Chef Clodagh McKenna tells Patricia Westonshe has tried many diets in the past but now she just listens to her body, eats seasonally and heads for a run if she is getting stressed.
Do you take regular exercise?
Yes, I run, practise yoga and swim. I run three or four times a week, I do yoga about twice a week and I swim once a week.
Do you worry about how you look?
To be honest, I didn't before but now that I am doing work in television I do worry sometimes.
Would you ever consider cosmetic surgery?
Absolutely not.
Do you eat a balanced diet?
Yes, I listen to what my body tells me. I will get cravings for greens if I go a few days without them and the same goes for fish. But I never worry about fat or calories. I eat clean, fresh, seasonal food. I eat yoghurt and fruit every morning and for lunch I would usually have salad or soup. For dinner, I would eat fish or pasta.
Have you ever tried any faddy diets?
Yes, before I was in the food industry I tried every diet under the sun. But now I know better - regular exercise and good food is the best way.
How do you relax?
Travelling. I am living in Italy at the moment and I get to travel around the country to meet different producers. Hearing their stories and learning about new foods helps me forget about anything stressful.
Do you use alternative remedies?
Yes, if I have an upset stomach, fresh ginger sliced in hot water is a great remedy.
What does exercise do for you?
It makes me feel so good about myself. Sometimes in the middle of the day I get a bit stressed with work and I can't think clearly when I am stressed. So I grab my runners and off I go; 30 minutes later I have a clear head and all my anxiety is gone. I don't know what I would do without it.
Watch out for Clodagh on Corrigan Knows Food, Tuesdays on RTÉ One at 7pm.
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
Running is a high-impact activity that places a lot of pressure on the joints; this can sometimes result in muscular injuries:
Always warm up by stretching in motion before running and cool down and do static stretches of all the major muscle groups after your training session.
If you do sustain a soft tissue injury, remember the Rice technique:
R: Rest the affected area and stop your high-impact training for a while but take some low impact activity such as swimming to keep fit and prevent muscular atrophy;
I: Apply ice to the injury. Make your own ice pack by wrapping frozen peas in a damp cloth and apply for no longer than 12 minutes at a time;
C: Compress the injury using an elastic bandage to reduce swelling; and
E: Elevate the affected area to drain fluid and encourage circulation.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.