I suffer from anxiety but working out has made things easier...
TV fitness regime helping Kayleigh’s mind and body
CELEBRITY Operation Transformation leader Kayleigh Cullinan has revealed working out is helping her conquer anxiety. The 21-year-old singer has been on a strict diet and exercise plan since the RTE weight loss programme began earlier this month. This week’s weigh-in revealed Kayleigh shed more than 5lbs in just seven days – the most of any of the celebrity leaders. She said the difference isn’t just on the scale, it’s also in the way she feels. The brunette was taught breathing exercises by fitness coach Karl Henry, which she is now using for exercise and when she’s feeling anxious. The former Voice Of Ireland star said: “I suffer quite badly with anxiety but I thought I was getting a wrap on it but then I’ve noticed when I’m working out it’s an awful lot easier. “When I first started working out, I had a tendency to panic a lot if I was getting sore or out of breath. “I think just being taught how to breathe in those types of situations has really helped.” The singer has also revealed how bullies targeted her while she was growing up due to her weight. Seven years ago Kayleigh, from Kimmage, South Dublin, lost her sight in one eye after being attacked by a gang of thugs. Tipping the scales at more than 20st at the start of Celebrity Operation Transformation, she is now working towards changing her lifestyle in order to lose weight. Speaking to RTE Entertainment, Kayleigh confessed she was shocked to hear how high her body mass index is. Kayleigh added: “Well, I actually hadn’t really heard of BMIS and stuff like that before. “Hearing my body fat was 45% was incredible to me. I just didn’t realise it had been that bad. “I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realise it was that bad. “That’s what I motivate myself off now, I really want to get that BMI down and I really want to get myself healthy and happy I suppose. “I’m happy with my weight, but more so happy with my help.” Kayleigh said she was delighted to be the leader with the biggest weight loss this week. She added: “It’s amazing. I was a little bit concerned going into the weigh-in just because I didn’t feel like I had lost a huge amount of weight so going in and being told I had lost 5.5lbs was ridiculous but I’m delighted. “I’m not really the competitive type so it was nice to lose most but I was very proud of the rest for losing what they did.”