Archive for the ‘Operation Transformation’ Category

Kilkenny Operation Transformation

Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Week Two
AOIBHLINN GALLAGH-ER
Week two in the Operation Transformation house. And all is well! Two colonics down, four to go, but, hey, who’s counting?
The past week has been infinitely easier than my detox weeks, Caroline now has me on an 80% alkaline foods, 20% acid foods diet. To give you an idea, meat, fish, eggs, oats and wheat products and alcohol fall into the acid category, whilst many vegetables, fruit and brown rice, nuts and seeds fall into the alkaline category. This means a lot more variety to my diet, which was a welcome relief. It’s not easy sticking to it 100%, I find I have to eat a bit of meat or an egg at lunchtime, so I’m doing maybe 70%-30%.
What I have also been asked to do is have a smoothie replace one meal a day, not any old smoothie, but one with fruit of your choice, a variety of seeds, lecithin, flax oil, fruit juice and either goats/soy milk or natural yoghurt. I have to say it is delicious, and very filling. I have it for breakfast and it easily keeps me going until lunchtime. Overall I don’t find myself in any way hungry, which is a great revelation to me, I don’t need to eat around the clock after all!
On the training front, Jillian has upped the ante this week, an I was a bit stiff and achy, but I survived. I’m now doing interval training on the bike and cross trainer, and circuits of squats, lunges, push ups, crunches, tricep dips and even the plank.
Never again will I be amused at a person struggling to hold the plank position, I know your pain! I do feel a lot fitter already though, and even though I’m tired and ‘glowing’ in the immediate aftermath of the training sessions, I feel great later.  The biggest bonus of the whole programme so far is, I’m now down 13lbs on my own scales and I’m down about 1½ inches each on my waist and hips, with 1 inch of my chest and ½ inch off each of my legs. I didn’t expect that much that quickly!
MARY CRUISE
With great gusto and loads of support from my husband, family and friends I have embarked vigorously on my new life.
This is the second week and I am now so focused that I don’t feel too deprived. While the detox diet was strict (no dairy, alcohol, sugar, salt, tea or coffee) I felt that it was the only way to go. No point in messing around doing a ‘bit’ of a diet every now and again!
Thankfully this week is different with a wider variety of foods available. I am becoming intrigued by food and its composition around acid and alkaline consistency.
My weekly training in the fitness centre in Castlecomer is going well. I thought that after the first session that I would be just dead and very sore but with Jillian’s support and encouragement I am finding the level of exercise that I now can do has increased. I have now started walking. I change my route most evenings not to get bored and I find that this works a treat.
Its now the end of week two and I have just had my first colon cleansing. I was really dreading it so much at first but with the benefits in mind I decided to be brave about it. It was not as bad as I had thought and but I did feel a little queasy afterwards. By the next morning I felt ok again.
My food focus has changed and I now (for now anyway) think differently about food. My ambition is to lose four stone by Christmas so with that in mind I intend to lose 1.5 pounds a week in the first six weeks.
I just love clothes and for that reason alone I will do it. I have a hectic social life and find it very hard to find clothes that are really nice. Most larger clothes I find are swingy and unstylish. This is all going to change. Its all about to happen!! In fact I was thinking of buying a really nice smaller rigout, leaving it hanging where I could see it daily and just imagine myself in it very soon!! Not a bad idea.

