Latest news with #OperationTransformation
Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Dr Eva Orsmond: ‘Irish women need to look after their bodies and stop putting their kids before their health'
Orsmond, who was on the panel of experts on the now-defunct Operation Transformation, also said she went on her first diet at the age of 11 and makes no apologies for it. The diabetes specialist, who runs clinics in Dublin and Galway, is known for her acerbic tongue and unapologetic straight-talking, and said she is 'frustrated' by Irish women. 'I often ask my Irish clients who the most important person in their lives is? They might say, 'Oh, my husband' or 'My children' and that is nonsense,' she said. 'It shouldn't be like that – that is the wrong answer. It should be yourself. There is nothing wrong with liking yourself – how could you like someone else if you don't like yourself? 'And really it should be your partner and not your children, because children should come afterwards. I really believe that. 'There is nothing wrong with liking yourself, because how could you like someone else if you don't like yourself?' The Finland-born doctor said she started dieting as a schoolgirl, on the advice of her mother, and has no regrets. 'I like being slim because it is good for me and to be honest, I am quite vain. I was on my first diet with my mother when I was 11 to lose a few kilos, so dieting is in my DNA,' she said. 'I cannot complain about my childhood because I didn't have so much, but the best thing I would say that my mother gave me was respect for my body and looking after myself. 'I'm very vain, I like to look as best as I can. That doesn't mean that I go to the gym with make-up on or look great all the time, but I like to fit into nice clothes'. Orsmond is the first guest on the second series of the Under the Grill podcast, with celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and co-host Caoimhe Young. In each episode, a well-known Irish personality chooses a dish from their childhood and Dundon cooks it up in his kitchen, setting the scene for some warm conversation. Orsmond, who has two grown-up sons, worked in her homeland, as well as in Bangladesh and Namibia, before moving to Ireland in her mid-30s and making Dublin her home. She said she has great admiration for Irish people and the Irish 'mentality'. Orsmond said she hopes to meet a 'nice Irish man' and loves being in the public eye and being recognised when she is out and about. Irish people are so polite 'Ireland has only brought goodness to me. Irish people are so polite,' she said. 'I think it's once in the last 25 years that somebody has approached me on the road and said something negative. It's actually very nice for somebody like me who is an immigrant. When I came here I didn't know anyone. Nobody. Not one person. 'It's nice because it makes it obviously so homely and there is this thing, you know, when you go to shops and people talk to you. 'There as a lady in Dunnes Stores the other day and she was presenting, you know, some food demonstration and she started to talk to me like we knew each other.' Under the Grill is on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I was on RTE's OT but I've lost 27lbs in weeks with €235 jabs and still eat burgers and pizza, it's changed my life
FROM appearing on Operation Transformation at 27 stone to trying brutal low-calorie diets, Mark Fearon has struggled with his weight for the past 15 years. But the 6 Mark appeared on Operation Transformation 15 years ago 6 Mark is happier than ever since dropping the pounds 6 Mark can still enjoy pizza and a drink Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has been growing in popularity in Ireland over the last few months. By activating GIP and GLP-1 receptors, Mounjaro slows down the emptying of the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer and reducing appetite. And Mark, from Stepaside, told how while his weight has "crept" up over the years, he's starting to see real results with the drug. Now weighing 19 stone, 47-year-old told the Irish Sun: "Ever since then I have been trying to lose 10 stone and I have gotten the weight down but never the 10. "The weight kept creeping back and ever since then I decided I had to do something about it. "Weight loss is obviously one of the main side effects of Mounjaro, as I lost 27lbs in just six weeks. "I've lost weight quickly before but this is different, I'm actually eating loads of calories. "I am having around 2,500 calories a day so I am not starving myself." Mark, who appeared on hit He said: "When I tried to lose weight before, I would eat very few calories, but this resulted in me having very little energy. I went from 27 lbs in six weeks with Mounjaro after 15 years of trying to lose weight it has completely changed my life "So this time I am actually eating enough calories to keep active, so I am actually in the gym all the time. "For the first time losing weight, I am actually feeling great doing it, I'm not feeling deprived. "I'd eat well during the week and then at the weekends I'd love takeaways. "Pizza and burgers being the favourite but there isn't much I wouldn't enjoy eating. "It's amazing, but the urges for these foods are just gone being on Mounjaro. "Without Mounjaro I'd be saying, 'Well I had a burger so there's no point eating well for the rest of the day' and would throw in ice cream and chocolate. Now I eat without any urges of a binge. "In the past six weeks I have eaten out a few times where I had a pizza and a burger but the difference is that I had them and that satisfied me." Speaking about the side effects, he said: "I get heartburn a bit more but I just pop two Rennies and it's gone. "Obviously, there is the risk of stopping taking it and putting the weight back on but is that not the case with every single diet?" 