The weigh-in

January 7 loomed large - and the full extent of what I had signed up for came fully into focus.
One year, 2 stone, £2 for every pound in weight lost - and lots of gym visits.
Rewind a few weeks and I had decided to help myself - and the BFP appeal - by losing weight, getting fit and seeking sponsors for every pound I lost. ( If you'd like to sponsor me, drop me an email at barry.peters@jpress.co.uk )
Abbeycroft Leisure ( @ac_leisure ) had agreed to come on board and provide me with the trainer (take a bow Helen Bye), the facilities and the helpful advice to lose the weight.
I was nervous when I drew up at Abbeycroft Leisure's Bury leisure centre, but I need not have worried.
The atmosphere was very welcoming and I was met by fitness manager Matt Hickey and taken to meet the team.
Helen Bye, my torturer, has been with Abbeycroft and its previous incarnation for more than a decade. She was featured in the #buryfreepress last year when her family discovered a minute bird egg (you may recall it).
Helen took me through the basics and weighed me (135kg) and took various stats and blood pressure. This was high - and so I was advised to get a GP check before exercising.
Now to many people, this may be a real off-putter. But don't let it be so...I trundled off to see the nice Lesley Goldberg at Mount Farm Surgery and was given another check and a home monitor. Lesley explained that, even with medication, I would still be able to exercise. The home monitor is used over a week and I'm checking the pressure this week.
The appeal - which launches in the #buryfreepress on Friday via Andrew Fitchett (@BfpAndrew) - is to raise money for a specialist piece of equipment to detect prostate cancer early in young men.
The decision to raise the £55k required came after a meeting with the team from #westsuffolkhospital and PR lady Liz Hearnshaw.
More will follow on what the kit can do - along with pics from a photoshoot in the gym.