Operation Transformation leader Chris McElligott spoke to Ray D'Arcy on RTÉ Radio 1 today about his first date with his partner in over a year and reveals his weight-loss this week. Listen back to the show here!
We're heading into week four of the show but within one week of starting his Operation Transformation plan, Chris McElligott had lost an impressive 10.5lbs and despite unexpected set backs due to his prosthetic leg, this OpTrans leader has shown no signs of slowing down.
At this week’s weigh-in, it was revealed that Chris had lost a further 3lbs, bringing his total weight-loss up to 1 stone 4.5lbs. This afternoon, the football coach joined Ray D’Arcy in studio to chat about his progress.
“I think the most difficult part of it for me is having to work twice as hard as everybody else because I’m an amputee. Not only am I an amputee, as anybody who’s an amputee will tell you, it’s much harder to work as an above knee amputee than it is as a below knee amputee. But excuses aside I’ve really enjoyed every bit of it so the fact that I’m working twice as hard as everybody else does take its toll on my body.”
As we all know, Operation Transformation is about much more than just weight loss plan, it's a chance for people to change their whole lifestyle and for Chris that meant adding a little romance to his life. In this week's show, Chris went on his first date with partner Elizabeth in over a year.
The Dublin-based leader told Ray that his relationship with Elizabeth was the secret to his success.
“I would not be where I am today without Elizabeth being behind me and pushing me as much as she does. I would not have as much free time to do Operation Transformation if I didn’t have Elizabeth taking care of the kids, the house, stuff like that. So as much as it is for me, this is also for her and the kids as well. For me, that’s what gives me the drive to push on and do as well as I’m doing. I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t have her."
Dr Ciara Kelly told Ray that week four is often the toughest week for leaders as the novelty of promoting the show wears off and the reality of their new exercise and vegetable filled schedule sinks in.
"I definitely think the middle bit is where people start to lose focus, lose energy a little bit and start to go ‘okay if I’m going to do well now I’m going to have to really did deep’. It’s harder now than it was in the beginning or it will be at the end.”
However, Chris' competitive nature and Elizabeth's support are clearly paying off as he pushes himself through week four with a personal test of will power.
“I actually purposefully left sweets hanging around... to test myself. And I’ve purposefully left crisps lying around because I want to be able to have that temptation and be able to say ‘no I’m not going to do it.’
Operation Transformation airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8.30pm on RTÉ One. Follow Chris McElliogtt's OT plan here!
