So....How did it all end?

When I launched Challenge 43 in February I had three main objectives.  To lose 43lbs net, and keep it off until at least my 43rd birthday, to improve my overall health and physical fitness, and to raise money for a deserving charity, and also my employer - BUILD.

I knew it was going to be tough, involve sacrifices and be a long haul, but also knew that if the aims could be achieved, there would be benefits to many people.

I had lost weight before, firstly in 1989 ahead of a charity parachute jump, and then again in 2003, with no real incentive, but on both occasions, the weight crept back on, in an upwards direction.

Getting older has seen the metabolism change, losing weight is harder - that's medicaly proven, also proven is the impact carrying extra weight has on the heart and lungs. I felt it most with an old rugby knee injury, and carrying extra weight on two previously broken ankles.

Both these took more strain carrying extra weight, when doing some of the things that I enjoy most.  That and the prospect of raising some money for others unable to change their lives was the incentive.

Over 32 weeks, I have seen mostly losses, with only five weeks of gains and 27 weeks of either losses or holds.  That has taken some sacrifices.

The result - well it is good news and bad news.  The good news is that the target has been achieved, and exceeded. The net loss is 45lbs, 2lbs over target. The total loss is 61lbs if you take into account losing for the second time the gains.

The bad news - the £430 target is still short, so more work is needed there.

In this final blog, I would like to thank many people who have supported, and encouraged me along the way, at home, and away.

I feel better, look better, but am looking forward to just a few things previous seen as bad.

Five Days - work still to be done

With five days to go before the end of Challenge 43, the scales failed to move following last week's 8lb loss, leaving the final three pounds to shift in the final five days.

I have to say that the hard work of the last week to try and get below the target have surprisingly not come good, but the determination is still there to get across the line before next Wednesday morning. 

It would be wrong to say I wasn't disappointed by no movement  in the scales, and it means that I am on for a lean weekend running a training course traditional for its wine and cheese suppers.

Still I've come this far, there are sponsors in the wings to invest as I cross the line, so plenty of water, plenty of fruit and a final push.

12 days to go - to the end of Challenge 43

When any target date or deadline approaches, you often want to get ahead, give yourself some space so you don't have to work so hard in the final stages.  Last week's 4lb gain made the final furlong to lose 11lbs in the last 19 days was going  to be a stiff task.

This week has taken a great deal of effort. The return to a regular exercise regime has seen me clock up around 18 miles on foot or bike, and as a result I have lost the 4lbs put on last week.

Such was the effort that not only have I lost that 4lbs but another 4lbs on top making a total loss this week of 8lbs in seven days.

That brings up the net loss of 40lbs towards the 43lbs target, and taking into account the weight gains that have been lost a second time, I have now lost 56lbs since Valentines Day.

That leaves 3lbs over the next 12 days. Twelve days which will include a weekend away, and a visit to a brewery.

Head down.........

Bad start to final hurdle

Having calculated the way to lose 7lbs in the final few weeks to meet the target imagine my dismay to discover that a weekend away led to a 4lb gain, pushing the target up to 11lbs in 17 days. Still achievable, but likely to need a real effort in the final two weeks.

The only up side is a further penalty donation to BUILD of £8.

Onwards......

The final half stone - Real Ale assisted!

With this week's weigh-in a day early (as I'm away for the weekend), I was really pleased, and surprised, to see another loss this week of 2lbs, leaving 7lbs to lose before the 29th September.

A relaunch of the fundraising campaign amongst BUILD supporters this week will hopefully boost the funds towards the £430 target.

The loss this week, was quite a surprise. A couple of nights "supporting" local breweries over the weekend, fish and chips at Huntingdon racecourse, and a Chinese takeaway shows that a "balanced" diet can be effective.

The final few weeks will be more disciplined, as I resort to the fruit, water, and low fat stuff from Monday to manage the final charge.

Someone asked me if I was looking forward to anything at the end of the programme. My response was a tooth operation on my birthday to have a crown fitted.  No pain - no gain!

Slow, but sure progress

With five weeks to go, I am pleased to report another loss this week, only 1lb but quite an achievement given a weekend in a hotel, and a working hotel lunch this week.

