Actor Jamie Beamish tells Patricia Westonhow he gets fit and stays in shape without ever going to a gym
Are you a fitness fanatic?
No, I wouldn't say I was a fanatic but I do have to keep fit and stay in shape for what I do. I do a lot of running and toning at home like sit-ups and press-ups. I've never been one to go to a gym. I don't have time anyway. I also think I get a lot of exercise when I'm doing a show. Doing a musical keeps you fit because you get a good workout.
What's your workout routine?
I'm based in London and Dublin so I run around Kilburn Park in London and I do an awful lot of walking. When you're living in London, you walk everywhere. The Tube is okay but it's much handier to walk. I don't have a car because it's pointless driving in London.
How do you shape up before a show?
Appearance is so important as an actor, it's really a big deal so I have to prepare. I was initially preparing for a topless scene in I, Keano but it's not in the show now. I did a lot of toning exercises before and watched what I ate.
I stopped drinking pints and just stuck to wine and shorts.
I also cut out white bread and fry-ups and I ate more vegetables and chicken. I practised not mixing carbohydrates with proteins in the same meal and tried not to eat after 6pm. But once the show started it was hard to keep the diet up.
Are you very health conscious?
Yeah, I would be very health conscious. I did a play in Manchester last year and I had to put on some weight. It's difficult because your body is not your own. You have to shave your hair or dye it; your look always has to change. I do try to keep in good shape though, to meet the physical demands of the job.
Do you take supplements?
I take Berocca, I'm a big fan of vitamin C and I take vitamin E for my skin. I got chickenpox and I was worried I would be scarred so I used vitamin E and it worked.
What are your vices?
I don't smoke but I enjoy drinking and socialising and I'd go to the chipper after a night out.
Jamie is playing Keano in the comedy, I Keano, at the INEC, Killarney from March 12th-16th.
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
If, like Jamie, you aren't a gym person but like a honed and toned body you can get just as good results at home. With this upper body workout all you need is a chair or bench:
Warm up with a brisk 10-15 minute walk first.
Bend forward and place your hands on the seat of the chair or bench, making sure it's up against a wall and stable.
Step back on your toes keeping your abs in tight, your back straight and your head steady. Bend your elbows and press up. Perform 10-12 repetitions for three sets.
Lie on the floor on your back, raise your straight legs about four inches off the floor. Then with your arms outstretched forward, lift your head and shoulders off the floor and pulse forward for 15 counts. Repeat for three sets.
Sit on the chair with your hands by your sides, making sure your hands are facing forward. Slide your bum off and bend your knees and elbows and dip your bum towards the floor. Repeat for 12 counts three times.
Stand with your back against a wall and your feet shoulder-width apart. Slide down into a crouch with your knees bent to about 90 degrees. Hold, then very slowly slide back up the wall to the starting position. Repeat six-eight times.
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.