Feelgood 13-01-2012

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Feelgood

Friday, January 13, 2012

New year focus

Step up your fitness routine for 2012 with Olympic athletes Rob and Marian Heffernan: 8, 9

WHO’S WHO

Meet Kim Noble and her 99 other personalities: 4, 5

Picture: Sportsfile/Irish Runner Magazine

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FOOD WISE

Dr Eva Orsmonde dishes up her favourite low-calorie meals: 11

FRY OFF

Eight different brands of sausages under scrutiny: 12

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2 News front Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON ■ BRÍ MEETING: The Brí support group for people with brain injuries and their families was launched at Cork University Hospital (CUH) at the end of November. Brain injuries can occur after a stroke or head injury or from other causes and can affect thinking skills, memory, emotions, social skills and physical movements. The charity has a network of support groups nationwide and monthly support meetings, will take place in Cork on the third Wednesday of every month in the MDM room at CUH. The next meeting will be held from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday, January 18. All welcome. For further information about Brí contact Paul Barrett on 087-1315600; www.briireland.ie ■ SPORTING LUNCH: The annual Fighting Blindness Sporting lunch will begin with a champagne reception at 12.30pm on Friday February 3 at The Westin Hotel, Dublin. It takes place ahead of one of the most anticipated weekends in the sporting calendar as Ireland take on Wales in their opening Six Nations match. Former Irish International Shane Byrne will once again by joined by fellow rugby legends and Fighting Blindness supporters to share tips on the expected game outcome. Traditionally the lunch also celebrates the Hennessey Gold Cup, and stars from the racing world will join guests to put their best predictions forward. Funds raised go to the charity’s research projects to find cures and treatments for retinal degenerative conditions such as Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). To reserve a table call 01-709 3050 or visit www.fightingblindness.ie ■ HEALTH DAY: A Health Day for The Hope Foundation will be held at The Pilates Studio, Penrose Wharf, Cork, on Sunday January 22 from 11.30am to 4.30pm. Taster sessions will include Alexander Technique, Body Talk, Feldenkrais, Pilates and Walk Like a Diva with donations going to Hope’s work with street children in Kolkata, India. For more details call Rosemary Moone on 021-4311411 or Finn O’Gorman 087-2533244.

■ FREE YOGA: Trying out something new for 2012? Jeff Gonet of Unity Yoga Patrick’s Hill Cork has an ongoing free Kundalini Yoga class every Thursday from 5pm-6.30pm. Also new for 2012 from 7.30am to 8.30am (seven days per week) is Nabhi Kriya. This morning class costs €2. For more information on free introductory and reduced rate classes see unity-yoga.net/ or call Jeff on 086-3014428.

■ OPEN EVENING: A free open evening is for people interested in becoming coaches or learning coaching skills will be held on Tuesday next, January 17 at 6.30pm in the River Lee Hotel, Western Road, Cork. The next Diploma in Executive and Life Coaching course, which gives participants a FETAC Level 6 qualification and also a professional qualification, starts in Cork in March. Email cork@positivesuccessgroup.com or call 1890-253 134 for more information.

Items for inclusion in this column can be sent to koreilly8@gmail.com

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Ex-footballer Vinnie Jones pumps up the volume on Stayin’ Alive to deliver cardiac- saving advice, reports Arlene Harris

The heart beat L

ITTLE did the Bee Gees think that their hit single Stayin’ Alive might help to save lives.

The latest advert from the British Heart Foundation shows ex-footballer, actor and all round hard man Vinnie Jones demonstrating the most efficient method of delivering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) — a swift pumping motion on the chest to the strains of the Gibb brothers’ disco beat.

The message behind the promotion is simple — when faced with someone in need of resuscitation, administer hands-only CPR to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive.

The former Wimbledon and Chelsea footballer says: “There really shouldn’t be any messing about when it comes to CPR. If you’re worried about the kiss of life just forget it and push hard and fast in the centre of the chest to Stayin’ Alive.

“Hands-only CPR should give ‘have-a-go heroes’ the confidence to step in and help when somebody is in cardiac arrest.”

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) is in total agreement with the advice given during the advert and welcomes any publicity which will help the public to overcome their fear of performing CPR in an emergency.

Bridgit Sinnot, resuscitation expert for the IHF, says research has shown that most people are afraid to administer CPR. “In Ireland only a third of cardiac arrest

KNUCKLE DOWN: Vinnie Jones lined out with the British Heart Foundation to deliver heart-saving advice. victims receive bystander CPR,” she says.

“Many people are afraid to give CPR in an emergency because of their lack of knowledge and many more are put off by the

thought of having to give the kiss of life.

“The new British Heart Foundation advert has hit the nail on the head — whether you have been trained or not, if someone collapses unconscious in front of you, call 999 and start giving strong chest compressions to the beat of Stayin’ Alive to keep a good tempo.

“It’s better to give CPR to someone who doesn’t need it than not to give it to someone who does — it could mean the difference between life and death.”

Every year in Ireland an estimated 5,000 people die suddenly from cardiac arrest.

Between 70 and 100 of these deaths occur in people under the age of 35.

For every minute a person is collapsed without receiving CPR or defibrillation, their chance of survival decreases by between 7% and 10% per minute.

After five minutes, their chance of survival may be reduced by as much as 50%.

With basic CPR and the availability of a defibrillator within minutes, their chances can greatly improve. ● For more information visit www.irishheart.ie ● To watch video see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILxjxfB4zNk ● To comment on video visit our Facebook page: Feelgood Mag

HEALTH NOTES TAKING aspirin every day may not be worth the risk for those with no history of heart problems, a major study has concluded.

The findings add to evidence that, for healthy people, the dangers associated with aspirin can outweigh the benefits.

Aspirin, which thins the blood and helps prevent clotting, is a standard treatment for patients recovering from heart attacks or strokes. The new study, involving 100,000 participants, showed that regular aspirin could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease events by 10%.

This was largely due to a reduction in non-fatal heart attacks. The benefit was offset by a 30% increase in the risk of life-threatening or debilitating internal bleeding.

Lead researcher Dr Rao Seshasai, from St George’s, University of London, said: “The beneficial effect of aspirin on preventing future cardiovascular disease events in people with established heart attacks or strokes is indisputable. We urge people with these conditions not to discontinue their medication unless advised to do so by their physicians for valid reasons.”

IN a recent survey on toddlers, parents said children up to the age of three need to experience a range of activities. The top must-do activities included: make a mud pie, jump in a puddle, bake a cake, finger

www.irishexaminer.com www.irishexaminer.com

BENEFIT DOUBTS: Is daily aspirin a risk for the healthy?

Picture: iStock

paint and dance without inhibition.

The ‘potty list’ was compiled from a survey of 1,000 British parents by the baby food manufacturer, Cow and Gate.

Child psychologist Richard Woolfson said: “Toddlerhood is about learning, about development and about progress. It’s also about pushing the boundaries a little.

“Now is the time they will master many of the skills that will set them up for life.”

The Mallow Aware support group meets on the first and third Thursday of each month in Le Cheile FRC community campus, Fair Street, Mallow. The first meeting of 2012 will be on Thursday, January 19 at 8pm. www.aware.ie; loCall Helpline 1890 303 302 is

www.irishexaminer.com feelgood@examiner.ie

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

open from 10am to 10pm, Mon to Wed and 10am to 1am, Thurs to Sun. Breast-fed babies cry more, laugh less and have “more challenging temperaments” than formula-fed infants, a study has found. But such behaviour is normal, and mothers should learn to cope with it rather than reach for the bottle, according to researchers from Cambridge, England.

Infant irritability was said to be a natural part of the “dynamic communication” between mothers and babies.

Bottle-feeding was akin to “comfort eating” — producing quieter babies who may be over-nourished, putting on weight too rapidly.

Editorial: 021 4802 292

Advertising: 021 4802 215

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In Profile

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THE SHAPE I'M IN

Frankie Gavin

Music maker F

RANKIE Gavin has recorded 16 albums with De Dannan as well as a number of solo albums.

He has guested with The Rolling Stones on their Voodoo Lounge album, with Keith Richards on Wingless Angels and with the great banjo man, Earl Scruggs.

The man from Corrandulla, Co Galway, was musical from an early age. He started playing the tin whistle at age four and made his first TV appearance three years later. At age 10, he began to play the fiddle and at 17 he was placed first in All-Ireland fiddle and flute competitions on the same day. His powerful fiddle-playing has always been at the core of the De Dannan sound.

The 55-year-old dad of three — whose children range in age from 23 to 13 — plays as part of the Temple Bar Trad Festival, which runs from January 25 to 29. He is at Dublin City Hall on Friday, January 27. “I’m really looking forward to the trad fest. I’ve heard great reports about it. I think I played in the first one,� he says.

On the subject of new year resolutions, Frankie’s is not to put off until tomorrow what you can do today. “I think of good things to do and I say I’ll do them tomorrow and tomorrow never comes. So, in 2012, it’s bye-bye procrastination. � For more on the trad fest, visit www.templebartrad.com.

What shape are you in?

I could be in a bit better shape but that will come in time. I exercise a little. Mainly my exercise would be spade-work in the garden and cutting briars.

Do you have any health concerns?

No, thankfully. I was in hospital after a shooting accident, which happened while out wildlife hunting. It was a long time ago now. The injuries were to my face and head and it did set me back physically and mentally at the time.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I eat a lot of garlic because it’s nature’s antibiotic. I also eat loads of onions because they’re good for the blood.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

I have a weakness for chocolate.

What would keep you awake at night?

Worries about my children and also financial worries would keep me awake on occasion. I try to blot the money worries out of my mind because I try to envisage things getting better rather than worse.

How do you relax?

I relax only after being out doing physical work, real physical exercise. I’m capable of relaxing then because I’m too tired to do anything else.

3

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Michael Flatley and Barack Obama — and the First Lady of course.

What’s your favourite smell?

The smell of good food cooking — particularly the smell of butter, onions and garlic.

When did you last cry?

Very recently — about four or five days ago when I said goodbye to my young lad who was going to Los Angeles.

I’d be an emotional person anyway — it wouldn’t take that kind of occasion to make me cry. If I heard a piece of music that touched me, I’d cry.

What would you change about your appearance?

I’d make myself about five or six inches taller and lose the belly.

What trait do you least like in others?

Insincerity — when people say one thing and do or think another.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I’m a bit of a procrastinator and I wish I wasn’t.

Do you pray?

Oh yes, I certainly do. I enjoy spirituality, the comfort that it brings.

What would cheer up your day?

A good laugh.

Helen O’Callaghan

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Psychological challenge

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Kim Noble is 100 ‘people’ in one, involuntarily switching personality. Her identity

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disorder is a legacy of repeated abuse in infancy, says Amanda Mitchison

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I don’t know if I am coming or going...

T

HE painter Kim Noble is a niblet-sized woman with long, auburn hair and startlingly blue eyes.

She lives in a small terrace house in south London with her 14-year-old daughter, Aimee, two dogs and more than 100 separate personalities.

Kim, 51, has dissociative identity disorder (DID). She is scores of different ‘people’ — the number is uncertain — in one body.

These personalities are distinct, with their own names and ages and quirks of temperament. Some are children. Some are male.

For a journalist, this presents problems.

Which ‘person’ do you interview? Noble is a name on a birth certificate — a portmanteau of identities. Do you talk to whomever pops up? Hayley? Judy? Ken? There’s a protocol: you meet Patricia, the dominant personality in Noble’s head. With the help of regular support workers, Patricia looks after Aimee and makes sure there’s milk in the fridge. It is Patricia who answers the door and welcomes me in.

The house is freshly painted, clean and tidy.

Patricia appears urbane and at ease. She is well-turned-out, full of energy, just back from a holiday in Tenerife. Not a smidgen of psychiatric in-patient about her: no carpet slippers, no sad cardigans.

The photographer is setting up in the living room, so we go upstairs into Aimee’s bedroom. I’m unsure how to address the person sitting on the bed opposite me. Do I call her Kim, or Patricia? “I’m Patricia,” she says equably. “I don’t like being called Kim, but I have got used to it now.”

