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I'm going to reach my 16 stone goal. Not by being lazy, but with hard work and dedication

This week, Alan says he is looking forward to the Operation Transformation run in Phoenix Park this weekend.

ANOTHER WEEK HAS come and gone and it’s getting ever closer to the Phoenix Park 5k.

This week has been another fantastic weight loss with seven pounds gone and feeling the best I’ve been in a long time. I am now down to 19st five pounds and it doesn’t come from lazing about, it comes from hard work and dedication. It’s all about staying focused and continuing my progress, because I know that I can achieve my ultimate goal of 16 stone by the end of this year.

Pain does take its toll, but I have to remain focused.

Staying focused

I started this journey at 27 stone, bullied and feeling really crap about myself. Today I am only a shadow of my former self. In some respects, I don’t even know the old Alan anymore and to be honest that’s a major mental health battle in itself.

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I know what it feels like to be down and out and feeling like you want to escape. Suicide happens in everyday life and lately, teenagers do not want to speak out about these issues. It doesn’t have to be about weight problems it can also be from bullying or just negative thoughts going through your mind. I am my own worst enemy when I am by myself and I have no problem saying that, because sometimes I think everyone is against me and everything that I do is failure.

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I think a problem shared is a problem halved. It’s the 21st century and people feel the need to hide their feelings. I still do it at times, don’t get me wrong, if I think I need help I will seek it. I have to stay focused on what my goals are and believe in myself. People say self-praise is no praise, but I personally don’t believe in that. I believe if you praise yourself you will start to believe in yourself and then goals that you think you will never reach suddenly start to get closer.

There will be wobbles along the way 

I have never been as focused and driven in my life to do this for myself, but also for my family. I know mentally in my head I can do whatever is put in front of me. Yes, it might take some time and I might take a few speed wobbles along the way, but that’s all part and parcel of life.

There is ways and means of getting out of there, but just like building a house, lay brick by brick, and someday you will complete it.

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I can’t wait to do the OT 5k this Saturday, because everything I’ve done in the last year has boiled down to this and it’s to prove to myself that I am the best and no one will ever stand in my way of succeeding my goals. When I cross that finish line I will get emotional, no doubt, but it’s not because I’m devastated, it’s about how far I have come in a year and how much I can change my life around in a short space of time.

Twelve months ago I wouldn’t have had my own business ‘Murphs Fuels’ or dreamt of being as fit as I am now. I know I still have more to go, but I will conquer and achieve that in no time.

My motivation this week for you guys is wake up every morning with determination and go to sleep with satisfaction. If I can achieve my goals so can you.

Anyone with any questions or wants to follow my plan and see my progress can check me out on Facebook at Alan Mullen OT Leader 2015 or on Snapchat at Murphy1010. Until next week enjoy your health.

Alan Murph Mullen will  be keeping us up to date on his progress as he follows this year’s Operation Transformation. He’ll be writing about his fitness, his meals and his motivations. Keep up on Operation Transformation on their website here and catch up with the videos on YouTube here. You can also stay up to date on Facebook

Tune in to the programme every  Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8.30pm on RTÉ ONE. Catch up on episodes on the RTÉ Player.  

Read: ‘I weighed a colossal 27 stone aged 21. I was one of the fattest people ever on RTE’s Operation Transformation’>

Read: ‘Looking back at how much weight I’ve lost, it makes me realise that you really can achieve your goals’>

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    Mute Tom Fennelly
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    Feb 5th 2014, 8:57 PM

    Dept. Education Inspector walked into school in Connemara. Said to young lad at front of class ” On my way here today I saw a lot of stone walls. One field had eleven sheep in it and there was a hole in the stone wall. Two sheep went through it, how many sheep were left? ” Young lad; “none sir” Inspector: ” you haven’t been taught your maths very well then?” Young lad: ” I have Sir but you know food all about sheep”

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    Mute Tom Fennelly
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    Feb 5th 2014, 8:59 PM

    “fook all about sheep”

    31
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    Mute Darren
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:14 PM

    I’m Welsh and unable to count sheep to go to sleep, gets me too excited

    55
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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:31 PM

    3.5 million and 4.5 million of us makes a total of 8 million sheep in Ireland.

    54
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    Mute Bobby Ewing
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    Feb 5th 2014, 8:50 PM

    farmers keep on falling asleep on the job!

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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:34 PM

    Has a former sheep enthusiast I can safely say that sheep used to be much friendlier and well groomed back in the day. They have no class now, they’re sloppy and unkempt they’re like pigs in wooly jumpers.

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    Mute Sean P
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    Feb 6th 2014, 8:01 AM

    Be bold and brave … and compare sheep directly to Hungarian Woolly Pigs, not just to pigs in woolly jumpers ;-)

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    Mute Scaldychops
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:58 PM

    I wonder do sheep count humans when they’re trying to sleep.

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    Mute Reg
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:11 PM

    I hear they’re good at counting sheep up the Cooley Peninsula!

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    Mute 'Bull' Mick Daly
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    Feb 5th 2014, 8:58 PM

    So thats why they have numbers painted on,i thought it was a new football kit

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    Mute Irish Names
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:01 PM

    Not sure what the story is now but when there were EEC grants for these sorts of things the sheep in my home area would collapse from exhaustion from being moved from farm to farm for the inspector’s visit.We had around 32 million sheep back then according to Eurostat figures.

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    Mute Dermot O Dwyer
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:02 PM

    This is taking the mickey and sheep won’t stand for that anymore………………

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    Mute Tony
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:00 PM

    I hope they don’t pull the wool over the Departments eyes!

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    Mute Limerick Soviet
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    Feb 5th 2014, 8:53 PM

    so that’s why i saw a farmer asleep in his field today……………………………..sorry.

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    Mute Michael Garett
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    Feb 5th 2014, 11:41 PM

    Why did the sheep farmer receive a Nobel Prize?
    He was simply out standing in his own field.

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    Mute Marcus power
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    Feb 5th 2014, 11:25 PM

    Sheep are soo pretty. …n fluffy

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    Mute Richarddoherty
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    Feb 5th 2014, 9:00 PM

    Helps me to sleep

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    Mute Paddy O Donnell
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    Feb 5th 2014, 11:23 PM

    Clare, where men are men and sheep scared!! Rock on friday!

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