Participants: John Young, Ryan Magennis, Mandip Farmahan, Alastair Traquair and Gary Carroll

Our goal is to raise money for a worthwhile charity, whilst highlighting the benefits of healthier eating and lifestyle to ourselves and others.

Due to the recent press coverage in the UK in the growing trend in the UK waist line, we have decided to fight the middle age spread, and make a positive effort to change our views to diet and exercise.

As a group of fit and healthy individuals (marathon runner, cyclists, footballers) who exercise regularly and perceive ourselves to eat quite healthily we were surprised to find out that all of us were carrying too much body fat, not drinking enough water and could do some simple things to improve our sense of well being.

Taking small steps works for many people, but being involved in competitive sports, we are attempting to harness competitive rivalry as a motivating tool to eat healthier and exercise more.

The aim of our challenge is not to lose weight, but to shed some of the unwanted body fat (muffin tops and man boobs never look good in Speedo’s) at the same time as gaining some muscle and fitness. During the 15 weeks that we will be eating healthily and exercising, we will be taking part in various events.

We’ll be donating money each week to our designated charity; the Calman trust, for the privilege of weighing ourselves on a Tanita body composition analyzer. The worst performer each week donating double to charity for their eating and drinking sins.

The first planned event is a Zumbathon on Thursday the 27 of September, taking place in the Lifescan Inverness canteen, we will all be doing a Zumba from 1700 to 1720, the loser doing a Zumba from 1700 to 1800 in a pink tutu. If Mandip loses he will also be sporting pigtails.

Further events will be updated later, we are hoping to have a forfeit monthly for the biggest sinner.