Use It or Lose It

Use It Or Lose It is a weekly television series broadcast on RTÉ One in Ireland . Each episode features a well-known sportsperson who revisits their old youth team and sets about reforming them for one final game within six weeks. Eight former athletes featured in the eight-part series broadcast in summer 2008. The athletes are equipped with personal trainers, nutritionists, coaches and physios to aid the players, health problems are explored and professional coaches conduct regular weigh-ins, blood pressure and lung capacity testing and suggest workouts and diets suited to the individual physiques of each team member. Each programme also focused on a particularly unhealthy individual, typically one who was clinically obese, had high blood pressure and some other extreme health issues. Their journey to a healthier lifestyle became the focus of the show. The series is produced by Stirling.
Episode list
Episode one
The first episode centred on Sunderland A.F.C. chairman and former Irish international footballer Niall Quinn as he returned to Manortown United in West Dublin, a team he last played for twenty-five years ago. One of Quinn's team-mates, forty-year-old Kevin Swan, has his unhealthy lifestyle focused upon throughout the programme. The team must regain its fitness levels for one final match in six weeks.
Episode two
The second episode centred on twelve times All-Ireland winner Angela Downey who returned to Lisdowney Camogie Club in Kilkenny, the team she last played for more than ten years previously. The episode focuses on Downey's former team-mate and best friend Noelle O'Driscoll who is now an unhealthy and overweight schoolteacher.
Episode three
The third episode centred on the former Ireland rugby union captain Mick Galwey, who is the only person to win All-Ireland honours in both gaelic football and rugby. He returned to Currow GAA club in County Kerry. The episode focuses on Galwey's former midfield partner and former Kerry minor, the overweight Tim Brosnan.
Episode four
The fourth episode centred on the former gaelic football All-Star winner Colin Corkery as he returned to Nemo Rangers in Cork, the minor team he played for seventeen years previously. The episode focuses on the physically fit but clinically obese Mick O'Brien.
Episode five
The fifth episode centred on the former Liverpool captain and Irish international footballer Ronnie Whelan as he returned to Home Farm F.C. in North Dublin. The episode focuses on the team's right-back Michael Kennedy who was forced to surrender his soccer career due to persistent ankle injuries and developed a forty-a-day cigarette habit.
Episode six
The sixth episode centred on the former rugbier Fiona Steed who returned to Shannon RFC in Limerick, the team she last played for in 2003. Team mate Rosie Brown's family life is impacting on her health.
Episode seven
The seventh episode centred on Jerome Westbrooks, a native of Chicago in the United States, who was the first American import into Irish basketball. Westbrooks reunited with the Irish international basketball team of 1994 for one final game. The episode focuses on his former team captain Mark Keenan who is now a coach with top Irish side Killester, but has also developed high blood pressure.
Episode eight
The eighth episode centred on Irish rugby out-half Tony Ward who, after thirty-five years, returns to in South Dublin. The episode focuses on Rodney O'Donnell a key member of the team who also played alongside Tony at the highest levels of international rugby. He sustained a neck injury at the age of twenty-two ending his rugby career and meaning he has not trained since.

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