The shape I'm in: Dr Phil Kieran

Dr Phil Kieran, a co-presenter on RTÉ’s ‘You Should Really See a Doctor’ says the recent arrival of his second son means his running routine is on hold.

DR Phil Kieran wasn’t always the lean machine he is today. When he started working as a GP, he quickly fell into bad habits and put up 24kg in three months.

“I was eating rubbish, says the co-presenter of RTÉ’s You Should Really See A Doctor.

“In GP surgeries people drop in biscuits and sweets and I was snacking quite badly.

“I went from a job in a hospital where you are on your feet all day, to a GP surgery where you sit down for most of the day. Also, I had to drive to and from work so I lost about 100km a week cycling.”

His light-bulb moment came when his shirt almost gave way under the pressure.

“I was sitting down one day and the button was about to go on my shirt. I weighed myself and then I took up running and stopped snacking.”

Married to Claire and a father of two young boys, the Cork GP runs a practice on Washington Street.

He didn’t have to look far for inspiration when choosing medicine as a career. Both his parents are doctors, so too is his oldest sister. In fact, he’s the 17th person to qualify in medicine on his mum’s side in two generations.

“We all have a massive lack of imagination,” he laughs.

Dr. Pixie McKenna and Dr. Phil Kieran

* You Should Really See A Doctor, RTÉ One, Wednesdays, 8.30pm

What shape are you in?

Not in as good a shape as I’d like to be but I’m not in bad shape. I cycle 70 to 80km a week just by commuting. I used to be into quite a lot of different sports which I don’t have time for nowadays.

In the winter, I tend to gain a little bit of winter weight and not be as fit as I would want to be.

I try to run three days a week but that hasn’t happened in the past four months because I have a four-month-old child. I’ve joined many gyms and have not gone to them, so I’m not going to do it again.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I don’t snack. I tend to eat regularly — three meals a day. And I would always be conscious of how much I’m eating on a day-to-day basis.

If I don’t eat very much fruit and veg one or two days in a row, it’s always at the back of my mind, so I’ll make up for it another day.

What are your guiltiest pleasures?

By the time Friday evening rolls around I quite like having one or two beers when I get home — just to relax and unwind. And I’ll have the occasional Chinese takeaway — maybe once or twice a month.

What would keep you awake at night?

I’ve a two-and- a-half-year-old, Daragh, who is toilet training and a baby, Max, who keep me awake. I often have difficulty switching off.

I often find myself lying awake wondering about things that don’t matter — trying to remember song lyrics will keep me awake.

How do you relax?

I game whenever I get a chance to relax. I have an X-box at home which I play on occasion and gaming on the PC as well — whatever takes my mind off things for an hour or so.

Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party?

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, rugby coach Joe Schmidt, windsurfer Björn Dunkerbeck and comedian Dara Ó Briain — his wife is a medic so in all the shows there’s a little bit of [medical] humour which is just priceless.

What’s your favourite smell?

Seaweed. As a teenager, I used to instruct watersports in Oysterhaven and it just brings me straight back.

What would you like to change about your appearance?

If I lost a little bit of fat and put on a little muscle I’d be happy — but I’m not unhappy about it.

When is the last time you cried?

Four months ago, when my youngest was born. I asked if I could clean him off and dress him after he was born. It was a bit overwhelming.

Our older son was in ICU after he was born — so I didn’t get to hold him for nearly two weeks. He’s fantastic now.

What traits do you least like in others?

Gossiping. I’m a firm believer in if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

I’m probably the worst morning person in the entire world. I will push the snooze button on my alarm seven or eight times until my wife gives me a nudge and says: ‘if you hit that snooze button again I’ll kill you’.

I make all these plans in the evening to get up at six in the morning and go for a run. But then 6am comes and goes.

Do you pray?

I do on occasion. I have a chat every now and again.

What would cheer up your day?

Not raining when I have to cycle home. I have quite a lot of uphill cycling on the way home and the rain gear makes you sweat a huge amount.