Musician Eleanor McEvoy tells Patricia Westonthat although her fitness levels are not bad, she is sure there is still room for improvement
Do you take exercise?
Not when I'm touring but the rest of the year, yes I do. I go to the gym or do home aerobics and I try to walk a lot too.
Are you fit?
I'm not bad but I'd say there's still room for improvement.
Are you body conscious?
It's 2007, I'm a woman and I like to look good on stage.
Is there anything about your body you'd like to change?
We all have little dreams, but in general I'm quite happy with myself. Certainly I can get to where I need to be with good exercise and good sense.
Would you ever have cosmetic surgery?
No, I hate the idea.
Are you food conscious?
Typically I'm very food conscious. On road tours with motorway services you don't always get a choice but I try not to snack.
How do you relax?
Sometimes I listen to music, sometimes take a hot bath and occasionally I'd go for a day-long treat at a spa.
Have you ever used any alternative remedies?
I have alternative remedies in my medicine box and I use them, but I resort to conventional medicine if things get serious.
What do you think of exercise?
I think it's the responsibility of everybody to make the time to take exercise.
It seems quite clear that regular exercise is great. It's great for tone, it's great for your heart and best of all it's great for your head.
Eleanor McEvoy's new album is called Out There and is in the shops now.
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
Eleanor likes to do aerobics at home and what better way to fit in your workout without trekking to the gym, so push back the furniture, pump up the music and try this hi-low combination. It should only take 30-35 minutes to complete:
Warm up for 10 minutes by marching on the spot or dancing to upbeat music making sure you use your arms as well as your feet.
Start off with the v-step, four times on each leg. Step forward with the right foot, then step left keeping your feet wide apart, then step back keeping your feet close together. Work the arms by doing side arm raises as you v-step.
Do hamstring curls by kicking your legs behind almost touching your bum and alternate with front knee raises for four counts on each leg.
Raise the intensity and do four high leg kicks on each leg with punches for the upper body.
Lower the intensity by taking double side steps to the right and left four times on each side.
Keep it simple by walking forward and lifting your knee then walk backwards and knee lift again, four times.
Do a double leg lunge backwards twice on each leg.
Repeat this combination twice then up the tempo and really go for a high intensity workout by performing it fast for the third time.
Cool down by marching or dancing again for five minutes and gently stretching.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.
pweston@eircom.net
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.