The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
PJ set to take a plunge for homeless with fundraising parachute jump
CHANGING your lifestyle and eating habits is no easy task, but PJ O’Sullivan has completely transformed his life in order to help the homeless.
PJ, who runs Aunty Nellie’s sweet shop in Killarney, has managed to lose three stone since last October in order to undertake a sky-dive for Focus Ireland.
He now has two more stone to go before he can complete his mission and jump out of a plane.
Last October PJ weighed in at 18 stone 1 pound and he is now 14 stone 11 pounds. He has gone from a 38 inch waist size to a 32 inch waist.
However, in order to do the sky-dive he can’t weigh more than 12.5 stone so by the June Bank Holiday weekend – the date of his scheduled jump he must have lost another two stone and four pounds.
Since last October he has been getting help from co-worker and nutritionist Brendan Ashe and from Scott O’Mahony of Sculpt fitness to transform his life with a healthy diet and more exercise.
“I have lost three stone. It has been fantastic. People are coming into the shop and they see the difference,” says PJ who is from Gneeveguilla.
“Now I have to lose another two stone to do the skydive so the pressure is on. The bottom line is I don’t want to let the charity down.”
“I am stopping putting food into my mouth to help others. I am not doing something easy. I am putting my money where my mouth is and all eyes are on me.”
PJ says that having the support of Brendan and Scott has helped him lose the weight but the key is exercise.
He has been going to the gym at least four times a week and doing at least 40 minutes exercise at home as well.
Since he began his weight loss he has learned a lot about food and the amount of calories in specific foods like pizza and crisps and this has helped him start to make healthier choices.