‘Mr Motivation’ hopes to become weight loss councillor

A MAN who lost 21 stone in just over a year is planning to become a weight loss counsellor after being inundated with calls from people looking to replicate his success.

Last year 36-year-old Cathal O’Shea, from Belgooly in Co Cork, weighed 35 stone and was so heavy he had to wash himself on a beach because he could not fit in a hotel shower.

However, just 12 months later the slimmed-down success story weighs just 14 stone, after a dieting regime of exercise and healthy food.

Having achieved nationwide fame after an appearance on the Late Late Show, Mr O’Shea has received more than 1,000 calls from people seeking to know his weight loss secret.

And due to the continuing interest in his achievement, the keen sportsman has confirmed he is now planning to work professionally in the area of weight loss motivation.

“Realistically speaking I’ve received 30 to 40 calls every day since I went public about this. The day after I was on television I got 146 calls.

“I can safely say I’ve received a call from every county in the country, from everywhere really, and what that shows is people who are looking to lose weight might think they’re alone but they’re not,” said Mr O’Shea.

“When I was losing the weight I didn’t think it was that big a story, but there has been so much reaction.

“They’re calling me Mr Motivation around here now, so I definitely want to share what I’ve learned,” he said.

While Mr O’Shea is not connected to any weight loss group, he said among the key areas he wants to address are issues for people who are housebound due to their size and people who “just want to lose a few stone”.

* Anyone who wishes to contact Mr O’Shea is asked to email [e-mail]