Real Health with Karl Henry

Best-selling author, screenwriter and playwright, Stefanie Preissner, has been called the voice of her generation, writing about issues of stress, anxiety and confidence for Irish 20-something females and she joins me on this week's Real Health podcast.Stefanie tells me why 0430am starts are best for her but why we should stop fetishising hard work and stress. She also talks about the success of Can't Cope, Won't Cope and why her work resonates so strongly."I grew up thinking I had an illness called terminal uniqueness," she says. "But the more specific I am about my experiences in my writing the more they actually resonate with people because I’m just a pumpkin spice-latte loving bitch like everyone else!"Plus Stefanie explains why social media was forcing her into a world of perfection that wasn't real and forced perspective is sometimes needed.For more from the podcast just visit:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/I'm also on Twitter and Instagram @KarlHenryPT and can be contacted at realhealth@independent.ie.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s January, you’re back to work, and while I’m sure you’ve made great plans and goals for 2019, what do you do if it all gets a bit too much for you? Between work, family, kids, fitness, it can be hard to fit it all in. While on the outside you might appear to have everything under control, on the inside you could be drowning. That’s what this week's guest, psychotherapist and resilience coach, Siobhan Murray, was going through, even though her career, home and family life all seemed to be a success.Siobhan has now written a book called the Burnout Solution, 12 weeks to a calmer you and she takes us through the 12 steps needed to help people to prevent and overcome going through burnout in their lives.Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the show and let us know how we’re doing on realhealth@independent.ie or KarlHenryPT on Twitter and Instagram.For more from the show go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, in an exclusive for the Real Health podcast, I’m joined by my fellow Operation Transformation experts to find out what we can expect in the new series and to get their tips for healthy living.Dr. Sumi Dunne is the new resident GP on the show and she’s joined as ever by dietitian, Aoife Hearne, and Psychologist Dr. Eddie Murphy.For Sumi, she wants to bring practical tips to people and highlight what’s topical in medical and health issues also, with obesity the number one concern.“Throwing money at a problem doesn’t just give you results,” she tells me. “It’s about making sustained changes that will carry through.”Or as Dr. Eddie Murphy says, ‘It’s not what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you.’Aoife Hearne is starting out her food and cooking advice with jars and packets - for the first few weeks anyway - but she says, it’s about empowering people with skills in the kitchen and to ultimately decide between food v processed food.“You can lose weight and still enjoy food,” she says.For more from my podcast just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/ and let me know how you get on by emailing me at realhealth@independent.ie or via Twitter and Instagram @KarlHenryPT. The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 2019, the start of the New Year and I’m sure you’ve got new goals and resolutions in mind. But how many of you see those great ideas and plans fade away by the end of January? This week’s podcast is all about giving you the ten SOS tips to make sure they last. I’m giving you all my experience, tips, tricks and tools to ensure that this time, your resolutions are going to last. I see the same mistakes over and over again and I can help you make sure your goals keep going in the long term. These ten tips are the ones that will make a difference to your body, mind and long term health and I discuss in detail:1. Goal Setting2. Dump the negative people in your life3. Avoid the unrealistic4. Plan5. Don’t cut out any food groups6. Love yourself7. Start slow and build up8. Cook as much food from scratch9. Read more10. Reward yourselfLet me know what your 2019 resolutions are – I’m @KarlHenryPT on Twitter and Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie.For more from the show go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a few days since the presents were opened and the turkey and ham all eaten and I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas. With New Year fast approaching, I’m sure your thoughts have started to turn to plans and goals for 2019? Weight loss and getting fit are of course amongst the most common and popular New Year’s resolutions and so this week’s episode of the Real Health podcast is all about giving you some health-kick inspiration to start January with a bang.Peter Thornton, a Laya Healthcoach, plus coach and speaker, Pat Divilly, joined me to give their advice on how to set goals and stick to them covering the following five areas:1. Planning and preparation2. Habit formation3. Dieting myths4. Mindfulness/awareness5. Embracing failure and setbacksLet me know what your goals are for 2019? I'm on Twitter and Instagram @KarlHenryPT or email realhealth@independent.ie. For more from the show go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/I hope you have a fantastic New Year, and that 2019 brings all the health and happiness for you and your family. Thanks for listening and for your support.