Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

2016 OT leader, Lucy Dillon, 24, from Clonmellon, Co Meath.

Operation Transformation diary 'I can actually go into clothes shops now and buy clothes I want to wear'

Lucy Dillon was an Operation Transformation leader last year. She’ll be writing her weightloss diary for us over the coming weeks and motivating us to stay on track.

Hello everyone

Welcome to my first weekly blog for the Journal.ie. Some of you may remember me as one of last year’s Operation Transformation leaders. My name is Lucy Dillon and I’ll be writing about my experience following last year’s OT plan.

Before we go into how this week went following the plan, I will fill you all in on how the last year has gone for me.

My weightloss journey so far

This time last year I was weighing in at 16 stone 13.5 pounds. That’s only half a pound short of 17 stone. I am 24. I was horrified with the result and couldn’t imagine a future any different as I knew it was going to be hard work.

I have made so many positive changes to my life since last January. My lifestyle has completely turned around for the better. I look back and think where would I be today if I hadn’t applied for the show. I definitely wouldn’t be here sharing my success and happiness with you all.

Being on the show gave me the motivation to keep going and when it finished in February I was determined to keep going. I have now lost two stone and eight pounds in total and I’m down three dress sizes (from size 20 to 14).

I can actually go into clothes shops now and buy clothes I want to wear rather than just what fits me. I am living life to the full and feel amazing.

Exercise and food

Ricotta & Tomato Frittata A typical dinner for Lucy nowadays might be this tomato and ricotta frittata.

When I finished on the show 121 Fitness Navan sponsored me to continue my fitness journey and drop more weight. I work out three times per week. They push me to the max and I weigh in once a week.  I exercise regularly: walking, jogging and playing GAA football with Gaeil Colmcille in Kells.

One of my favourite parts of the day is planning my meals and sharing recipes with all of my followers on social media. You can follow my Facebook blog @Love Lucy x and Snapchat @lucydillon1. I have over 7,000 followers at the moment and I update my meals, recipes and exercise routine every day to help keep myself and others motivated.

Our daughter Molly is now two years old and I would like to think I am being a good role model for her. I grew up overweight and I don’t want the same for her. Myself and Conor always try to fit in a family walk on a Sunday – it’s great for her.

New job

Since I finished on the show I started a new job. I am working with Meath Local Sports Partnership. Our vision is to get “more people, more active, more often” in Meath. At the moment I am working closely with communities helping them become more active through walking.

There are 14 community groups in Meath planning weekly walks in their local areas to coincide with Operation Transformation for the next 8 weeks.

10k Ambassador

Family walks Lucy enjoying family walks.

I went from couch to 10k in the short space of a few months after the show. I was the proud ambassador for the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon in June and the Cook Medical Women’s Mini Marathon Limerick in October.

From not being able to jog for over two minutes this time last year to being the ambassador for both of these events was such a huge achievement for me. Exercise has become my medication for feeling GREAT.

Week 1 weigh in – 08/01/2017

Everyone dreads the scales after Christmas but the best thing to do is get straight on plan and go for it. I printed off the recipes from the OT website and got my food shopping done.

Week one following the OT plan and I am down 5 pounds, leaving me at 14 stone 6 pounds. BOOM. Roll on next week’s weigh in.

Advice for people following this year’s show

  • You are your only motivation – nobody else will do it for you. You have to make a commitment to yourself to change. It’s never too late.
  • Clear your cupboards from foods you know won’t help with your weightloss.
  • Plan your meals and exercise for a few days ahead and do your food shopping so that you can be well prepared.
  • Once you start to feel better and see results, you won’t want to turn back.
  • The OT plan is very simple to follow and it’s free. You can download the recipes, weekly shopping lists and exercise plan.

Enjoy week two of the plan.

Love Lucy x

You can follow Lucy Dillon’s Facebook blog @Love Lucy x and on Snapchat @lucydillon1. Operation Transformation airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.

The diet is dead: ‘Many of us spend far too long feeling unhappy with our bodies’>

“Operation Transformation is not the end of my journey – it’s just the start”>

banner-image-voices-25

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 14 comments
Close
14 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian
    Favourite brian
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 6:57 AM

    Well done

    148
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Doyle
    Favourite Adam Doyle
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 8:52 AM

    I think its good to have stories like this some people need a story like this to keep em on track. I made it to the final 18 for operation transformation this year and am on my own journey and stories like this are good to read so stop being a begrudger and lighten up.

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maria Kissane
    Favourite Maria Kissane
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 7:36 AM

    And this is news why??? Another New Year , another Operation Transformation,another weight loss story .
    Good for the writer …..but so what ?

    We get this every year …..same old same old . TV, newspapers, radio ads all November and December about food , stuff yourself for Christmas, Christmas dinner tables groaning with food , tins of roses only €4 (hurry hurry while stocks last)…….then the inevitable New Year purge ….lost a stone in a month, diet books, DVDs , interviews and half of Ireland tramping around the country in neon pink and yellow on dark January nights !!

    Media driven marketing before Christmas ……….media driven marketing after Christmas . Are we sheep that need to be told when to stuff ourselves and when to go on Operation Transformation programmes to lose it all a month later ?? (courtesy of RTÉ of course )

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Hickey
    Favourite Shane Hickey
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 8:09 AM

    I hope you win the spa break cos you are wound up like a Swiss watch. Deep breath ams calm the f%$@ down

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Owens
    Favourite Jason Owens
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 8:11 AM

    Nobody likes a begrudger…

    52
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Friel
    Favourite Paul Friel
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 8:13 AM

    @Maria Kissane: It’s not news, it’s a blog. If you don’t like it, don’t click on it.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Owens
    Favourite Jason Owens
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 8:15 AM

    @Maria Kissane: nobody likes a begrudger…

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Edge
    Favourite The Edge
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 9:02 AM

    @Maria Kissane: Maria its the second week of January, usually the time of year when people try to lose weight. Story is a good motivator for people

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maria Kissane
    Favourite Maria Kissane
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 1:40 PM

    @Shane Hickey: me too Shane :-)

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Max Johnson Powers
    Favourite Max Johnson Powers
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 4:39 PM

    You’re some misery Maria

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot McLoughlin
    Favourite Dermot McLoughlin
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 7:54 AM

    Well done Lucy keep up the good work.

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maria Kissane
    Favourite Maria Kissane
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 1:40 PM

    I’m not a begrudger . I suppose I just get tired of the predictable cycle of the Christmas thing in this country . Same stories, same shows, same conversations ….. Year in year out. Eat your head off in December , lose weight in January with Operation Transformation …..and all the emotional background stories . . It’s an old formula and it’s tired .

    I’m fit active and a very healthy weight . Any Christmas Day weight was quickly lost with the winter vomiting bug all last week! It’s not begrudgery, it’s the boring predictability I’m against . Sorry guys !

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Blue MARIGOLD
    Favourite Blue MARIGOLD
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 6:53 PM

    Maria Kissane… I agree with u but I find the cycle absolutely infuriating and a complete headmelter. Add that abomination Kathryn Thomas into the mix and it becomes almost intolerable

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jlocoroco
    Favourite Jlocoroco
    Report
    Jan 11th 2017, 11:41 PM

    Gender isn’t a social construct

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds