Celebrity Health - Kathryn Thomas
Bootcamp it up
Kathryn Thomas has been a stalwart of RTÉ television for a number of years and has presented No Frontiers, Winning Streak, The Voice of Ireland but is best known for Operation Transformation. Kathryn will take part in Wellfest in Dublin’s Herbert Park on 6-7 May. Wellfest is Ireland’s only health, fitness and wellness festival and will feature the talents of Lean in 15 Joe Wicks, The Happy Pear brothers, healthy eating guru Roz Purcell, personal trainers Pat Divilly and Dominic Munnelly and athlete Derval O’Rourke.
What sort of exercise do you do to keep in shape?
I get bored quite quickly so I like a mixture of exercise. I have two dogs that are half beagle and need to exercise so I take them walking twice a day. I run twice a week and sometimes take the dogs – I can do a 5K run in the park with interval sprints. I lift weights twice a week. I might do HIIT training if I only have 20 minutes. So I do a mix of jogging, intervals, weights and pilates. I mix it up depending on the weather, my mood and how busy I am.
What sort of foods do you eat to stay healthy?
When I am on bootcamp it’s great because we have two chefs who make healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners so I don’t have to worry about it. I run Pure Results bootcamps at the Mount Falcon Estate, Co Mayo. These are seven and three day retreats for recharging, detoxing and getting you back on track. The program consists of training such as boxercise, circuits, plyofit, an assault course, yoga and pilates as well as hiking. There are one-to-one consultations with a nutritionist, wellness seminars and on-site massage and physiotherapy. Our meals are free from wheat, dairy, sugar and caffeine. Plus we offer a two-week aftercare plan.
For breakfast I love poached eggs and avocado and wholewheat toast. If I want something sweet I might have a big bowl of berries, a dollop of nut and seed butter, natural yogurt and chia seeds. If I have time I might make a smoothie with almond milk, berries and seeds.
If I’m in the office for lunch I have a salad – protein and two salads – or bring in a cold chicken or salmon fillet and salad, seeds and roasted vegetables. I love dairy so I have to be careful with that. I might have a coffee and a health bar in the afternoon. In the evening I like to cook loin of pork with roasted veg or chicken stir-fry with brown rice. And for a treat in front of the TV I like a square or two of dark chocolate. I try to eat clean as much as possible, but I do have cheat meals at the weekend.
Is it hard to be healthy when you have to travel for work?
I think you can make good food choices when you are travelling or busy – it’s all about being prepared. Humous and carrot sticks and homemade soups are good. I carry an avocado in my bag if I am travelling or nuts and seeds in the car.
Do you take any natural supplements?
I take vitamins D and B12, CoQ10 for energy levels and liquid magnesium from an Irish company which is brilliant for energy levels and helpful for women to avoid osteoporosis. I have noticed I am sleeping better since taking it. I do think it’s important to have a balanced diet though.
Do you ever worry about your health?
Now I am in my late 30s and have known people around me to have ill-health I have a much greater appreciation of my health. It’s not just about looking good on TV any more, it’s about being strong and appreciating what my body is capable of and holding onto my health.
How do you relax when you are not in the public eye?
I like to walk my dogs. I dance in the sitting room when noone else is around with the music turned up loud. I enjoy catching up with friends. I like to go out with my fiance for dinner and have nice wine and good cheeses. I never deny myself anything.
Do you have any health tips for Rude Health readers?
• Stop putting off until tomorrow what you can do today. Don’t be intimidated by changing habits. Don’t wait until you have a health scare – work on keeping your good health now.
• You need support to change life habits. It’s okay to ask for help from a group, partner, colleagues or friends. It takes 21 days to change a habit and you need support to get through it.
• Find a sport or exercise you like to do that keeps you entertained. You may need to spice it up a bit if you get stuck in a rut of say, just walking. Boxercise is one of the most popular classes in bootcamp. We do it to music and women often haven’t done it before and just love it.
Tickets for Wellfest are on sale now on www.wellfest.ie.
For more info on Pure Results bootcamp check out www.mountfalcon.com/spa-leisure/leisure/pureresults
Interview by Lucy Taylor. Photograph: Parknasilla
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