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only a few days to go before Santa will be making his way to your home and I hope you’ve all been good and been trying to keep up with some of your Christmas training plan as well.I wanted this episode to be about making your Christmas Day better, to avoid the family rows and helping you deal with the in-laws. It’s a very stressful experience and so I was joined by psychologist and coach Neil O'Brien with some tips and advice to make the most out of your Christmas and enjoy it in a more relaxing and mindful way."Keep Christmas Day simple, don’t look to impress anybody, celebrate being with family and friends and the fact you’ve made it through it another year," is some great advice from Neil.I'd also recommend going for a walk or run in the morning to help you prepare for the hectic pace of the rest of the day and do let me know how you handle it all. I'm on Twitter and Instagram @KarlHenryPT or email realhealth@independent.ie.For more from the show go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/Happy Christmas to all the Real Health listeners!The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Harris, Minister for Health, joined me for a special pre-Christmas interview to discuss the health problems of the nation as well as talking about his own need for balance and healthy living to cope with the demands of being a government minister.I was fascinated to find out how, at such a young age, he got involved in politics and then was appointed to one of the most challenging ministerial roles in the Department of Health in 2016.As he and his wife expect their first baby in early January 2019, Simon Harris will be trying to juggle a young family, work and keeping fit and healthy, and it’s a balancing act that he knows is a tough one for families all over Ireland.The growing obesity problem is of course one of his biggest concerns, with 60% of adults and one in four children in Ireland either overweight or obese and he wants communities in every county to ask what they can do.“People can accuse me of ‘nanny-ism’ if they want, but what are we going to do as a society to actually to put in place policies to stop us becoming one of the fattest nations in the world?” he says. “It should be a cause of concern to every single one of us...Winning the prize for the world’s fattest nation is not where we need to be.”“Why should we be afraid of giving citizens as much information as possible in relation to their own health and well-being to make their own decisions?” he asks and I couldn’t agree more. Healthy living starts with every one of us making choices and small changes which make a big difference to our lives.For more from the show go to https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/And get in touch via realhealth@independent.ie or @KarlHenryPT on Twitter and Instagram.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christmas countdown has begun. We’re into December and I’m sure you’re all getting busy with presents, parties and decorations? Don’t forget, last week I gave you my Christmas Survival Kit to keep on top of your fitness so make sure you listen back to that if things are getting a bit too hectic for you.This week we’re staying with the Christmas theme and I find out about all the cool fitness-related presents that you can be buying friends and family or giving the not-so-subtle hint to your other half.Joining me to help sift through the best presents out there, I was joined by Alex Meehan, a freelance tech journalist, and Elspbeth Gordon of Stellar and VIP, who cover everything from clothing to wearable tech, wireless earbuds and even DNA testing.Do send me on your present ideas on realhealth@independent.ie or @KarlHenryPT on Twitter and Instagram and for more from the show go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know December is about Christmas parties, nights out and too much food and drink, but how can you stay in shape whilst also going out partying? Welcome to your Real Health Christmas Survival Kit! For this week’s episode I’m giving you the tips to have the best of both worlds. I tell you how to have your nights out, how to lessen their impact on your body and how to still be fit and healthy.From the right food and drink, to keeping your exercise going during the hardest month of the year, these are tips that work really well and are proven for me and the clients I work with. My tips cover never going out on an empty stomach to drinking water with your alcohol and skipping dessert; plus not trying to do too much, buddying up, taking part in events and exercising as early in the day as possible, all of which ensures you can still keep yourself in shape.Life is about balance. Going out over Christmas is great and should be done, but you should be mindful to not overdo it ruining yourself for the days afterwards.And don’t forget: use December as a time for reflection to look back on all that you’ve achieved and what you want to achieve in 2019.Let me know how you get on by email on realhealth@independent.ie or @KarlHenryPT on Twitter and Instagram.For more from the show, go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you lead by example when it comes to healthy eating with your kids? Or do you find it a constant power struggle trying to get your kids to eat their fruit and veg? Dietitian, Aoife Hearne, also known for being on Operation Transformation, joins me on this week's show to solve your problems when it comes to family eating.She tackles the thorny issue of treats, overweight children, technology-free meal-times, fussy eaters, and how to introduce new foods to kids' plates."The what, when and where of eating is up to you, the parent," she explains. "The child's role is to eat or not. Kids won’t let themselves go hungry, it’s about playing the long game and holding firm with them."As for treats? Aoife says we need to think in terms of non-food rewards so that food isn’t used as a soothing means for kids. Food can be a reward sometimes but not all the time. Have a flexible treats policy, be it a treat night, but be consistent about it.“The key thing is that no food are off-limits,” she tells me. “Research shows that when kids have unlimited access to sweets/treats they will eat less of them." And did you know it can take up to 20 times for kids to accept and up to 30 times to like new food? If you have any tips/advice for family meal times do let me know and I'll share it with our listeners. I'm on email realhealth@independent.ie or @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and Twitter.For more from the podcast you can visit the show page:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya HealthcareSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.