Shape I’m In: Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
She recently completed her PhD in mathematics and has taken up a position in UCD’s science department. When she is not lecturing undergraduates, she is globetrotting for The Science Squad. The third series is due to air on RTE One at the end of October.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” she says. “I think it’s the best series we’ve done. For one part, I travel to Uganda following a beautiful story where primary school kids get to have water that wasn’t going to make them sick. There is so many way that science effects our lives all round.”
From Co Mayo, the 31-year-old lives in Monkstown with her partner RTE presenter Ryan Tubridy.
* Aoibhinn is the campaign ambassador for P&G Effect, which highlights the science stories behind everyday products. #PGeffect runs until December.
I wish I was a little bit healthier. I’ve had a sedentary lifestyle the past couple of months — I was working on my PhD. It ended up as an eight-hour day at the desk, which isn’t very healthy. I wasn’t eating very well either. Because I was feeling so horrible about myself I started seeing [personal trainer] Karl Henry for a couple of sessions and in six-weeks I lost 2.5ins off my waist. Karl didn’t recommend exercise until I fixed my diet — I was having Crunchy Nut Cornflakes every morning. I had completely lost sight of eating properly.
I like to run and walk. I think I’m far better in a group mentality where there are classes. I am better in a more competitive environment than trying to do it myself.
I don’t have many healthy things. But I am now eating All-Bran for breakfast every day. I like to drink a lot of water. I wish I could say salads and vegetables but ...
I eat chips far too often - real chipper chips. I also make my own. I’ll chop up the potatoes but I’ll deep fry them them. As someone once said to me, I have a good country appetite.
If I am nervous or anxious about something coming up I would over think it. But when I take out my diary and write it down, I find that it never seems to be as bad when you’ve got it down on paper.
Going for a walk. Also, I’m a big fan or having the fire down and having a cup of tea and watching a programme. And I love reading – that’s my real switch off. I’m reading Hillary Clinton’s Hard Choices at the minute.
Phil Lynott, Bill Clinton, Stephen Fry, Katharine Hepburn and Sinead O’Connor. I think that would be a really good mix of people. There would be plenty of craic at the table.
I love going out on the boat and having that fresh smell of the lake – Lough Corrib and Lough Cara - especially if you’ve just taken out the oil skins. We would fish quite regularly or just go on the boat for a spin. It’s a great place to let yourself runaway. Otherwise I like lilies.
I would like to stay the size I was when I was 27 — size 8 — without having to work hard for it. It’s so much harder now when you go for a night out, it takes much longer to recover.
?
When I picked up my brother Cian from the airport last week. I hadn’t seen him in months because he was volunteering with Suas in New Delhi, where he had been teaching for the summer. I was crying before I even saw him, I was so looking forward to seeing him.
If I see somebody being rude to people who are waiting on them – or receptionists - I always think that’s terrible. I saw someone in a coffee shop over the weekend and she barked at the staff. Everyone is just trying to do their job in the best way.
I get really cranky when I’m hungry. Completely irrational. I wish it didn’t affect me so badly.
I’m not an incredibly spiritual person but I would go to the graveyard and visit the graves of family members and neighbours and say a prayer. It’s a really peaceful place. But it’s not something I do very often.
I’m a big hugger so I like getting deep hugs.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
