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.