Health Scan: David Hogan

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
I think I eat pretty well, drink slightly too much, sleep slightly too little, and get a healthy amount of exercise.

I try to reduce processed foods where possible and keep an eye on my carbohydrate and protein consumption, especially if I’m training for something.

A typical day would involve nuts, fruit and porridge for breakfast, sandwich or a salad for lunch and a home-cooked meal in the evening. The evening meal would often involve a drop of wine.

How often do you exercise?
I cycle 3km to work and back each day, play football once a week for an hour and get one other form of exercise in a week – two on a really good week – including a run or a trip to the gym.

About four times a year I will sign up for an event. This year I am going to do the Hell and Back obstacle course for the first time at the beginning of February. I will go skiing at the beginning of March so I will do a little training programme for a few weeks before both of those. Later in the year I will try to do a couple of adventure races and will get some exercise in before work in the mornings when the sun rises a little earlier.

Do you get your five fruit and vegetables a day?
Not counting potatoes, I'd say I get three a day always, and sometimes up to five.

Do you worry?
Yes. The usual insular things of a newish father with young children and ageing parents: health, wellbeing of my family and finances. Global concerns such as poverty, wars, energy crises, etc don't really get much of my time at the moment, unfortunately.

What do you do to relax?
I play with my kids, exercise, read a book (slowly) or watch a movie at home.

What's your worst habit?
Getting to bed too late in the evenings.

David Hogan is a director of Highlife Ski & Snowboard, the Irish ski chalet company. highlife.ie
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