How often does she change personality?

She shrugs. “There are about three or four switches a day.”

What has happened so far today? “This morning, Spirit of the Water had a bath. And one of them was painting — it might have been Abi. And then the vacuum-cleaning, another person was doing that before you came.”

An alter ego who cleans. That’s handy.

“Yeah, I have got my own cleaner,” she says. “But nobody will do the garden.”

The strangeness of Kim’s story, and of what she has endured, is revealed in her autobiography, All Of Me. The book, ghostwritten by Jeff Hudson, is a terrible tale.

Kim was born in 1960 in London. Her parents, in an unhappy marriage, were factory workers and the care of their daughter was farmed out to friends and local acquaintances. The details of what happened are hazy, but it seems that from an early age — somewhere between one and three — Kim suffered extreme and repeated abuse. And at this point her mind, traumatised beyond endurance, shattered into fragments, forming myriad separate identities. The breaks were clean: most of the principal personalities had no memories of abuse and no flashbacks.

Thus she was protected from what had happened.

Kim scraped her way through childhood.

Home life was fraught and she performed poorly in school. Her memory lapses and erratic behaviour were noticed but never understood. Abnormally poor memory is a classic symptom of DID. When there is a

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‘switch,’ the new personality taking over does not know what has happened before they emerged. Young Kim demonstrated just such mental lacunae, and when she denied having said or done something, she was usually taken for a liar.

Did her parents never clock that something was wrong? Patricia gives a slow blink and says “my parents were busy.”

In adolescence, everything came apart. After repeatedly overdosing, Kim was placed on suicide watch in a psychiatric hospital. It was the first of many internments — each time she was released, she would try to kill herself and would be readmitted. She developed anorexia and bulimia.

In her late 20s came a period of relative stability. With the immensely capable Hayley personality predominant during work hours, Kim held down a job as a van driver for five years. But, one day, something must have caused a switch and a disturbed personality called Julie suddenly found herself driving the van. She ploughed straight into a line of parked cars. This led to another mental-health section, and a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Eventually, Kim re-emerged from hospital, and her story took another dramatic twist: somehow, she found herself exposed to the activities of a paedophile ring. In the book, we are told that when she reported it to the police, she received anonymous warnings to be quiet: “Threats of retaliation escalated, until one day a man threw acid in her face and someone tried to set light to her bed with her in it.”

Kim got out, but the house was gutted.

Patricia can’t remember either of these events. The first she knew of the arson attack was standing outside watching flames engulf the house. After the fire, Kim spent six months in a women’s refuge. Here, she became aware of the crucial, terrifying difference between her and the other residents: everyone else knew who they were hiding from. Kim could have passed her assailant in the street without realising. Something had to be done.

During this time, a new branch of mental-health specialists took over Kim’s care. In 1995, she was finally diagnosed with DID and began the therapy she still undergoes, without any medication. DID treatment is usually long-term and laborious — it can take years for there to be any progress. The therapist has to tease out the separate personalities and treat them individually, trying to help each come to terms with what happened in their past.

Initially — like so many of the personalities — Patricia considered the idea of DID absurd. But after six years of therapy, she finally accepted the diagnosis — and the puzzling aspects of her life slotted into place. She now understood why she always felt she was losing time, and why she had continually ended up in hospital: some of her alter egos — particularly the younger ones, frozen in time and retaining memories of abuse — were highly traumatised. Judy was bulimic. Rebecca was behind the suicide attempts. As for the acid and arson attacks, Patricia discovered they were to intimidate Hayley. She had been the

Kim’s dominant personality Patricia cannot determine when or how often she changes into someone else.

But there are triggers that are likely to set off a switch

informer.

Patricia cannot determine when, or how often, she changes into someone else. But there are triggers that are likely to set off a switch: Judy comes out at meals, Spirit of Water takes the baths. In October 2010, Patricia and Aimee appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show, and, beforehand, they were filmed at home. There are some clips on YouTube: Patricia is sitting in front of a plate

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

of food when her shoulders give a tiny jolt and she turned into Judy, a truculent 15-year-old who believes she is fat.

Each time there is a switch of personality, and Patricia re-emerges, she has no notion of what has happened in her absence. So daily life is beset with lost keys, unrequested pizza deliveries, the car mysteriously parked miles from home.

“I don’t ever know if I am coming or go-

ing,” she says. “I could switch at a door, like at the doctor’s surgery, and think, ‘Have I just been in’?” She shrugs wearily. “You can’t ask, so I just walk off.”

The other personalities have independent lives. They have their own email addresses — Patricia doesn’t know their passwords; they buy clothes. Patricia shows me a large, silky tent of a dress. “Does it look like me? Size 14. That’ll be Judy.”

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Patricia is dependent on benefits, supplemented by the occasional sale of a painting.

How does she — how do they — manage money? “I have control of the card and they don’t know the pin number.”

And what about sex? Patricia laughs. “Oh, I gave that up years ago. Any relationship like that is just too complicated.”

But life hasn’t always been sexless. In 1997, Kim gave birth to Aimee. The baby was im-

mediately taken into care by social services.

For years, Patricia remained unaware she had a daughter. How can a woman not realise she’s had a baby? Patricia shrugs and holds up her hands. “It was so bizarre. But there was barely a bump.”

But what about the scar from the caesarean? Patricia gestures to her flat stomach. “It doesn’t show. It’s mind over matter,” she says.

This might sound unbelievable but it can, in part, be explained by the fact that Kim’s dominant personalities have changed over the years. Around pregnancy and Aimee’s birth, Patricia was an occasional, subsidiary presence. Years later, once Patricia accepted Aimee was her daughter, she instantly knew who the father was — an on/off boyfriend she’d met during her driving days. In the book, she writes, “I may not have been there to give birth to Aimee, but I did conceive her.”

Patricia contacted the father to tell him, but he has never been involved in Aimee’s upbringing.

During the pregnancy, a personality called Dawn was in charge. But following the trauma of the baby being taken away, Dawn retreated and super-efficient Hayley returned to the forefront. It was Hayley who began legal proceedings to claim Aimee back; then Bonny, a more excitable personality, took the fight through the courts.

It seems surprising that someone with multiple personalities should be trusted with the care of a baby, but Patricia says “the body” — the collective personalities of Kim Noble — would never allow Aimee to be harmed. And Kim’s mind does possess an instinct for self-preservation.

When, eventually, she was allowed to meet Aimee, only Bonny and Hayley and the other responsible, front-line personalities came to the fore. After months under observation in a mother-and-baby unit, Aimee was allowed to live with her mother under a care order.

Everything has gone well. Two years ago, the care order was lifted, and the success of the parenting can be seen in Aimee: clever, pretty and popular, she was head girl of her primary school and is magnificently imperturbable. “It’s exciting,” she says. “With other mums, you have got one person. That is a bit boring.” Does her mother’s DID make things difficult? “There aren’t many disadvantages, apart from the fact that she can’t really cook, because if the oven was left on and she switched, that could start a fire.”

Is the DID exasperating? “It can be. When I am talking to other personalities and the main personality comes, I think, ‘I haven’t finished what I was going to say’.” Among the frequent personalities, Aimee can identify

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

which is which at a glance. Some are easy — Ken wears his hair up and has a blokeish way of pulling his shoulders back; with others the body language is more subtle. Are there any personalities she doesn’t like? “There are some that come out more often, so I know them better. Judy, because she’s 15, talks to me in a friendly way, like a mate. But I like them all,” she says.

The aim with DID therapy, which is not always possible and sometimes too risky to attempt, is for the patient’s mind to reintegrate and become whole. Does Patricia want to integrate?

She shakes her head.

“My attitude is: how can I get a memory? I wasn’t there, I was not in that room when that happened.”

She takes me to her tiny, paint-spattered art room. It’s a revelation.

Since Patricia began art therapy in 2004, more than a dozen personalities have started to paint regularly and prolifically. The styles, palettes and skill levels vary enormously.

Some paintings are abstract, others more representational. The paintings of Ria Pratt, a very disturbed personality, are naive little cameos with whips and cages and wispy stick figures, with the children being raped or abused painted in lighter colours.

The first of Ria’s pictures was a horrible shock for Patricia. “Aimee was very little then and I had to put it away because it was quite graphic. But when I see their paintings I get excited. This is the nearest I am ever going to get to being integrated,” she says.

Dr Valerie Sinason, the psychotherapist who initially treated Kim, describes DID as “a brilliantly creative survival device.” She is full of admiration for how some of her patients’ personalities, having hived off the traumatised parts of their mind, can forge ahead.

She says that, like people with Asperger’s, they can sometimes demonstrate exceptional powers. “They can go further than normal people because they are not held back.”

Kim is a case in point. By any measure she — or rather Patricia — represents a very successful adaptation. She’s turned her life around, gaining professional success. Patricia beams. “I am happy with everything.”

Oprah Winfrey interviewed ‘Patricia’ and Aimee on her show and showed a clip of weightconscious ‘Judy’ at home

● All of Me: My Incredible Story of How I Learned to Live with the Many Personalities Sharing My Body, by Kim Noble

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Psychological challenge

XH - V1

Kim Noble is 100 ‘people’ in one, involuntarily switching personality. Her identity

XH - V1

disorder is a legacy of repeated abuse in infancy, says Amanda Mitchison

5

I don’t know if I am coming or going...

T

HE painter Kim Noble is a niblet-sized woman with long, auburn hair and startlingly blue eyes.

She lives in a small terrace house in south London with her 14-year-old daughter, Aimee, two dogs and more than 100 separate personalities.

Kim, 51, has dissociative identity disorder (DID). She is scores of different ‘people’ — the number is uncertain — in one body.

These personalities are distinct, with their own names and ages and quirks of temperament. Some are children. Some are male.

For a journalist, this presents problems.

Which ‘person’ do you interview? Noble is a name on a birth certificate — a portmanteau of identities. Do you talk to whomever pops up? Hayley? Judy? Ken? There’s a protocol: you meet Patricia, the dominant personality in Noble’s head. With the help of regular support workers, Patricia looks after Aimee and makes sure there’s milk in the fridge. It is Patricia who answers the door and welcomes me in.

The house is freshly painted, clean and tidy.

Patricia appears urbane and at ease. She is well-turned-out, full of energy, just back from a holiday in Tenerife. Not a smidgen of psychiatric in-patient about her: no carpet slippers, no sad cardigans.

The photographer is setting up in the living room, so we go upstairs into Aimee’s bedroom. I’m unsure how to address the person sitting on the bed opposite me. Do I call her Kim, or Patricia? “I’m Patricia,” she says equably. “I don’t like being called Kim, but I have got used to it now.”

How often does she change personality?

She shrugs. “There are about three or four switches a day.”

What has happened so far today? “This morning, Spirit of the Water had a bath. And one of them was painting — it might have been Abi. And then the vacuum-cleaning, another person was doing that before you came.”

An alter ego who cleans. That’s handy.

“Yeah, I have got my own cleaner,” she says. “But nobody will do the garden.”

The strangeness of Kim’s story, and of what she has endured, is revealed in her autobiography, All Of Me. The book, ghostwritten by Jeff Hudson, is a terrible tale.

Kim was born in 1960 in London. Her parents, in an unhappy marriage, were factory workers and the care of their daughter was farmed out to friends and local acquaintances. The details of what happened are hazy, but it seems that from an early age — somewhere between one and three — Kim suffered extreme and repeated abuse. And at this point her mind, traumatised beyond endurance, shattered into fragments, forming myriad separate identities. The breaks were clean: most of the principal personalities had no memories of abuse and no flashbacks.

Thus she was protected from what had happened.

Kim scraped her way through childhood.

Home life was fraught and she performed poorly in school. Her memory lapses and erratic behaviour were noticed but never understood. Abnormally poor memory is a classic symptom of DID. When there is a

Feelgood

‘switch,’ the new personality taking over does not know what has happened before they emerged. Young Kim demonstrated just such mental lacunae, and when she denied having said or done something, she was usually taken for a liar.

Did her parents never clock that something was wrong? Patricia gives a slow blink and says “my parents were busy.”

