Broadcaster Joe Duffy tells Patricia Weston that he is obsessed with his appearance and is the only radio presenter who wears make-up
Do you exercise? I do on a daily basis, simply because I can. But I still don't think I do enough.
What's your routine? I swim, walk and go to the gym regularly - believe it or not. I'm in turmoil at the moment though because the swimming pool I use, St Paul's, Vernon Avenue in Clontarf, has just announced that it is closing. Can I lose weight from worry?
I try to exercise five times a week and aim for 44 lengths of the pool, a 44-minute walk and I try to burn 440 calories on the stepper. I reckon I'm more healthy than fit.
Even though you work on radio, are you conscious about how you look? I'm obsessed. I am the only presenter who wears make-up on radio.
Would you have cosmetic surgery? Anything is possible, but miracles are still not available on the VHI, so no.
What's your diet like? I try to eat healthily but that's sabotaged as soon as I arrive home at 5.30pm when I devour the first thing I see - the dog is still missing! I start off well and have porridge for breakfast, then a sandwich. The canteen in the radio centre closes for lunch, which is probably a good thing, so I eat wolfishly in the evening.
I have tried to finish eating before 6pm but then I realised that the only time of the day not before six is six. And I do worry about my weight.
How do you relax? I love to read, paint and monitor radio broadcasts.
Why do you exercise? Because I think it's a necessary evil and it's only achieved through an unthinking routine.
Patricia Weston recommends:
Exercise shouldn't be a boring, dull and unthinking routine. If you approach your workout that way, you'll probably give up after a few weeks.
If you have become stuck in a routine at the gym ask your instructor to change your programme or take a fitness class you never tried before.
Good gyms regularly introduce new classes and activities to keep members motivated.
By increasing the intensity of your regular routine or introducing new exercises you won't hit an exercise plateau.
A plateau is when your body becomes so used to your workout and adapts to it that you stop losing weight or increasing your fitness level.
In order to stay fit you must push your body so it doesn't adapt:
Spice up your workout and jump off the stepper, elliptical trainer or treadmill half-way through your regular 20-30 minute routine and perform three sets of eight squats, making sure to pulse for eight counts after each set.
Then give the legs a rest and perform three sets of eight box press-ups to strengthen your chest, shoulders and arms.
Then go back to the legs and perform three sets of six repetitions of leg lunges. Hop back on your training machine.
If you're swimming lengths of the pool, increase your fitness by interval training.
Begin by rating your own swimming intensity on a score of one to 10. One being low intensity and 10 being the hardest you can work at.
During your swim begin at one and work your way up very close to a 10 and then decrease again. Raise and lower your intensity then every two-five minutes.
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.