Dr Eddie Murphy
Op-Trans updates
The second weigh-in on this year’s OT was so eventful. e whole impetus of the show is to help people achieve weight loss in a healthy sustainable way, rather than the rapid weight loss pushed on shows such as e Biggest Loser, where it’s very likely that the contestants regain their weight when the show is nished. e Leaders seem to be enjoying the limelight, appearing on e Late Late Show to tell their stories.
Lorraine
Starting weight: 12st 5lbs, Lost 0 lbs This was a rst: no leader has ever got to week 2 with zero weight loss. Karl Henry reviewed Loraine’s Fitbit data and could see that she wasn’t working hard enough in her sessions. No e ort = No reward! Lorraine was abbergasted. I know that Lorraine is a ghter and as our lightest leader, she will be working harder to make her target next week. Lorraine also didn’t eat some of the snacks: Aoife Hearne is very clear the snacks are part of the plan she has devised.
Shane
Starting weight 20st 7lbs, lost 17lbs From one extreme to another: losing 17lbs in such a short time risks causing metabolic damage. In the past, Shane lost similar amounts on crash diets that he then put back on. As we looked into Shane’s week, some issues emerged, particularly Shane’s aversion to vegetables and fruit. He associates his aversion to particular foods with time spent in hospital as a teenager. Aoife and I are going to explore this to see if we can encourage Shane to expand his repertoire of food. He still has a punishing work-life schedule; so much so that I am unsure when Shane gets his rest. The data from his Fitbit (you can’t get away from us this year!) shows he sleeps an average of 5 hours 20 mins. That’s sleep deprivation territory. If I was on that schedule, I would be tense, tetchy and exhausted. There is strong evidence connecting obesity and sleep deprivation. Think about it: where is the energy to achieve permanent lifestyle change?
Barry
Starting weight: 29st 4lbs, lost 14lbs Barry lost 14lbs this week, but given his 16 stone 12 lbs of muscle, it was to be predicted; muscle is metabolically more active than fat and therefore consumes more calories to maintain. Barry and his wife Andrea – the rst OT couple – are working hard as a team. Having the support of someone is critical; if you are going to engage in exercise, then get a training partner. Without my training partners, Jean and Mary, I would rarely get out and exercise. Barry was also able to stop vaping, a great start to improving his lung health. There is some concerns regarding a non-alcoholic fatty liver – Barry doesn’t drink – and Dr Sumi Dunne is looking into this. While we see that Barry is a smiling, high- ving kind of guy, like us all, he hits lows too. I have asked Barry to keep an eye on this so I can intervene early if required.
Andrea
Starting weight: 21st 2lbs, lost 12lbs Another great start. Focused, precise and exact – that’s what you expect from scientist Andrea. She had a foot issue so got it assessed early and is now wearing appropriate footwear. Dealing with injuries in a timely fashion is critical. Too often – and I put myself in this category – we let niggling joint aches and pains linger on, gradually reducing our activity, almost without noticing. Although the advantage of having a partner involved in the weight-loss process is huge, it’s important that Andrea regards her OT journey in its own right and that she avoids being overshadowed by the ebullient Barry.
Tanya
Starting weight: 14st
11lbs, lost 5lbs
Tanya has a trainer at home as good as Karl: her wonderful son Rian.
Tanya did brilliantly on her weight loss but it was her ability to kick her addiction to 12 cans of Coke a day that stood out. She experienced ca eine withdrawal as headaches and jitteriness and then came the cravings. In fairness to Tanya, she has pushed through and substituted her cravings with distraction and water. It worked. If you have a zzy drink habit you want to kick, then it’s time to take the plunge like Tanya and move away from the risks of diabetes.
If this is what the rst week was like for Tanya, then I predict there will be real reworks and drama as our leaders ght their demons.