Brenda Donohue:
Brenda told the RTÉ Guide that she has had some issues adjusting to her Operation Transformation plan but dieting isn't one of them. The radio broadcaster's breakfast includes meals such as one slice of brown bread, a coffee and a single boiled egg. “That’s more than I normally have,” says Brenda with a laugh. However she does admit that not all of the recipes are too her liking.
"I have lots of issues with those menus as they’re not very practical for the working mammy. I think Aoife (Hearne) and I are going to come to blows! Hahaha!”
Despite her issues with some of the meals, Brenda is determined to stick to the OpTrans plan for her health. “I turned 50 earlier this summer and I felt that my joints and ankles and knees simply couldn’t take the weight that I had put on,” she says.
The presenter hopes that the show will prove that her weight has nothing to do with who she is as a person. “What annoys me is the way people might describe me as ‘bubbly Brenda’ and they associate your personality with being overweight whereas I know that if I was size zero I’d be the exact same person.”
Katherine Lynch:
Comedian Katherine Lynch told the RTÉ Guide that she needed the motivation of an audience to get into a heather lifestyle.
“I’m doing it because I need to get healthier and this is a great opportunity for a show-off like me to have the nation watching. I don’t think I could do anything on my own: I always like to have a bit of an audience.”
Katherine says that for her Operation Transformation journey is about improving her level of health. “My cholesterol is slightly high and my BMI falls into the obese category,” she says. “But so does Brian O’Driscoll’s!” The comic went on to tell the RTÉ Guide that there should be no stigma or shame attached to weight loss.
“I’m very proud of myself and I hate the whole idea of anybody thinking that they are fat or have body shape issues. It should be about your health.”
Karl Spain:
Comedian Karl Spain told the RTÉ Guide that while he could motivate himself into good exercise routines in the past, his diet was never healthy.“I drank way too much Coca Cola and other fizzy drinks,” he says.
“I have gone on different diets at different times. My best period was when I’d go to the gym five or six times a week but my problem was that even when I exercised very regularly I wasn’t managing my diet as well.”
Karl said he's found great support from friends and fellow comedian Bernard O’Shea has even promised to follow his five week OT plan. “Of course they are also having a bit of craic with me, usually eating a chocolate bar quite suggestively while standing next to me.”
The funny man says that he is hoping to improve his health with his new OT lifestyle.
Also Type 2 diabetes is reversible so maybe if I lose sufficient weight I won’t need the medication anymore. And when this series ends I’ll know how to cook a whole different selection of meals. When I go to the shop I’ll know where to find the brown rice.
Elaine Crowley:
The Midday producer and presenter told the RTÉ Guide that cooking is not her greatest talent.
“Food is a bit of a challenge to me, trying to cook everything – I’m not very good at it, in fact I’m a bloody disaster. I literally can’t even boil an egg.”
Elaine says that while her diet was sometimes off kilter, her fitness levels have always been relatively high. However, illness and a busy lifestyle has knocked this celebrity leader back and she's hoping Operation Transformation will be the boost she needs to create a healthier lifestyle.
“I have tried to keep myself as fit as possible but since April I was unwell and it’s amazing how quickly your fitness level goes. I am doing the show because I need to get my fitness sorted, I’ve no routine or structure with my food. I’d rarely eat before dinner-time and then what I do eat isn’t great.”
Gerald Kean:
This man about town sat down with the RTÉ Guide to explain how his lifestyle lead to him eating out for almost all of his meals.
“My days are very consistent, I get into the office about 6.30am, about 9am I go out for breakfast with a few of the solicitors, I’ll have bacon, egg and toast. Then I go for lunch and I’d have foie gras to start with and steak with French fries. Then in the afternoon I’d have a cigar and in the evening I’ll go for dinner or to a function which involves more food and some wine. I would do that every day, it’s horrendous.”
When asked if her was nervous about donning the Operation Transformation lycra shorts, the solicitor said:
I don’t know what the big deal is about them. I look at myself every day in the mirror and I’m horrified at how I’ve let myself go. When people go on holidays, do they not put on swimming togs?
Read the full interview with the Celebrity OpTrans leaders in the RTÉ Guide, on sale now!