That leaves 9lbs to go by 29th September. I have this week re-launched the fundraising campaign as I try to get to the £430 mark, and hope that an increase in money will see a decrease in weight.

The weight loss though has got me a dilemna as I am struggling between clothes sizes. Trousers are becoming a big issue, as depending on the cut of the cloth, depends greatly on the waist size I buy.  This week I bought a pauir of trousers that fits me fine around the waist but pinch the muscles from walking on my calves.

Shirts are another problem. I need the big size for my chest and shoulders, but they now drown my waist.

I can see that when my body finally agrees on a settled shape, I may have real problems in finding clothes that fit properly!

Forty Days - Ten Pounds

With an expected small gain of 1lb this week I am now in the final countdown of 40 days until the target has to be reached.

Two targets exist - 10lbs needs to go, and £120 needs to be added to the fundraising target to get me up to £430.

The expected gain this week was smaller than I thought having had a week with quite a lot of alcohol and not a lot of exercise.

The effort will no re-focus as next week I will launch the final countdown through BUILD's traditional supporters to bring that last few pounds in to the bank, whilst pushing that last few pounds out of the waistline.

One of the costs of losing this weight is the increase in the wardrobe as I now struggle to find a pair of trousers that will stay up without a belt, and this is now the second time I have had to add more holes to the belts I have.

So here we go, forty days to my birthday, a target of 10lbs to shift and more money to put into the bank.

Beer, Breakfasts and back breaking barrels

With the NorJam 2010 event firmly behind me, where I managed bars for the adult volunteers, it was going to be interesting to see whether the physical work of building the bars, shifting the barrels and all the walking involved, would balance out the regular full English breakfasts, and coffee and cakes that became a habit for the mid afternoon breaks.

Add to that, the "essential" beer tasting to ensure good quality product sales to my customers, and a gain was surely on the cards.

Taking into account the four pound loss that led into the event, I am pleased to announce that that loss has been maintained over the last two weeks. No gain, no loss.

So with 7 weeks to go before the target date, I have a net loss of 34lbs with only 9lbs to reach the target.

The final push will be difficult - but I believe achievable.

Dual week entry and net loss

Having been very busy in preparing for next week's NorJam 2010 I never got around to sharing the grim news of a 1lb gain up to last week, but this week I can announce a 4lb loss, taking me to a net loss since Valentines day to 34lbs and only 9lbs to go.

Managing around 80 staff to run two bars, and a youth cafe, over the next ten days will mean a good chance not to be tempted, so I hope to keep this off before setting out on the final push to hit 43lbs by the end of September.

Steady as she goes - Barbecues are allowed!!!

Valentine's Day seems a long way back, that was where the 43 challenge began, and so does the size of the trousers and shirts that I have now thrown out of my wardrobe. A few clothes remain but now they feel huge as the 31lbs that have fallen off, so far, seem to have disappeared.

Whilst this is another week of no gain/no loss it is against a week of three barbecues, no real restraint shown and little exercise.  This is where I want to be.  Normal eating, normal living.

I still have 12lbs to lose, and keep off by 29th September, and have planned a big concerted push from the middle of August, so a levelling out now provides some respite from the huge losses experienced in the Spring.

Center Parcs walking beat Center Parcs Ice Cream

After a very hectic working week of 11 days without a day off, I was pleased to see another loss, albeit only 1lb.

A weekend at Center Parcs supporting people from BUILD saw a lot of walking between activity centres, which seemed to have won the battle with the ice creams and good food enjoyed during our visit.

I am taking comfort from the fact that the gains and losses are settling down, there is no crash diet, no starvation, no punishments.

That leaves 12lbs to go by 29th September.

With the NorJam 2010 event only a few weeks ago, the plan is to leave myself 10-14 lbs to lose between mid August and the end of September to achieve the main target of 43lbs.

Brewery Research heads in wrong direction....

Now I think I may have to blame this week's scales on significant, and detailed research conducted at the Norfolk Show on Wednesday.

With my roles of managing the bars at the forthcoming Jamboree foremost in my mind I felt it necessary to speak with many of my suppliers on Wednesday and take up their offers to try their wares.

