Hello

As the photo shows, I over the years became a bear. Now bears are fine, - if they're your thing - but it wasn't something I purposefully wanted.

Rather, I was a guy who just ate too much; too much of the good stuff (yes, I fit every cliche of cooking from srcatch daily; and you're as likely to find a chicken carcass in my freezer for stockmaking as you are ice-cream - which is always also home-made, natch)

So you get the idea. I like food a lot. I also earn my living from it: I'm director for England of the biggest quality food NGO in the world.

But the weight piled on, and whilst too old to be a twink, I equally found life as an accidental bear tough - high blood pressure, prediabetic state being loud alarms.

I have already shed almost two stone, and have another two and half to go. Would be good to have a few more cheerleaders on the marathon path, and for me to likewise do the same.

Feel free to add me, particularly if you're in the UK. Gender, age etc don't matter.

SH