Operation Transformation viewers saw two of the show's experts, Dr Ciara Kelly and dietician Aoife Hearne, in tears on Wednesday night's episode as leader Clare Scanlan continued her weight loss and efforts to enjoy life again.
Clare lost her 15-year-old son Darra to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and has been using the show's food and fitness plan as she tries to find a new way forward for herself and her family.
On Wednesday's episode on RTÉ One Clare and husband Tom attended their son Liam's football match, with a pep talk from mum on the sidelines when Liam's spirits flagged.
"There is definitely a lightness about how I am feeling now compared to what I was feeling at the beginning," said Clare.
"Maybe this is the first little step in teaching myself, 'You know what, Clare? You actually can go forward and you can have a little bit of happiness and you can still take Darra with you'."
Emotions were high when Clare later achieved her weight loss target of 2lbs.
"It strikes me that, and this is the most important part of your transformation to me, you are allowing yourself be happy," said Dr Ciara Kelly.
Dr Ciara Kelly - "You made me want to be a better mother"
"In your home, with the kids, with Tom, the dancing - all of it. I could see you were happy without that questioning yourself, 'Was it okay to be happy?' There was a moment where you were on the sidelines with Liam and he was up against a better team and you spoke to him in such a way, you made me want to be a better mother. You actually are really inspiring."
Aoife Hearne, who was also in tears, added: "I blame this on being pregnant, now. I think that those words that you said to Liam are how you have approached the show. You have had a good attitude and a good heart and you have given it your best and that is all we can ask from anyone."
Aoife Hearne - Moved by Clare's progress
After saying that he was considering leaving Operation Transformation because of his frustration at missing his weight loss targets, and what he felt was "negativity" from the show's experts, there was good news for leader John Conmy on Wednesday night. After two weeks of missed targets, John lost 8lbs - five more than expected.
A really good week for John
"That's more like it," said Dr Ciara Kelly. "That's what we wanted for you and that's what we knew you could do. You have lost 25 pounds [since the new series began]. That's huge - it's really big - and I can actually see it when you walk out.
"Your health is turning around to become the health that a 47-year-old man's health should be. You were old before your time, John, in terms of energy, in terms of mobility, in terms of the health problems you have. We are clawing that back now."
"That's what it is all about, isn't it?" said John. "That's what the hard work has been all about. What a relief, just to get over that line. Just, the feeling when she said it, it goes to the bottom of your toes."
