Anita Flavin: A Top-Notch Irish Shoe Designer and Fashion Entrepreneur Shares her Awe-Inspiring Success Story

 

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?

Ms. Anita Flavin: Since I was young exercise has been a daily part of my life. My father is a dedicated fitness fanatic so we were always encouraged to participate in sport and exercise from an early age. I used to go with my Father to Roger Banisters running track as a child and I took up running as a hobby from around the age of 12. During my life I have taken up many different fitness regimes and workouts. I have found my choices are depended on where I am geographically and personally, this way exercise slips into my life style which works well. Also being open to participate in a variety of sports over the years I have found gives me a greater appreciation of exercise and life. When I lived in Aspen I snowboarded during the winter months. This is something that was never on my list of things to do, but I embraced and loved this sport and the mountains.

Also during my time in Aspen in the summer months I mountain climbed, cycled and did white water rafting. I climbed Mount Kenya for charity in which I undertook a strict fitness regime in preparation for my trip. When I moved to Ireland the girls from the local camogie team invited me to train and play camogie with them. I enjoyed the training and having the opportunity to partake in the community life and make new friends however I was not into the competitive side of exercise. I also have been a member of gyms and achieved great results with personal trainers and private Pilate's instructors, all I have really enjoyed. At the same time when this did not fit into my life I would exercise at home on the rowing machine, punch bag and floor exercises. I love walking in the countryside where I live. I was a member at a beautiful resort and spa and I used to relish my daily swim followed by the spa facilities. For the last couple of years I attend yoga which I absolutely love and find it so rewarding mentally and physically. I find my different exercise regimes have all had their place and a time in my life, all of them I have loved doing at that time. This also makes me realise how privileged I am. Good health is something that I have taken for granted over the years I realise now that this is a blessing.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Anita Flavin: I am very careful about what I eat as I believe you are what you eat. I do not have a special strict diet as such. I prefer to eat organic food as I am a great believer that food grown without pesticides is far more beneficial in preventing long term illness. Each week I make up juices for the coming week. I find this is a great way to start my day and having my six fruit and veg before I even eat food. Most days I would have organic porridge with some seeds and honey. When I am at home I would have a salad and some fish for lunch and in the evening I have my meal which would consist of a carbohydrates, meat, and vegetables, with one evening could be a stir fry and the next a salad, boiled potatoes I vary each evening of the week. Also I do not eat after 7pm. I am not a vegetarian but I'm conscious as to where I buy my meat from. I grow my own vegetables and salads in the garden in the summer months which I love doing this and eating the produce from the garden I find really satisfying. I grow cabbage and carrots for the coleslaw; I eat beetroot everyday which I mostly juice as I am a great believer in the benefits of beetroot. I love eating celery as chewing celery is a good exercise to keep my jaw line slim.

I am also a great believer the nutritious benefits of organic lemons and I drink lemon and hot water every day. I am blessed not to have a sweet tooth or I would be more savoury inclined. I mostly make my own sauces and bake my own dishes. I do not buy readymade meals of any description and I try to avoid bread but that is difficult. I drink lots of water. I have come a long way since I was a child and I refused to eat anything other than mash potatoes, malt and cod liver oil, bread and drink lots of cold milk. As a child, my mother even took me to the doctor once as she thought there was something wrong with me because I didn't even catch a common cold and did not have a balanced diet. But I believe what I ate was natural and not pre packed or laced with additives which was why I did not get even a cold. One day I knew that I would travel and it would be rude not to accept food that people had made for me. So I love to taste the local authentic cuisine when I visit different countries. In Italy Le Marche is on the coast and I eat fish every day.