Body Clock: Ute Lemper, Singer/Songwriter
Ute Lemper. Photo: PA
Monday November 23 2009
Exercise is key to my healthy life: In between playing the piano and writing songs, this busy mum fits in a lot of workouts and has a balanced diet with red meat and vegetables
7.30am
I get the children their breakfast while I have a decaffeinated coffee with a Sweet'n'Low and skimmed milk. I normally nibble on a little of whatever I give my young son and today that happens to be an apple and wholegrain bread with butter. We get dressed and then my husband brings our 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter to school.
8.30am
I walk my four-year-old son to school.
9.15am
Back at home, I have another decaf as well as two slices of toasted wholegrain bread with butter and cheese. I like this combination for breakfast; I think it's a healthy start and it always reminds me of my childhood when I was growing up in Germany.
A couple of times a week we will get fresh bagels as a treat and I'll sometimes have half of one with butter and cheese. I read the paper while I eat my toast.
9.45am
I do a little business in my office downstairs, then go into my music room where I spend most of my time at the piano playing and writing songs. I nibble on a few pretzels and drink orange juice along with a glass of water.
2.30pm
I feel quite stiff after sitting for such a long period at the computer and the piano, so I go upstairs and do my daily half-hour of training. I use weights to build upper and lower body strength, do my abdominal exercises, and then finish with some stretching.
3pm
The next couple of hours are devoted to family life. I walk to my kids' schools to pick them up, then walk them to their various activities -- basketball practice, dance, soccer. We live on the upper west side of Manhattan and everything is right here on our doorstep so we walk everywhere.
I often end up running to wherever I am going because I'm behind schedule, but I get a good workout!
I love to be physically active, perhaps that is because I was a dancer for 25 years.
5pm
My husband is home now and when my musicians arrive at the house I am free to rehearse some new arrangements with them.
7pm
We might have red meat once every couple of weeks and on this night I broil homemade hamburgers with Worcester sauce and chopped broccoli. I also make a noodle salad using leftover pasta, peas, carrots, sweetcorn, mushrooms, onions, and chopped beetroot. I add a yogurt, dill, and mayonnaise dressing.
I love dinner at home because it is when we sit, eat and relax together as a family. On this night I have a glass of white wine and a glass of water with my meal.
8.30pm
I get my young son to sleep then help the other kids with homework before returning to my desk and finishing some of my own work. Later, my husband, our teenage kids and I hang out together and watch some TV.
11.30pm
I go to bed.
- Ute Lemper
Irish Independent