The result was a 1lb gain.

I am still though well on target, and am aiming for another target by the end of this month, which should leave me with about half a stone to lose during August and September.

I'm off to center Parcs this weekend taking 8 adults with learning difficulties for a "holiday" as they call it - I'm not so sure.

I'm taking my ipod and a box of Pinot Grigio to help me through it.

Is this the plateau?

Another week and another levelling out on the scales.  Not a huge surprise and if anything, quite a pleasant one if I am completely honest.

A fairly stressful week with two funerals, loads of work and pre Jamboree stresses have meant that finding regular eating patterns, that have been the hallmark of successes in previous weeks, have been difficult to manage. Also only one day's walk to work, has meant that the exercise schedule has been hit

I also seem to have lost the fruit urge - maybe its the heat.

More focus, more fruit, more exercise - the recipe for next week.

Still though on target, with 12 of the 43lbs left to lose by the end of September.

Levelling Out

Level as last week for this week's submission.  I guess that is mostly down to not getting much exercise this week. I only managed one walk to work, whereas a few weeks ago I was getting two or three in.

There is a need to get back to old habits again - walking, moderate eating and drinking, but the good news is that it is not going back on.

Onwards and downwards hopefully......

Back on Track

After the whopping 6lb holiday gain last week, I am pleased to report that we are back on track with another 3lb loss this week.

The bike came out on Sunday for a rare excursion to the office, if I had somewhere safe to store it, I would use it more often, particularly on days when walking takes too long.

Being back at work has brought its own challenges with a very good corporate lunch at Great Yarmouth racecourse, but that has balanced itself out with other sacrifices.

The final stone was always going to be the hardest one to get, there is a real need to re-establish some of the good habits of the early weeks, but the form to date has followed previous campaigns in 2003 and 1989, so I remain confident that the target can be met, on time, and possibly exceeded.

The focus of paying into the penalty fund for last week's gain is always a good incentive.

Onwards.....

Good week, Bad week, Ugly week coming....

A two week report this week following a pre holiday loss of 3lbs and a 6lb gain on a week's holiday with the family on the Norfolk Broads.

That's a good result in my book, given the amount of Beer consumed, pub meals and the lack of exercise achievable on a Broads Cruiser.

Offset by a wonderful paddle up the Dilham Canal yesterday afternoon in a Canadian Canoe, I guess if I'd done that everyday during the week I might have levelled out.

Now its time to get ugly and get the 6lb gain off over the next 2-3 weeks with some ugly re-allignment.  Back to the walking, and swimming, healthy eating, and more reasonable drinking.

Sixteen weeks to go for the target and 15lbs to lose - and keep off.

Blisters!!!

Another week down the line and a major blow in terms of keeping the fitness regime up to scratch - all due to a change of walking boots.

Regular followers will know that since I started the 43 Challenge I have tried to walk to and from my place of work when the opportunity allows (5 miles a day). The upside is it has helped with weight loss and fitness, the downside is it has worn out a faithful pair of old walking boots.  So on Monday I switched boots to my regular hillwalking boots - only to find two stonking blisters on both big toes by Monday afternoon.

This has meant that I have had to abandon the walking this week, and resort to the Park and Ride Bus.

Two visits to the swimming pool and sauna has helped, with another pound lost this week taking the total net loss to 32lbs of the 43lbs target.

With one week to go before my Broads Boating holiday, and a week off in all ways, I am hoping that this week will give Me bit of a cushion to work with next week, blisters permitting, although looking at my diary for next week I'm not sure food fits in it anyway!

From June we hope to be widening the funding base for the Challenge to include professional supporters committing for the final countdown - so hopefully we will raise the money to support the efforts being made.

Steady as she goes.....

At the end of a week that has seen great changes in the political landscape, there has been no change in the state of the scales.

Quite an achievement really after a weekend indulging on a Training Course.

I was expecting a gain - but three days of walking to work, a swim and a sauna have helped get whatever went on, back off again.

With two weeks to go until a week on board a Broads family holiday cruiser, when I fear the bottle may need to come out to reduce cabin fever, I am trying hard to get some losses "on account" so to speak. 

