1 Up and at it – what is your morning routine?
I’m a personal trainer, so the first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone to see if any clients have cancelled or changed my timings for the day. It takes me a little bit of time to waken up in the morning, but I eventually make it out of bed somewhere between 6am and 6.30am. I start work with my first client at around 7am so I meal 'prep' the night before, so my breakfast will be sitting waiting for me.
2 What might you eat in a typical working day for... Breakfast?
Usually, I will either have porridge or two Weetabix – sometimes three if I know I have a big day ahead. If I’m really treating myself, breakfast will be bacon, eggs and toast.
Lunch?
This will differ on training days (more calories) and rest days (fewer calories). On training days, I’ll usually stick to a high-protein lunch, so it might be chicken, onion and tomato with two wraps.
Dinner?
Dinner will always be a high protein meal with meat along with some veg. I try to keep it home-made, sometimes making my own burgers.
3 Is nutrition important to you?
Yes, it’s important to me to know that I’m eating properly if I’m training or playing football, but also so I can give my clients advice on their own nutrition. At the minute, I’m eating for performance rather than trying to lose weight, so I’m not afraid to eat quite a lot. People have this misconception that you have to really restrict your calories, but in the run up to the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup final, I was eating around 2,000 calories a day as I was training so much.
4 Best meal ever?
I love curry and the best I’ve had would have to be in Zen in Belfast.
5 Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I love Tribal Burger or Bunsen Burger – if I’m having a bit of a 'cheat' day, they are the first places I’ll head to.
6 Have you ever been on a diet? If so, how did it go?
I’ve never been on a proper diet, but I’ve always just tried to be smart about what I’m eating and cut back when I need to.
7 Do you take health supplements?
Yes, I take Omega 3 and Vitamin D. During a workout, I’ll take amino acids.
8 How do you relax?
I actually find training relaxing and I really enjoy a workout. Luckily, I’m quite laid back, so I don’t get too stressed about things.
9 Teetotal or tipple?
I like a vodka soda water or a beer.
10 Stairs or lift?
Stairs – I have to get the steps in and I’m not keen on getting stuck in a lift either.
11 Do you have a daily exercise regime?
I try to do a CrossFit class at least four times a week and then I’ll work with my clients as well. If I’m football training in the evening, I’ll do a gym session in the morning, but not go as hard at it, so I can focus on my football.
12 Best tip for everyday fitness?
Move: wear a Fitbit and get your steps up to around 10,000 to 12,000 a day.
13 On a scale of one to 10, how fit do you think you are and how fit would you like to be?
I’d say I'm about an 8 at the moment.
14 Have you tried, or would you try, alternative therapy?
No and no.
15 Were school sports happy times or do you have a memory you would rather forget?
In school, I had to play on the boys' team for football, which was strange for me. I don’t think the boys were too keen either to have a girl on their team and they wouldn’t really know how to talk to me.
Now, I see myself and my team mates as game-changers. It’s true that we are leading the way for girls to play football across Northern Ireland and with the Electric Ireland sponsorship right across the player pathway, it means there are so many more opportunities for girls playing football today.
16 Did you ever have a health epiphany which made you change your lifestyle?
No, I’ve always tried to stay fit and active.
17 Best health/lifestyle advice you were ever given and would pass on to others?
My sports nutritionist, Josh Williamson, once asked me if I had a fear of eating too much (which I didn’t think I had) and told me to get rid of it. This is something I try to pass on to my own clients. People can get too obsessed with weight, but it is true that muscle weighs more than fat, so go by your measurements rather than stepping on the scales.
18 Who inspires you or who would you try to emulate in terms of fitness / attitude to life?
I would have to say Tia-Clair Toomey, an Australian CrossFitter, as she has a great fitness regime as well as a positive attitude to life. She was the Crossfit Games Champion in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and a Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, so her drive and determination is really admirable.
19 What time do you normally get to bed and do you get enough sleep?
Absolutely not enough sleep, sadly. I try to be in bed for 9.30pm, as I get up so early, but it can be midnight before I get to sleep. I always find it difficult to get to sleep before a big match.
20 Would you say you have a healthy attitude towards your own mortality?
Yes, I try to look after myself, so hopefully I’ll be around for a good bit longer, as I want to play football for as long as possible. I don’t like to plan too far in advance though; I like to live in the moment and just take each day as it comes.
