Health scan lifestyle Q&A

Senator Mary Ann O’Brien, co-founder of the Jack Jill Foundation

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?

Relatively. I have all the right intentions, but the way of the world at the moment and the stress we put on ourselves to achieve is the problem. Work-life balance would be the one I’m a bit of a brat on.

How often do you exercise?

I don’t exercise, but my life is an exercise life. I was in Punchestown last night riding and I’m a yoga teacher, so I do a bit of yoga though I don’t call that exercise, it’s just my way of life. I feel that exercise has to be integrated into your life. If I had to be at the gym at 8am, I’d last about three weeks.

Do you get your five a day?

I do. I have this smoothie for breakfast no matter what. It has bananas, fresh orange juice and a spoon of a product that contains 72 super foods, which is like eating 20lbs of broccoli and spinach. Lunch is very bold – it’s mainly chocolate. Dinner is something out of the garden, with chicken or fish. I’m a disaster in the middle of the day because I don’t have time for it.

Do you worry?

I do. I worry about my business and the people who work for me, I worry about Ireland, but first I worry about my children. I know it’s a complete waste of time, but it’s a good old-fashioned habit.

What do you do to relax?

Gardening, golf, friends. I have three dogs, two ponies, a parrot, a Burmese cat and 11 hens. They are all members of the family. The hens are great because they give lots of eggs, so you have to bake. I don’t have much time to play golf, but I have a few friends who you’d have to lie down on the fairway, they’d make you laugh so much.

What’s your unhealthiest habit?

Stressing and worrying, it’s related to being a serial entrepreneur. Why the goals can’t be set at a more realistic level, why we’re always setting the goals too high – we all suffer from that in the world we live in.

In conversation with JOANNE HUNT