Ivana Bacik, deputy leader of Seanad Éireann
Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
I think I do. I try to keep active and, with two small children and both my partner and I working full-time, we’re always on the go.
How often do you exercise?
I cycle on the school run and I also cycle to work. I try to swim twice a week. It’s one of the few things that’s good for you and makes you feel better. I prefer the breaststroke because the crawl wears me out too quickly. To get a decent swim for maybe half an hour, I do a slow steady breaststroke.
Do you get your five a day?
Not really. I do try but I find when the Seanad is sitting and I’m eating on the hop between meetings, I tend to eat badly. It’s sandwiches and coffee all the time and chocolate to keep you going. I try to eat fruit in the morning and we try to make sure the kids get five a day but I find it very hard.
Do you worry?
I’m a worrier alright, although I try to park worries and not bring them home. I do quite a lot of work from home, so it can be hard to compartmentalise. Luckily, the family are fine, which is great, so it’s generally work worries, just silly ongoing worries.
What do you do to relax?
I like a nice glass of red wine and a DVD at home. My latest thing, like everyone else, is Downton Abbeyor Outnumbered.I have a good group of friends and I try to get out with them every so often. Our latest thing is Karaoke – it's fantastic. You end up dancing a lot, so you work off your dinner. I'll sing anything I know the words to, so Johnny Cash's Ring of Fireis a particularfavourite.
What’s your unhealthiest habit?
It’s a chocolate craving. Currently it’s nutty chocolate – Cadbury Wholenut or there is a hazelnut bar from Lidl that we love. Sitting at home after we put the kids to bed, watching the telly, that’s the fatal moment when the chocolate craving comes over me.
In conversation with Joanne Hunt