In adolescence, everything came apart. After repeatedly overdosing, Kim was placed on suicide watch in a psychiatric hospital. It was the first of many internments — each time she was released, she would try to kill herself and would be readmitted. She developed anorexia and bulimia.

In her late 20s came a period of relative stability. With the immensely capable Hayley personality predominant during work hours, Kim held down a job as a van driver for five years. But, one day, something must have caused a switch and a disturbed personality called Julie suddenly found herself driving the van. She ploughed straight into a line of parked cars. This led to another mental-health section, and a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Eventually, Kim re-emerged from hospital, and her story took another dramatic twist: somehow, she found herself exposed to the activities of a paedophile ring. In the book, we are told that when she reported it to the police, she received anonymous warnings to be quiet: “Threats of retaliation escalated, until one day a man threw acid in her face and someone tried to set light to her bed with her in it.”

Kim got out, but the house was gutted.

Patricia can’t remember either of these events. The first she knew of the arson attack was standing outside watching flames engulf the house. After the fire, Kim spent six months in a women’s refuge. Here, she became aware of the crucial, terrifying difference between her and the other residents: everyone else knew who they were hiding from. Kim could have passed her assailant in the street without realising. Something had to be done.

During this time, a new branch of mental-health specialists took over Kim’s care. In 1995, she was finally diagnosed with DID and began the therapy she still undergoes, without any medication. DID treatment is usually long-term and laborious — it can take years for there to be any progress. The therapist has to tease out the separate personalities and treat them individually, trying to help each come to terms with what happened in their past.

Initially — like so many of the personalities — Patricia considered the idea of DID absurd. But after six years of therapy, she finally accepted the diagnosis — and the puzzling aspects of her life slotted into place. She now understood why she always felt she was losing time, and why she had continually ended up in hospital: some of her alter egos — particularly the younger ones, frozen in time and retaining memories of abuse — were highly traumatised. Judy was bulimic. Rebecca was behind the suicide attempts. As for the acid and arson attacks, Patricia discovered they were to intimidate Hayley. She had been the

Kim’s dominant personality Patricia cannot determine when or how often she changes into someone else.

But there are triggers that are likely to set off a switch

informer.

Patricia cannot determine when, or how often, she changes into someone else. But there are triggers that are likely to set off a switch: Judy comes out at meals, Spirit of Water takes the baths. In October 2010, Patricia and Aimee appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show, and, beforehand, they were filmed at home. There are some clips on YouTube: Patricia is sitting in front of a plate

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

of food when her shoulders give a tiny jolt and she turned into Judy, a truculent 15-year-old who believes she is fat.

Each time there is a switch of personality, and Patricia re-emerges, she has no notion of what has happened in her absence. So daily life is beset with lost keys, unrequested pizza deliveries, the car mysteriously parked miles from home.

“I don’t ever know if I am coming or go-

ing,” she says. “I could switch at a door, like at the doctor’s surgery, and think, ‘Have I just been in’?” She shrugs wearily. “You can’t ask, so I just walk off.”

The other personalities have independent lives. They have their own email addresses — Patricia doesn’t know their passwords; they buy clothes. Patricia shows me a large, silky tent of a dress. “Does it look like me? Size 14. That’ll be Judy.”

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Patricia is dependent on benefits, supplemented by the occasional sale of a painting.

How does she — how do they — manage money? “I have control of the card and they don’t know the pin number.”

And what about sex? Patricia laughs. “Oh, I gave that up years ago. Any relationship like that is just too complicated.”

But life hasn’t always been sexless. In 1997, Kim gave birth to Aimee. The baby was im-

mediately taken into care by social services.

For years, Patricia remained unaware she had a daughter. How can a woman not realise she’s had a baby? Patricia shrugs and holds up her hands. “It was so bizarre. But there was barely a bump.”

But what about the scar from the caesarean? Patricia gestures to her flat stomach. “It doesn’t show. It’s mind over matter,” she says.

This might sound unbelievable but it can, in part, be explained by the fact that Kim’s dominant personalities have changed over the years. Around pregnancy and Aimee’s birth, Patricia was an occasional, subsidiary presence. Years later, once Patricia accepted Aimee was her daughter, she instantly knew who the father was — an on/off boyfriend she’d met during her driving days. In the book, she writes, “I may not have been there to give birth to Aimee, but I did conceive her.”

Patricia contacted the father to tell him, but he has never been involved in Aimee’s upbringing.

During the pregnancy, a personality called Dawn was in charge. But following the trauma of the baby being taken away, Dawn retreated and super-efficient Hayley returned to the forefront. It was Hayley who began legal proceedings to claim Aimee back; then Bonny, a more excitable personality, took the fight through the courts.

It seems surprising that someone with multiple personalities should be trusted with the care of a baby, but Patricia says “the body” — the collective personalities of Kim Noble — would never allow Aimee to be harmed. And Kim’s mind does possess an instinct for self-preservation.

When, eventually, she was allowed to meet Aimee, only Bonny and Hayley and the other responsible, front-line personalities came to the fore. After months under observation in a mother-and-baby unit, Aimee was allowed to live with her mother under a care order.

Everything has gone well. Two years ago, the care order was lifted, and the success of the parenting can be seen in Aimee: clever, pretty and popular, she was head girl of her primary school and is magnificently imperturbable. “It’s exciting,” she says. “With other mums, you have got one person. That is a bit boring.” Does her mother’s DID make things difficult? “There aren’t many disadvantages, apart from the fact that she can’t really cook, because if the oven was left on and she switched, that could start a fire.”

Is the DID exasperating? “It can be. When I am talking to other personalities and the main personality comes, I think, ‘I haven’t finished what I was going to say’.” Among the frequent personalities, Aimee can identify

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

which is which at a glance. Some are easy — Ken wears his hair up and has a blokeish way of pulling his shoulders back; with others the body language is more subtle. Are there any personalities she doesn’t like? “There are some that come out more often, so I know them better. Judy, because she’s 15, talks to me in a friendly way, like a mate. But I like them all,” she says.

The aim with DID therapy, which is not always possible and sometimes too risky to attempt, is for the patient’s mind to reintegrate and become whole. Does Patricia want to integrate?

She shakes her head.

“My attitude is: how can I get a memory? I wasn’t there, I was not in that room when that happened.”

She takes me to her tiny, paint-spattered art room. It’s a revelation.

Since Patricia began art therapy in 2004, more than a dozen personalities have started to paint regularly and prolifically. The styles, palettes and skill levels vary enormously.

Some paintings are abstract, others more representational. The paintings of Ria Pratt, a very disturbed personality, are naive little cameos with whips and cages and wispy stick figures, with the children being raped or abused painted in lighter colours.

The first of Ria’s pictures was a horrible shock for Patricia. “Aimee was very little then and I had to put it away because it was quite graphic. But when I see their paintings I get excited. This is the nearest I am ever going to get to being integrated,” she says.

Dr Valerie Sinason, the psychotherapist who initially treated Kim, describes DID as “a brilliantly creative survival device.” She is full of admiration for how some of her patients’ personalities, having hived off the traumatised parts of their mind, can forge ahead.

She says that, like people with Asperger’s, they can sometimes demonstrate exceptional powers. “They can go further than normal people because they are not held back.”

Kim is a case in point. By any measure she — or rather Patricia — represents a very successful adaptation. She’s turned her life around, gaining professional success. Patricia beams. “I am happy with everything.”

Oprah Winfrey interviewed ‘Patricia’ and Aimee on her show and showed a clip of weightconscious ‘Judy’ at home

● All of Me: My Incredible Story of How I Learned to Live with the Many Personalities Sharing My Body, by Kim Noble

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Relationships

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Barrister and mediator Rachel Fehily counsels divorcing couples to calmly separate out the issues and find the best possible route to the next phase of their lives

It’s the ex factor M

ARRIAGE counsellors are experiencing unprecedented demand for their services. Last week, Dublin’s AIM Family Services said it has never had so many calls in its 30-year history, while Relationships Ireland reported that the number of couples seeking help was higher than usual for January.

Each time a relationship breaks down it has the potential to become the catalyst for the start of a small but costly war.

As a barrister and a mediator, I have witnessed first-hand how the fallout can scatter widely, causing deep conflict and damaging the emotional and physical health of the couple and their children. If the conflict isn’t controlled, it can suck up the financial resources of the whole family and sour the couple’s relationships with their extended family and friends.

Every couple’s story is different. The causes of relationship breakdown are complicated.

Mental health problems, financial problems, alcohol and drug abuse, personality disorders, controlling behaviour, infidelity and lack of trust can all contribute but there’s rarely one clear cut reason.

There are different ways to organise your parenting and finances after the relationship has broken down. The couple may decide to draw up a separation agreement themselves with little input from solicitors or they may have to negotiate or litigate. One thing is sure, the more conflict there is during this process, the more time-consuming and expensive it will become.

Ireland has a relatively low rate of divorce compared to the rest of Europe and the numbers are stabilising. In 2010 there were 3,113 divorces and judicial separations granted in the courts, which is a little lower than previous years.

In 2009 the Irish Family Support Agency which provides a free mediation service, dealt with over 1,500 cases. Mediated agreements were reached in around 60% of those cases.

More and more barristers and solicitors are training in mediation so there is obviously a demand for a private service as well. One in six families in Ireland is a one-parent family — but over two thirds of these are in that

BLAME GAME: A broken relationship is a painful experience for all involved. It only adds to the misery when the couple deviates from agreed separation terms.

Picture: iStock

category because the couple never lived together, or one parent died.

Financial pressure puts huge stress on relationships. It’s easier to ignore the fact that a relationship has underlying problems if the family finances are in good order. When the good times are over, unemployment looms and the household budget has to be tightly controlled, the resulting pressure can rock the relationship if the foundations aren’t sound.

Blaming your ex for the breakdown of your relationship while trying to resolve your issues is futile and can consume your energy.

Lawyers and mediators try to help couples negotiate and design an agreement that will allow everyone to move on and share parenting and divide finances.

The legal system is rarely interested in who was at fault. Bad behaviour will annoy a judge if it’s severe, or it is related to failing to comply with orders regarding the separation or divorce. But your ex’s drinking, spending and sexual habits aren’t usually as relevant as people think they are when it comes to negotiating an agreement or when the case is being heard in court.

It’s very important that the key issues of parenting and finances are dealt with separately. Warring parents will often use access as a bargaining tool. If there is a disagreement over finances, a parent will sometimes spitefully withhold access to children to force the other to cooperate. Other parents refuse to see their children when conflict is high. This

is incredibly damaging to their children.

Badmouthing your ex in front of your children or using them as a pawn in your war is the worst thing a parent can do.

Children should never be forced to take sides or get involved. A relationship breakdown is an adult problem that requires an adult response. ● Rachel Fehily is a mediator at familylawmediator.ie.

She is the author of Split: True Stories of Relationship Breakdown in Ireland, published by Y Books, €12.99/€4.99 ebook

Baby’s bond with mum key to later health

by Nick Bramhill

T

ODDLERS who have a close bond with their mothers are less likely to become obese in later life, according to new findings. Up to now, overeating and lack of exercise have been pinpointed as root causes for Ireland’s obesity epidemic. But experts in the US have discovered that tots are more likely to become obese when they hit adolescence if they had a poor relationship with their mother.

Data detailing relationship characteristics between mothers and their children during their toddler years was studied and it was found that the lower the quality of the relationship in terms of the child’s emotional se-

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curity and the mother’s sensitivity, the higher the risk that a child would be obese by the age of 15. Among those toddlers who had the lowest-quality emotional relationships with their mothers, more than a quarter were obese in their teenage years, compared to just 13% of adolescents who had closer bonds with their mothers in their early years.

Researchers believe the areas of the brain that control emotions and stress responses, as well as appetite and energy balance, could be working together to influence the likelihood that a child will become obese. Picture: iStock

More than 300,000 Irish children are classified as obese or overweight — with the numbers surging by 10,000 a year. But experts involved in the latest study, published in this month’s edition of Pediatrics, believe efforts to cut the numbers of sufferers could be more successful if strategies were introduced to improve the mother-child bond, rather than focusing exclusively on levels of exercise and eating.

