Celebrity Health - Keith Barry
Being fit is magic!
Keith Barry, from Waterford, is a hypnotist, magician, mentalist and escapologist. His physically demanding work takes him all over the world and this summer his new live show The Dark Side will run at the Olympia in Dublin for 12 nights in July. He talks to Rude Health about his healthy lifestyle
What sort of exercise do you do to keep in shape?
“I exercise in a gym called Body Burn in Dublin three days a week and then do two to three days of cardio work myself. At the gym I would do heavy weights and metabolic work. I have only really taken training seriously in the last four years or so. It can be hard to fit it in as I live in Co Kildare but I only sleep about four or five hours a night so that helps.”
What sort of foods do you eat to stay healthy?
"I am a very healthy eater, but more so in the past five years. For breakfast every day I have porridge, skimmed milk, a scoop of vanilla protein powder, half a banana, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, some pine nuts and mixed seeds. I try to eat every three hours. Today for lunch I had a chicken and egg white wholewheat wrap, later I had a protein shake. For dinner I will have fillet steak and green beans and if I am hungry later I might have a small salad and a bit of chicken. I snack on walnuts, unsalted cashews and pine nuts. And I quite like Nakd bars. I am not completely regimented and will have a day a week when I eat what I want, and I drink two cups of coffee a day as it helps to keep me going."
Do you take any natural supplements?
"I take aloe vera in liquid form for digestive health. I also buy super strength vitamin C powder. I pick up protein powders at the gym and I always examine the ingredients to make sure they are low in carbs, have no sugar and have 20-30g of protein per serving. I’m on 180g of protein per day at the moment. I am taking four capsules of amino acids a day at the moment as I am in heavy training and they are important for recovery. Every morning I take two tablespoons of liquid cod liver oil – the taste doesn’t bother me."
Do you ever worry about your health?
"I was in a car accident six years ago and my whole leg was smashed to bits – I am like Robocop with a seven inch metal plate and 30 screws. It took six months to be able to walk without a limp and in the morning it can still be a bit stiff for a while. I have arthritis in my ankle as a result and it can be painful. But I was glad to get out of the accident alive. In terms of my general health I just get on with it, really. I look after myself and am enjoying being strong and healthy."
Is your work very physical?
"Last year in my live show I was doing a 100ft rope escape – the audience had to tie me up with as many knots in the rope as they liked. Then they wrapped my head in clingfilm so I couldn’t breathe while I was escaping from it. I lost 5% of my body fat in a month recently because I wanted to lose the weight quickly for a cameo role in a new hypnotism heist movie. I was also a consultant on the film, it’s called Now You See Me, stars Woody Harrelson and Morgan Freeman and will be out this summer."
Are you training for something specific at the moment and what does that involve?
"I am in training for a stunt I plan to do in the autumn this year for UK or US TV. I need to train to do a parachute jump because it involves jumping out of a plane at 30,000 feet in a straightjacket with my hands tied behind my back – I will have to get out of it in mid-air. I have to be in peak physical condition to do it, I am always in training for the next mad stunt I am going to do."
How do you relax when you are not in the public eye?
"I love fishing and find it really relaxing. Yesterday I caught a trout, brought it home, cooked and ate it for dinner. I like sea and river fishing. It’s the best thing for de-stressing."
Do you have any healthy tips for Rude Health readers?
"Lie down in bed every night before you go to sleep and visualise what you want to look like on a movie screen. Your subconscious mind will kick in and train your body to achieve that picture. Stick to the simple things – I don’t go for hardcore supplements. It’s important to be sensible and know your body. Cut down on carbs and sugar as much as possible."
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