Alans excitement ahead of rt weight loss series

The countdown is almost over for a Westmeath man who will be one of the stars of a new series of Operation Transformation on RTÉ One.

Alan Mullen (21) from Rosemount is one of five leaders in the new series of the weight loss show, which returns on Wednesday and Thursday, January 7 and 8.

Speaking recently, Alan, who will be the show’s youngest male leader to date, said he was looking forward to the experience.

“I’m feeling determined now. I can’t wait for everything to get started,” said the Moate Business College student, who weighs 26 stone and smokes 40 cigarettes a day.

Operation Transformation host Kathryn Thomas paid a surprise visit to Alan’s home in late November to tell him he had been selected as one of the leaders in this, the eighth series of the show.

Alan said his involvement was something many people had been chatting to him about over Christmas. “People have been saying, 'if you’re giving up the fags then I’ll give up the fags too – whatever you’re doing I’m going to try and do as well’. So that support has been fantastic and the more help we get the better it is.”

In early December, he and the other leaders travelled to Dublin City University for fitness tests.

“That was tough. I hadn’t trained in three or four years so it hit me a bit harder because of that. But at least now I know where I am starting from,” he said.

The new series of the show will be broadcast over eight “hectic” weeks and will include the staging of a nationwide Operation Transformation walk in Moate.

“They have normally staged the nationwide walk in Mullingar or in the Shamrock Lodge in Athlone but this time we’re going to be doing it in Moate on January 17. Everyone will be invited to take part,” said Alan.
He added that there will be several other events over the course of the series, including a 'know your numbers’ day when he will be going into shopping centres and asking people to get their cholesterol checked.

The new series of Operation Transformation will begin on Wednesday and Thursday next, January 7 and 8, at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.