Sarah Anderson, assistant professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University and lead author of the study, said: “It is possible that childhood

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

obesity could be influenced by interventions that try to improve the emotional bonds between mothers and children, rather than focusing on food intake and activity.

“The sensitivity a mother displays in interacting with her child may be influenced by factors she can’t necessarily control. Societally, we need to think about how we can support better quality maternal-child relationships, because that could have an impact on child health.”

The researchers analysed data from 977 participants for the study, which involved children born in 1991. The bond between mothers and children were observed at three points — when the children were 15, 24 and 36 months old. ● See doctor’s panel page 10

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Psychology

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From a very young age, infants show a range of strategies to direct parents to fulfil their needs

Cork Buteyko Course for Snoring and Asthma commencing Sunday, January 22nd

Baby knows best Tony Humphreys

I

NFANTS are born with hopes and expectations.

Their need to be loved, nurtured and safe are innate and they can intuitively sense when their essential needs for love and security are being met or not being met.

While these expectations lie at an unconscious level, the baby hopes her cries will be heard, that she will be fed when hungry, allowed sleep when needed, that her gaze will be lovingly returned and smiles reciprocated.

Consistency in meeting needs leads to the infant developing a deep sense of trust in the parent and in others. Inconsistency leads to mistrust and either a withdrawing from contact or an aggressive railing at the world of people who have let her down.

Effective parenting in these early years is critical to the child’s present and future wellbeing. Thankfully, there is help at hand. A wonderful book, Your Baby is Speaking to You (Nugent, 2011) has 45 photographs of infants communicating during the first astonishing days of life and the months beyond.

The author, Dr Kevin Nugent, is director of the Brazelton Institute at Children’s Hospital, Boston, where he has studied newborn babies and early parent-child relationships for more than 30 years.

Dr Nugent reveals that his interest in the mother-baby relationship arose from an experience in his own childhood and it was on encountering his own first one-day old baby as a young doctor that the buried memory of that past time when he, at 11 years of age, had cared for his own baby brother after their mother died.

At many seminars I have given on parenting I have asked the question: what draws your heart to the baby? The most common response is ‘his or her helplessness’, and not the one I was hoping to hear — the baby’s unique presence.

Babies and children need to be loved for themselves and any confusion of their individual self with a behaviour is very threatening to the child’s wellbeing.

As regards the confusion of the baby with helplessness, I can assure you that babies are not at all helpless and are very powerful at directing parents to meet their needs.

Certainly, infants are dependent on parents to provide unconditional love and to gradually empower them (age appropriate) to meet their own needs so that later on they can fly the nest as independent young adults.

Lao Tzu, the father of Taoism, puts this well: “Be parent, not possessor, Attendant, not Master, Be concerned not with obedience but with benefit, And you are at the core of living.

If I keep from imposing on people, they become themselves.”

Dr Nugent’s book beautifully illustrates the amazing communication strategies newborn babies possess. It is important that parents are tuned into the infant’s communication so that they can best meet the child’s emerging needs.

Interestingly, the word ‘infant’ comes from the Latin infans, meaning unable to speak.

In many ways the word does an injustice to infants because, as Dr Nugent points out, they do have a wide range of ‘stunningly’ precocious communication strategies. In-

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Picture: iStock

50% less wheezing and coughing & 70% less need for reliever medication within TWO WEEKS. 50% less preventer medication within 3–6 MONTHS. (Mater Hospital, Brisbane) 75% less snoring within TWO WEEKS.

By Patrick McKeown, author & International practitioner.

As seen on RTE, Irish Times and Irish Independent.

Freecall: 1800 931 935 or visit www.asthmacare.ie

HEALTH&LIFESTYLE ADVERTISING

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: Babies can intuitively sense when their essential needs for love and security are being met or not being met.

Picture: iStock fants, toddlers, children, teenagers, adults never cease to communicate for those who have the eye to see, the touch to feel and the ears to hear.

The most powerful and accurate barometer of a state of wellbeing is non-verbal communication — across all age groups.

In the photographs presented in the book, Dr Nugent describes what the infant is communicating in: ■ Deep sleep ■ Light sleep ■ The full cry ■ Fussing (low-pitched, less intense form of crying) ■ The search response ■ Feeding (whether breast or bottle-fed) ■ The fencer response (a self-organising and self-consoling device) ■ The sleep smile ■ The smile of discovery ■ Crawling ■ Crossing feet ■ Yawning ■ Responding to sounds ■ Visual exploration ■ Touch ■ Cuddliness ■ Startles ■ Drowsiness ■ Signs of distress ■ Soothability ■ Feeding and communicating ■ Irritation ■ The social smile ■ Reaching out ■ Exploring ■ Learning to love I like the inclusion of how a parent needs to respond to the not very cuddly baby, to the not easily settled baby and to recognise when the baby is being over-stimulated. Parents need to be alert that too much excitement can overwhelm and exhaust a baby and compromise her ability to maintain periods of social availability.

Given that the newborn period and the first months of life are a time of amazing development for the baby and her parent, Dr Nugent’s book is an invaluable resource to have for the very sensitive and far-reaching matter of the relationship between infant and parent.

Dr Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist, author, and speaker. His book, Self-Esteem, the Key to Your Child’s Future, is relevant to this article.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

7

Target more females in Munster and Cork than any other daily newspaper.

To reach them, advertise in ‘Feelgood’.

Call Lori Fraser

Tel: 021 4802265 lori.fraser@examiner.ie

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Cover story

Focussed on fitness

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There is a lot we can learn from our athletes as they prepare for the 2012 Olympics with a strenuous, year-round schedule of training, says Sharon Ni Chonchúir

A

THLETES preparing for the challenge of a lifetime in representing Ireland at the Olympics Games in August are facing into the final months of training to reach their physical peak.

The number of athletes who have qualified stands at 23. However, there are some qualifying stages still to go and it is expected that between 50 and 75 athletes will qualify for London.

So how will they make sure they are in top condition between now and then? And is there anything we can learn from them?

Life in the Heffernan household in Cork city is bound to become stressful between now and August. Race walker Rob, 33, has qualified for the 20K and 50K events while his wife Marian, 29, is close to qualifying for the 4x400 relay. The pair hope to become the first Irish married couple at the Olympics and are training hard.

Rob trains twice a day, every day: walking up to 100 miles a week on top of daily sessions in the gym. Marian has one three-hour training session in the morning.

“It varies from weights and track work to long runs,” she says. “It’s the blueprint for my whole year.”

Marian and Rob train all year, which makes it difficult to have a normal family life with their six-year-old son Cathal and Rob’s eight-year-old daughter Meghan. “Combining sports with a family is tough as there are days that revolve around They steer physiotherapy apclear of pointments, gym work and masprocessed and sage,” says Marian. fast foods and “But both kids rarely, if ever, have a massive indrink alcohol terest in sports and love coming to the track with us and going out with Rob on their bikes when he is walking.”

The couple pay just as much attention to diet as they do to training. “My diet is different to Marian’s as I do a lot of miles,” says Rob. “But we try to keep it balanced with carbs, proteins, fresh fruit and vegetables. We also take supplements to help with recovery as our bodies take a hammering in training.”

They steer clear of processed and fast foods and rarely, if ever, drink alcohol. “I’d love to go for a few pints and have the craic with my family and friends,” says Rob. “But it hinders recovery, and as I’m an all-or-nothing person, I avoid it.”

Although they love their sports, Marian and Rob find there are drawbacks to the sporting life.

“I moan about training because it’s tough and I have to do it day, in day out,” says Rob. “I don’t like how it restricts my life,” says Marian. “For the past two years I’ve wanted to bring the kids ice skating, but as it’s in the middle of training I can’t go.”

These negatives are far outweighed by the positives. “There’s a great satisfaction when you complete a hard training session,” says Rob. “And I love the fact that I look savage when I’m fit.” For Marian, it’s about personal

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Combining sports with a family is tough as there are days that revolve around physiotherapy appointments, gym work and massage

Picture:Matt Browne/ Sportsfile/Irish Runner Magazine

Rob and Marian hope to be the first Irish married couple at the Olympics and are training hard achievement but she also gets a kick out of inspiring other joggers on the track.

“They often burst into a sprint when they see me training,” she says. “That gives me a

boost.”

Marian and Rob are looking beyond the Olympics. This is easier for Rob as London will be his fourth Olympics. “There is an in-

evitable dip in motivation afterwards but you have to pick yourself up and drive on,” he says.

For Marian, hopefully on her way to her first Olympics, it’s different. “This is the pin-

nacle of our sport and moving on to the next challenge won’t cut it,” she says. “I’ll miss standing next to the best in the world and savouring the challenge.”

The Olympic couple have no-nonsense advice for anyone aiming to get fit this year. Rob recommends being prepared for times when you are not feeling motivated to exercise.

“It’s easy to train when you feel like it but it can be tough when you are down or tired,” he says. “Those are the times you have to take the finger out and stick to the plan. The rewards are worth it in the long run, whether it’s losing a stone or winning an Olympic medal.”

Marian suggests making exercise a social activity. “It’s much easier if there are a group of you,” she says.

The tale of Conor and David Harte, from Ballinspittle, near Kinsale, is as inspiring as the Heffernans’. These 23-year-old identical twins play hockey for Ireland and are preparing for the March games in Dublin that should see them qualify for London.

“The thought of the Olympics is phenomenal,” says centre defender, Conor. “Wanting it gives you an incentive to train and push your standard up another gear.”

The twins follow a schedule that is as jam-packed as Rob’s and Marian’s. They both play professionally with a team in Holland as well as playing for Ireland.

“We have a morning and evening session on Tuesdays,” says Conor. “We have two evening sessions on Wednesdays. On Thursday, we follow a gym programme set by the Irish team.

Friday is the same as Wednesday. Saturday is a free day. We play a game on Sunday, and Monday is a recovery day in the gym.”

David also has extra sessions, focusing on his goalkeeping skills. Add to this the fact that he also works as a teacher at a local secondary school, and that Conor is pursuing a Our socialising part-time course of study, and the tends to be result is two with the team. jam-packed We can’t do timetables. This is why they have much besides to focus on their focussing on health so much, the game something that inevitably requires sacrifices.

“Our socialising tends to be with the team,” says David. “But we can’t go out late. We can’t do much besides focusing on the game.”

Being part of a team makes this easier.

Conor and David share a house with three other players and they all support each other.

“We know how important it is to follow a healthy lifestyle,” says David. “So, we have a rota and we take turns cooking one night a week.”

The members of the Irish team support each other too. “You can get tired of training, day in, day out,” says Conor. “But the Irish coach has created such a feeling of family in the team. We’re like brothers meeting up.”

Both Conor and David find the physical training challenging at times, but neither of

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

Be focused

I

T’S not just athletes who know what is involved in qualifying for the Olympics. Their coaches do too. Liam O’Reilly has known Rob Heffernan since he was 18 years old and coached him for the past two years. He has seen him develop into one of the best in his field.

“Any coach would be proud to work with an athlete like Rob,” says Liam. “He’s so disciplined it’s rarely a case of me trying to motivate him.

More often, I’m telling him to slow down.”

Responsible for Rob’s training, Liam will walk alongside him as he trains, giving feedback on his technique as he goes.

“After the walk, it’s time for a recovery drink, a massage, light stretching, lunch and a few hours in bed,” says Liam. “Then it’s back out again at 7pm for the second session of the day. Our motto is ‘no matter what’. We train regardless.”

Working with an experienced athlete like Rob, one who has already competed at Olympic level three times, Liam’s role is more of a psychological one. “I am someone for him to confide in, someone to keep him mentally on track.”

Having dedicated his life to sport, Liam is a huge proponent of fitness.

“The body isn’t there just to carry the head around,” he insists. “It needs to move. We are becoming an inactive nation and our health is suffering as a result.”

He encourages everyone to find a physical activity they like doing and set themselves realistic targets.

“Look at your lifestyle and where you can fit exercise in,” he says.

“Invest in proper gear.

Preparation is the key to success.”

