Singer Dickie Rock tells Patricia Weston how his addictive personality has stopped him from smoking or drinking despite being surrounded by crates of Guinness
Do you exercise? I walk a lot because I love walking. I think it's the best kind of exercise. When I play golf, I deliberately move faster and I'll walk up hills to get the golf ball. I also exercise at home. I do Calisthenics.
Do you eat well? Yes, I have a great appetite and I make sure I eat lots of greens like broccoli and Brussels sprouts and cabbage because they are so good for you. I have an apartment in Spain and I love the fresh fruit and fish there; I love eating fish with lots of garlic. I have fruit and porridge for breakfast every morning.
Are you health conscious? I think I can only do the right thing by exercising and eating well and I enjoy it and hopefully it will work and keep me healthy.
I'm conscious of being fit and healthy and in good form.
Do you smoke or drink? No, I've never smoked and the odd time I'd have a glass of wine with a meal but I never really got into drinking. I'm afraid I have an addictive personality so I'd be very conscious of that.
After gigs years ago there was always plenty of drink around and crates of Guinness, but I just brought them home for my father and never really got into drinking. I think there's too much drinking in Ireland and it's very sad to see it. I hate to see women drinking as much as men and drinking pints; we're equal but we're different.
What's your philosophy on health? Exercise, good food and fruit is very important. I really think exercise is the way to go.
Patricia Weston says:
Dickie practises Calisthenics. These are graceful, rhythmic and slow exercises using your body weight as resistance without any equipment to build muscle strength, tone and body awareness.
Here's a handy workout drawing on the principles of Calisthenics to do at home. The slower and more controlled your movements, the better the results. Move slowly and focus on the muscles you are working:
Lie on your back with your arms by your sides and raise your legs very slowly to a 45-degree angle, then lower slowly. Repeat six-eight times, moving slower at each repetition.
Stay on your back but bend your knees and slowly raise your lower back and bum off the floor without swinging, then slowly lower. Repeat 10 times.
For strong legs, stand with your feet hip-width apart and facing forward. Pull in your abs as you slowly bend your knees as far as you can with your arms outstretched. Slowly straighten up and repeat for three sets of eight repetitions.
For a strong upper body, do press-ups. Start off by standing then roll down slowly onto all fours. Do one press up, stand again, then do two until you build up to 10, then count down from 10 to one.
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.