Health Scan: Panti, drag artist and publican

Panti and Penny: `We like to walk down around the Docklands".
Panti and Penny: `We like to walk down around the Docklands".

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
I have a reasonably healthy lifestyle. I exercise and I eat reasonably well but, like everybody, I have my weaknesses.


How often do you exercise?
I exercise very regularly. It was when I hit 30 that I thought I really need to start. I'm 44 now so for 15 years I've been exercising regularly. I go to the gym or run or swim five times a week. I've run a few marathons. My show at Panti Bar on Saturdays is very energetic too. I think any sort of performing on stage is definitely calorie burning. And it's in heels.
Do you get your
five a day?
I'm vaguely conscious of it. I do eat lots of fruit for breakfast and would try to eat vegetables with dinner – but do I get the full five a day? No, I don't.


Do you worry?
I'm definitely not a worrier. I'm probably the very opposite. If something starts to worry me, I'm very good at pushing it to the back of my mind. I've been lucky about that but it has its drawbacks. Sometimes, I so don't worry that I end up missing deadlines. But I'm definitely not the kind of person who is going to lie awake at night worrying. I can switch off quite easily.


What do you do to relax?
I walk the dog, and I noodle around on the internet. My dog's name is Penny and we like to walk down around the Docklands or out to the Pigeon Lighthouse. I find the internet horribly addictive. Everybody else watches these big TV dramas but I think an hour is too much of a commitment to give to something every week. I end up surfing – Facebook, Twitter and news blogs.

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What's your unhealthiest habit?
That's very easy – it's smoking. I've struggled with it all my life. I've given it up, sometimes for a long time but then I'll have a weak moment. Right now I'm smoking. I'll have to knock it on the head again. I'm not one of those people who can have one or two. It's all or nothing. I'll smoke from breakfast on.

In conversation with

Joanne Hunt

Joanne Hunt

Joanne Hunt, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about homes and property, lifestyle, and personal finance