to where I would like to be for competition, I would say I’m currently about 5/10.

14 Best tip for everyday fitness?

Do something you enjoy. There are loads of fun things out there to do and that is the key to maintaining any regime. A lot of people think they have to go to a gym and go on a treadmill or lift weights, but if that’s not your thing, then it’s boring and really hard to sustain. Just find something you enjoy and stay active.

15 Do you have a memory form school sport/PE days you would rather forget?

Losing the All Ireland final with the Sacred Heart (Newry) Gaelic team is still a haunting memory. Although the experience I gained and the journey I enjoyed with that team will stay with me forever.

16 Did you ever have a health epiphany which made you change your lifestyle?

Yes, when I discovered yoga... to be honest I am absolutely horrendous at it, and I am actually quite embarrassed at how poor my flexibility is, but it makes me feel so much better physically and mentally. I probably only truly appreciated this when I stopped doing it for a period.

17 Best health advice you were ever given and would pass on to others?

Look after your body; allow your body time to recover. Occasionally I have been told that I over-train and that performance could actually be improved by introducing recovery sessions, either in a pool or stretching – or yoga.

18 Who would you try to emulate in terms of fitness/attitude to life?

Jessica Ennis-Hill as she is a complete athlete and her focus and drive are second-to-none. I was very disappointed when she got pregnant and missed the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and I couldn’t get a selfie.

19 What time do you get to bed normally and do you think you get enough sleep?

I certainly do not get enough sleep and it is a really bad habit which I have developed. It is usually about 10pm before I get home from training, so by the time I get a cup of tea and relax and have a bit of craic with family or friends and watch a bit of television, it’s usually pretty late. This is something I would need to improve.

20 Would you say you have a healthy attitude to your own mortality?

It's not something I dwell on too much; I generally think things usually work out all right. What’s for you won’t pass you, as they say...