Kilkenny Operation Transformation

Thursday, April 29th, 2010
WEEK ONE

AOIBHLINN GALLAGHER

One week into ‘Operation Transformation’, so far, so good.
I actually started a bit earlier than a week ago, finding out that I won a place on March 31.  I spoke to Marese from the Ultimate Health Clinic the next day and she asked me to follow the detox diet as per their website.  ‘No probs’, says I, and had a look – it consisted of porridge (made on water) for breakfast, along with a kiwi or a slice or melon and some McCambridge brown bread.  Lunch was a bowl of veg soup, made from potatoes, carrots, parsnips and broccoli, while dinner was chicken or fish with vegetables and potatoes or brown rice.  I started it on April 2, it didn’t seem too severe, my only concern was that as I am still nursing my baby so I hoped it wouldn’t affect my supply, but Marese reassured me that it wouldn’t.  I also was to take some supplements – acidophilus, evening primrose oil, aloe vera juice and colon cleanse capsules.  I only managed to take the acidophilus and evening primrose, as I had to get the colon cleanse from the clinic and the aloe vera wasn’t compatible with feeding the Babs.
The first few days weren’t too bad, I had a headache – tea withdrawals I assume, and I was fine with feeding the baby.  I strayed a little off track on Easter Sunday – I had lamb for dinner, and a small piece of chocolate cake afterwards, but on Monday it was back on the straight and narrow.
Come Wednesday and I went to Castlecomer to meet Jillian, my personal trainer (how LA is that?!!) and Caroline, who runs Ultimate Health.  Jillian weighed me, took my vital statistics and  Caroline also weighed me and examined my tummy and said I needed to do the detox for a bit longer before starting the colonics.
Another week of detox – aaargh!!! Actually, it wasn’t too bad, nor was I particularly hungry, I was just finding it monotonous.  Anyway, I got through it.  I got started on my personal training. Jillian is great and encouraging and she worked me hard but had me wanting to work hard!  The training sessions flew, were very varied and I’ve already some stuff I didn’t think I was capable of yet.  As for the colonic, let’s just say it was one of the more unusual experiences of my life!  It was a bit uncomfortable and strange at times, not at all sore, and I have to say afterwards I did feel very good. Caroline made me feel very comfortable and helped me relax, then we chatted away as she proceeded with the treatment and it was over before I knew it.
So far on my own scales I’m down 9lbs, which I am really pleased with, I have a long way to go but, as my Dad says, ‘tús maith leath na h-oibre’!  Until next week!
MARY CRUISE
When I first heard from Ultimate Health in Limerick that I was one of two winners for Kilkenny’s own Operation Transformation I was just astounded. When news of my win spread to my circle of friends everybody’s reaction was the same – best thing ever.
I had tried every diet under the sun for many years. I am just great at the beginning but after a few weeks I succumb to a Chinese or whatever and bang goes the diet – yet again.
So with great guts and loads of support from my husband, family and friends, I embarked on my ‘new life’. Starting with a week’s detox – I was just so focused that I didn’t feel too deprived. While the detox diet is strict (no dairy, alcohol, sugar, salt, tea or coffee) I felt that it was the only way to go. No point in messing around doing a ‘bit’ of a diet every now and again.! This was serious stuff.
I did feel more tired at first (and I am never, ever tired) and felt headachy for the first week which is normal for detox. I then also started training in a fitness centre in Castlecomer. I thought that after the first session that I would be just dead and very sore but with Jillian’s support and encouragement I felt my way through the first week gingerly. I have now started walking which is something I never did. I change my route most evenings so I don’t get bored and I find that this works a treat.
At the end of week one. I had colon cleansing. I was dreading it so much at first but with the benefits in mind I decided to be brave about it. It was not as bad as I had thought and felt just fabulous afterwards.
My food focus has changed and I now think differently about food. My ambition is to lose four stone by Christmas, so with that in mind I intend to lose 1.5 stone in the first six weeks. I just love clothes and for that reason alone I will do it.
I have a hectic social life and find it very hard to find clothes that are really nice. Most larger clothes I find are swingy and unstylish. This is all going to change. Its all about to happen.
In fact I was thinking of buying a really nice smaller rig-out, leaving it hanging where I could see it daily and just imagine myself in it very soon. Not a bad idea!.

Week 5: Another step closer to their goals

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

WE ARE down to week five in the Ultimate Health/Limerick Chronicle Operation Transformation programme, and the two brave volunteers, Martin Costello and Mandy
Hogan, are truly waxing lyrical about the result of their intensive regime. Thanks to the support of Caroline and her staff in Ultimate Health, and fitness instructor Brian Kennedy, both volunteers are showing some amazing results, and are reporting renewed levels of energy and vigour. Martin has lost twelve pounds and is trying hard to make a
stone, while Mandy, with the help of her family and friends, has lost a whopping 15 pounds, and is absolutely delighted. Read on to hear how they got on last week, and
see the Limerick Chronicle next week for the final unveiling of their stunning transformation.

Martin

Twelve pounds down and I am trying hard to make it a stone. I had
my fifth colonic hydrotherapy this week and as usual the professionalism displayed by Caroline and her staff make it all really easy. The diet becomes easier with every passing week and I don’t even miss the Guinness at this stage. I had two trips to the gym this
week with Brian and I have really found him to be excellent at getting the most out of each session. He pushes you that little bit every time, and you really feel the benefits
when you are finished. To conclude this week still feeling absolutely brilliant and full of energy and what used to be an effort before, is now effortless.

