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As long as I can remember I have been large, but never really what you would refer to as ‘fat’, (“Big Boned” my mum always used to say), that all changed some 7 years ago with the start of ongoing health problems, starting with a thyroid problem, progressing through Diabetes and culminating in spinal arthritis.

 The consequence of this was a gradual weight gain, a slow decrease in mobility and a current weight of over 25 stone (that’s 160 Kilo’s +).

 It is easy to sit back, blame circumstance, blame bad luck, feel sorry for yourself, and give up, and I have done all of those. There came a realisation however that the damage the extra weight is doing was to my body, it is my mortality that is at stake here, and I have to do something about it.

 I inundated my GP, and my Diabetic specialist with requests to get a referral to the Bariatric Surgery clinic held at the Churchill hospital, and some 18 months ago I had my referral, 18 months on I received the distressing news that Oxfordshire PCT had refused funding for a stomach bypass operation.

 Determined that I am going to lose weight I have made the decision that I will therefore attempt the tried & tested method and diet.

 I intend to start a diet regime and to raise funds for the John Radcliffe Oxford Heart Centre I will seek sponsorship of my weight loss from 25^th June 2010 to 24^th December 2010

.Money Raised will go to help buy equipment to help make patients at the OXFORD HEART CENTRE more comfortable during their stay