'BIG DIFFERENCE' And Mark hit back at the haters calling it the "lazy way out" as he revealed he has so much energy that he does not even watch television anymore. He said: "I'm up at 5am every morning before work so I can go to the gym and this is while I'm losing serious amounts of weight. "The big difference with Mounjaro is I am still able to eat, but I eat what I need, no more, as the desire to overeat is gone. "I have so much energy now and it has made me so active that I don't even watch TV anymore, as when I sit down all I want to do is get up and be active." When asked on the financial aspects of the weight loss jab, Mark said he was "just swapping one thing he spent money on for another" in relation to takeaways, dinners and drinks. He said: "I'd spend easily €50 per week on takeaways, plus throw in tubs of Ben and Jerry's. "Mounjaro costs me €250 per month from the North. This includes the monthly consultation, the Mounjaro and the tracked delivery to my home. "The greatest thing about the price is that no matter the higher dosage you go on, the cost stays the same. "And that cost is easily what I spent on food I didn't need to eat and no longer do on Mounjaro." Mark said he has full support from his doctor, adding: "I do get my Mounjaro from the North but my GP is fully aware of it and is also very supportive of me being on it." SUPPORT SYSTEM Mark has been sharing his weight loss journey for more than 15 years on Facebook, Instagram and more recently on TikTok. He said: "I get a lot of private messages from people asking questions especially about Mounjaro. "Some people want to do it, but really do not want anyone to know." WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LOSS JABS? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections include: Nausea : This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting : Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea : Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation : Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort : Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite : This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion : Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Pancreatitis : In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems : There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors : There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems : Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) : Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. But Mark has no shame or secrecy when it comes to his journey and said his family have been "very supportive of him". He said: "I have been trying for 15 years to get my weight to a place I'd be happy with. "I set myself a target of losing 10 stone, then I've never accomplished it, I'm now 19st 13lbs and I've lost 27lbs in six weeks on Mounjaro. "I know I will get to my goal of that 10 stone down now with the help of Mounjaro. "My friends and family know how important that is to me, and they are very supportive of me being on Mounjaro." The latest weight loss drug was only approved for use in Ireland in early 2025, being licenced for use as a treatment for both type 2 diabetes and obesity. And Mark is not the only Irish person seeing big health changes since trying the fat jab. EATING 'ADDICTION' Irish mum Sandra Keogh spent hundreds of euros every month on Doritos as her The former weight loss consultant, 37, said she needed to urgently make a change but had already tried all of the usual routes. She said: "I felt unable to find the will to care what I was shoving in my mouth. "It was compounded by the fact that I knew what I should be doing I just felt useless. I had to try something else." But she had a light bulb moment one day after sitting down to watch a bit of reality TV. The "So after a while when I heard about availability here, I went and spoke to my doctor because I haven't had diabetes but I just needed something. "I knew what had to be done, but I didn't have the willpower or the motivation to do anything. "I started Ozempic in November 2023 after the doctor thought it was a great idea. "I was on it until February this year and when I heard Mounjaro was coming in, I was eager to swap because I had lost 33 pounds on Ozempic and I kind of had stalled. "When I heard that Mounjaro was going to be approved for weight loss here in Ireland, I thought, 'Right, I'm going to try and get it'. "I started taking it on the 25th of March and I began losing weight again." 6 Mounjaro was Mark's last resort to help him lose the weight 6 He documents his journey on his TikTok account 6 Mark is also working hard at the gym
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Kathryn Thomas: ‘People just assume that when you're on the TV, you're loaded. I want to be able to provide for my family the way my parents did for me'
Kathryn Thomas: 'People just assume that when you're on the TV, you're loaded. I want to be able to provide for my family the way my parents did for me' The Q102 broadcaster on life on the airwaves, her No Frontiers days and being carried off stage at the Iftas Kathryn Thomas. Photo: Marc O'Sullivan Aoife Rooney Today at 03:30 Kathryn Thomas is a broadcaster and television presenter from Co Carlow. She previously hosted Operation Transformation and travel show No Frontiers while working at RTÉ. She now hosts a radio show on Dublin's Q102. She lives in Dublin with her husband Padraig, their daughters Ellie and Grace, and two dogs.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kathryn Thomas admits she 'sleeps better' since landing her own radio show