I am already ahead of target for the end of May, so if I can  loose a few more pounds over the next two weeks, I should be able to relax a bit on holiday, and then make a bit of a charge to see if I can hit the three stone by the end of July - the next big target.

Congratulations to two of the many who are losing privately who both recorded losses this week. 

Gains and losses - and not just the election!

At the end of a night which some have called historic, others confusing, but at the best unsettling, winners are celebrating gains and losers mourning losses. In the 43 challenge it is quite the reverse.

At the end of week 13 I have been able to show 11 weeks of losses and one week of gains.  I am delighted to this week to report another loss of 2lbs.

This brings up the net loss of 2stones and 3lbs since Valentines Day, 31lbs towards the 43lb target.

Funds continue to be invested, which is the real bonus, but the road will get harder as the real challenge is to now lose a further 12lbs and keep them off by the 29th September.

That will only be achieved by what politicians will call "regime change" and the change of habits that I have been working towards, and achieving.

Whatever the politicians decide will make no real difference to the 43 challenge - other than keep me up at night following a fascinating story unfold as I am sure we will have another election within 12 months.

Back on Track - after the dreaded vote of confidence!

After the first week's gain last week of a scary 4lbs - that seemed to come from nowhere, this week has seen more focus, and a more ordinary week.

It came at the end of a week where BUILD's Chairman gave the biggest vote of confidence to the cause by making a very significant donation, and just like in the footballing world - after a Chairman's vote of confidence, the Manager ends up going downhill.  Well I hope that's not going to be a literal consequence, but the Chairman's donation, and confidence, did spell the first gain of the campaign.

However, this week we are back on track, thanks to support at home and away, and a re-focus away from some of the treats that had crept into the previous week.

Alex's birthday saw a dinner out - but although chips came with dinner, no desert, or high fat starter, and no beer. Sacrifices had to be made.

The result this week is that the 4lb gain has been wiped out at the first attempt, in one foul swoop, and some with a loss for the week of 5lbs.

This brings up the net loss of 2 stones and 1lb - exactly one stone off the final target loss of 3 stone and 1lb (43lbs).

This brings in what I expect to be the hardest stone to lose, and probably the hardest one to keep off.  The plan is to make sure that I am 43lbs lighter on 29th September 2010 than I was on 14th February 2010, so with around 20 weeks to go I expect some variance to hit that target.

How the hell did that happen?

What a week this has been.

On Sunday I saw one of the last images of my youth disappear on the back of a trailer as I sold a motorbike that I have had for 23 years, I managed to get three days of walking to and from work, to keep up the exercise routine, and I seemed to have been working every day and evening as I juggle accounts from last year and budgets for next as part of the day job.

No lunchtime buffets to tempt or distract me, and only one evening on the beer at a CAMRA branch meeting. All was looking good to add to the losses this week and break into the third stone countdown having completed the two stone level last weekend.

Imagine my surprise this morning when I got on the scales and found I was 4lbs heavier than last week.

How the hell did that happen?

I can only think that I may have given into the temptations of some chocolate biscuits at work this week, and probably missed out on some of the regular meals I have got into the habit of doing - a direct result of a very busy working week.

Whilst disappointed, but above all flabbergasted by the size of the gain, I guess the perspective of 2 stone in 2 months, was never going to last.

What it does mean  is that this has cost me so its another £8 to add to the pot as a penalty.

Some of our secret followers lost this week, so congratulations to them.

Now its back to the grindstone........

Surprises accross the board

As a horse racing fan I had mixed emotions about Tony McCoy finally winning the Grand National at the 15th attempt. There is no doubt that he is probably the best jump jockey ever to grace a horse's back, but one of the cast iron, nailed on bets for the Grand National is that Tony McCoy won't win. So of course I didn't back him. Surprise number 1.

When a football team is up for sale, relegated, financially broke, and with its staff not getting paid (like Portsmouth) they don't win FA Cup Semi Finals against Spurs on an ice rink of a pitch called Wembley. Whilst no money was at stake - you would have backed a shed load of cash on Spurs - who lost. Surprise number 2.