Picture:Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX

Hockey players Conor and David have a jam-packed schedule them would have it any other way. “We’re doing what we love,” says Conor. “No one is making us do it.”

In fact, his brother says this is the secret to

success in any sport, at any level. “The reason people don’t play sports is because they are not good at them,” says David. “So, if you’re going to take up a sport, find one you enjoy. That

way, you’ll stick with it.”

Conor has more advice for those of you who intend to take up a sport this year. “Set mini goals,” he says. “There’s no point saying you want to be a size zero or lift a certain amount of weights in the gym. You need smaller targets. Achieving them will be the reward you need to continue towards the bigger ones.”

Whether you’re a professional athlete aiming for Olympic gold or someone who has just taken up a new sport, it’s all about setting targets, making time to exercise and enjoying it.

That way lies success.

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Cover story

Focussed on fitness

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9

There is a lot we can learn from our athletes as they prepare for the 2012 Olympics with a strenuous, year-round schedule of training, says Sharon Ni Chonchúir

A

THLETES preparing for the challenge of a lifetime in representing Ireland at the Olympics Games in August are facing into the final months of training to reach their physical peak.

The number of athletes who have qualified stands at 23. However, there are some qualifying stages still to go and it is expected that between 50 and 75 athletes will qualify for London.

So how will they make sure they are in top condition between now and then? And is there anything we can learn from them?

Life in the Heffernan household in Cork city is bound to become stressful between now and August. Race walker Rob, 33, has qualified for the 20K and 50K events while his wife Marian, 29, is close to qualifying for the 4x400 relay. The pair hope to become the first Irish married couple at the Olympics and are training hard.

Rob trains twice a day, every day: walking up to 100 miles a week on top of daily sessions in the gym. Marian has one three-hour training session in the morning.

“It varies from weights and track work to long runs,” she says. “It’s the blueprint for my whole year.”

Marian and Rob train all year, which makes it difficult to have a normal family life with their six-year-old son Cathal and Rob’s eight-year-old daughter Meghan. “Combining sports with a family is tough as there are days that revolve around They steer physiotherapy apclear of pointments, gym work and masprocessed and sage,” says Marian. fast foods and “But both kids rarely, if ever, have a massive indrink alcohol terest in sports and love coming to the track with us and going out with Rob on their bikes when he is walking.”

The couple pay just as much attention to diet as they do to training. “My diet is different to Marian’s as I do a lot of miles,” says Rob. “But we try to keep it balanced with carbs, proteins, fresh fruit and vegetables. We also take supplements to help with recovery as our bodies take a hammering in training.”

They steer clear of processed and fast foods and rarely, if ever, drink alcohol. “I’d love to go for a few pints and have the craic with my family and friends,” says Rob. “But it hinders recovery, and as I’m an all-or-nothing person, I avoid it.”

Although they love their sports, Marian and Rob find there are drawbacks to the sporting life.

“I moan about training because it’s tough and I have to do it day, in day out,” says Rob. “I don’t like how it restricts my life,” says Marian. “For the past two years I’ve wanted to bring the kids ice skating, but as it’s in the middle of training I can’t go.”

These negatives are far outweighed by the positives. “There’s a great satisfaction when you complete a hard training session,” says Rob. “And I love the fact that I look savage when I’m fit.” For Marian, it’s about personal

Feelgood

Combining sports with a family is tough as there are days that revolve around physiotherapy appointments, gym work and massage

Picture:Matt Browne/ Sportsfile/Irish Runner Magazine

Rob and Marian hope to be the first Irish married couple at the Olympics and are training hard achievement but she also gets a kick out of inspiring other joggers on the track.

“They often burst into a sprint when they see me training,” she says. “That gives me a

boost.”

Marian and Rob are looking beyond the Olympics. This is easier for Rob as London will be his fourth Olympics. “There is an in-

evitable dip in motivation afterwards but you have to pick yourself up and drive on,” he says.

For Marian, hopefully on her way to her first Olympics, it’s different. “This is the pin-

nacle of our sport and moving on to the next challenge won’t cut it,” she says. “I’ll miss standing next to the best in the world and savouring the challenge.”

The Olympic couple have no-nonsense advice for anyone aiming to get fit this year. Rob recommends being prepared for times when you are not feeling motivated to exercise.

“It’s easy to train when you feel like it but it can be tough when you are down or tired,” he says. “Those are the times you have to take the finger out and stick to the plan. The rewards are worth it in the long run, whether it’s losing a stone or winning an Olympic medal.”

Marian suggests making exercise a social activity. “It’s much easier if there are a group of you,” she says.

The tale of Conor and David Harte, from Ballinspittle, near Kinsale, is as inspiring as the Heffernans’. These 23-year-old identical twins play hockey for Ireland and are preparing for the March games in Dublin that should see them qualify for London.

“The thought of the Olympics is phenomenal,” says centre defender, Conor. “Wanting it gives you an incentive to train and push your standard up another gear.”

The twins follow a schedule that is as jam-packed as Rob’s and Marian’s. They both play professionally with a team in Holland as well as playing for Ireland.

“We have a morning and evening session on Tuesdays,” says Conor. “We have two evening sessions on Wednesdays. On Thursday, we follow a gym programme set by the Irish team.

Friday is the same as Wednesday. Saturday is a free day. We play a game on Sunday, and Monday is a recovery day in the gym.”

David also has extra sessions, focusing on his goalkeeping skills. Add to this the fact that he also works as a teacher at a local secondary school, and that Conor is pursuing a Our socialising part-time course of study, and the tends to be result is two with the team. jam-packed We can’t do timetables. This is why they have much besides to focus on their focussing on health so much, the game something that inevitably requires sacrifices.

“Our socialising tends to be with the team,” says David. “But we can’t go out late. We can’t do much besides focusing on the game.”

Being part of a team makes this easier.

Conor and David share a house with three other players and they all support each other.

“We know how important it is to follow a healthy lifestyle,” says David. “So, we have a rota and we take turns cooking one night a week.”

The members of the Irish team support each other too. “You can get tired of training, day in, day out,” says Conor. “But the Irish coach has created such a feeling of family in the team. We’re like brothers meeting up.”

Both Conor and David find the physical training challenging at times, but neither of

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

Be focused

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T’S not just athletes who know what is involved in qualifying for the Olympics. Their coaches do too. Liam O’Reilly has known Rob Heffernan since he was 18 years old and coached him for the past two years. He has seen him develop into one of the best in his field.

“Any coach would be proud to work with an athlete like Rob,” says Liam. “He’s so disciplined it’s rarely a case of me trying to motivate him.

More often, I’m telling him to slow down.”

Responsible for Rob’s training, Liam will walk alongside him as he trains, giving feedback on his technique as he goes.

“After the walk, it’s time for a recovery drink, a massage, light stretching, lunch and a few hours in bed,” says Liam. “Then it’s back out again at 7pm for the second session of the day. Our motto is ‘no matter what’. We train regardless.”

Working with an experienced athlete like Rob, one who has already competed at Olympic level three times, Liam’s role is more of a psychological one. “I am someone for him to confide in, someone to keep him mentally on track.”

Having dedicated his life to sport, Liam is a huge proponent of fitness.

“The body isn’t there just to carry the head around,” he insists. “It needs to move. We are becoming an inactive nation and our health is suffering as a result.”

He encourages everyone to find a physical activity they like doing and set themselves realistic targets.

“Look at your lifestyle and where you can fit exercise in,” he says.

“Invest in proper gear.

Preparation is the key to success.”

Picture:Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX

Hockey players Conor and David have a jam-packed schedule them would have it any other way. “We’re doing what we love,” says Conor. “No one is making us do it.”

In fact, his brother says this is the secret to

success in any sport, at any level. “The reason people don’t play sports is because they are not good at them,” says David. “So, if you’re going to take up a sport, find one you enjoy. That

way, you’ll stick with it.”

Conor has more advice for those of you who intend to take up a sport this year. “Set mini goals,” he says. “There’s no point saying you want to be a size zero or lift a certain amount of weights in the gym. You need smaller targets. Achieving them will be the reward you need to continue towards the bigger ones.”

Whether you’re a professional athlete aiming for Olympic gold or someone who has just taken up a new sport, it’s all about setting targets, making time to exercise and enjoying it.

That way lies success.

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10 Medical matters

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Q

My teenage daughter recently got her tummy pierced. The skin around the stud has become inflamed and swollen. I’ve tried an antiseptic cream with no luck. What should I do?

Dr Julius Parker is a GP with HSF Health Plan’s free 24 GP advice line.

For more information visit www.hsf.ie or lo-call 1890 451 451

If you have a question about your health email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to: Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

A. It sounds likely your daughter’s navel area has become infected. Common symptoms of infection include a reddened area extending from the piercing, a greenish yellow discharge, and persistent localised sensitivity and pain. This can take a long time to heal and it’s unlikely an antiseptic cream alone will be sufficient.

If the redness and pain are getting worse, your daughter should see her GP who may suggest a course of oral antibiotics. Normally you should not remove the stud as this provides drainage from the piercing — without such an exit an abscess can form.

If your daughter wants to keep her jewellery she needs to be willing to follow a careful cleansing routine. Using a cloth, carefully soak the navel with warm salted water or saline for ten minutes twice a day, then gently remove any remaining debris or pus with cotton wool buds. Finally, carefully dry the area, using a hair dryer is easiest.

Navel piercings are particularly prone to infection and this may be because the area tends to be moist, warm and in contact with clothing. Repeatedly touching an area and any jewellery also causes infection. It’s now less common for the problem to be an allergy, as such jewellery tends to be made of inert metal such as titanium. If your daughter has a history of metal allergy, or if the navel simply will not heal and remains reddened and sore after several months of care, then it is best to remove the stud. The area then needs to completely heal before a re-piercing is attempted, or maybe you could persuade her to stick to earrings.

Q. My husband suffers from very bad breath. He washes his teeth after meals and also uses chewing gum, all with little or no results. We would appreciate your advice.

A. I’m sorry to hear this and it’s very helpful for you to point it out for your husband, as most people are unaware of their own bad breath.

Dental care is important, and both dental

LIFE STYLE: We can combat obesity not through ‘diets’ but via a lifetime of sensible eating and exercise.

Picture: iStock

NEWS UPDATE

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MAINTAINING an appropriate weight has become a bigger health issue for individuals and medical professionals over the last two decades. Changing lifestyles and food consumption — along with less physical activity — have led to the population as a whole getting bigger.

There are many serious health problems that can result from overweight and obesity including a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, some cancers, type II diabetes, gynaecological problems and osteoarthritis.

And many people still underestimate their own weight and think of themselves as being of average weight when they are in fact overweight; or a little overweight when they are in fact obese.

The problem is prevalent right across society — for example the De-

caries and gum disease are known to cause bad breath. However, it sounds as if your husband is looking after his teeth and hopefully seeing a dentist regularly.

The most common cause of bad breath is in fact the tongue, because large deposits of bacteria can live relatively undisturbed on the surface of inner third of the tongue and their activity creates unpleasant smelling chemicals.

Cleaning the tongue, either with a toothbrush or a special tongue cleaner, is the most effective way of controlling bad breath, and I’d recommend your husband tries this.

Chewing gum is likely to be helpful as it stimulates saliva production which breaks down food particles. Gargling with antibacte-

partment of Health’s Key Trends for 2011 found that in Ireland, 22% of nine-year-old girls are overweight and 8% were obese. In the case of nine-year-old boys, 17% were overweight and 5% were obese.

At this time of year, many people of all ages will feel inspired to lose weight, though unfortunately, many will give up their diets or exercise programmes before the end of January. Naturally, people who want to lose weight will want to lose it as quickly as possible. But evidence shows that people who lose weight steadily (about one to two pounds a week) are more likely to keep the weight off.

Most medical professionals would agree that losing weight isn’t a fad for January, but a lifestyle that people should embrace throughout the year.

rial mouthwashes during the day can reduce odour although I would avoid regular long-term use. Other causes of bad breath are much less common, but if cleaning the tongue and careful dental hygiene isn’t effective these should be considered. Sinus infections, and chronic infection of the tonsils, can lead to bad breath as can conditions which reduce the production of saliva.