Mandy

I cannot believe we have only one week left to the big reveal. We are on week five already! I don’t know where the weeks have gone. I can’t say it hasn’t been a tough five
weeks because it has, but it has been great and I have achieved so much. I don’t think I have ever fitted so much in, in such little time but it has been worth every minute of it.
The encouragement and the help from everyone, especially Caroline, Marese and Lisa in Ultimate Health has been overwhelming. I am not going to lose contact with them and
I will still be popping in and out to the girls for advice and will also be having more colonics done if and when I need them. Of course, I will be continuing to use my favourite the vibroplate as I mean to keep going with this programme even when the six weeks
are up. I’m hooked now and intend to reach my target. I didn’t do all this hard work for
six weeks just to go back to the old me - I intend to stay fit and healthy for the future. Another person i couldn’t have done this without is my own mother. When I told her about the programme at the start she said she would take my three year old son, Mark, whenever I needed her to look after him. I don’t think she realised that she would have him every day but she didn’t mind and she has been great. (Only one week left Mam, thanks!) This week we did a lot of weight training and working with the gym ball in the gym with Brian. I found it very hard to work with the gym ball at first, but with all the encouragement from him, I got the hang of it. It isn’t too bad really, once you get

used to it. I also had another colonic treatment with Caroline this week. This is another treatment i will definitely keep up. After next week I will only need to have one colonic done every 6 months. I am still working away on the vibroplate in Ultimate Health for 10 minutes a day. This machine is great for toning up your body and you can do it in sessions of 10. I find it has been of great benefit to me. The girls in Ultimate Health also
had an amazing treat in store for me this week. It was a facial and upper body massage which I had done in Lilly Pinks’ beauty salon on Shelbourne Road by a lady called Eleanor. It was simply amazing. It wasn’t just any old facial, it was called a HYDRADERMIE facial. It lasted for an hour and a half and I think it was the most relaxing thing I have ever experience. I went down for my appointment at 5pm on Tuesday and I was seen immediately on arrival, no waiting around. I was shown into a beautiful calming room with soft music playing in the background while Eleanor explained the procedure, before starting. It was a ‘guinot treatment’ for those of you that are familiar with that form of facial. It involved ionization which makes the treatment

more active. Your skin feels likes it’s glowing by the end of just one treatment. Drainage is then done as Eleanor expertly moves the roller balls over your face, which eases any tension. She also does muscle stimulation which exercises the muscles to regain volume and tone. She then does a modelling massage and massages from your shoulders, neck, face and then right up to the top of your head. After all this a mask is applied and left on while you relax for 15 minutes before being removed. At the end of the facial Eleanor applies an anti-aging serum which soothes the skin for a firming effect. Overall it was a wonderful experience with great results. I think every woman should treat herself every now and again to a HYDRADERMIE facial. I will definitely be going back to Lilly Pinks. And finally we came to weigh-in day. I am happy to say I am down another pound in weight this week, giving me a total of 15lbs in five weeks. Not bad at all, even if I do say so myself. I am so thrilled with my progress so far.

Week 4: Another step closer to their goals

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

IT’S week four of the Limerick Chronicle/Ultimate Health Operation Transformation and our two volunteers Martin Costello and Mandy Hogan, are really starting to feel the
benefits of their programmes, with each reporting renewed energy levels and weight loss.
This week trainer Brian Kennedy really put the pair through their toughest workout yet, but both Martin and Mandy say they are really beginning to enjoy the training. Both volunteers participated in the “liver flush” technique this week as well as repeat trips for colonic treatments with Marese in Ultimate Health, with both reporting that they felt great afterwards. Overall Martin has lost 12lbs, while Mandy has lost a full stone in just
four weeks.

Martin

Weighed in this week and have lost 12lbs so far, so I am delighted with the results. I did the liver flush this weekend I did not find it difficult to do and I really felt very good after it. I also had my fourth Colonic Hydrotherapy this week. I had my last visit with Ber Collins, who practices in Meridian Psychotherapy, and we discussed my goals and achieving self-discipline. I found my visits with Ber very helpful. Then it was off to Brian in the gym, who is really starting to push us that bit harder now, but I must say I am begining to enjoy it. Overall the whole experence has been very benefical so far, I have not felt so good or had as much energy in years.
Looking forward to Week 5