When you are running a weight loss programme that turns in consistent losses as results week after week, linking healthy eating and regular exercise to the loss, you would bet on a week where there was no exercise (walking to work), a drop off in healthy food intake, and giving into temptation (when people offer the remains of their Easter Egg) you know that that run of losses is bound to end. You just know that after weeks and weeks of losses there must be a levelling out somewhere, and this week was that week, or so I thought.

When I got on the scales this morning I was shocked to see another 2lbs off the scales, clocking up the complete 2 stone since Valentines Day. Biggest surprise number 3.

Now I wonder what odds I could get on Nick Clegg ending up in the cabinet after the General Election?

Easter Treats may take their toll.......

My prediction last week was that this was going to be the first week where I recorded a gain in weight. That prediction was based on the fact that I knew I had several nights out, where real ale would play its part, as well as the end of the self imposed cheese and chocolate ban which ended at Easter.

I started this challenge by saying that my food plan would not seek to punish, so this means an unconventional "Kearns Diet" programme which mixes good foods, occassional bad foods, alcohol and regular exercise. So far it has worked well with 25lbs lost to date.

The last week went a bit like this: a meal out on Easter Monday, ice cream, whelks and a hog roast at the Fakenham racing and around 17 pints of real ale consumed over the week at four different events. Couple this with an Easter day buffet at the in-laws, and one chocolate Easter egg- but this was never going to be a good week was it?

On the positive side I have clocked up around 16 miles of walking.

The result - came as a pleasant surprise with another loss this week, of one whole pound - God knows how, but the running net loss programme now stands at 26lbs.

This weekend, its back to a more focused and disciplined programme - the bike may have to come out, and the swimming pool beckons as I work towards the 2 stone mark, which means another 2lbs to lose.

The end of Cheese and Chocolate ban

According to research, Lent officially finished at Sun down last night, which meant that the self imposed ban on cheese and chocolate has finally ended. This means that from today I will allow myself some luxuries, especially as today's weigh in has revealed another 2lb loss, taking the total loss to 25lbs since Valentine's Day.

This feels particularly good given that this last week has included two work related buffets, with danish pastries, chocolate muffins and biscuits floating under my nose at coffee times - all successfully resisted, I might add.

Two days of walking to and from work, clocked up another 10 miles of exercise, and an alcohol free week as well has obviously helped. With the Easter weekend upon us, three nights out, and the choice to break the cheese and chocolate duck will present one of the greatest challenges to date, so next week I am preparing for a level or small gain.

Cheltenham winners, Bath Buns and a half way win

My racing tip for Imperial Commander in the Cheltenham Gold Cup came good, as Kauto Star and Denman, were both, metaphorically, struck by lightening.

A delayed arrival, on course, meant that the Guinness consumption estimate was lower than planned, but two full English breakfasts, a drizzly open top bus tour of Bath and sampling their traditional buns, coupled with a meeting with a Woodfordes Brewery Rep meant that I was expecting this week to have to put money into the fund, as a penalty for putting on weight.

I was therefore surprised, and delighted, to weigh in today, and find another 3lb loss on the scales, bringing the total loss to 23lbs - now over half way to the target of 43lbs.

With one week to go of the "cheese and chocolate abstinence for Lent programme" I am looking forward to Easter when I hope to return to these in moderation, whilst at the same time maintain the more gradual loss programme.

The Kearns Diet continues to focus on fruit snacks, exercise, a high fibre cereal and yoghurt breakfast, and low fat meals. It does include some wine and real ale, but includes walking to the pub and work whenever possible. The change in habit's is beginning to become normal. Avoiding the biscuits with coffee breaks, the late night snacks, and the pastry snacks at corporate buffets are all coming together to make this work.

The impact is still a reduction in neck, chest and waist measurements. I've dropped a shirt size, will have to buy some new clothes in a few weeks time, and a new belt as I have run out of holes to keep my trousers up. Clothes that I haven't worn for several years are coming out of the closet!!

Others who I know are secretly following seem to be doing well too - so let's keep going!!

