Carmarthen Journal reporter Lee MacGregor joined businessman Andrew Bassett in a county-wide campaign to tone up and slim down. He will chronicle their efforts for Journal readers in the coming months but gives an insight in the first of the series, below…

---

It is one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced – to enjoy myself in the gym.

The thought of spending precious hours toiling on the bikes, rowing machines and weights had filled me with dread.

And when fitness tests showed I was below average, the feeling of doom really sank in.

But I had taken the first step, and along with local businessman Andrew Bassett, had joined the gym at Carmarthen leisure centre.

Over the coming months, we aim to get in shape and lose weight.

Our challenge comes as figures show that obesity in Carmarthenshire is on the rise and growing numbers are turning into couch potatoes.

The county council is aiming to reverse this trend and has embarked on a major health and fitness drive in the region.

The aim is simple – to encourage more people to start exercising, and enjoy it!

Andrew is 39, I am 21 and we are both overweight.

We want to improve our lifestyles and fitness levels, and lose a little weight in the process.

To give us extra incentive we are raising money for Cilgerran Ward at Carmarthen’s Glangwili Hospital.

Our progress will be monitored in the coming months with regular reports in the Journal.

The leisure centre’s fitness manager John Williams has already put us through our paces and will advise us along the way on exercise and diet.

We are both keeping diaries of what we eat, but because we like a weekend tipple, we have allowed ourselves one day a week to let our belts loose.

I am 21, 5ft 11 and weigh in at 16 stone 11lbs with a body fat level of 17.32 per cent, over my preferred 15 per cent.

Andrew is 39, 5ft 10 and 18 stone 1lb. He has 23.82 per cent body fat, his preferred is 20 per cent.

John has advised us not to become disheartened if the pounds don’t start falling off.

“When you start exercising, as you gain muscle tone you will lose body fat but gain lean tissue, and lean tissue is heavier than fat, ” he said.

“So by the scales you may only lose a few pounds over a period of time. You will however have lost a lot more body fat.”

Andrew and I have undergone a series of tests to record our base to work from.

Needless to say we had some not so surprising results.

Our body fat percentages were, as expected, above the preferred level.

In the fitness test Andrew was deemed to be below average for his age. I was even worse with a poor rating.

Andrew was found to be strong with an above average bench press score and excellent grip.

I however came in with below average scores in both.

Andrew’s lungs are functioning at a good rate of 86 per cent, I was found to have strong with a rate of 96 per cent.

We were both found to have a below average level of flexibility.

From the results it is clear that we both need to improve our fitness levels.

Readers wll be kept informed about our efforts and progress over the coming months.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]