With a very busy lifestyle and a lot of time spent travelling, fashion buyer Catrina McCartney tells Patricia Westonthat it's hard to find the time for exercise
Do you exercise?
I have to regularly run a marathon to catch a plane and carrying luggage is my weight training. Apart from that, I love to swim and play tennis.
Are you a gym bunny?
I am a member and do go to use the pool and cross trainer, but I'm not fanatical.
Would you consider yourself fit and healthy?
Mostly: I could still be fitter but time doesn't permit it when I'm travelling.
Are you conscious about how you look?
I would be lying if I said I wasn't - I am in the fashion industry! But I haven't asked for a plastic surgeon's number . . . yet.
Do you eat healthily?
I try to, and succeed 70 per cent of the time. I love salads, raw vegetables and fruit. When travelling, I always have breakfast as it sets you up for the day. I find it hard to get time to eat lunch when it gets busy.
I always have a good evening meal, although they say you should have breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper.
What are your bad habits?
I smoke when I have a glass of bubbly in my hand. I'm not a chocoholic, unlike many, but I am addicted to fruit gums.
Do you use any alternative remedies?
I do use a lot of alternative remedies. I'd reach for them 90 per cent of the time before going to a doctor. I think Jan De Vries is an amazing healer; I've been to see him personally in his house outside Glasgow.
What do you think of exercise?
It's one of the best ways to bust stress, but like everything, I'm not zealous or fanatical about it.
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
As Catrina does a lot of travelling for work, she might as well use that valuable time to get some exercise too:
• You can carry up to 10kg as hand luggage on most domestic flights, so a brisk walk through a long terminal will burn up to 210 calories per hour.
Exercise on the flight to de-stress, loosen up your muscles and help prevent thrombosis.
• Try this short workout: begin from your neck and work your way down to your toes.
• Tilt your neck gently from side to side, but don't roll it the whole way around. Roll your shoulders forward and back, then squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold.
• Perform 10 bicep curls on each arm. Gently twist your torso to the right and left slowly.
• Pull in your abs and picture your belly button reaching your spine; hold and breath from the upper chest for 10 seconds and repeat.
• Clench your bottom and hold, repeat three times. Then, standing with your legs apart at hip distance, raise your right foot off the floor, then the left and repeat six times on each leg.
• Rise up on the balls of your feet and repeat six times.
• Raise your toes up towards the sky six times.
• Also, carry along a low impact workout video so you can play it on your laptop in your hotel room.
• Patricia Westonis 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.