Comedian Abie Philbin Bowman tells Patricia Weston he finds exercise boring and although he eats quite well, people are always recommending 'mad diets' to combat his colitis
Do you exercise?
I'm a big believer in irregular exercise. My main modes of transport are cycling and walking and I do the odd bit of yoga.
How often?
It's not regimented but I suppose I cycle about five times a week. Walking is more of a daily thing.
Would you consider yourself fit?
Yeah, but I wouldn't trust my own judgement on that.
Do you suffer from any serious illnesses or injuries?
Yes. I have a semi-permanent condition called ulcerative colitis. It's a pain in the backside. Some days I don't have the energy to leave the house. Luckily for me I'm perfectly content to scribble away on my laptop or watch Newsnight.
Is there anything about your body you'd like to change?
A fully functional, non-inflamed colon would be gorgeous.
Do you eat well?
Hmm. I eat pretty well, but I could probably do with more balance: less meat and carbohydrate, more fruit and vegetables. Although curiously, one of the prescriptions for my condition is that you cut down on fruit and veg. I don't eat fish or cheese and I don't drink alcohol or smoke, but I'm hopelessly addicted to chocolate. With colitis all sorts of people recommend all sorts of mad diets, but my doctor tells me that very little has been proven in this field. Colitis is mainly a stress condition.
Have you tried any alternative remedies for your colitis?
I've tried yoga, acupuncture and a handful of supplements, but it's almost impossible to know if and when a particular treatment is working, or if and when you're on the mend anyway.
What's your attitude to exercise?
For its own sake, I think it's pretty boring. But as a means to an end such as walking or cycling somewhere interesting it's very rewarding.
Philbin Bowman's one-man show, Jesus: The Guantánamo Years, is currently playing at the Edinburgh Festival and will return to Dublin in September. It opens in Spirit, Middle Abbey Street, on September 11th. For more information, see AbieTalks.bebo.com
Patricia Weston recommends:
Exercise doesn't have to be boring; here are some suggestions to make it more interesting.
Play with kids; have some fun and burn lots of calories jumping on a trampoline or bouncy castle for 20 minutes.
Take up the latest exercise fad; try out a new fusion class like yogalates, boxercise or bodypump at the gym, or try the new Power Plate and get fitter through vibration technology. You might not keep it up for longer than a few weeks but at least you will be exercising.
Invest in a small piece of fitness equipment for your home like an ab roller, fit ball, exercise bands or a thigh trimmer. If you give up after a while it needn't gather dust in a corner of your bedroom: you can sell it on ebay.
Join a dance class or sports club where people rely on you to show up. If your five-a-side soccer team or dance partner counts on you, you're less likely to make an excuse to miss your exercise.
pweston@eircom.net
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.