Eighteen hopefuls have moved one step closer to becoming an Operation Transformation leader.
The candidates including five from the south east have been physically and emotionally assessed for a possible place in the tenth series.
Operation Transformation presenter and Carlow native Kathryn Thomas was on hand along with the four OT experts including Aoife Hearne from Waterford who's a registered dietitian and Healthy Ireland Council member
Aoife Hearne
Karl Henry, fitness expert, Dr. Eddie Murphy, a Principle Clinical Psychologist with the HSE, and Dr. Ciara Kelly, GP and expert in family health are the other regular OT experts.
The five, who will be chosen to be leaders, need to be willing to radically change their eating patterns, exercise habits, and be prepared to inspire people to follow them on their journey over eight weeks in January and February 2017.
Meet the south east hopefuls:
Adam Doyle
Age: 28
Location: Wexford Town
Height: 5ft 11"
Weight: 22st 6.5lbs
Financial Services worker Adam lives in Wexford Town with his wife Kim (28) and their three sons Aaron (10), Jayden (3) and Rhys (5 months). Married four years, Adam and Kim met as teenagers, and they had their first child Aaron while they were both studying for their Leaving Certificate.
In his youth, Adam was a keen sportsman, and he played every sport he could including Gaelic football and hurling. However, soccer was his big love and he played to quite a high standard with his local club Wexford Bohemians and at county level with the Wexford Youths. He then went on to play full time in the Eircom League for SV Carlow for almost two seasons in his early twenties.
Adam decided to apply for Operation Transformation to try and get his life back on track. His weight affects his confidence. He feels embarrassed when he meets people who knew him as a fit footballer, who don't recognise Adam as he is today. He also worries that people wonder how his beautiful wife is married to him.
Ann Nolan
Age: 20
Location: Campile, Co Wexford
Height: 5ft 5"
Weight: 18st 13lbs
Student Ann Nolan lives in Campile, Co. Wexford with her mother Siobhán and her brother James and half-sister Jo.
Growing up, Ann always dreamed of being a Primary School teacher. She was delighted when she got a place in St. Patricks College and was awarded a scholarship to attend. However, Ann's studies were interrupted last year, when her father Michael lost his battle with stomach cancer. He died as Ann was completing her first year exams in August 2016. Ann is currently repeating two modules from her first year, studying part-time (two days a week), as she attempts to complete her B.Ed.
Ann works part-time in a local pub prepping food and making desserts. Despite not having a sweet tooth, Ann loves baking and she sells desserts locally in Wexford. She says that her biggest food vices are bread and cheese.
While the last year has been very difficult for Ann, she is very grateful that she met her new boyfriend Adam (20). Their relationship has given Ann the confidence to apply for Operation Transformation.
John O'Brien
Age: 56
Location: Cappoquin, Co. Waterford
Height: 5ft 8"
Weight: 18st
Haulier and dairy farmer John lives with his wife of 34 years Ann in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford. They have three grown up children. His sons Christopher (32) and Shane (27) both live in Australia. His daughter Linda (30) lives in Dungarvan with her partner and their six month old daughter Pippa.
John is the eldest of six. His father Michael passed away this July after a long struggle with Dementia.
In 1985 John started his own haulage company, which eventually employed 22 people including his two sons. In 2009 one of his biggest clients went into liquidation, forcing him to let much of his staff go, many of whom were family or friends that had been with the company for over seven years. He is still in debt from that time and his sons had to make the difficult decision to emigrate to Australia.
John is now the heaviest he's ever been and he puts it all down to a poor diet and lack of exercise. He joined a local running club last year but injured his knee and had to have an operation in October, from which he is still recovering.
Maireád Redmond
Age: 22
Location: New Ross, Co Wexford
Height: 5ft 5"
Weight: 16st 5lbs
Chocolatier and Pastry Chef Maireád lives at home in New Ross, Co. Wexford with her parents Noel and Mary. Her younger brother Adrian (20) is in college in Waterford I.T. and she has two older brothers; Sean (27) living in Waterford and James (25) who lives locally.
Maireád studied culinary arts in college and is very passionate about working with food. This led her to what might be considered a dream job; making handmade truffles, artisan chocolates and pastries. She has recently gone back to college to get a degree in Business, as she wants to open her own business someday.
As a child, Maireád's weight was an issue. She remembers her mother sitting her down and telling her she'd have to lose weight as they were struggling to find a communion dress that fit her.
Maireád applied for Operation Transformation so she can finally put her physical and mental health first and not to consistently leave them at the bottom of her to-do list. Maireád wants to lose weight so she can be in control of her body and not let the image she sees in the mirror change her mood, her feelings or her confidence.
Marie Lannen
Age: 50
Location: Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Height: 5ft
Weight: 12st 5lbs
Pharmacy sales assistant Marie lives in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford with her husband Liam, along with their three teenage sons Paul (17) and twins Dermot and Kieran (16).
Originally from Limerick, Marie moved to Waterford when she married her husband 23 years ago. In 2012 Marie was made redundant after 17 years working for pharmaceutical manufacturers GSK. She didn't only lose her job; she lost her social circle, her independence and her focus.
Around the same time, Marie's sister Frances was diagnosed with breast cancer and shortly afterwards, passed away.
Marie now works part-time in Lloyds Pharmacy, often splitting her time between two different branches. This means that Marie is always eating on the go in the car. Marie is at the heaviest she has ever been. The boys can often be quite blunt about Marie's weight and this has knocked her confidence as of late. She used to love shopping for clothes but trying on clothes is not fun anymore, so she just doesn't bother.
Marie wants to lose weight so she can have the energy that her husband and three sons deserve. She wants to feel sexy again and to fit back into her favourite dress that's she's been hiding in the wardrobe.
