This week we’ve increased the intensity on the training programmes for both Pam and Mike. In her Boot camp classes, Pam has developed good upper body strength, which will benefit her when she goes swim training, as well as raising her metabolism to help burn more body fat. In this week’s class there was a greater emphasis on leg-strengthening exercises including squats and lunges, which will have Pam walking with some difficulty for a couple of days!

Mike is also making great progress and is supplementing his gym work with weight-training sessions at home. In his case we’ve had to increase the size of the dumbbells he’s lifting on bodyweight exercises like squats and step-ups. This is to compensate for the fact that he’s now considerably lighter compared to when he started the programme. In order for Mike and Pam’s programmes to achieve the desired results, there has to be continuous improvement on every session.

Another week of hell…went into Caroline to be thorn strips off for adjusting my diet/detox slightly…. big mistake…. food substitution is not allowed so guess what… gesus I’m back on the same bloody detox thingy again for week two. So read last weeks food and drugs list and go with the same EXCEPT for the odd can of diet coke and the odd bit of red meat. Take it from me changing a lifestyle is not easy, especially one built up over many years of “nice foods”.
This is my first weekend still on the detox. How I miss my power walk to my local”Duggans” along the road of death for some powerlifting exercises of a few pints. Or sitting at home with oh she who must be obeyed sipping a nice glass of wine watching a movie. All changed, changed utterly a terrible beauty has been unleashed.

Right he we go on the exercise plan.

Sunday, Instead of the walk to the pub we walked the prom in Lahinch and no drink.
Monday, Went for a 45-minute walk on Monday morning before the kids got up, should have seen the look on their faces. Monday evening out to Willys Gym for another hour of exercise.
Tuesday, Mixed up the message from Willy and arrived at his Gym at 7am for another session. I should have stayed in bed and arrived at 5pm like he told me. Anyway the circuit was tough but I got it done in the hour. Barely able to walk back to the van I was so glad it had power steering as my arms didn’t have much strength left in them to turn the wheel.
Wednesday, Got up early again and went for a soft walk for about 40 min, home shower and kids out to school. Felt tired today, not bursting with energy, work was quiet, what’s new about that. Had dinner at lunchtime and a bowl of veg soup (homemade) this evening. Off to Willys Gym again for another hour of pain and suffering…beginning to think Willy was a member of Hitler’s SS youth brigade as he’s killing us…or maybe its only me as everyone else is still able to walk afterwards. Boy did I enjoy the shower when I got home.
Thursday, more rabbit food and more of Caroline’s Ultimate Health Drugs and birdseeds. More of the same menu as last week. Its not that there is anything wrong with it, it’s just so restrictive its soul destroying. If she puts me back on this again next week I’m off to bloody Enzo’s or the like in protest.
Friday, Off to the Gym again for another workout before visiting the Wicked Witch of the East in Limerick. After last week I new I wouldn’t feel like doing much exercise after the treatment, actually for a few days after to be honest. Not that there is anything wrong but personally I don’t feel like straining myself with a weights session. Others I’m told are jumping’ ’round the garden afterwards.
Saturday, Survived yesterday, even got our pictures taken for the paper and a bit of a write up. Wooah, not looking forward to all the slagging next Tuesday when this hits the news stands. All well the cause is good…. me not getting a heart attack because of all this weight. Oh, and I was right, I don’t feel like exercise today, I feel like a Duvet Day today like my eldest would come out with sometimes, Ah well off to work, hope today is busy as time flies when it is. Thankfully, she put me on the Diet proper this week. But I think I’ve bored you enough at this stage so I ‘ll hold the details and my success or failure till next week.
Just in case your wondering have I lost any weight at this stage, well I had a weighing too and lets just say since I started I’ve lost more than 20 lbs to date.
Off we go into the abyss of week three and the novelty of the idea is beginning to ware off now, from now on its just the hard slog of losing weight, its alot easier putting it on than it is getting it off.

Mike and Pam have started on their training programmes with great enthusiasm. Their programmes are a combination of aerobic work and weight training, based on their current levels of strength and fitness. As they get stronger, fitter and leaner, the training will become more challenging to ensure that they continue to make progress towards their goals.

