Wednesday January 21st – Episode 5
After the highs of leading the country on our Nationwide Walks, the strain is beginning to show for some of our leaders.
Once again, this year we are calling on schools to get involved in the nation’s transformation. This week we launch our brand new Fit at School, Fit Forever campaign, highlighting the urgent need to introduce physical education teachers in our primary schools.
Thursday January 22nd – Episode 6
After the terrifying experience last week, the leaders brace themselves for their second challenge under the watchful eye of the Dublin Fire Brigade. With no idea what’s in store, there’s only one thing our leaders know for certain; it’s not going to be easy.
We catch up with our Dietician Aoife Hearne on her own lifestyle change since becoming a mum. She shares her personal experience of pregnancy and motherhood. We learn why the first one thousand days, from the moment of conception, are so important to our children’s health for life and reveal why Irish mums deserve more support during this very important time.
Kathryn Thomas presents the eighth series of Operation Transformation.
Over the 8 weeks, the five brave leaders will radically change their exercise and eating habits and inspire the nation to follow them on their journey to a healthier lifestyle. It’s a big ask, especially for 21 year old Alan Mullen, who at 27 stone is our youngest & heaviest male leader to date.
The four OT experts are back – fitness Expert Karl Henry, principle clinical psychologist Dr. Eddie Murphy, dietician Aoife Hearne and GP Dr. Ciara Kelly will be on hand to guide the leaders as they put the Operation Transformation health and fitness plan into action.
With Ireland on track to become the fattest of the 53 Euro-zone countries by 2030, Obesity Expert, Donal O’Shea explores what we can do to tackle this health emergency and will be calling on groups, schools and businesses from all around the country to get on board and make an impact.
This year there are more opportunities then ever to get involved, with brand new events happening across the country. Once again, Operation Transformation is teaming up with The John Murray Show on RTÉ Radio One and this year will also be broadcasting live on 2FM every Saturday morning with updates from our weekly events and you, the OT followers.
The five leaders for 2015 are:
Alan Mullen
Age: 21
Address: Ballintubber, Moate, Co. Westmeath
Weight: 26st
At 21, Alan is the youngest male leader to date. He is currently studying Business & Computers at Moate Business College and lives at home with his parents Ailish and John. He met his girlfriend Emily four years ago, at a local talent competition. Alan has always struggled with his weight. Despite being a keen footballer and training hard with the local team, he was never chosen to play because of his weight. He quit the team in frustration, aged 16. His family are big GAA supporters and he would love to be able to get back out there and make them proud. His second dream would be to have the confidence to enjoy sharing his passion for music with his dad, who plays Country and Western music professionally.
Alan currently eats up to seven takeaways a week, and he drinks a minimum of 6-pack of coca cola a day. He is also a heavy smoker, smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day. He knows if he keeps going the way he is, it won’t end well. Alan wants to turn his life around and represent all the young people out there, who are in despair over their weight but don’t know what to do about it.
Louise Ormsby
Age: 34
Address: Adamstown, Co. Dublin
Weight: 14st 7lbs
Travel consultant, Louise lives in Adamstown, and has been married to Will for four years. Even as a child she felt bigger than all her friends. She was always the one with a bar of chocolate in her hand, or the one who would order a portion of chips with her lunch. Louise is desperate to start a family and has been advised to lose weight. She feels time, and life is just passing her by and she feels guilty for letting herself and others down. Louise is also a smoker ,she tried to give up last year but she is back up to 20 a day now. For the first time in her life, Louise feels that she has taken her head out of the sand in relation to her weight, and with the help of Operation Transformation she wants to do something about it.
Eilish Kavanagh
Age: 47
Address: Bunclody, Wexford
Weight: 13st 10lbs
Business owner, Eilish runs a café called TLC, named after her three Children; Tomas, Laura and Chloe. Eilish grew up on her family’s farm and still lives on the family land with her husband John and their youngest daughter Chloe. Eilish lost both of her parents three years ago but all her siblings live close by and regularly meet for trad sessions. Eilish even had a bar fitted in the sitting room to facilitate the legendary parties.
Eilish once represented Ireland in ladies Tug of War and was extremely fit at the height of her training. Her weight really only became an issue when she gave up her 20-a-day smoking habit. Being surrounded by food all day isn’t helping. She finds herself picking at the chips, sausages and chicken nuggets at work.
Eilish is soon to be Mother of the bride, as her daughter Laura is getting married next year. This is a major motivation for Eilish, who is refusing to buy a size 16 outfit. She was 9st getting married, and doesn’t want to be 4 stone heavier at her daughter’s wedding. With a history of type two diabetes in the family, Eilish feels that she needs to take action now, as the older she gets the harder it getting to shift those pounds.
Mark McArdle
Age: 44
Address: Dunleer, Co. Louth
Weight: 22st 7lbs
Busy dad of five, Mark is starting to feel the pressure because of his weight. He wants to set a better example for his children. Despite being a successful salesman for a growing company, Mark feels his expanding waistline is affecting his work. He doesn’t look like the professional he truly is. He would love to wear a sharp suit, rather than what just fits.
Mark is very active within his community; everything from playing the Dame in the local pantomime to coaching at the local GAA club. He even helped to set up an Operation Transformation group in the village last year. Mark claims his weight annoys him rather than upsets him. He feels that everything else is his life is fantastic, but his weight is the only thing that he has not been able to master. Operation Transformation would be life changing for him and his family.
Veronica Horgan
Age: 24
Address: Dunmanway, Cork
Weight: 16st 3lbs
Born in Mazara Del Vallo in Sicily, Veronica moved to Ireland with her Italian Mother, Irish father and two sisters at the age of 4. Veronica was always a bigger child, and her Sicilian grandfather used to call her ‘Sweetie’ in Italian, which directly translates to ‘little ball’. Her mother is a great cook and she even ran an Italian chipper here in Ireland.
When Veronica started school she didn’t speak any English, and she found it very difficult to make friends. She was bullied because of her weight and the fact that she was ‘foreign’. Veronica turned to food for comfort. After school Veronica went to UCC to study Commerce and Italian, however she couldn’t continue after 1st year due the financial strain it put on her parents. She now works for South Western BPO, and absolutely loves it there. This is also where she met her boyfriend Eoin. They’ve been together 10 months now and will be moving in together shortly.