Mandy

It’s week four now and I have been working so hard to reach my goal. I have loads to tell you about this week. First of all myself and Martin had one of our toughest workouts this
week in my opinion. Brian, our trainer, is well able to give us that extra push when he knows we can do it. The photographer also arrived at the gym in Bunratty this week to

take some photos. It was a bit embarrassing as I know people were wondering why we were being photographed while we were doing a work-out, and when I was in the dressing room afterwards people asked me if I wouldn’t mind telling them what all the photos were about. I explained to them what we were doing and they wished me the best of luck. It was quite funny. I had another session with Ber Collins the EFT practitioner who did the tapping technique with me last week. I won’t be going back to Ber again as I felt it just wasn’t for me. I just feel that what works for one may not work for another. I am still doing the vibroplate in Ultimate Health every day for ten minutes, I am working out and doing plenty of walking. This weekend I did the liver flush. I surprised myself because when I first looked at the sheet I thought I would never be able to go through with it. This entailed drinking 1 litre of apple juice every day of this week, which i must say I really enjoyed. I had never tasted apple juice before and the sweetness was lovely as I hadn’t had anything sweet since i started the programme. But then came the hard part. I
couldn’t eat or drink anything from 2pm on Friday until lunchtime on Saturday. At 6pm Friday evening I had to drink epsom salts mixed with water and again at 8pm. I got over that, it wasn’t too bad. But come 10pm on Friday night, that was the hard part. I had to drink olive oil mixed with grapefruit juice and the pulp. It was hard to take this
but I the health benefits of it, so I struggled on. On awaking Saturday morning I drank my third dose of epsom salts and finally my last dose two hours later. It really does make
you feel great afterwards. Following the liver flush I had a colonic irrigation with Marese in Ultimate Health. The colonics are great to clean out your system. Myself and
Martin went to the gym again today for another intense workout with Brian today. The gym is lovely in Bunratty and the staff are very nice. I also met the girls from purple
rain hair salon in Croom who will making changes to my hair for the big reveal. Today was weigh-in day. I was down another 1lb in weight this week but I’m not too disheartened as the inches are coming off my waist as well. Overall, I am fitter and healthier than I was four weeks ago. To date I have lost 14 lbs, that is one stone of fat. My diet hasn’t changed from last week. I have so many people asking me how I make my homemade veg soup. A little secret, my friend Louise makes me a pot of it every few days.
The girls have a lot of new ventures for for me again this week so I will let you know all about them next week.

Work in Progress

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Bernie English catches up with our Clare Operation Transformation winners, Berni O Hare and Jessica Chaplin, to see how this fantastic prize has changed their lives - and their bodies!

Operation Transformation duo Bernie O Hare and her friend Jessica Chaplin found The Clare Peoples Operation Transformation tough at the start but now theyre reaping the benefits.
With exercise, diet, detox and beauty therapy all underway, Bernie has lost an amazing stone in three weeks, while Jessica is down almost one stone and has lost one and a half inches off her vital statistics.
It was hard settling into it at first but Im really delighted with the weight Ive lost. Every one of the team has been so helpful and so supportive that it makes me all the more determined to do it, says Berni.
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 Id passed all the tests but my weight was holding me back, she tells The Clare People. Im one stone down and another to go. Its been tough but Im getting into a routine now and Im halfway through so its fingers crossed that Ill make the target.
Jessica - already a member of the force - has also been finding the going tough in the last week as her job is not nine-to five. You have nights and travel and its difficult to fit in the exercise but having the help of all the professionals and having the focus of Operation Transformation really helps.
The Ultimate Health Clinic and Ozone Fitness have been advising the girls on their diet and fitness programs and the pals have also been having colonic irrigation treatment and liver flushes. Both say they feel marvellous after the colonics.
I had an amazing amount of energy afterwards, says Berni, an experience echoed by Jessica who said it made her feel much better.
In the gym, both ladies are having their cardio fitness programs ramped up and are working hard both on the equipment and in walking on other days.
And a real bonus for the pair have been the beauty treatments which they have enjoyed.
The diet is helping, certainly, but we had facials with Anne Leavy and a skin peel and my dry skin looks and feels so much better, says Berni.
One aspect of being in the limelight through The Clare People is that both women have found that everyone is urging them on.
People I dont even know have come up to me and said they saw me in the Operation Transformation story in the paper and theyre wishing me well. Everyone is being great. I couldnt let myself or them down.
Bernies long-term ambition is to get enough weight off to go back and take up her dream career as a garda.
She told The Clare People when she was picked for the challenge that she wants to look in the mirror and not see the Michelin man looking back at me.
Helping Bernie and Jessica to reach their target weight and new look and lifestyle are the Transformation team - the Ultimate Health Clinic and Caroline Danaher, Ozone Fitness and Ken O Malley, Anne Leavy Health & Beauty, with Anne Leavy, Monument Hair Salon, with Rosaleen Burns, JRÕs Hair Salon, with Gerry and Norma Jeans Claire.
In the coming three weeks, the girls will be honing their fitness and exercise as well as taking a long-term look at their eating habits and how they can re-educate their palates to eat in a healthy way that they can enjoy.
Bernie will be continuing to resist the temptation of unwrapping her beloved chocolate bars - although she allows that she only gets the odd longing now - and Jessica will be trying to structure her meals around her busy shift-work.
ÒWe just feel theyve both done incredibly well, said The Clare People Life Editor, Aoife O Driscoll. Its hard to imagine how much effort they put into losing almost two stone between them in just three weeks but the important thing is, it wasnt done with any fad diet, it was done with the help of extremely professional people who have tailored programs to suit the ladies individually.
We have every confidence that they will lose the pounds and the inches and we cant wait to see the total transformation.

