Every breath: Baz Ashmawy on living with lung disease
BAZ Ashmawy could easily be a poster boy for good living. He not only goes to the gym every day, watches his diet closely, and keeps his stress levels under control with the help of a mindfulness, he also keeps his eco-footprint in check.
The TV presenter’s interest in health and fitness is all the more important since he discovered he has a heredity lung disease which his late father also suffered from. However, he has no intention of taking life too seriously.
“I’m 43 my next birthday. I’m just delaying the inevitable fall,” jokes the 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy star.
Living in Dublin with his partner Tanja, they have six children aged from five to 21.
He takes the responsibility of being a parent seriously.
“I’m trying to be a role model for my boys and my girls, trying to be the best example I can be and be around for as long as I can be as well.”
He also wants to lead by example on the need to protect our natural resources. “It’s their future. It’s for them,” he says.
He’s taken up Airtricity’s green living 21-day challenge. “As a family, we try to be positive and greener. We buy organic food, we pick up some eco-friendly products — green energy is just the next thing.
“My plan is to reduce water consumption in the house — when they are brushing their teeth to turn the taps off. There’s a lot of kids in our house and there are a lot of baths going — that’s 80lt for every bath — you have a shower and it’s down to about half that.
“My kids love when I take them on the scooters to school. They enjoy that time with me. It’s good for your mind, your health, it’s good for the environment. It’s just instilling these little things. And trying to have a greener conscience, trying to make positive changes.”
See: www.facebook.com/sseairtricity
I’m in OK shape. I try to hit the gym every day. I stay for 40 minutes maximum I like to get in and out very fast. I don’t like to dilly dally. I also like to go for hikes and walks with my kids.
I try to cut out sugar. No salt. Lots of water. Veggies. And I try and do that six days a week. I eat a lot of meat. I live with two vegetarians.
Nothing really. I’m fairly boring. I enjoy my life. I enjoy a healthy lifestyle to be honest. I’m not a big chocolate head. Maybe a cheese and crisp sandwich, that’s about it.
Making sure I put the green bin out. Apart from that, my conscience is clear. I’ve young kids who wake me up very early at about 6.30am. It’s cruel. Falling asleep isn’t a problem. Getting out of bed seems to be my grudge.
I spend time with my kids. I see my friends when I can. I like to watch a bit of sport with them. I don’t tend to stress. Ever since I got into being mindful and being healthy, it’s helped me to be very relaxed. I’m lucky in the job that I do, I work with people I like and I do shows I like to make.
Russell Brand, you’d have to have Einstein for the bit of crack, and just to mix it up, I’d bring Donald Trump along.
My missus.
I’m very young to be this grey. I think it’s unfair. I got dealt shitty genes. I used to be salt and pepper. Now I’m just salt.
Five minutes before the first half of Ireland vs Wales, I was pretty upset. I was a bit rattled. I can’t remember the last time I seriously cried.
I like people who have nice manners. I think they are very important. And honesty.
I love me. I’m my biggest fan. There are enough people out there who’ll tell you what they don’t like about me. I’m not going to start.
Half my family are Muslim, half are Catholic. My mother-in-law is Greek Orthodox. There’s a smorgasbord of
religions there. I’m much more of a spiritual person. I try to be positive and ask for positivity to come my way. So if you’d consider that to be prayers then I probably try and pray every now and then.
My kids emptying the dishwasher.
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