Money is still coming in - and thanks to those who continue to support, with new donors coming on board. After Easter we hope to launch the challenge to a wider audience as we push towards the £430 fundraising target.

Target Date 1 - Cheltenham Gold Cup Day

The first date and target is here, with the plan to be a net loss of 14lbs since Valentine's Day to today - the day of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.


It's 5.30am and before I leave for Cheltenham I have to accept that there is no chance that I will ever get down to the weight of a Ruby Walsh or a Tony McCoy as their horses in today's Cheltenham Gold Cup race will carry a maximum of about 11stone 10lbs, and that includes the saddle!


My own target has, to use a racing term "will take some getting, in terms of the going and the trip". With this jockey traditionally putting up a few more that a couple of pounds overweight, and with the handicapper setting me a stiff task, getting up the Cheltenham Hill, will be no easy task.


Form is always a guide on these occasions, and a winning horse will normally have a few wins behind them when going into a championship race like this. This old cart horse has posted some good results in the last few weeks with an aggregate 19lb loss since mid February.


My challenge was to be 14lbs less today than when I started, and my reward will be an assault, alongside the fanatical Irish punters on the Desert Orchid Bar in the Best Mate Enclosure at Cheltenham. There will be no crowd roar, as I fight my way to the Guinness bar - if, and only if, the 14lb target has been achieved.


The news is that with all bets off the aggregate loss as of today is a sustained loss of 20lbs to date, just short of the stone and a half mark.

That's only a 1lb loss this week, put down to a quieter week at home, less exercise (whilst watching racing on TV) and the CAMRA AGM, where it would be bad manners not to sink a few pints of real ale.

A loss is a loss and target one is complete, with 6lbs to spare. The bets are on - Imperial Commander and My Will each way - if, and only if Kauto Star and Denman are struck by lightening.

I think I'm allowed a few pints of the Irish stuff to celebrate!!

Capitals and Canapes

With this week's weigh in recording another surprising 4lb loss, the total loss is now 19lbs since Valentine's Day and well on the way to achieving the first target of being 14lbs lighter by the time I go to Cheltenham for the racing next week.

The Guinness with the huge Irish contingent at Cheltenham next week now looks safe, if the week ahead can be "steady as she goes".

Challenges this last week included a Monday with two work related receptions offering very nice food and wine, courtesy of the Theatre Royal (lunchtime) and the Lord Mayor of Norwich (evening). Polite participation and two days of walking to, and from, work (5 miles a day) helped keep the exercise routine going and make up for a weekend away with good food on a scout training course.

I was in London yesterday taking a couple of people from work on a sightseeing tour, that although ended in Burger King, saw resistance to all things bad - well almost!

A trip to Greenwich Market saw me sampling a Brazilian Doughnut, purely in the name of cultural experimentation you understand. It was about four inches long, and filled with a caramel sauce, and was my only indiscretion as the now regular accompaniment of apples and bananas kept hunger locked up.

It seems that the metabolism is changing. I don't actually feel hungry, or crave anything - which is a surprise, as perhaps I am not eating enough, but the changed habits, including a regular breakfast, snacking only on fruit, reduced alcohol, and increased exercise seems to making the desired differences.

This is the first real week that I have seen inches going of waist and chest, belts are beginning to need extra holes, and trousers seem to be getting a mind of their own in staying where they should. Builder's bum has arrived, particularly when walking up stairs!

The next week needs a bit of planning, and I think that has become one of the tricks of this campaign.

Traditionally, during the Cheltenham Racing Festival week I would settle down in front of the TV for the first three days of the Festival with regular cups of coffee and a packet of biscuits, that just seem to disappear between first and last race.

On day four, an early morning start, an enormous full English breakfast at the M6 Corley Services, and enough Guinness to float back to my Irish ancestry would be followed by a lunch of burger, chips or Chinese, ahead of the racing and then a post racing three course dinner and wine at the hotel on Friday night.

Time for change I guess - as another habit needs to be consigned to history - but I will allow myself some reward for the hard work to date.

So at the start of one of my favourite weeks of the year, I guess a tip is required and it is................apples and bananas. They take time to eat, easy to carry, and fill you up.

