“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