Well be catching up with Berni and Jessica again in our March 30 issue, to see the final results of Clare Operation Transformation.

Bernie & Jessica, Our Clare Girls

Bernie & Jessica, Our Clare Girls

Operation Transformation Limerick-Meet Our Volunteers

Monday, March 15th, 2010

AND so it begins…After a huge response to our search for volunteers to take part in Operation Transformation Limerick, we have found our two participants - Mandy Hogan and Martin Costello. Mandy Hogan lives in Kilbranish Drive, Woodview and is the mother of five children, ranging in age from three up to fifteen. She is due to turn 40 this year and says her top priority is to lose some weight - “to look beautiful again”. “As the years have passed, my weight has crept up faster,” she says. “As they say, life begins at 40, so it’s my turn to look after me and transform my life.” She says she has started lenty of diets and other fitness programmes before but has had difficulty sticking with them. This time, however, she is confident that she will go the distance. “This is the push that I needed. The publicity side alone would make me do it.”

Our other volunteer is Martin Costello from Ballina. Martin, who is in his early fifties, says he too wants to lose some weight - “I wouldn’t mind losing a stone,” he says. Martin admits to never having been in a gym in his life, his main source of exercise being the occasional game of golf. The idea of taking part in Operation Transformation was born - like so many thers - in a pub late one evening but Martin is determined to stick with the six-week plan. Apart from the sessions in the gym, he is expecting the most challenging part to be the abstention from alcohol. “I would say not having the few pints would be the hardest. I enjoy the couple of pints in the pub of a Friday night,” he says.

Over the next six week, Mandy and Martin will work with the team in Ultimate Health to transform their health and lifestyles through their unique health, fitness and detox programme. This will include a detox programme, colonic hydrotherapy, abdominal massage, a nutritional programme and beauty treatment. They will also have twice-weekly personal training sessions with fitness instructor Brian Kennedy who will work on improving their general fitness and help them shed those unwanted pounds.

We will check in with our two volunteers during the programme to see how they are getting on and at the end of the six weeks we have the BIG REVEAL, where we will unveil the new look Mandy and Martin. “We’re all excited - we can’t wait to begin,” says Mandy.

Meet Team Clare Operation Transformation

Monday, March 15th, 2010

090210-cp-045

WHEN Berni O’Hare got through the tough apptitude test to join the Garda Siochána and fulfill her lifelong ambition to join the force, she was over the moon. But minutes later, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her as she was told she was too fat to wear the blue uniform.

“I was absolutely humiliated. I’d passed the aptitude test, I passed the medical but then I stood on the scales and she [the doctor] just came straight out with it. She said ‘You’re obese - you won’t be accepted until you lose five stone’.” With her dreams in shreds, Berni left the testing centre. A lesser woman would have slunk away and tucked into an oversized bar or chocolate but instead, Berni vowed to fight back.

“I was stunned, to have got so far and then to be stopped because of my weight. I told my friend what had happened and she said the best thing she could have said: ‘Berni - if it’s what you really want then you’ll work until you get it’.” So when she saw The Clare People Operation Transformation competition, Berni knew she had a way to solve her problem, get fit, lose weight and have another crack at fulfilling her dream to be a guard. The Ballynacally woman is five feet six inches tall and weighs 18 stone, taking a size 22 in clothes.

Working on her transformation with her will be the Ultimate Heath Clinic in the Quin Road Business Park, Ozone Health and Fitness and Anne Leavy Health and Beauty, along with The Monument Hair Salon, JR’s Hair Salon and Norma Jean Boutique. Berni, who has a 10-year-old son, Lee, had previously managed to lose a massive three stone by changing her diet, getting up at 6am and walking four miles before going to work and walking another hour each evening.