Friday means "Weigh Day" and a more realistic loss in the last seven days of 3lbs making a running total loss since Valentine's Day of 15lbs.

That's the first stone gone, and the hard work begins to get the other two off, and keep the momentum going.

Again this week I would say its about changing habits. Eating more of the good things and less of the rubbish. I have allowed myself a couple of glasses of wine this week (well three actually!!) and last night I ate chips, in a meal out. With no starter or pudding and a reasonably healthy main course, it seemed realistic.

As is a normal part of my work, I attend a lot of meetings that offer buffet lunches, coffee and biscuits or cakes, and again this week all have been resisted. Even that little tub of sweets they annoyingly put in hotels on the conference table was overlooked.

The timetable this week hasn't allowed for walking to work, or any other real exercise, so that will have to be addressed in the coming weeks if the momentum is being kept up.

I've started to notice a few changes, like belts needing extra notches to keep my trousers up, and shirts not bulging as much as they used to, so that must be a good thing.

A new challenge this weekend as I lead a residential training course, where traditionally, a fair amount of wine has been consumed, cheese suppers last well into the night, with an healthy over-indulgence in pringles almost guaranteed in the past. Last night I found myself in Tescos buying a box of grapes and a bunch of bananas (and a couple of bottles of wine!!) and although it seemed strange, it felt strangely gratifying.

With a good chef cooking this weekend, I can't guarantee abstinence from all things good, but the lent denial of cheese and chocolate has kept going, and with the first target achieved two weeks ahead of schedule, I need to keep focused.

Congratulations to those people who are secretly following my progress, both of whom reported losses last week - lets keep this going together, and then arrange a meal out in the summer to celebrate maybe!

The first weigh in took place this morning. The first weigh in since Valentine's Day, which was a few days before I launched Challenge 43, and in the 12 days since then, I have lost a whopping 12lbs.

The learning from the first phase is about changing habits. The first two days of dieting included a work related night out at a Chinese buffet restaurant, the second day a beer and curry night - not the greatest start, but changing habits has been about healthier eating, more regular eating.

I have so far kept to my Lent commitments of no cheese or chocolate. Lots of fruit - apples, oranges and bananas, and more walking.

The temptations avoided have been there,but have been conquered.

Two or three business lunch buffets - stacked with pastry and cakes, a long working day in London, traditionally kicked off with a full English breakfast at Liverpool Street Station to set me up for the day, avoided and replaced by a coffee and a bacon baguette.

Above all of that though has been the support and home, and away, in terms of moral and financial support, so my thanks to all who have provided that lift in the first big challenges.

The next week will be hard, the novelty will wear off, I am sure and the targets more realistic, but the focus is still there, so join me again next weekend for an update.

What a start! - a fabulous response to launching the appeal with over £200 raised during the first week. Thanks to everyone who is supporting me. It seems there are a couple of people secretly joining this programme, and I hope that we can inspire each other over the coming weeks.

Friday is the first weigh in when I hope to be able to announce the first set of results and how far we are towards achieving the 43lb target. Given that an average two pubs a week, in the UK, are already closing, I am sure that my campaign isn't going to help get Britain out of recession, but it might keep me alive longer to spend when it makes a proper recovery.

I have given up cheese and chocolate for lent - just to kick start things and so far I am being able to resist temptation.

On Friday, we'll see whether the sacrifices are paying off and I'll share some tips and experiences from the first full week of Challenge 43.

The 43 Challenge - getting started

The 43 challenge is my personal weight loss programme that aims to lose 43lbs between February and September 2010 (which will be my 43rd birthday) whilst raising money for the Norfolk based charity BUILD, http://www.buildnorwich.org.uk/ which is celebrating its 43rd anniversary in 2010.


Launched on the evening of 17th February, this campaign raised over £170 in its first 24 hours from a phenominal, and overwhelming response from friends and colleagues which has provided me with a great boost - so thanks to all who have given this campaign a great kickstart.


Donations can be made through http://www.justgiving.com/beatthebulgeforbuild


I am new to blogging so hope to provide a weekly update to supporters on the trials and tribulations of shifting over 3 stone in what some would describe as an unconventional lifestyle.