TV and radio host Kathryn Thomas has said she "sleeps better" since she landed her own radio show. The former Operation Transformation star now presents her own breakfast radio show on Dublin's Q102 called The Morning Show with Kathryn Thomas, which runs from 7am-10am daily. And despite the gruelling 5am starts, the Co Carlow native said her new routine makes her sleep much better at night. She said: "Things are amazing. Loving the job. I'm just back from Santorini. "I hadn't been sleeping great for the last year. And, you know, lots of different things going on. And then when you get into a routine of which I've never had before. "So I've gotten to 46 years of age, and I've never had a job where I have to be somewhere Monday to Friday, right? And I was like, 'oh, routine won't suit me'. And then I had this chat with Dermot (Whelan) on his podcast, and he was like, 'routine suits everybody, you know?' "I'm in bed at 9pm, and I'm asleep by 10pm, so I'm actually up at 5.20am, so I'm sleeping better now. "I'm sleeping more than I would have for the last couple of years. I'm actually feeling more energetic than I have done so I'm delighted. "I don't know whether it's kind of also the job, you know. So maybe that will wear off after six months." Kathryn previously told us that landing her morning radio show comes down to timing. She said at the time: "It comes down to timing. I mean there was no way when I was doing Operation Transformation and the schedule that consumed that I would be able to do a daily breakfast radio show. "I always filled in in the it was never breakfast radio. My focus was there at Radio 1 and focussing on covering for them. "My big priority was TV but then when I really thought about it, I knew my time in Operation Transformation was done and I knew if I didn't close one door, another one wouldn't open. "As a mom, things can come in on top of you in terms of trying to parent and trying to work and trying to keep all the balls in the air without sitting down and saying 'what do I want'. "If you asked me would I do breakfast radio when I had no children, I would've said 'not on your nelly'," she said laughing at the time. "But the opportunity came up and this was the right time to start something new."
The Irish Sun
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘My hormones died down and I was fine' says Kathryn Thomas as she reveals hubby's response to her wanting third child
KATHRYN Thomas has admitted to wanting a third child but her "hormones died down" after her husband's response. The Carlow native and her husband Padraig McLoughlin, who tied the knot in 2019 at Kilkea Castle, Kilkenny, have two daughters; Ellie, seven, and Grace, three. Advertisement 4 Kathryn Thomas spoke to The Irish Sun at the Platinum VIP Style Awards Credit: Brian McEvoy 4 Kathryn and her husband got married in 2019 Credit: Social Media Collect 4 Kathryn has two daughters Credit: Social Media Collect Ellie is going into second class this September and her youngest will be completing her last year of preschool. And when asked if she's getting notions about having another child, Kathryn told The Irish Sun: "No... the shop is closed!" However, she admitted that she briefly thought about it around two years ago. Advertisement read more on kathryn thomas She explained: "My sister had a baby, Lily, she's two now. But I remember going in to see her in the Coombe. "Grace was one. I had said to my gynaecologist, 'No, done, shop is closed', and my doctor said, 'I've heard of women like you before'. "Anyway, I went in to see my sister in the Coombe, held the baby, gave her back, ran outside, rang my husband, was like, 'Do you want another baby?', and he was like, 'Not on your f***ing life'." Kathryn laughing added: "So that was the end of that conversation. And very quickly I kind of was like... the hormone release died down, I was fine." Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Exclusive The 46-year-old has been of new listeners with on Q102 since early February. Kathryn is on air from Monday to Friday at 7am to 10am. Kathryn Thomas shares 'fabulous' clip from family holiday It's the first time she's had a 'normal' routine and Kathryn has said feeling better than ever. The former Operation Transformation host said: "I'm loving the job. When you get to this point on a Friday, I feel the tiredness of the week. I feel that I'm in a better routine. Advertisement "I hadn't been sleeping great for the last year with lots of different things going on and then when you get into a routine, which I've never had before. 'I'M DELIGHTED' "I've gotten to 46 years of age and I've never had a job where I have to be somewhere Monday to Friday. And I was like, 'Oh, routine won't suit me'. And then I had this chat with Dermot Whelan on his podcast and he was like, 'Routine suits everybody'. "I put the kids to bed at half eight, I'm in bed at nine and I'm asleep by ten. I'm actually then up at twenty past five. "So I'm sleeping better now and sleeping more than I would have for the last couple of years. Advertisement "Now also my kids are coming out like Grace is three, so we're kind of coming out of the hard phase as well. "But I'm actually feeling more energetic than I have done in, I can't remember when. So I'm delighted." 4 Kathryn got the itch to have another baby after seeing her sister's newborn Credit: Instagram