“It was fantastic, I had so much energy and I was able to buy clothes in a smaller size. But that was in the summer and once the winter set in, it got too cold to go walking and I got lazy. So the pounds started to pile on again.” Berni - like lots of people who battle the bulge - has tried numerous fad diets and ‘quick fix’ methods, but none worked. And, as a trained chef, her current profession - working in the kitchens in St Joseph’s in Ennis - doesn’t help her to keep the weight down.From the sack-loads of entries which  came in from people eager to take part, Berni’s letter stood out. “We could see she wanted this so badly and everyone felt so bad for her when we read her letter telling what happened to her at the test to join the Garda. Her  determination shone out. We just had to select her,” said The Clare People Life editor, Aoife O’Driscoll.

In her letter to The Clare People, Berni said, “I’d love to be able to look into a mirror and not see the Michelin man  looking back at me because that’s exactly how I feel when I look in the mirror. I also hate being referred to as the fat one. Whether I’m successful or not in your competition, I’m determined to lose the five stone that I have to lose and go back and apply for the job that I was told I was too fat for. My self-esteem and self-confidence is at an all-time low because on the inside I’m thin and fat on the outside. “My eating habits are the pits. I’m a devil for chocolate and fast food and skipping breakfast. Friends and family would describe me as being bubbly but secretly I’m fighting my battle with my weight which makes me hate myself.

As a parent, I personally feel I  should be setting an example for my son that healthy eating and exercise is the way to go.” Joining her in the six-week challenge, which is being supported by the expertise of the Ozone team, is her pal Jessica Chaplin, who is already a member of the force but who wants to shed some weight having gone from being sylph-like to weighing in at 11 stone at five foot four inches tall. “She wants to get rid of the weight that has gone on because she was doing shift work and eating away to her heart’s content. It’s just put on weight for her that she doesn’t want and she’s being fabulous in coming on board with me.” The team will be adopting an holistic approach,  addressing every issue from diet to fitness and body image.

The ladies will have twice weekly personal training sessions with the Ozone trainers while the Ulitimate Health Clinic will be organising a detox programme with their special colonic irrigation treatments, abdominal massage and nutrition programmes, all in the relaxed and comfortable setting of their health suites. At the end of their six weeks, the ladies will be treated to a spectacular makeover to highlight their achievements. “I know I can do this. I’ve never refused a challenge and I’m not going to back away from this one. I want to be a role model for other people and I will achieve my dream,” Berni told The Clare People.

New Year Transformation - Week 1

Monday, April 20th, 2009

In the first of six installments over the next six weeks we hear firsthand about one Limerick girl’s transformation with the help of the Ultimate Health Clinic and in association with personal trainer Dave Sheahan.

Meet our candidate: Edelle O’Brien.
Edelle is probably your average 31 year old. She loves to live life and enjoys the finer things: pints, wine, cigarettes and tayto sandwiches! Last year she made the first steps to a healthier lifestyle by joining a women’s rugby team and now she’s more eager than ever to get her life on a healthier track for once and for all.
“Hi, my name is Edelle O’Brien, I am a Caherdavin girl, born and reared in Limerick. I work in Goldmine Jewellers on Catherine Street. I started playing rugby for Young Munster last August and I’m loving it. Since August obviously I have been getting much fitter but found myself eating more because I could tell myself “sur’, I’ll run it off on Friday at training”. I like to go out at the weekends, smoke many cigarettes and drink many pints! So, as you can see, I’m your fairly typical girl. I know I should be looking after myself better but I’m young and like to enjoy myself. Or so I thought.
“You see, while trying fad diets and sporadic periods of ‘being good’ I have done some damage to my insides. I suffer from chronic heartburn from a yeast intolerance (I blame tayto sandwiches) and bad digestive problems. Hence I was put in touch with the Ultimate Health Clinic who I knew dealt with digestive problems and skin problems but mostly colonic irrigations. Imagine, I thought, staring with a completely clean slate shall we say…
“I met Lisa and Caroline at the UHC on a Thursday. Can I just say the clinic is immaculate the girls are so friendly and easy to talk to, nothing is taboo and yet so professional. I knew straight away I was going to be in good hands. I have to explain one thing at this point, when I went to meet the girls I was off the cigarettes two weeks (it is January – you have to try) and I had the cold from hell. They had no sympathy for me. They were right. To get the best results they gave me a detox diet. Just to write it like that seems so easy, it wasn’t, it was hard (which is why I had wine, taytos and a wispa the night before starting!). The detox diet consists of porridge for my breakfast, soup for my lunch and because I’m not a fish person I ate mostly chicken with potatoes (thank god) and vegetables, doesn’t sound too bad? I forgot to mention NO salt NO dairy NO sugar NO tea or coffee for five to seven days! Now I hope you’re reading this sitting down because with this diet alone, which as you can tell didn’t kill me, I lost nine pounds!!!!!
“I have to admit I cried a little when they told me. I didn’t lose that much in two months at other weight loss classes. Most importantly, bland and all as the diet was, I wasn’t hungry and had no heartburn or other problems. Also, I was on a bacterial supplement, a good bacteria called acidophilus, which makes your skin glow its amazing.
“Now for the best bit‚ the colonic! Don’t worry, I’m not going to be graphic, I’ll just say that it was nowhere near as bad as I expected it to be. A moment’s discomfort and 45 minutes that fly by. Caroline is a professional and makes you feel relaxed and at ease. I expected it to be painful but it wasn’t at all, there was just a little pressure on my tummy and back, and just when you think it’s becoming too much, it’s all over. The energy you have afterwards is awesome. Just to feel that good after a week – what will I be like after all of them? That’s right, I’ll be back next week with more. Including my first meeting with local fitness expert Dave Sheahan as this is “Operation Transformation” -Limerick style!”

