Operation Transformation viewers point out “missed opportunity” as show returns

Operation Transformation returned to our tellies this week and we were all settled in to watch.

We met our five incredible leaders, Michelle Rogan, Darragh Fitzgerald, Edel O’Malley, Anne Cushen and Noel O’Connell.

Each person shared their reasons for joining the series and explained what they wanted to get out of the next few weeks.

Michelle told Kathryn Thomas how she wanted to get back into the gym after the birth of her third child, one-year-old Sam. This has been spurred on by the tragic death of her sister Elizabeth who sadly passed away from sudden cardiac arrest five years ago.

“She was healthy. So that’s where I think my anxiety comes from – you could be here one day and gone the next,” she said on the show.

Noel, who is a father to four boys explained: “My father got cancer at 60 and I’ve a young family still and one that’s very demanding to be honest.

“Ollie has Down syndrome so we need to be healthy for him because he is full on.”

Noel was diagnosed with tachycardia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type II diabetes and sleep apnea in the last 18 months. This has lit a spark in him to start taking care of himself.

Our third leader, Edel explained how she feels like she is stuck in a rut at the moment, between her busy work and family life, she struggles to find time to work out.

“I feel like I’m living a messy life. I’m everywhere and I’m nowhere at once. I look at myself in the mirror and I’m like, ‘Who’s she?’,” she explained.

“I feel like I take up too much room physically but… I’m doing too much and not enough at the same time.”

Our fourth leader, Darragh has a grá for rugby.

At the age of 16, he overcame a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, called Burkitts and had to have a tumour removed from his bowel and undergo intense chemotherapy.

Two years ago Darragh was in hospital with an abnormal heart rhythm, he was then diagnosed with atrial Fibrillation. Throughout the course of the programme he hopes to gain a better work-life balance as well as opening up emotionally.

The final leader introduced was Anne who lives with osteoarthritis and has had two hip replacements with the most recent one being in August 2023.

She has been frustrated with the slow recovery and would like to get back to herself.

Speaking on the show, she explained: “Time is too precious, it’s slipping by. I want to live and not just go through the motions.”

And although viewers are rooting for all the leaders, they were quick to point out a “missed opportunity”.

Taking to social media they admitted that all the leaders have similar home lives, as they are all in serious relationships with children.

However, others were excited to see the show return!

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