Some drugs, such as nitrates, usually used to treat heart disease, can cause bad breath on rare occasions and if you’re concerned about this possibility you can check with your GP or pharmacist. Finally, smoking causes a distinctive odour, most obvious to non-smokers, as do some strongly flavoured foods, such as garlic or onions.

NOTE: The information contained in Dr Julius Parker’s column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor first

I

Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD Feelgood

T appears we’re in the era of the “unnecaesarean” when women increasingly opt for a nice little slice across the abdomen that slots in well to the bikini line, rather than using the channel nature gave us to push out our babies.

Personally, I find this claim outrageous, foisted upon us by populist commentators, putting a hell of a spin on explaining away rising caesarean rates.

To set the record straight: a C-section is a major obstetric intervention that can be life-saving or life enhancing for both mother and infant and should never, ever, be mistaken as a swanky alternative to something more painful. Indeed there are plenty of women to argue the toss about which experience is ultimately more laborious.

It’s not as if a C-section comes without dangers: it carries an increased risk of infection; of needing a hysterectomy; of developing a blood clot and having a cardiac arrest. The operation also requires insertion of a catheter, it leaves a large and painful scar and requires weeks of recovery, par for the course with any major surgery. No indeed, a C-section is not the deluxe version of giving birth and anyone who says so is talking through their keister.

In Ireland, in the space of two decades, the C-section rate has jumped from one

birth in 10 to more than one-in-four, prompting some moralists to declare war on what is surely a personal choice. Those of us who underwent C-sections for a whole variety of mainly medical reasons find ourselves tarred largely with the brush “too posh to push” — when the reality is few if any women opt for a section simply because they’re getting ahead of themselves.

There is nothing exclusive about a caesarean that follows hours of induced labour, an epidural and several centimeters dilation with nothing to show for it. Trust me, I’ve been there. My first birth ended in emergency surgery. For me, the overriding concern was the outcome. If that meant going under the knife, fine.

Whoever coined the phrase “too posh to push” clearly never faced the threat of genital prolapse, or compromised pelvic floor integrity, or a lifetime of urinary incontinence, or a threat to the life of mother or infant by way of vaginal delivery.

So next time you hear the sneer “too posh to push” rest assured it is not the voice of experience speaking, but the convenient use of a headline-tailored phrase that goes nowhere towards explaining rising C-section rates.

As the World Health Organisation now concedes, what matters most, is that women who need a C-section receive it.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

Those of us who underwent C-sections for a whole variety of mainly medical reasons find ourselves tarred largely with the brush “too posh to push”

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Recipes for health

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TV personality Dr Eva Orsmonde hopes her new cookbook of low-cal meals will help people change their eating habits for life, writes Arlene Harris

Doctor’s orders

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ENOWNED for her no-nonsense approach to eating, Dr Eva Orsmonde has been helping people to lose weight and change their eating habits for the past decade in Ireland.

Offering nutrition and dietary advice to participants on the popular RTÉ show, Operation Transformation, the Finnish doctor also has weight loss clinics all over the country.

And now, her guide to sensible eating has become even more accessible with the release of a cookbook.

The Last Diet, Dr Orsmonde’s recipe guide is a compilation of all of her favourite low-calorie meals and its aim is to help followers change their eating habits for life.

Putting the book together has been a labour of love and she is very proud of the results.

“Apart from my wedding to Wyatt and the birth of my two sons (Chris and Evan), getting my cookery book published has been one of the biggest highlights of my life,” says the medical doctor. “I have wanted to get it out there for years but have always been too busy.

“We moved here from South Africa — where my husband is from — in 2000 and although it is a beautiful country and the weather is great, we were really glad to come to Ireland. It’s a safe place to be, the people are gorgeous and there are lots of opportunities to be had, so we have enjoyed every minute of living here.

“But I have been very busy with looking after my boys (who are now teenagers), setting up and running my clinics and taking part in shows such as Operation Transformation — so finding the time to put a book together was almost impossible until now.”

Despite her full-on schedule, the TV doctor has finally had her book published and believes that her recipes will encourage and motivate people to make the necessary changes to diet and lifestyle to enable them to become fit and healthy and crucially, to remain that way.

“People are always trying to lose weight by going on gimmicky diets, taking slimming pills or exercising like crazy, but none of that is going to work in the long term,” she says.

“It is important to remember that the only thing which will achieve lasting results is to eat fewer calories — sticking to below the recommended guidelines: 2,000 calories daily for women and 2,500 for men.”

Dr Eva has never been obese, but did put on weight during both pregnancies. “Each time, I knew the only way to get rid of the excess was to reduce my calorie intake until I had lost a sufficient amount and then maintain that weight, by sticking to the recommended daily amount.”

And she believes that home cooking is the best way to ensure you are eating the right amount of calories and getting the most nutrients from your food.

“If you want to make permanent changes to your diet, you need to cook your own food,” says Dr Orsmonde.

“I’m no chef, but I love food and it is important to me that I know what I am eating.

By preparing my own meals, I know exactly what has gone into them and get the benefit of fresh ingredients — unlike most

Feelgood

On the menu Dr Eva’s recipes include: ■ Beetroot meatballs: A traditional Finnish recipe made with minced meat, beetroot, vegetable, potatoes and seasonings.

■ Creamy Salmon Quiche: Lighter than most quiches but just as flavoursome.

■ Butternut squash and red lentil stew: A South African stew which is both filling and low in calories.

■ Beef au Vin a la Eva: Beef and vegetables cooked in red wine ■ Galangal red curry with fish sauce: A Thai red curry with chicken, vegetables and oriental flavourings.

■ Sea bass with stir fried vegetables and tomatoes: A healthy fast food option ■ Beetroot salad: A tangy choice for a low fat lunch

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: Home cooking is the best way to stick to a healthy diet, says Dr Eva Orsmonde.

ready-made, low-fat food.”

“My book is divided into four menu plans.

The first phase is an 800 calorie diet which is designed as a kick start for someone who has a lot of weight to lose. This should only be undertaken for a short period of time, but it is a good way to help get motivated.

“The next phase is 1,200 calories, which is a little more balanced but still good for someone who wants a boost to get their diet started. Phase three has recipes of 1,600 which is

a good plan for those who have lost weight but want to maintain it and then the last phase is 2,000 calories which can be used in conjunction with the third stage and will promote long-term healthy eating habits.

“I believe that our hospital wards could be reduced by 70% if people lost weight and ate properly.

“So for anyone who wants to make a difference in 2012, I would say start cooking your own food — eat healthily and you will

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

see the benefits of lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, better sleep patterns, more energy and more motivation and positivity for the future.” ● The Last Diet by Dr Eva Orsmonde is published by McMillan Press and costs €

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12 Food survey

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Fry them out and see I

F we listen to economists, we will need to stretch our budgets further and further this year. Where food is concerned, we need to make sure we get the best value for our spend and that includes making meals from the least expensive foods.

Over the next month we will look at the best way to use inexpensive cuts of meat, economical fish species and seasonal vegetables and see how we can make amazing meals for very little. At the same time we want the variety that provides us with a wide range of nutrients.

Sausages can be excellent value, giving us plenty of flavour that goes well with creamy mashed potatoes, shredded and stir fried cabbage with grated carrots and celeriac for variety of texture.

Add sausages to a pot of soup, beans, chickpeas or lentils and I can supply you with lots of fancy Spanish, Italian and French names to make the dish sound better.

The key is to find good quality sausages that don’t shrink once they have been fried.

Some sausages have lots of cereal and water which are kept ‘stabilised’ by chemicals.

Some have monosodium glutamate to enhance the flavour which it often does.

However, with this and other chemical additives, it would be wise to watch reactions in children and adults with skin or respiratory

Cork

Traditional farm house sausage, €10.25/kg, John O’Flynn Butchers, Marlboro St

These sausages are typical of the great offering from many butchers around the country who are creative and enjoy giving customers variety and good value. In the style of a Toulouse sausage this one has no added cereal and with 100% meat has a wonderfully solid meatiness which makes it ideal for adding to bean stews and soups.

All tasters thought these the best for making a meal of a sausage and loved the gentle spiciness. Not cheap but there is no waste, no water, no preservatives and one goes a long way.

Roz Crowley problems. There is little scientific proof of these chemicals being the culprits, but extensive research is ongoing.

Chemical-filled products are not always the cheapest, and the most expensive chemical-free can prove excellent value.

Cooking sausages has become a fascination for me as I like to see what I am getting.

Grilling means it’s difficult to see the fat dripping into the grill pan. I now cook them in a frying pan with a little oil to brown, next I turn them down, add a dessertspoon of water, put a lid of top and shake occasionally as they cook through. You will see very quickly what sausages exude the off-putting white suds we too often see in rashers.

Here are the findings of our tasters: Hodgins traditional sausages with garlic, 454g €2 (€4.40/kg) A good, 80% meaty sausage with no harsh spices, and a deliciously succulent texture. There is some rusk and water. All tasters liked these. Good value.

Score: 8

MOUTH-WATERING: Sausages can be excellent value, the key is to find good quality ones.

Picture:iStock

Supervalu Supreme leek & black pepper pork sausages, 380g €2.99 (€7.86/kg) Plenty of taste and meatiness in this sausage despite a low enough 63% pork along with water, pork fat and rusk. The black pepper is evident, but less so the leeks, though they may help the sausage to be nicely succulent. Overall fat at 25.2% is high. The flavour enhancer is monosodium glutamate (listed as E621) and the emulsifier is listed as E451 (or potassium and sodium triphospahtes). 2.2% salt is high.

Glensallagh Irish Pork, 454g €1.39 (€3.06/kg), Lidl A traditional spicy taste has a close textured slightly spongy mouthfeel.

57% pork meat is low compared to other samples and the rest is water, rusk and additives. The flavour enhancer is monosodium glutamate which tasters would prefer not to have in their food and the stabiliser is sodium sulphite.

Most tasters liked these and their price.

Score: 7

Score: 7.25

Score: 9

Clonakilty Butcher-style sausages, 400g €2.99 (€7.47/kg) 62% pork is relatively low here with quite a lot of water, cereal and 1.8% salt. Pork fat makes up the difference and this didn’t melt when we fried the sausages but gave it a pleasantly light texture. The typical mildly spiced sausage taste with 1.8% salt was liked by older tasters. Expensive for this quality.

Score: 6.75

Marks & Spencer 8 reduced fat butchers classic pro sausages, €2.99 These medium-sized sausages have 78% pork and the reduced fat is compensated for with gluten-free crumb and rice flour, stabilised with the water

by E451 (potassium and sodium triphospahtes). The flavouring comes from 1.15% salt which is about average, but there is a dried herb taste from sage which didn’t appeal to our tasters. The heat comes from black pepper. Dextrose has been added but the taste isn’t sweet.

Score: 6.75

Feelgood

Alpenmark Bratwurst, 540g €2.15 (€3.98/kg), Aldi

Truly Irish 12 premium sausages, 350g €2.99 (€8.54/kg)

These thick sausages kept their shape and chunkiness along with that typically German sausage sponginess. This appealed to some tasters, but some found them too rubbery. The flavour is well spiced with a hint of typically Germanic caraway which gives the flavour a lift. 82% pork means the remainder is mainly water. There is also a sweetness which comes from a few forms of sugar, including glucose syrup resulting in a relatively high 1% of the total content.

Salt is high at 2.5%. A fair price.

Even though the meat content is quite high at 82%, there was a lot of shrinkage when they were fried and the texture had a lot of grizzle. A considerable amount of water came out, along with white suds from the stabiliser sodium disulphate. A spicy taste, quite salty, but with no great depth of flavour. Disappointing for this high price.

Score: 6.5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

Score: 3

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Male Male health health 13

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Weight to go

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T 35, former Masterchef Ireland contestant Pierce Maher is just one of thousands seeking to shed kilos in the first weeks of 2012. As a former wine salesman who loves cooking, the Co Wexford man admits he’s up to the challenge.

“I’m probably about five stone overweight — I now weigh 20 stone,” says Pierce who’s six foot four inches tall. “I wasn’t always overweight, it just went up steadily over the last seven years.”