 

Week 2

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Last week we met our candidate Edelle O’Brien from Caherdavin who was on a big detox rejuvenation from the inside out with the Ultimate Health Clinic. This week she also started her tough training regime with personal trainer Dave Sheahan…
 
“Hello again everybody. This week I have to tell you about the world of Dave Sheehan’s Gym. You may have guessed from last week’s excerpt on my transformation that, besides rugby, I don’t do much exercise. I personally HATE the gym. I think they smell, they are full of ‘skinny malinkies’ and staff that I always felt judged me. Dave’s gym is very different. Every shape of person is here, from every age group, and they have very helpful staff. SERIOUSLY! I met Dave after work on the Tuesday and brought with me a list of the foods I used to eat – mostly made of taytos funnily enough and of course the list of my new food intake. Dave himself is a very charismatic, knowledgeable guy and most importantly he really makes you feel that anything is possible – you just know you’re in good hands! He weighed me, took measurements and checked body fat with some kind of pinchy thing. Dave asked me what I wanted to achieve and I said that ‘I want to play rugby for the next few years and obviously try and change my shape to a smaller less roundy one’, he nodded at me as if this is no problem and, guess what, I totally believe him. Then we go straight to the dreaded treadmill.
 
“I am not naturally drawn to the treadmill but as Dave says, it’s not like I’m going to be rowing or cycling on the pitch! I do some fast walking to jogging to running… You cannot care what you look like at this point, and all the while Dave is beside me encouraging me and in control of speeds etc. From the treadmill we move on to weights which I’m not too bad at – good to know seeing as I’m a prop! (my position on the field for any non-rugby following readers) I will be visiting the gym now every week for four days. Two with Dave and two with just me and the lovely treadmill! When I write it like that it doesn’t sound so bad – and hey, I’m doing it!! So far Dave is really nice and encouraging. The gym itself is clean, everyone is really friendly, genuine and helpful (especially to the silly girl who couldn’t start the treadmill on her own …stop laughing… it was embarrassing!)
 
“The good and the bad news now in food land. This week I was allowed more food yippee!! Or so I thought. I replaced one of my meals (lunch was the easiest) with a smoothie. I was to have 80 per cent from alkaline foods such as more veggies, skim milk, much more fruit (except bananas) and seeds. Then other 20 per cent then was from a list of acid foods like red meat and some fish for example are considered acidic but at least I could have more flavours, spices and garlic! You may notice I used the word ‘seeds’, just a little word, they themselves are only small, but they should come with a big calorie warning sign! I shall explain: I did not lose an ounce this week, and it was all because of seeds! On my list seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower, sesame etc. are mentioned so as I am such a good girl I was having them on everything. Sesame seeds on my porridg, a handful of sunflower, sesame, pumpkin and linseed in my smoothies, and loads more in my salads for the week thinking I was awesome! Guess what? It was possibly the worst thing I could have done. Let’s say I’m allowed 1500 calories a day, the seeds I was eating are worth around 1800 in total! Add them all together and it makes a lot of calories – and makes me not very bright!! When I told Caroline and Lisa at the UHC they found it very amusing, and when they eventually stopped laughing and we decided to go again with the list of foods. Two to three carbohydrates a day and I am still going to replace a meal with a smoothie and eat mostly fresh veg and fruit.
 
