SPRINGY PUDDINGS SPRING INTO ACTION
Driven on by RTE's health series Operation Transformation, Arklow's Springy Puddings have got skinny in their sights. Deborah Coleman reports
THEY CALL THEMSELVES the 'Springy Puddings' but a group of Arklow ladies who have signed up to be an Operation Transformation group are hoping to become the 'Skinny Puddings' within a couple of months.
The group formed through Arklow Springboard Family Support Service and just before Christmas decided to take on the challenge.
Once the new series of the popular RTÉ programme commenced they embarked on a dedicated fitness and diet regime which they hope will help them shift a few pounds and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Project workers Catriona Cooke and Karen Carter are supporting the ladies all the way and are even joining them for walks.
'We will soon commence an eight-week Healthy Food Programme which should be very helpful and a dietician is also arranged to visit the group and give a talk,' explained Catriona.
The Operation Transformation initiative is already making a positive difference in the participants' lives who say they have much more energy and are able to include their children in the outdoor activities.
'I've never had as much energy. It's great,' explained Anita Hughes who has been tasked with speaking on camera for the televised updates.
Every Monday the ladies conduct their own weigh-in and email a video clip to RTÉ.
Between them they have some important family occasions such as First Communion and Confirmation coming up this year and getting fit and losing weight is all part of the plan to feel and look great.
'My goal is to wear a dress again,' outlined Elizabeth Heaney. ' That's what I'm hoping. It's so much easier to stick to the plan with the support of a group. The project workers have been brilliant as well and have helped us out so much.'
Like many people all over the country the plan has encouraged Elizabeth and her Springy Pudding counterparts to get active with their kids.
'We just take the kids with us. They love it and in Arklow we have the new outdoor gym which is great.'
Within the larger group some of the members have even decided to meet up on a nightly basis to get some exercise.
Anita and Elizabeth also walk with Sheila Killeen who says that she had a 'special birthday' last year but is still keen to stick to the plan.
The group has also formed a walking group which departs from Arklow Springboard, Ferrybank every Thursday morning at 11a.m. With steely determination and plenty of laughs along the way it seems the Arklow ladies are well on track to make their town proud and to spread the word about healthy living.
Follow the Springy Puddings' progress on RTÉ1 at 8p.m. every Wednesday.