Pierce is one of four high-profile Irish people taking part in the Aviva Get Fit Action Plan in an effort to reach their personal health and fitness goals for 2012.

This is a national campaign calling on men and women across Ireland to take positive action to be more pro-active about their health in 2012.

Pierce has a very personal reason for taking his health seriously this year. “I moved back from South Africa in 2010 to care for my dad,” he says, adding that wife Marilee and son Pierce, seven, moved with him.

“My dad, who’s 65, has suffered from diabetes for the last few years and has had heart problems and a partial amputation. Excess weight is a serious risk in the development of diabetes and diabetes is genetic. So to try and prevent diabetes, I want to get the weight off.”

As part of the fitness action plan, Pierce will get to work with Alan Murphy and Edita Bartejczuk-Wolak, fitness gurus with Fitsquad; nutritionist Emma Buckley, motivational coach and performance psychologist Enda McNulty, and Dr Stephen Murphy, GP on Aviva’s medical council.

Starting in the first week of this six-week programme,

Deirdre O'Flynn MOSTLY MEN Pierce has cut out alcohol altogether for a few weeks and has replaced butter with olive oil.

“I love cooking and tend to put too much butter into things, so I’m trying to cut them out and cut down carbohydrates – it’s about getting the basics right.

“Six weeks is long enough to change. Hopefully by taking part in the Get Fit Action Plan, I can lose some weight and build up my strength and stamina so that I can play football with my seven-year-old and give him a run for his money.”

Pierce and Marilee have also given up smoking as part of this new initiative. “I don’t want this to end after the programme,” he says.

Members of the public can participate in the Get Fit Action Plan by taking Aviva’s online health check, the Aviva Way to Health, at avivahealth.ie. ● For further information, log onto avivahealth.ie or check it out on www.facebook.com/avivaireland.

BACKING THEMSELVES: Radio and TV presenter, Máiréad Farrell and Pierce Maher, take on the Aviva Get Fit Action Plan in an effort to reach their personal health and fitness goals for 2012.

Picture. CPR

Impact of recession on men to be discussed

Men walk, swim less often than women

THE impact of the recession on men will be reviewed in Belfast in February. A seminar on ‘Facing the Challenge: The Impact of the Recession and Unemployment on Men’s Health in Ireland’ is being held by ARK and Man Matters on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

ARK is a joint resource between the two Northern Ireland universities to make social science information there available to the widest audience. Man Matters focuses on

ONE in four men claims to be an active walker, compared to one in two women. And 16.5% of men swim, compared to 27.7% of women.

That’s according to the 2011 Pembroke Communications Sports Sentiment Index, which found that walking is Ireland’s favourite ‘sporting’ pastime.

supporting men at a local level.

At the seminar, Owen Metcalfe, director of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, will highlight findings from his organisation’s research. This study explored the adverse effects of the economic recession and unemployment on men.

The seminar is on from noon-1pm, in NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast. It’s free, but book a place by email: info@ark.ac.uk; or tel: 028-71675513.

Picture: iStock

TAKE 1

STAFF at Nelson’s homeopathic dispensary say when detoxing you need time to relax, eat well and look after yourself.

Lighten your toxic load: eliminate alcohol, caffeine, saturated fats and refined sugars.

Replace these with fibre, local fruit and green vegetables.

Breathe deeply: this allows oxygen to circulate through they body, refreshing every cell. Spend five minutes each morning breathing in deeply through the nose, out through the mouth — you’ll soon notice your stress levels dropping.

Feelgood

4

Drink water: drink two litres a day to support the eliminating function of the kidneys, bowels and skin.

Exercise: a 20-minute brisk stroll gets the blood flowing.

De-stress: Do one thing a week that makes you happy.

Replace one tea or coffee a day with a nettle tea, for calcium and iron, and as a gentle laxative. Bodytox detox foot patches, €16.99, are an ancient Japanese remedy. The patches contain bamboo and vitamin C to draw out toxins through the soles.

But men come out on top when it comes to cycling, with over 15% of men cycling compared to just 12% of women. The Bikes for Work scheme, introduced since 2009, can claim some credit for the increase in cycling’s popularity.

However, one in three men (30%) don’t indulge in any form of sport, even though just under half of the men surveyed (47%) said they ‘love sport and would follow sports news on a daily basis’. So, there’s still time to re-commit to the resolution to get off the couch and get active.

DId you know...

Men with a low-pitched voice have reduced concentrations of sperm (Source: University of Western Australia)

Simple detox

2

SUPER SKIN: As part of your detox, Nelson’s homeopaths also recommend bathing with Epsom salts, which have been used for many years to relieve stress and sore muscles. Their high magnesium content helps to draw out toxins from the body.

Dr Hauschka lemongrass body oil, €19.20, helps to break down cellulite deposits in the skin and is recommended after your Epsom salt bath for maximum effect. For more advice on detoxing, contact Nelson’s homeopathic dispensary, 15 Duke Street, Dublin 2; mail order, 01-6790451.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

3

10-DAY TONIC: Flor Essence contains a blend of eight herbs to cleanse, detoxify and strengthen the body. Taken before bed, it is a natural tonic which helps rejuvenate your system in 10 days. Herbs such as burdock and Turkish rhubarb help to cleanse the blood and improve digestion while supporting the gentle elimination of toxins. Flor essence is €25.99 for 500ml and available from Nelson’s and other health stores and pharmacies nationwide. See www.naturalife.ie for more details.

4

GREEN CLEANSE: Model Sanctuary head nutritionist Alli Godbold recommends Pukka cleans greens, €23.69, to her model clients as the perfect post-party season detox booster. A blend of 12 chlorophyll rich-green foods, including organic spirulina, kale sprouts and wheat grass juice, clean greens naturally supports the body’s ability to cleanse itself.

Pukka products are available in health stores nationwide; www.pukkaherbs.com.

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14

Beauty

Emily O’Sullivan

M

Y Life is complicated. I know, everyone’s life is complicated these days. Too much to do. Too little time. And so much stuff, too.

Where did all this stuff come from? I tend not to be too nostalgic about the past, but at the same time, there was a lot less gear back then. These days, my make-up bag is bulging with all sorts of highlighters, fixers, skin perfectors, under-eye correctors and primers — and my bathroom cabinet? We won’t even go there.

Still, it’s mid-January and high time I confronted my weaknesses, particularly when it comes to accumulating too many beauty products.

The beauty industry makes an, er, industry out of selling us things we don’t need. Okay, so some of it is rather nice and makes us look pretty great, and who are we to argue with a fancy bath or two, but there’s also a helluva lot that we can do without.

The good thing is that simplifying your beauty routine can not only make you feel better and make your bathroom a more spacious place, but only buying what you need means you’ll be cutting down on packaging, and on the amount of chemicals you use.

So while people around me are determining not to snack on double-chocolate chip muffins, are swearing off salty crisps and are turning their backs on Swiss rolls, I’m trying not to buy beauty products that contain palm oil (responsible for some truly devastating deforestation). My other resolutions, such as they are, include not buying beauty products housed in non-recyclable packaging, not buying black eyeliners, using soap instead of shower gel and trying to reduce my general carbon footprint, even just a smidge, by buying Irish.

In the past, Irish beauty products have not had a great reputation for being cutting-edge.

But these days, when it comes to ethical, organic and natural products, they seem to be hitting the mark bang on.

Partly, this is because they make such good use of our fabulous natural resources — seaweed in particular. It’s also because they’ve upped their game in terms of packaging. I know, I know — packaging isn’t everything, but if you don’t want to go the “someone’s made this in their kitchen” route in terms of how products look, then packaging does matter.

Green Angel, Voya and Seavite have gone upscale with packaging that’s as beautiful as

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Clean up your act

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Save money, storage space and maybe the environment by cutting back on beauty products

The news on...

The Glossy Box IF you’re the kind of person who goes around collecting all those freebies you get in beauty departments, then the Glossy Box might be right up your street. Basically you hand over £10 (€12.10), and they send you a selection of miniatures to test in your home every month, and what’s more they’ll be tailored to your requirements — as you fill out a beauty profile when you register.

It’s a nice idea, and good if you’re keen to try different products for a while. Brands include Dermalogica, All About Eve, Ciaté, L’Oréal Professional, Nuxe, Yves Saint Laurent and Xen Tan. Glossybox.co.uk.

Take three...

Super simple moisturisers MOISTURISERS have got so complicated that you almost need a PhD in chemistry just to understand the press release. Well, we’re over it. New year — new simplicity. And it’s not at all that difficult to find basic moisturisers that work really beautifully.

Spiezia Organic Nourishing Moisturiser €29.67 at spieziaorganics.com.

Cornwall-based Spiezia is quite an expensive brand, but it is very pleasant. One of our faves is this rich moisturiser with jojoba oil and vitamin E.

CLEAN SWEEP: Do your bit for the planet by using soap instead of shower gel and avoiding non-recyclable packaging.

Picture: iStock

the products themselves. Voya is a really excellent brand — certified organic and very luxurious, its products are constantly on my wish list. Green Angel does slightly edge towards the more rustic, but the quality of the products speak for themselves. Still, if green is not your thing, you may wish to pass, as these babies are very green.

Seavite continues the theme of upmarket elegance, with a range of products that feel like they’re really doing your skin good. This salubrious range was designed by leading cosmetic dermatologists and was one of the first on the Irish market to tap into the powers of our natural seaweed. It’s organic and it’s pret-

ty much got everything you’d need from a skincare point of view, from divine body creams, to wrinkle-battling serums.

A newer kid on the block, but no less nifty for it, is The Handmade Soap Company, which likes to mix things up by calling themselves a soap company and then making things other than soap (lip balms, bubble bath, handcreams, moisturising creams). I first tried their body butters a while back, and though they are very oily, they feel really natural and properly hydrate the skin. The soaps are the way forward though, with gorgeous natural ingredients and simple vintage-style packaging.

ridges, among other places. And we’re not surprised. This is a really good beauty brand, the products are quite expensive, but they feel gorgeously luxurious and we’ve yet to find one that doesn’t deliver. This lovely moisturiser is ideal for winter and to maximise hydration. If your skin needs an extra treat, use it in conjunction with the My Little Hero serum.

stead, thank you very much. This is a superb hand cream, dense, rich and very very hydrating.

Balm Balm Fragrance Free Face Balm, €8.43. Balm Balm is a great brand. It’s a little under the radar, but is a lovely Soil Association-certified organic range with very simple ingredients. The products come in carbon neutral and FSC packaging decorated with organic inks, if you don’t mind. All the balms are multi-purpose, which is excellent and a little of this makes an ace moisturiser for dry skins.

Green People Vita Min Fix, €16.95 at greenpeople.ie. Designed for “normal, tired or dry skin”, this feather-light cream from the excellent label Green People uses evening primrose, avocado and seaweed and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians, so it should fit in with all those “ethical” New Year’s resolutions..

STUFF WE LIKE Carraig Fhada Seaweed Bath, €9.29 at evergreen.ie. Seaweed baths have gone upmarket — now upscale spas are using them as luxury spa treatments. Plus, you can also do them in your own home, which is rather nice because it’s January and we’re exhausted and we don’t want to go out and all that.

This one from Carraig Fhada is an ideal January detox and uses Atlantic seaweed to draw out toxins.

Voya Me Time, €55. Voya has hit the global stage in the last few years with the products now being sold in Self-

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Green Angel Seaweed Hand Cream with Vitamin E and Neroli, €19.95.

Everyone needs a hand cream at this time of year — it’s the one item we can’t do without. So when it comes to cutting down on product usage, we’re going to give up highlighters and primers in-

Seavite Intensive Moisture Body Cream, €20. A good body cream is something we just can’t do without. It might not be something you’ll even use once or twice a day, but definitely most of us will slather one on several times a week.

