With season five of the popular RTÉ show Operation Transformation well underway the nation is firmly behind this year's five leaders in their quest to shed the unwanted pounds.

Dr. Eva Orsmond of Orsmond Clinics has wasted no time spurring them and the viewing public into strict a new healthy eating plan which is aimed to help them change the bad habits of a lifetime and adapt their lifestyle for a healthier and brighter future.

In what was just a matter of day,s she had them swapping the greasy fry ups for steaming bowls of nutritious porridge and filling their shopping baskets with mountains of vegetables in place of sweet treats.

'This year I wrote 40 new recipes for the duration of the programme. There are some favourite ones of course but it is always a challenge, not just to produce low calorie recipes but ones that are balanced also in terms on fibre, protein, minerals and of course taste,' she explains.

Five weeks in and the food plan is going down relatively well with the leaders some of whom are starting to cook for the first time.

'So far the feedback has been quite positive and they are very happy with the food plans. The one complaint is that about the food portions, that they are not big enough. I'm not surprised to hear that as the portions in this country have deviated so far from a healthy size that it takes a while to adapt to what is considered a healthy portion size. After a while their appetite will adjust and this is why the filler soups are used, to eat before a meal to keep you full.'

According to Dr. Eva the Irish still aren't eating enough vegetables each day.

'Nowhere in the world would you get mashed, boiled and roasted potatoes on one plate! We are not eating enough vegetables which is essential for fibre. Everybody knows I'm obsessed with fibre but it has so many benefits, such as keeping you full and keeping your cholesterol down.'

Dr. Eva has been involved with Operation Transformation since the second season when it took to the screens in the format as we know it.

'I got involved after an appearance on The Late Late Show when Pat Kenny was on it. Of course the late Gerry Ryan presented the show for the first three years and Kathryn has been with us for two years now. She had very big shoes to fill but is doing a great job.'

Long before the show takes to the screens at the beginning of each New Year Dr. Eva forms a vital part of the expert selection team along with Personal Trainer Karl Henry and Clinical Psychologist Eddie Murphy who hand pick the leaders for each series.

'We try to select leaders who represent certain sections of the society and who people can identify with. They have to be strong minded people who can take constructive criticism and handle the stress of living in the public eye and with cameras around them for weeks and weeks. They have to continue to live their lives while doing the programme, army challenges etcetera. It might look easy but it is not.'

Dr. Eva is known for her straight talking and no nonsense approach towards guiding the leaders, which she stresses is not just an on-screen persona.

'I don't really need to try that hard as that is my actual personality. I can sympathise with people of course, but I say things the way they are.'

While the show always produces wonderful results during its eight week run, Dr. Eva says it takes more than a short term change to overhaul their lifestyle for good.

'Over the years some of the leaders have maintained the change and some have not. That's the way it goes. We must establish a lifestyle change and address issues that need attention in our lives. It just doesn't happen. A conscious effort has to be made to eat healthily such as bringing your own lunch to work to avoid temptation.'

Teaming up with other like-minded people is a sure way to increase motivation and stick to the plan, she advises.

'If you team up you are much more likely to succeed. There is no doubt about it. If your friends are a healthy weight and making sensible choices you will be more inclined to do the same but if they have a bad diet then you are more likely to equally more likely to pick up the same habits. It's wonderful to see people coming together as a community for Operation Transformation and I hope that we all keep it up.'

- WORDS: DEBORAH COLEMAN