RTÉ’s Celebrity Operation Transformation returns for its finale tonight. Each week, one of the participants will write a diary piece for TheJournal.ie about their experiences trying to lose weight. This morning it’s the turn of solicitor Gerald Kean:

IT’S BEEN A great final weekend of Celebrity Operation Transformation.

On Saturday I was in the village of Craughwell in Galway with the four other leaders for the People’s Challenge. Craughwell Athletics Club’s sports day was chosen as the final event for all of us to show our new found fitness!

I did a 5 kilometre (km) colour run, threw the javelin, sampled some Zumba and played a bit of soccer. It was amazing meeting young and old who watch the show and were really spurring all five of us on!

Then on Sunday, I was in Wicklow town for a 5 km charity run in aid of Wicklow hospice. It was great fun and I finished the race with a 78-year-old gentleman. If I’m still running in twenty years time I’ll be very happy.

After the final weigh-in for Operation Transformation on Monday, I went to the shops to buy ingredients for dinners, lunches and breakfasts for the next few days.

Gerald Kean pictured at the colour run

Changes made

Then I drove home to Wicklow and cooked my OT prawn pasta. I think that evening’s activity perfectly illustrates the changes I have made since starting on the plan.

Before Operation Transformation it would have been unheard of for me to go home and cook an evening meal unless I was having guests.

In interviews at the start of this show I spoke about how I have around 19 of my meals out a week. As a solicitor with my own firm, many of my meal-times are taken up with meetings and charity events but I knew when I went to over 19 stone I needed to make a change.

Since starting the OT plan I’ve been cooking every day and started bringing my own lunch to work and it’s worked!

The contestants in high spirits

I’ve learnt so much on OT. For me, what I’m most happy about is the huge difference I’ve made to my Type 2 Diabetes.

In the past four weeks, I’ve finally taken time to look after myself. After my change in food and exercise, I’ve seen a big drop in the amount of insulin I need.

I’ve really seen first-hand the difference eating well and getting moving can make to Type 2 Diabetes. I feel in the future I’ll be more outspoken about the condition.

For me tonight’s episode of Celebrity Operation Transformation is not the end of my journey.

It’s just the start.

My real end goal is next February or March. By then I hope to be at my goal weight and feel fitter and healthier than ever. I’m determined to make this is a permanent lifestyle change and a change for good.

Gerald Kean – Vital Stats

• Age: 58
• Height: 6′ 2″
• Occupation: Solicitor
• Starting Weight:  19 stone and seven pounds
• Weight-loss to date: one stone and nine pounds

Celebrity Operation Transformation concludes tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One. Follow Gerald’s food and exercise plan on the Operation Transformation website, or follow him on Twitter @GeraldKean

Read: ‘I was one of those people who hammered himself in the gym and still ate all the wrong foods’

Read: ‘When it comes to our weekly weigh-in, all five of us are really nervous’

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