Operation Transformation 2013

It's that time of year again - RTÉ is looking for new leaders for Operation Transformation 2013. If you're interested, you can apply here.

I think at the beginning of this blog I admitted to really liking shows such as OT. For me, Operation Transformation has the right idea for a weight-loss show - it is not a competition, but a mutually beneficial experience. So, what exactly is it and how does it work?

The Idea

Operation Transformation is ultimately a health and fitness show, but one with a twist - it endeavours to get the whole country involved. It is broadcast weekly on RTÉ 1 with regular updates on the John Murray Show on Radio 1. There is also an easy-to-follow website as well as a mobile phone app.

How it Works

People who are overweight and\ or have continuous trouble losing weight are asked to apply to become "leaders" on the show. A leader represents a particular section of society, i.e. last year's show featured a woman in her thirties who wanted to give up smoking, but not gain weight as often happens. An initial list is drawn up, then short-listed and, finally, five men or women are chosen to lead the country to its annual transformation live on the radio. 

Once chosen, the leaders are guided by three experts:

• Karl Henry - a personal trainer
• Dr. Eddie Murphy - a clinical psychologist
• Dr. Eva Orsmond - a medical doctor and weight loss expert

The experts guide the leaders through a change to their diets, exercise regimes and lifestyles in general.Often the changes are unremarkable, but effective and often they are very difficult. Leaders often have life-long habits that are, obviously, hard to break. For instance, a contestant the year before last was a busy mother and business owner who skipped breakfast and munched on pastries and cakes at her bakery throughout the day.

The show usually lasts eight weeks and an episode often focuses on a leader who is having a specific difficulty or problem, and how that person is guided on. Each week the leaders take part in an army challenge. This is by far my favourite element of the show. I would love to partake in one of the challenges; they look tough, but I imagine you would feel great afterwards! The challenges not only test physical fitness, they also test mental strength and how the five leaders work together as a team to get through.

Anything Else?

The show has a great website on which you can choose the leader you most relate to, i.e. the smoker mentioned earlier, the young woman who overeats out of boredom, the middle-aged man who has "no time" to eat healthily, etc. and then follow that person. You can monitor his/ her progress, and what exercise regime and diet are followed. You can also log all of your own details and follow your own success as well as get lots of nice recipes and other ideas to live a healthier lifestyle. The mobile phone app offers similar services.

The show also organises walks around the country in conjunction with the John Murray Show and the public are encouraged to participate. The overall message is to just get moving! Change some of your habits and you can make a big difference to your overall health and well-being. The show has, in the past couple of years, culminated in a 5km run. It is amazing to see these five previously extremely overweight contestants actually RUN for 5km straight. I have done the run before and it was a great day out - very well organised and a fantastic way to feel part of the whole experience having watched the show and had your 'favourite' leader, or your favourite episode.

I would recommend to anyone who can give the time to the show to do so. It seems to have a very high success rate with many leaders going on to participate in triathlons, run marathons and all sorts of other activities they would never have dreamt of beforehand. If you can't see yourself on television, but know you have to do something about your weight, you can follow it now. You don't have to wait until the show begins in January; the website is there all the time and all the information is there for you. Don't wait until the new year - do it now!

Who would you like to see on it this year? What type of overweight person hasn't been represented? My inkling is that it will feature someone with Type 2 diabetes. We'll have to wait and see I guess! :)

Has anybody watched the show and taken advise from it? Or has anyone followed the routine and lost weight? I would love to hear from you if you have - thanks!