Celebrity Health - Dave Kearney

Dave Kearney’s Sporting Life

Dave Kearney is a professional Irish international rugby player. From Dundalk in Co Louth, he is an ambassador for Cleanmarine® Krill Oil for Men. In May Dave will be fronting a Cleanmarine® Afternoon Boost on fitness and health in the Aviva Stadium. Attendees will play tag rugby with him, hear healthy words of wisdom from nutritional therapist Sarah Brereton and enjoy an energy-boosting meal specially created for the event. For your chance to attend check out www.cleanmarine.ie/win

What sort of exercise do you do to keep in shape?

"It depends on what day our game is on that week. If it’s on a Saturday then Monday and Tuesday are the heaviest training sessions. We start with half hour of Switch On, which is warming up and stretches. Then we do a 60-90 minute gym session. On Mondays, for example, we might work on legs, with speed, then squats. Then we refuel with food and have team meetings. Next it is onto the pitch for an hour. Recovery in an ice bath, which is tough but they say it helps the body recover. If the game is on Saturday we have Wednesday off. On Thursday we have an optional gym session, Switch On and then pitch session. Friday is a lot lighter – on the day before a game we do Captain’s Run, a session led by the captain which is a half-hour walk and run through plays for the next day. The only thing I do outside of training is Pilates which I find good for flexibility and core work. I try to do it on our day off."

What sort of foods do you eat to stay healthy?

"It depends on where in the week you are and when your next game is. On average days for breakfast I might have poached eggs and bacon, porridge or granola or protein pancakes. Lunch in the club tends to be something like chicken with rice or sweet potato. In the evening I am at home so I eat what I want. It could be chicken breasts or steak, but I try to lay off carbohydrates such as pasta and potatoes. Two days before a game is the time to go heavy on the carbs to build up energy. For snacks in between meals our team nutritionist might give us nuts and seeds, protein bars or protein shakes. The shakes are good for helping recovery after a session in the gym."

Is it hard to be healthy when you have to travel for work?

"We don’t tend to travel further than France for games, but we are often given lunchboxes with a sandwich, rice cake, granola or protein bar and fruit."

Do you take any natural supplements?

"I think that when you are eating right you don’t need to take a lot of supplements, but I do take Cleanmarine® Krill Oil for Men every day after breakfast. It contains pure omega 3 krill oil, co enzyme Q10, zinc, vitamin D3, selenium and vitamins B1, B2 and B6. Since I started taking it, I feel less drained after hard work outs."

Do you ever worry about your health?

"I know that when I am in the club and training I am being looked after by a nutritionist, but I am conscious that I need to look after myself in terms of diet outside the club. I think sports people are much more aware of health and diet than in the past."

How do you relax when you are not in the public eye?

"I get together with family and friends and try to switch off from rugby. In good weather I like to play a round of golf."

Do you have any health tips for Rude Health readers?

You are what you eat. Remember to combine a good diet with regular exercise.
A healthy diet gives the body all the protein, carbs and good fats it needs to perform. I love pizza but know that I need to regularly eat fish, lean meat, and fruit and veg too. Nuts and seeds are also essential as are specific supplements.
Beware of things like fizzy drinks which contain so much sugar they can have a damaging effect on your health.
Men, don’t be embarrassed to take a supplement if you need one – there are good ones formulated just for our needs.

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