Blog: From fat to fit for the Ludlow 12k

I have come to the devastating and disappointing conclusion my once ravenous metabolism has slowed to a standstill writes Peter Finch.

As I write this my belly is touching the table and wobbling in contentment at the disturbing amount of Kung Po chicken rolling around inside - what a fat blubbery mess I've become.

My favourite clothes don't fit, I'm becoming quite pathetically self conscious and constantly knackered when heaving my flabby frame out of bed. It's time for a radical change.

Recent studies have shown Britain is one of the fattest nations in the world. A combination of bad food, too much alcohol and no exercise is rendering a vast number of people obese.

More and more of us are likely to put a heavy (sorry) strain on the NHS when our hearts begin to scream in protest as another Big Mac is snaffled down or our extremities drop off from cake induced diabetes.

In my prime five-years-ago I weighed 12st, now the scales are bending over 15. Add into this my demonic drinking habits and the outlook is grim.

Like most chunky monkeys I could cite long stressful hours at work for my inactivity. But the fact is while my pronounced muffin-top has swelled I've become lazy.

I'm not calling all fat people lazy... but fatties like me are lazy about what we eat and lazy about the amount we exercise.

In an attempt to reverse the trend I'm about to embark on a fat busting experiment - one which you are most welcome to join.

In September a new running race will come to Shropshire. The Ludlow 12k Fitness Fest will take place on September 23 and includes, as you may have guessed, a 12k race as well as a mass outdoor Zumba, Yoga and Pilates sessions inside Ludlow Castle.

In the intervening weeks until the race I will attempt to reduce my carcass mass to below 14st whilst blogging about my training.

I have opened a Facebook page where people can read updates on my progress, Ludlow 12K details, running routes, fitness tips, healthy food recipes and a mass of other information.

Ludlow 12k organiser and marathon runner Jon Bruford has agreed to train me and help avoid an inevitable cardiac arrest.

He seems to believe it possible for this fleshy, deskbound keyboard basher to become a born-again fitness machine before the starting pistol sounds next month.

Ludlow 12k is also being held for something much bigger than me, if that's possible.

It will raise money for Severn Hospice whose outstanding work continues to touch the lives of thousands of people.

If it's not possible for me to get motivated about raising money for the hospice, extending my life expectancy, losing weight and getting fit then

I'll look at the TV – we've only got the world's greatest athletes running around London!

I've included all the links about Ludlow 12k on the Facebook page and hope to see some of you on the start line.

Fatty out.