Mayo’s O’Mahony a man transformed after RTÉ show

Mayo’s O’Mahony a man transformed


Edwin McGreal

If John O’Mahony ever leads the Mayo footballers to the promised land and wins the Sam Maguire, we’ve some idea of how happy he’ll look.
We got an insight last week when we saw a proud as punch O’Mahony stand forward as the biggest loser of the politicians who took part in the eight week Operation Transformation challenge.
The Fine Gael TD and Mayo football manager lost an amazing two stone and eight pounds in eight weeks as part of the RTÉ challenge and looked visibly leaner on TV last Wednesday.
“Well I needed to lead by example,” he told The Mayo News. “I was pleased with it. I had put weight on as a result of lifestyle defects and dietary habits from the work I am at. I managed to get it down, to keep it down now is the challenge. Days like yesterday (Mayo’s NFL defeat to Dublin) wouldn’t help!”
O’Mahony readily admits that the lifestyle of a TD from the west undoubtedly saw the pounds pile on since he was elected in May, 2007.
“The cause for putting on the weight was the busy lifestyle. I’d be working constantly and rarely have time for lunch, you’d just have time to get a sandwich and a coffee here and there and then you’d end up eating your main meal at 10 or 11 o’clock at night. So I had to chance what I was eating and the order in which I was eating.
“I didn’t go on a huge training regime. I would have done some exercising, some walking and some bits in the gym. I cut out bread and sweets and sweet minerals and alcohol. The challenge now is to keep it up. I said they should come back in six months and see where we are.”
And as for what he misses? O’Mahony admits to having a sweet tooth but is keen to stress the overall benefits of his new regime.
“I’ve a fondness for sweet stuff but once you get into a routine it is easier than you think to stick to it. You feel better and more energised and your productivity is improved. While you might have to take time to go for a walk or whatever, you gain it back in terms of your energy levels afterwards.”