In my late teens I was far to over-weight and was not happy about it. I often thought about the different ways in which I could try to become slimmer, but that is all I would do, think.

I suppose that I was obese due to the fact that I comfort ate because I had a stutter. The stuttering treatment on offer was not working and I could just see no prospect of me to ever stop stuttering.

These are the reasons I would make at that stage of my life, to put off my attempts at losing weight:

I am too tired. In the morning, I would wake up with very good intentions. I would tell myself that after I finish work, that I would go for a short jog. It will then be a case of some weight training - oh yes I do love pumping some iron and I have no doubt that I will be hitting some new personal bests later on. I would also try a few press ups and also start watching what I was eating.

After work, I would return home and would then make up the excuse that I am too tired. Instead of going for a jog today, I would start my fitness regime tomorrow etc. Working for a composite door company, selling cheap holidays, was far from easy and I would come home very tired. This is perhaps one reason why I now work for a group of DVD duplication experts lol.

My body is aching. This was a regular excuse. I was forever talking to myself - I suppose I was trying to convince myself that the exercise would do me more harm than good.

It could be dangerous. When thinking in more depth about my great plan to go running I then started to convince myself that it could, in reality, be quite dangerous. What if I come across a madman with a knife?

I eventually after many years decided to stop making up these excuses. I had to be determined to not only start up a fitness regime but to stick to it. It was not easy at all but after quite a long time I reached a weight which I was happy with.