It’s been an eventful series of Operation Transformation so far, and last night leader John Conmy broke down in tears after failing to meet his weight target.
The Mayo man became emotional after he didn’t hit his target for the second week in a row, and instead gained 1.5lb, with just two weeks to go on the show.
Last week, the 47-year-old chef considered quitting the show, and last night he was shocked to learn of his weight gain, admitting he felt he was letting people down.
John first became tearful in the episode when he visited his hometown, which he returned home to in his early 20s to look after his younger brothers after their parents passed away.
Addressing him at the weigh-in, Dr Ciara Kelly told him she felt he’s keeping a lot of feelings in which may be hindering his progress.
“I was looking at all the people in Belmullet and Bangor [Erris] and they are rooting for you,” she said.
“They see you as one of their own, you are very much part of the community and they all describe what a great guy you are and how happy you are. Then I saw you in your parents’ family home and the sadness that was there.
“It strikes me that the happiness thing is a persona. I think you are the happy guy, you are Fun Bobby, but you’re not.”
Dr. Kelly continued: “My feeling is there is a fundamental disconnect in you, John, between how you actually feel and what you show the world, including us here.
“When you are disconnected there is an awful lot of work goes into pushing down those emotions you are actually feeling to maintain the front and I think, in order to push it all down, you lean on food and you lean on drink.”
Responding to the panel, an emotional John opened up about what was going on in his head.
“Just everything, letting people down… From the time my Mum and Dad passed away, I had to probably put up a screen for the lads, make sure they were okay and get them over the line and be happy and chirpy for them,” he said.
“I invested a lot of time in that and a lot of time in my job and I have invested very little time in myself.”
Psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy told him: “Like a lot of people, when they put energy into the front and not into their real self, they really struggle.
“You need to put yourself first. If you don’t, the road is going to run out for you very fast.”
