Quick step to svelte new figures for dancing stars
DANCING celebs Teresa Mannion and Katherine Lynch have lost almost three stone in weight between them since competing in the hit RTE show.
Both broadcaster Teresa and comedian Katherine have dropped 1 stone 5lbs each on Dancing With The Stars, which kicked off in the New Year.
Teresa revealed that she’s getting a lot of compliments for her “Michelle Obama arms” and Katherine said she had lost more weight from dancing than she did while taking part in Celebrity Operation Transformation last September.
The pair are down to the final seven in the competition and viewers of the Sunday-night ratings winner — with an audience of 640,000 — have noticed how dance has transformed their bodies.
Teresa told the Sunday Independent: “I’m not doing marathons, I’m not doing intensive interval training, I’m just moving my body for several hours a day and the transformation has been incredible.”
She says she’s eating well, but not dieting. “It’s not an unhealthy weight loss, it’s been steady since Christmas. I have lost about 19lbs. I gave up bread and am eating healthier, having nice salads and soups, but I still have something sweet every day and enjoy wine at the weekends.”
It’s her arms that are the most commented on.
“So many people have been asking me about my arms!” she laughed. “People say, ‘You’ve got Michelle Obama arms’. I have previously done BodyPump, a bit of kettlebells, so I think it must be muscle memory. I am in those hold positions, where you are holding your arms up all the time, and I’m learning about posture, and my arms are responding.
“It’s great to be fitting into the outfits on the show. I can’t believe it. My whole body has shrunk. I don’t want to lose any more weight as I’m told I look glowing now, but I don’t want to end up looking drawn.”
Katherine Lynch says she is fitter than she ever was.
“I lost a stone doing Operation Transformation. And I’ve lost about a stone and a half from doing Dancing With the Stars. We’re doing about 16 hours a week of dancing.”
Katherine’s starting weight on Operation Transformation — less than six months ago — was 13 stone 5lbs. She is now down to at 11 stone.
She will be lifted into the air by her partner Kai Widdrington tonight during their performance.
She said: “We’re doing the Charleston now and my partner will be doing lifts with me, which is something that makes me really happy. I never thought I’d be in a situation where I’d be lifted, and it’s a huge achievement for me and it’s quite emotional.
The feisty Leitrim woman said: “How I look is other people’s opinion. I’ve never had an issue with how I look anyway. I hate any of that fat-shaming.
“All I know is all my clothes fit and I can now go shopping and buy whatever I want. The main thing for me is that my fitness levels are out the door. It’s great for mind, body and spirit. I’ll definitely continue dancing after this is over.” Seven stars remain in the
competition and the others are Des Cahill, Dayl Cronin, Denise McCormack, Aoibhin Garrihy, and Aidan O’Mahony.
Aidan (36), the former Kerry footballer, has laughed off the fascination with his physique. “My poor mother is saying a Novena at home with the costumes I’ve been wearing,” he said. “It started off with a see-through top in week one and then the slagging really started. Last week, the buttons were initially closed, but by Sunday they were open. I think they were trying to cover up my dancing. I’d say people are looking at me at home saying, ‘Oh yer man is delighted to have the body out’, but we have to wear the costumes we are given. Anybody who knows me at home knows I love going to the gym. I’m not obsessed with it. I have a sweet tooth and I enjoy my life out of training, but when I train, I train hard. I try to mind myself and not eat bread and I don’t take sugar. The abs are nothing, really.”