Hill of Tara to host 'Operation Transformation’

RTE's 'Operation Transformation' programme will be on the Hill of Tara this Saturday as one of its participants, Sinead Heffernan from Enfield, leads the Sli na Slainte walk around the roads of Tara. Meath Local Sports Partnership and the Irish Sports Council are inviting people of all ages and abilities, particularly families, to participate in the walk on Saturday at 2pm. It will follow the 4.5km Tara Slí route, which is a looped walk starting and finishing at the historic Hill of Tara. The event is ideal for beginners. Sinead Heffernan is one of the five leaders taking part in this year's programme with mentors, including Dunshaughlin personal trainer, Karl Henry. Aged 37, she owns and runs five bakeries and lives in Enfield with her husband, Stephen, and their four sons. Sinead is 5' 6†and weighs 15 stone 8lbs. Her target weight is 12 stone. She bought a bakery two years ago which has five shops with 38 staff members. Sinead feels that she is successful in every area of her life apart from her weight. She has no time for herself and feels that she is sorting everyone else's life out, apart from her own. Planning is a big deal to her, and her eating and weight is last on her list. Her dream is to have a body that represents all the hard work, the long hours the commitment and the sacrifice it has taken her to get where she is today. Presenter Kathryn Thomas along with the three experts, Karl Henry, medical doctor Eva Orsmond, and HSE clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy, plan to help the five transform their health and lifestyle. During the course of the programme, the five leaders will have to kick their bad food and exercise habits and restyle their wardrobe on TV, on radio and online. The plan is that the five will transform their lives by following a tough exercise regime, a weekly weigh-in and by preparing a meal by meal diet plan for two months. Presented by Kathryn Thomas and on the radio with The John Murray Show, 'Operation Transformation' goes out on RTE One on Wednesdays at 8pm. The Irish Heart Foundation has also called on people to take part in RTE's Operation Transformation National Walk Day next Saturday. The charity's health promotion manager, Maureen Mulvihill, said: “Regular physical activity reduces risk of heart attack and stroke. Nearly half the Irish population is not active enough for their health and do not meet the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on five days a week. “Adults who are overweight or obese gain similar health benefits from physical activity as people with a healthy body weight. Even if you do not lose weight, you will gain health benefits from being more active.â€