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.

• Read Alan’s previous columns here>>

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.

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.

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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