Jennifer Zamparelli: Getting back into the swing of things for September
Jennifer Zamparelli. Picture: Andres Poveda
Jennifer Zamparelli is happy her children are back at school.
“We were all ready for the holidays to be over,” she says. “Florence, nine, and Enzo, six, love school and were delighted going back. And as someone who likes routine, I was glad too.”
That’s not to say that Zamparelli, her husband Lauterio and their two children didn’t enjoy their summer. She stepped away from her daily RTÉ 2FM radio show in May, so had more free time than she was used to.
“It was freedom like I haven’t had in such a long time,” she says. “I travelled to see people and places in Ireland. I spent quality time with the kids and with family. We had so much fun. It was a summer to remember.”
But she’s ready for the new beginnings of autumn: “I like to set myself new goals in September and right now, I’m resetting my health and fitness goals. will be back on screens in January and that gives me a good target to aim towards.”
Zamparelli prioritises her fitness. This isn’t because she’s in the public eye and feels pressure to look a certain way: “It’s more that I like how fitness feels. I think it plays a huge part in my mental health and wellbeing.”
She didn’t always enjoy exercise and recalls spending her 20s working 14-hour days and partying hard: “It was only when I met Lau and saw how he was into fitness that I tried it for myself. As a result, I think I’m fitter now than I ever was.”
Once she committed to exercising, Zamparelli wasn’t easily deterred. She even brought her children to the gym when they were babies: “It’s easy for parents to think they don’t have the time when their kids are small. But it’s so important to carve out time for yourself and exercise. Even a couple of hours a week makes you feel better.”
She still brings the kids to the gym today, she says: “My gym has classes for kids so they are kept occupied while I train. I think kids should see their parents making fitness a priority, so exercise is a family affair for us.”
She admits there are times when she feels lazy but still makes herself exercise: “I just tell myself I won’t do a lot, or I’ll only do something I like, such as yoga or going for a walk with the dog.”
When we speak, Zamparelli is suffering from a trapped nerve in her back. It’s preventing her from exercising and impacting her mood.
“My mood is lower and I’m not sleeping as well,” she says. “It’s even affecting how I eat. When I don’t exercise, I feel tired and am more likely to reach for junk food.”
It’s her first time dealing with injury, and Zamparelli interprets it as a sign that she should double down on her fitness regimen once she recovers: “I’m 44, and I think this is a wake-up call for me to look after myself.”
Her usual fitness routine involves going to the gym four or five times a week for weight or high-intensity training or spin classes. However, once her trapped nerve has been treated, she hopes to start running.
“I think it would fit with family life better as it’s not scheduled the way classes are,” she says. “I can simply put my runners on and head out the door when it suits.”
As for how she eats, Zamparelli aims for balance: “I don’t want my children to see me restricting my foods or identifying some foods as good and others as bad. If I want a burger, I’ll have a burger. If I want a drink, I’ll have a drink. But I try to make healthier choices most of the time.”
Her sweet tooth is her biggest downfall: “But I curb that by only eating dark chocolate.”
She takes steps to look after her mental health, too, she says: “One thing I love is booking outings or short trips away with friends or with my husband. Life is so busy and we can all get caught up in our schedules. I find that taking time out to invest in my relationships really helps my wellbeing.”
Workwise, Zamparelli is pleased to announce some new projects.
“I’ve got two exciting acting gigs,” she says, describing one as a comedy show that will air on RTÉ.
Before fans start celebrating, the show isn’t a reprise of either, she says: “But I did meet up with the Bridget and Eamon team recently and we came up with some ideas. If anyone has a few bob under a mattress somewhere they’d like to throw our way, we’d definitely consider making some new shows!”
There’s also the Jen and Lottie Do Parenting podcast she co-hosts with Lottie Ryan and The Hair People Salon, a high-end luxury salon Zamparelli co-founded two years ago and which she hopes will launch its product line in the next 18 months.
Right now, she is busy drawing people’s attention to a fundraising campaign for Barretstown. From now until September 8, wristbands are being sold in Applegreen stores nationwide for €2, with all proceeds going to this charity, which offers free therapeutic camps and programmes for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.
“Barretstown is a place where these children and their families go to find joy in life and make happy memories for the future,” says Zamparelli. “I’m delighted to have the time to give to helping raise funds for this great charity.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
Celebrating 25 years of health and wellbeing
