Colm Hayes: I'm trying to up my game with the 40-Day Health Challenge

Supported by health experts from Operation Transformation, the challenge is designed to motivate participants to focus on improving their physical health, mental wellbeing, and nutrition over 40 days.

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025 - 02:00

Rebecca Daly

We're almost two weeks into the 40-Day Health Challenge, and Classic Hits Radio presenter Colm Hayes has been stepping up to the plate.

People of all ages and fitness levels can take part and Hayes is one of 16 participants this year.

How do you keep fit?

With the 40-Day Health Challenge, I’m trying to up my game a little bit, but normally, when the weather's good, I do love some sea swimming. And I’ve got a little dog—he's only a year old—and he takes a lot out of me, so I would be walking him possibly every day or every second day, and we do up to 5k.

Do you have a morning routine?

I'm an early morning bird because the breakfast shows, so I get up very early in the morning—earlier than most. I do some weights in the bathroom and some stretches at 10 past five. I always finish up with a good old cold shower, and I stand in the cold shower for 30 seconds.

What is one thing you do every day?

Drink coffee and stretch. If there's two things I would say to everybody in the world, drink coffee before midday and stretch.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

My breakfast is always fresh fruit, yoghurt and honey. I always try to get a really healthy breakfast, and then it all goes downhill.

What are your guiltiest pleasures?

Wine. After [it], I get a trigger for sugar, so I head for the hidden chocolate.

What keeps you awake at night?

Thinking about work, thinking about life, thinking about family. Yeah, there's, there's many things.

How do you relax?

In the last two/three years, I've taken up piano. If I don't play it every day for at least half an hour, everyone in the house knows. [They say:] “Why don't you just go in and play piano for half an hour?” I'm not the greatest piano player in the world, but it is therapy for me.

What’s your dream meal?

I love the best ribs you can get. And with that, I love potato skins—lashings of potato skins with loads of butter. Whatever I want, it has to have butter. I shouldn't, but I love it.

Who are your sporting heroes?

I'm old school. I can go back to Bobby Charles, who I think was amazing but had the most ridiculous hair too, and definitely Roy Keane.

What is the best health advice you've ever been given?

Take care of your most treasured possession. Whatever you think your most treasured possession is, you're wrong. Your most treasured possession is your mind. Take care of that, and everything else will fall into place.

What is your favourite smell?

Walking past a shop that has fresh coffee and a bakery.

When was the last time you cried?

When my father died.

What is your earliest memory?

A big face looking in on my pram. I think it was one of the neighbours.

What traits do you least like in others?

Nastiness, selfishness, and not being able to tell the truth.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

I lie to myself a lot.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I was presenting a radio show just behind MTV when MTV was here for the Music Awards 1999 in the Point Theatre, and I tripped up Britney Spears. She went flat on her face. And to this day, I'm still quite about embarrassed. Sorry, Britney!

What do you wish you knew when you were younger?

To get your act together at an earlier age because I'm still struggling.

Do you pray?

No.

What cheers you up if you’re having a bad day?

I am watching Manchester United win, so I have to watch old DVDs [to see that happen].

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

John Lennon and Salma Hayek.

Has climate change impacted how you live your life?

I think it has, and if it hasn't impacted everyone's life, then they're stupid. I think we need to really, really think about it. There are small, little things that we can do as a community because community then becomes global.

What quote inspires you most and why?

“Don’t let the old man in.”

Where is your favourite place in the world?

Venice because you never have to worry about getting run over. It’s beautiful, and it’s like the world upside down, but it still works.

What’s something nobody knows about you?

My real name isn’t Colm Hayes. It’s actually Colm Caffrey.

What are your hopes for 2025?

Globally, if we could just get our shit together because things are getting a little bit out of control, and we were putting the wrong people in charge to ensure that we get it right.