Trinity Operation Transformation Leaders
Kate Malone: Staff Leader
After years of procrastinating and slowly getting bigger, I decided to become a leader for TOT to help motivate me to stay on track with a healthier lifestyle and weight loss programme.
I have tried to lose weight on countless occasions. I generally start off well, full of motivation and enthusiasm. However, after a couple of weeks of diligent exercising and cutting calories, I can’t understand why I am not suddenly a size 8! The motivation goes, a social occasion comes up, I go off the rails and before I know it, I’m back to where I started.
Sports Centre Mentor: Mark McGauran, meet on Wednesdays
Final Update
In total I am down 10 pounds and am down a jeans size! Delighted with my progress though it is a far way off my original goal for the programme.
I am committed to continuing healthy living, exercising, eating well and cutting out the alcohol (though maybe not to the same extent as I have been!), and am committed to keeping up the programme as much as I can until June and beyond. For me it is about permanent life style changes.
The last three weeks have been really busy in work and in addition my husband has been away for a good chunk of February. So it has been really difficult to fit exercise in. I have only managed to meet Mark once in the last three weeks (sorry Mark) due to time constraints and last minute meetings.
I haven't managed to get to acupuncture either (though I think it is helping). On the plus side though, my kids are all fed and healthy, so at least I had time for that!
Thanks to the TOT team, especially Mark and Martina for their support and keeping me on track (I did fall off the wagon once or twice). For me the struggle will be to keep the motivation going until the summer....not to mention finding time for exercise.
Goal Week 5
Need to fit more exercise in this week.
Progress Week 4
Lost 2lbs this week. Didn't manage to get to gym. Hubby away. Away next week too. Time an issue. Met mark on wed. Good session. Delighted to be down 2 considering lack of exercise.
Goal Week 4
Back on track this week I hope. My husband is away a lot over the next few weeks, so, I am trying to keep everything going and it is difficult to get the time to fit everything in, but I have discovered youtube exercise videos with the three kids are a bit if craic, though push ups with a child on your back are difficult!
Progress Week 3
Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet Mark this week as I had some unexpected issues to deal with. I didn’t have a great week – not much exercise and broke the TOT pledge!
Goal Week 3
My aim for next week is to listen to my mentor Mark put more protein into my diet!! I am eating healthy, but having discussed my diet with Mark , we think I am not putting enough protein in my diet (Mark has been saying this to me from day 1, but I haven’t listened. I am obsessed with keeping calories to the absolute minimum. Time for change).
Breakfast is usually just a nutribullet fruit concoction, lunch is usually fat free homemade veg soup of some sort with crackers and a bit of low fat hummus and dinner is usually lean meats with salad. I tend to have salads made up in the fridge to make things easier in the evenings. I eat lots of leafy greens and am currently really enjoying lentil salad and home made guacamole (see my recipes ) as they have lovely robust flavours and are really filling.
In one of my demotivated moments this week, I decided to start acupuncture (for lots of reasons, one of which is to try to help with weight loss). I had a really good chat with the therapist who has advised to try to stick to ‘warming foods’ as per the teachings of Chinese medicine, which I will incorporate into my diet along with more protein. I have had one acupuncture session to date and aim to continue sessions throughout TOT. I will keep you updated!
Progress Week 2
I managed to get to the gym and pool a fair bit this week. My weight seemed fluctuate a lot this week which was really demotivating at times - I need to stop getting on the scales every morning! Overall, I am down 2lbs and am happy.
Goal Week 2
I had my session with my trainer Mark on Wednesday which went well. We started resistance training which was tough, but really enjoyed it. Mark suggested that I try to mix things up a bit more with my exercise. To try to get to the gym, or swim rather than walk and I may (hopefully) have better results next week. I am really motivated to get to the gym as often as I can this week - much as I was last week, but time went against me! Hopefully I will manage a few sessions this week.
Progress Week 1
Weight loss: 2lbs
I had a great meeting with Mark this week. He did some BMI measurements and some hormone mapping that I hope will help me see changes in my physiology even if I'm not losing weight. I have stayed off alcohol and am happy with my progress.
I did not manage to get to gym at all. I had great intentions and blocked out time in my diary, brought my gear in every day, but, meetings ran over, or issues came up that needed immediate attention, meaning gym time went out the window. Going to the gym after work is not really an option as I am usually racing home to see the kids before bed time, and, my husband works a lot of evenings, so, I need to be home in time to let him get to work.
I did however give up Dublin bus for the week. I walked a 3km walk to work every morning and 5.3 km route home in the evenings. I also did a 6km walk on Saturday and Sunday. I do tend to walk fast, so, I feel that I get a good cardio work out when I am walking.
I did well with food. I have been juicing in the mornings (usually a spinach and fruit concoction with a tablespoon of mixed seeds thrown in), I have been having my own no fat veggie soups for lunch with crackers and low fat hummus, and dinner generally consists of chicken, fish or lean steak with various salads (lentil salads, home made guacamole, green salads etc). I have not really felt hungry. I am filling up on low GI foods. I did ‘break out’ on one occasion and have two squares of dark chocolate – wow!
No alcohol again this week.
So, all of the effort this week has resulted in a weight loss of 2 and a quarter pounds. I feel a bit disappointed. For the effort I put in, I think I should have lost more. I am hoping that I will catch up next week.
Goal Week 1 (Tues 12th- Tues 19th Jan)
To do at least a 45 minute workout every day. Even if I can't go to the gym I will walk to or from work. To continue not to drink alcohol and to reduce my portion sizes.
Long Term Goal
- to exercise more and find ways to fit it into my daily life
- not to drink alcohol for the full 8 weeks
- to reduce my daily calorie intake
- to stay on track for 8 weeks and not lose motivation
With the help of the Trinity team, I hope to stick to my goals for the full programme and not only lose weight, but also promote a lifestyle change for me that will have lasting and sustainable effects
Benefits of Being Healthier (Recorded Week 1)
- I will have more energy for playing with my children
- I will feel better about myself
- To be able to wear some of the clothes in my wardrobe that I don't wear at the moment because they're a bit tight
Barriers to Being Healthier (Recorded Week 1)
- I am a mother of three children aged 8, 4 and 3. I have a busy job and a busy home life.
- I have tried to lose weight on countless occasions. I generally start off well, full of motivation and enthusiasm. However, after a couple of weeks of diligent exercising and cutting calories, I can’t understand why I am not suddenly a size 8! The motivation goes, a social occasion comes up, I go off the rails and before I know it, I’m back to where I started.
- There's a three week phase during TOT when I will be responsible for much more of the parenting than normal. Time will be even more of a barrier then.