Singer Mary Coughlan tells Patricia Weston of her trauma on the treadmill
Do you exercise?
Oh yes, I'm a regular exerciser. I workout at the gym three times a week with a personal trainer and walk outdoors about twice a week. In the gym I do weights and 20 minutes of aerobic exercise on that bloody running thing, the treadmill, I hate it, I feel like a rat. I've been saying I'd join a gym for the past 10 years and I finally got around to it last Christmas. A friend and I hired a personal trainer and it's worked out great. I've dropped two dress sizes and I'm really enjoying the benefits of exercise.
Where do you like to walk?
I walk really fast because there's no benefit from strolling. I walk along Bray promenade and from Bray head to Greystones by the cliffs.
Would you consider yourself fit?
Oh, I'm really really fit and I love it.
Are you a healthy eater?
Yes, I'm very very healthy. I've stopped eating red meat because I just feel awful when I eat it. I was a vegetarian for 12 years. I eat lots of fruit and vegetables and buy organic food when I can. We love smoothies in our house and I make them every morning with frozen berries and yoghurt and fresh fruit, I find it a huge boost.
Have you any unhealthy habits?
I smoke two or three fags every night and I love them and don't feel one bit guilty. I started smoking when I was 44 years old and I've been off the drink for 11 years now. I love chocolate and I'd succumb to any old shite when I'm singing on tour. It's very hard to resist crisps and Lucozade at 3 o'clock in the morning when you've just finished a gig.
Have you ever dieted?
I went on the Atkins diet last April and lost a stone and I've kept it off. Since the diet I haven't eaten white bread and I had a week of just eating fish, fish, fish - I was nearly swimming by the end of the week.
Do you ever get stressed out?
I'm fairly laid back, I usually only worry late at night when I'm lying in bed.
Have you ever suffered from a serious illness?
No, thank God, absolutely nothing serious.
Patricia Weston recommends:
If you feel like a lab-rat running on the treadmill, here are some suggestions to make walking and running on the treadmill more fun and improve fitness.
Walk backwards on the treadmill instead of forwards for a change. Research carried out by Harvard University found that your body has to work harder in reverse.
Run at a moderate speed on the treadmill for 10 minutes, then hop off and do eight to 10 leg squats. Get back on, up the pace and run fast for five minutes. Slow it down and set the incline up by two grades for a five-minute uphill run before reducing the incline and speed walking for a final five minutes.
Run with a friend at your side, this will help you motivate each other and increase competition so you can achieve a more beneficial workout without getting bored.
When you're walking on the treadmill exercise your upper body by doing bicep curls, tricep kickbacks or pec decks without weights to get an all-over body workout. This requires good co-ordination so don't attempt it if you're new to the treadmill.
pweston@eircom.net