“This week, after all that, I was in for a little TLC however. I had a deep abdominal massage which sounds like it should hurt a little but I have to say it doesn’t at all. It is intense but not uncomfortable. It lasts about 30-45 minutes and it is all based on your tummy, hence its name. The relaxation feeling afterwards alone is worth it – mix that with your tummy being flatter and the massage could become addictive. I am now also on digestive enzymes which will actually help with my day-to-day digestion. As usual the girls are supportive, especially after the amusement at my seeds story! Now you may laugh… Talk to you next week when I have to leave the comfort of my own kitchen…”

Week 3

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Our candidate Edelle O’Brien from Caherdavin is three weeks into her six week transformation, on the inside and out, with the Ultimate Health Clinic and personal trainer Dave Sheahan…
 
Hello everybody! Well I am three weeks into this and still alive, still off the cigarettes and still not hungry. This week I managed not to eat my own body weight in seeds, which as I learned from last week is a good thing. Also I have created one of the healthiest puppies in Limerick. Lucie is up early in the morning and also has her porridge with me and eats pineapples, kiwi skins, apple skins and my smoothies. If Dave Sheehan would let her into the gym I reckon she would run on a treadmill too.
I had a work trip to Birmingham’s NEC to visit a trade show this week. The boss and I left on Sunday afternoon. I had my porridge before I left thank God! We were very busy that afternoon and didn’t even get a chance to eat. That evening after checking into our hotel we decided to go and get something to eat. The menu looked and sounded gorgeous – for someone NOT restricted to chicken, fish and vegetables. So I decided to have a quarter roast chicken with potatoes and vegetables. The potatoes on offer were dauphinoise (garlic and cream) potatoes or chips. Guess what I had? The chips of course, and you know, it wasn’t worth it. The chicken had been micro-nuked and the chips were burned so that was a bit crap. I know I sound like I’m whinging but I had to sit across from my mother who was eating a beautiful steak and chips and more. Torture! The next day wasn’t too bad, breakfast was fruit and a cereal and for lunch we found a kosher restaurant with lovely soup and rye bread. That night I found a restaurant that was like a steakhouse. I managed to find chicken and baby potatoes with salad. I did give into the temptation and tasted some spare ribs of my mothers and a piece of lamb skewer and felt like death the next day so I suffered for my need for red meat! There is a reason why I’m not supposed to eat any yet and I had to find out the hard way. I was down a few pounds when I went back to Caroline at the Ultimate Health Clinic but when you leave the comforts of your own kitchen things can get hard. My eating won’t be as strict and as severe forever but while I’m getting the results it won’t kill me. I had a lovely abdominal massage again and another colonic with a bit more pressure this week as it was a much deeper treatment but still honestly there’s nothing to it and I mean that. It is uncomfortable like I said for about two seconds and then it’s all over. This week I have a tip though, it is one that I heard before from one of those skinny malinkies: CHEW YOUR FOOD you really do fill up faster. I have spent all these years inhaling my food and we can all see where that got me. Caroline says your food should be liquid leaving your mouth – it sounds gross but makes sense. By the end of the week I felt great again after it all.
Now I’m not technically afraid of exercise – I mean I used to be an outdoor pursuits instructor, but the training for that was in winter with ice and snow in wetsuits, though at least it had regular enough hours… Let me explain, Dave Sheahan continued this week with my interval training on the treadmill and the weights.  I did notice however that the machines and weights are faster, heavier and more of it. My senses tell me that the first week he may have been easy on me, lulling me into a false sense of security, and NOW it’s time for lots of red face and sweating… When I got home off the plane I went straight into Dave. I did tell him I wasn’t feeling well and he had a little sympathy for me, as in he slowed down the treadmill twice! I really do appreciate his work on me though because guess what – in the airport my jeans fell down! A sure sign he’s doing something good! The second day I was with him was an eye opener, it was a different planet from my previous visit. Firstly it was a cold Friday morning at 6am. I mean really 6AM! I wasn’t the only one there though, there was a few of us. I was feeling a bit better, well when I went in I was, and because I had had the colonic the evening before I had a bit more energy. The amount of people that were there when I was leaving was amazing.  Quite a lot of people were taking a spinning class at that time –  it makes sense if you are going to make a commitment to go to the gym, why not get it out of the way early in the morning? I have found that after I go, I am full of energy and vitality. Later that evening I went to rugby training and we had to do suicide sprints, which I didn’t have to stand out of or vomit over which in my rugby career is a massive change! It is getting slightly easier. I can’t wait to play a match and see does it make a huge difference. With the exercise I definitely feel more toned and clothes are fitting me better. I do think having someone there encouraging me all the time helps especially as I am not a gym person or “gym bunny” I think it’s called, you never know maybe I will be after this…