This seaweed-enriched cream helps turn your skin from scaly to silky almost immediately. It’s not greasy and it’s formulated for sensitive skins, too.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

The Handmade Soap Company Goatsmilk, Honey and Beeswax Soap, €4.50. Shower gels are over. I mean, why would you? The packaging, the waste... Really, these days there’s just no point. Instead, we all need to go old-school with some really luxury soaps. Provencal soaps are supposed to be the creme de la creme, but we think these guys are giving them a run for their money with some gorgeous ingredient combinations. This one is designed for sensitive skins. Not feeling sensitive? Go for the “Carbolic” and keep it really old-school.

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Natural health

Q

I would like to know more about using chia seeds. There are a lot of recipes for them, but I wonder if baking damages the essential fatty acids as with flax seeds?

Megan Sheppard Do you have a question for Megan Sheppard?

Email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

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her diet.

The best wholefood sources for this includes carrots, spinach, sweet potato, egg yolk, dried apricots, mango, paw paw, rockmelon, and pumpkin.

The vegetable linked with eye health, carrots, contain just under 30,000 IUs in each 100g serving, which is roughly the amount your daughter should be getting each day.

Most of the fruits and vegetables high in vitamin A have a bright orange hue — so let your daughter know that choosing orange whole foods will help protect against further styes.

A. Many baking recipes use the superfood chia and companies take advantage of its health benefits by adding them to toasted cereals, breads, and muesli bars — however, the high heats involved in the cooking process do indeed eliminate most of the health-giving properties of this wonder seed.

Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) can simQ. I have suffered from leg ulcers for ply be mixed with water and left to stand more than a year now and until they form a gel. I’m very fond of nothing seems to be working. I am at the sago-like texture, and find they have my wits’ end with this and welcome no discernible flavour — however, I have any suggestions. many friends who can’t tolerate the texture of my chia gel which is often A. Skin ulcerations are difficult to heal, likened to frog spawn. particularly as we age. The skin beFortunately, the flavourless gelled seeds comes thinner, in addition to circulacan be added to juice or even blended tion and immune functioning being into a fruit smoothie (solving the frog less than optimal. spawn issue).

The treatment for ulcerations which This humble seed is an ancient food persist such as yours is simple and efused by the Mayan, Aztec and Southwest fective. It’s high-potency Manuka honNative American people. Not only was it ey with a Unique Manuka factor one of the grains and seeds used as an (UMF) rating (of 18 or more). offering to gods and in ceremonial rites, The rating is established through the it was even used to pay taxes. use of a standard laboratory test for anMedically, chia seeds were used for tibacterial activity. For example, a ratwounds, colds, sore throats, intestinal uping of 10 is equivalent to a 10% phenol QUICK FIX: Chia seeds can be added to smoothies, for set, body odour, prostate health, and those who find its texture difficult to tolerate. Picture: iStock (carbolic) solution. constipation.

Comvita offers a super strong Active Today in South America, the seeds are Manuka honey with a UMF rating of often mixed with water, lemon or lime 25+, equalling at least a 25% phenol solution and a little honey to make a refreshing drink styes in her eyes. We use an over-the— more than five times greater than stancalled chia fresca. Great for use during pregcounter ointment, but this obviously isn’t dard antiseptic solutions. nancy and breastfeeding, fatigue, arthritis, working since they return and cause her The main reason I recommend Manuka concentration, memory, and endurance, they discomfort and itching. honey in cases where a skin ulcer persists, are a wonderful source of omega 3 and 6, caldespite conventional treatment, is because cium, protein, fibre, and iron. If you are inA. Styes are typically caused by staphylococthe open wound becomes increasingly susterested in them purely for the omega-3 cus bacteria, with the infection occurring ceptible to secondary infections — of particboost then adults should take 10-25g daily, within the oil-secreting glands on the edge ular concern is the MRSA ‘superbug’ (mewhile children need just 2-10g (one dessertof the eyelid. thicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). spoon is equivalent to around 10g).

The tricky part is ensuring your daughter Active Manuka honey is more effective To help with the pain of arthritis, begin keeps her hands away from her eyes, since than hydrogen peroxide against the seven with one to two dessertspoons for two weeks this is the most common way to aggravate most common bacteria responsible for infecthen increase or decrease as necessary. Highly the infection, or even introduce new bactetion, including MRSA. active people and athletes should aim to take ria.

Researchers at the University of Wales, two dessertspoons daily to replace nutrients.

Itching is very common as a symptom of College of Medicine, in Cardiff studied the To help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol styes, however if it seems excessively swollen, effects of active manuka honey in treating levels, you will need to work towards 25-50g you will possibly need to approach your GP MRSA present in leg ulcers and found that daily. about whether or not it needs to be drained. it was completely eliminated from the Chia seeds can also be used as an aid to los- It is crucial that neither you nor your daughwound which healed quickly. ing weight. They work by slowing the conter rub or squeeze the stye — no matter Apply the honey directly on the ulcer as version of carbohydrates to sugars, providing how irritating it is — instead you should well as applying it onto sterile gauze patches healthy nutrition, and increasing energy levbathe the eye with a soothing herbal infuwhich are placed over the wound and els. The important thing to remember is that sion such as chamomile or raspberry leaf. changed at least twice daily until healing beyou must drink plenty of water with them, You can also soak a tea bag and when it is gins. since they absorb up to nine times their lukewarm, place it directly on the eyelid for Again, remember that the most important weight in water. relief. thing to check when purchasing any ManuRecurring styes suggests your daughter ka honey for medicinal use is a UMF rating Q. My 10-year-old daughter often gets would benefit from increasing vitamin A in of 18 or more.

■ NOTE: The information contained above is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor first.

Megan puts the spotlight on:

I

T MAY only take an indulgent weekend to pack on a few pounds but it takes 10 times longer to drop them. If only there were a magic pill... or is there? But, before I tell you more about two natural supplements which appear to be the next best thing to a magic weight loss pill, here are eight effective tips on getting the most out of your diet and exercise: 1. Combine vegetables with proteins, or vegetables with carbohydrates, but try to avoid eating proteins and carbs at the same meal since this slows your digestion process significantly.

2. Fruit is best eaten on an empty stomach — first thing in the morning is ideal. Avoid combining it with dairy or cereals.

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3. The less you eat, the more your body is likely to hold on to weight. You need to stoke the fire and get that metabolism running at optimal levels.

Starving yourself simply causes the body to go into what is referred to as ‘starvation mode’, where the body stores as much as it can in order to survive the period without food.

4. Avoid eating after 7pm at night. If you are still hungry, then drink water.

5. Exercise first thing in the morning on an empty stomach so that you are burning fat rather than fuel.

6. Include at least 20 minutes of intense cardio workout (brisk walking, running, bicycle, elliptical trainer) three times a week.

7. Make sure that any exercises you

Weight loss measures are doing cover the basics — upper body, core, and lower body. Don’t overdo it, just 15 minute sessions three times a week (preferably on alternate days to your cardio) will be enough if you are giving it everything you have.

8. Avoid low-fat, sugar-free items.

More often than not they are laden with chemicals which can make you gain rather than lose weight.

Okay, now for the low down on magic weight loss pills. For more than 10 years, the top performer has been conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an essential fatty acid supplement that reduces body fat while increasing muscle tone. When taken for a minimum of three months, CLA supplementation reduces an average of 20% in body fat.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

The new kid on the block is African mango seed extract (Irvingia gabonensis). Highlighted by Dr Oz of Oprah Winfrey fame, this extract works by increasing metabolism and reducing the body’s resistance to leptin. Leptin is a hormone which is linked to metabolic rate, body temperature maintenance, fat burning, and appetite control.

African mango increases production of adiponectin, which improves sensitivity to insulin so the body will burn more fat. It also contains soluble fibre, which is essential for weight management, intestinal health and lowering cholesterol. A study in 2009 showed that subjects taking the extract lost an average of 10 pounds. See www.africanmangoplus-ireland.com for more details.

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HAIR LOSS?

NOT ANYMORE THANKS TO THE HAIR CLINIC “I am amazed at the results and my confidence has been restored. I can honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done!”

Before

After 6 Months

After 12 Months

Bouncing back from hair loss

RECENT studies show that Hairloss is a topic close to the hearts of up to 40% of Irish people. It affects both male and female alike and can be extremely upsetting, irrespective of the age or sex of the sufferer.

When 24-year-old Corkman Tomas Horgan noticed his hair was getting thiner his confidence hit rock bottom. “I hated it” said Tomas. “I became very conscious about my hair and I started wearing a baseball cap whenever I was in company, my confidence was very low, especially around women, I felt they were looking at my hair.”

It was at this point that Tomas started to research on the internet about various treatments to combat hairloss. “Both my father and grandfather were bald and I read that thinning hair leading to baldness was heriditary so I knew I had to do something.”

Tomas discovered, after hours of trawling through various websites, that hair transplant surgery only replaced hair

follicles that had already died, it did not prevent further hairloss. “It was during this research that I read about a laser treatment pioneered in the US that has gained full FDA which can stimulate hair growth and thicken hair, but ONLY if the Hair Root is still alive, it CANNOT grow hair if the root is dead, so I knew it was important to do something as soon as possible, before it was too late.”

“I found a company in Cork, one of only a handful in Ireland to offer this treatment. I went for a free consultation to find out more at their clinic just off Patrick’s Bridge. I was told that as I had lost some roots already and that my hair was never going to be as thick as it once was but treatment would help stop any further hairloss and thicken the hair that I did have.”

“I am amazed at the results and my confidence has been restored. I can honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done!”

“I found that it was clinically proven to stop hair loss in 94% of patients after six months of treatment and was suitable for both men and women, it was also totally pain-free with no side-effects.”

WHEN 61-year-old Kerry grandmother-of-six Vivien O’Sullivan noticed that her hair was falling out more than normal she assumed that it was due to stress caused by a recent family bereavement.

“I noticed it mainly when I washed it, the plughole in the shower used to clog up with hair,” said Vivien. “I started to really worry though when I woke up one morning and noticed several hairs on the pillow, I have always had really thick hair and my hair was definitely starting to thin out.

“I was so worried about it that I went to see my GP,” says Vivien. “He said it could be a lack of iron in my diet so I started taking iron tablets. “Over the next six months I took lots of different supplements, as well as iron tablets, but the thinning seemed to be getting worse.”

Vivien went back to see her GP who this time advised her that she should seek advice from a hair loss specialist.

Vivien visited several hair loss specialists and was advised by one clinic that her best option was a wig and by another that FUE transplant surgery was her best option.

“I didn’t like the sound of either option to be honest,” says Vivien. “I was worried and unhappy with my hair loss but I didn’t feel as though it had deteriorated enough to wear a hairpiece! I basically just wanted to stop it from falling out and thicken it up.”

Vivien considered the option of surgery but again decided this was too radical and extreme.

“The most important thing to me was to stop it from falling out and to hopefully thicken it up,” said Vivien. “I was told that

surgery would replace the hairs that had been lost but would not stop any further hair loss, I was at a total loss as to know what to do.

“Then one day my husband called to say he was reading an article in the newspaper about a laser that can help to stop hair loss and to thicken existing thin hair without the need for any surgery, I researched into it on the internet and I found that it was clinically proven to stop hair loss in 94% of patients after six months of treatment and was suitable for both men and women, it was also totally painfree with no side-effects.

“I then found there was a clinic in Cork offering this treatment, so I contacted them and went for a free consultation, I discovered I was suffering from a condition called CTE (Chronic Telogen Effluvium). I was told

this causes excessive thinning down the centre of the scalp and affects the hair’s growth cycles. It can also lead to androgenic alopecia, which can cause the hairs to get thinner and thinner until they stop growing altogether.”

Vivien was informed that surgery was inappropriate as she was still losing hair, and was also unnecessary as she still had the majority of her hair which could be saved and thickened using a combination of laser treatment and medication.

“I completed my course of treatment just over nine months ago and I can’t believe the difference in my hair. It has stopped falling out and it has thickened up massively. I am delighted. I would recommend anyone who is worried about thinning hair to do something about it before it’s too late!”

Vivien O’Sullivan.

No 2 Camden Place, St Patricks Bridge, Cork t: (021) 4552424

OPENING TIMES: Monday to Friday 8am-9.30pm Please log on to www.thehairclinichlcc.com Feelgood

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012