Born: Victoria
Lives: Sydney
Star sign: Aries
Where you've seen her before: The Nine Network's
Body + Soul
Did you know? Erika loves singing, and has a deal with Warner Music
Q. Is it difficult to maintain your health while working?
I'm an exercise junkie! I find that if I don't get between an hour and an hour and a half exercise each day I don't sleep. I use it to wind down. I also have a strict diet. I know what works for my body and what doesn't work. And I try to stay away from the kitchen, otherwise you could graze all day.
Q. What kind of things do you eat?
I have a low blood-sugar level, and my hormones are a little loopy, which I think has to do with the hours I keep and the intensity at which I work. So every morning I make sure I have breakfast, usually a bowl of porridge with some protein powder and some nuts mixed in, or I'll do a breakfast burrito, which is made from egg whites and beans. For lunch, I'm a bit of a loser - I pack my lunch for the day, and have chicken, steak or fish, and that's usually the same for dinner. I find I have to have a lot of protein to keep me going.
Q. How do you work out?
Three days a week I do 40 minutes of weights, then 20 minutes' high-intensity cardio work on a treadmill or the step machine. Twice a week I do an hour of low-intensity cardio, such as a bike ride, and then once a week I go swimming or do yoga. I'm also doing soft-sand running on the beach, which is killing me.
Q. Are you concerned about any particular area of your health?
I get insomnia, particularly if I haven't exercised. So that would be my biggest health concern. If I've had a very social week, and drunk lots of champagne, I tend to suffer, so I try not to do that too much.
Q. Do you get stressed often?
I tend to get stressed when I'm not working. I'm a lot happier when busy. The show can be stressful because of the pressure, and I have to admit the live element has caused a little bit of lost sleep. But I'm having fun. The radio interviews are a little scary.
How do you deal with stress?
I love to sing. The last couple of weeks before starting
The HotHouse I spent time working on my music, and I feel as if I have had a really long heart massage. And I take deep, long breaths.
Q. Do you take any supplements?
I take licorice herbs, and a liver cleanser, as well as vitamins B1 and B2. And I also take liquid chromium, which has really sorted me out a treat with keeping my blood-sugar levels stable - I find I'm no longer slumped over a bag of jelly babies in the afternoon.
For Erin Craven's full interview with Erika Heynatz, see the April 2004 issue of GoodMedicine magazine.
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