As a self-confessed 'fat man', the Eastern Daily Press' Andy Russell has chosen to test a newly-launched weight-loss programme called fatmanslim.

Currently weighing in at 14st 4lb, the Daily Press night editor is hoping that this scheme, specifically aimed at men, will succeed where several others have failed.

Andy said: "For years I have kidded myself about my weight - I'm short for my weight, heavy boned, new trousers are being cut tighter and it's just middle-age spread.

"The truth is I'm fat and I come from a family that is, how shall I put it, on the large side. I grew up with diets - my mother always seemed to be on one - and, as a fat child, I was on one.

"Over the years, I've tried various diet fads - alternating between cabbage soup, carbohydrates and protein - and spent pounds and pounds... only to lose ounces.

"And I always seemed to be the odd one out at slimming classes for the simple reason that I am a man and all the other fat-busters were women."

Andy's aim during the 12-week programme is to lose 10cm, or four inches, off his waistline.

To help him achieve this he has forked out £84 for a step-by-step weight-loss guide, four explanatory tapes which help advise and motivate, a special tape measure and a calorie-counter book.

In his first week Andy had to list why he has put on weight and how being overweight affects him.

He also had to keep a 'hunger score' - a mental scale of one to 10 of whether you are not hungry at all or starving - to help him decide if he genuinely needs to eat or if it is just habit, stress or boredom.

He said: "The frightening part was finding out just how big my waist really is. I knew my 36in waist trousers were snug and what used to be a little roll over the top had become a sizeable overhang, but when I measured my waist just below my tummy button I was staggered it was 42 inches.

"My weight problem has not been helped by working nights on the Daily Press, getting home in the early hours, having a couple of beers and a snack before bed.

"It's early days on fatmanslim but I now have a breakfast of healthy, filling high-fibre cereal and skimmed milk, even it means I don't want lunch until mid-afternoon, but I am not snacking during the day, and try not to eat after 8pm.

"And I'm enjoying it, rather than resenting being on a diet, and looking forward to waisting away enough to get into that skimpy pair of swimming trunks I have never dared wear."

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nepmidlands.co.uk