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...