Pam is doing 2 classes per week at Boot camp Class, as well as training twice with her swimming club. Mike is also taking part in 2 Boot camp classes and also following his own weight training and interval programme at Body & Mind Fitness.

“It’s a whole new life.” That’s how Operation Transformation heroine Berni O’Hare describes how she feels at two and a half stone lighter. In less than seven weeks, with the

aid of a team of highly professional helpers, Berni and her friend, Jessica Chaplin, have lost three and a half stone between them. Berni has lost two and a half stone – half a stone above her target – and says she is “absolutely delighted. The support and the encouragement have been fantastic, particularly from my personal trainer, Laura Bennis of Ozone Fitness, and from Caroline, Marese and Lisa at the Ultimate Health Clinic. They really kept me motivated.” Berni applied for Operation Transformation after being turned down for a career in the Garda on the basis of her weight. At five feet six inches tall and 18 stone, the Ballynacally mother of one was told she needed to lose five stone if she was ever going to be admitted to the force. “I was gutted – this was my dream and I’d passed all the tests but my weight was holding me back,” she told The Clare People. Her pal, Jessica, who is already a garda, came on board because she had put on a few pounds and wanted to get back to her ideal weight. Having shed three stone previously, Berni had fallen back into bad habits and needed help to get fighting fit

and lose the pounds. Personal trainer Laura worked with Berni every day and laid out a surefire but tough fitness programme for her. “She has been absolutely amazing. She came here five days a week for at least an hour and one day last week, she came in twice. She’s really put the work in and to have lost two and a half stone in seven weeks is a
major achievement.” Laura had Berni working mainly on cardio programmes, including the rowing machine, the treadmill on a ‘hill climb’ programme and the cross trainer.

She closely monitored exercise programmes and made sure that fitness levels were building all the time. “I had Berni running the other day – she told me in the beginning that she thought she would never be able to do that,” said Laura. Berni is flabbergasted that she can now run. “I’d never have believed it – I used to see people jogging and think ‘I’d love to do that’. Now maybe soon I can.” Berni is so impressed with the results that Laura has helped her achieve that she is signing up to keep training with her. “Both the girls worked hard. Jessica had to work around shift work but she got there. It just shows what can be done with support and determination.” Jessica is also delighted with the

results. Having lost a stone and looking toned and fit, she told The Clare People, “I feel so much better. It really did help to have this programme to motivate me and the training and the treatments have me feeling great.” The treatments the girls had were courtesy of the Ultimate Health Clinic and included a course of colonic irrigation treatments, a liver flush and dietary advice which has changed the way the two eat. Congratulating Bernie and Jessica on their achievements, Caroline said that Berni’s previous diet was a challenge. “She had to make a lot of changes but the right advice coupled with the treatments have made a huge difference to her. Both diet and treatments have complemented each other. Now they’re both eating healthily and enjoying their food and if they keep that up, they’ll really do well.” Berni admits that she and Caroline have “had a row or two about chocolate bars but she’s very good. She didn’t let me slacken off and really helped keep me focused.” On Friday, the girls went for their final treats with Anne Leavy, who has been working on a programme of facials and peels with them. Anne
did their make-up and gave them advice on skincare and beauty routines into the future.
At Monument Hair Salon, the pair were turned out with new cuts and colour and, to round off the transformation, they were dressed at Norma Jean’s and given a whole new look. Both girls were delighted with the difference that the skincare routine had made. Jessica said, “I really like the clothes – it’s very different to anything I would have chosen

for myself.” Berni, meanwhile, was delighted with her crowning glory: “I love it – I never thought to go dark before,” she said. But one of the best parts for Berni is the admiration of her young son. “He kept looking at me in the car – he says I’m his new mammy.” Bernie plans to apply for her dream job with the gardaí as soon as they open up recruitment again and, this time, she feels she has every chance of getting in. “In the meantime, I’ll try for the recruits. But this has made such a difference to my life. I feel like a different person, with so much more energy. It’s been really amazing and I want to thank everyone who helped me with this.” Ozone fitness are currently running
their own body transformation programme which challenges participants to put the work in for eight weeks and have a healthy, toned body and glowing hair and
skin just in time for summer