After a week in which his gym training has paid dividends, Chris Cordner is stepping up the pace.

Read the latest instalment of his bid to get fit with the help of Springs health spa.

MY workmates are a sarcastic lot.

"Hiya skinny" said one as I entered the room.

That was at the start of the day.

Then, when I left the office to go to my latest exercise session at Springs, they burst into a rendition of the Rocky theme tune!

One of them kept up the theme and shouted "Adrienne!" as I walked out the door.
But once the mickey taking is put aside, they have supported me every step of the way.

You have no idea how inspiring it is to see friends and work colleagues say "you look so healthy" and "the weight is dropping off you."

They are the same friends who watched for years as I munched my way through umpteen bars of chocolate and drank fizzy pop endlessly.

Once I arrived at Springs, the banter continued. Seems as if people are starting to follow my progress in the Mail.

That's exactly what I want. The message has to get out that healthy living is important - and I'm still disgusted at myself for not getting fit sooner.

One man in the gym spotted me and said: "It's our local celebrity!"

Another said: "Nice article in the Mail last night."
Like me, they were determined to get into the best shape they could manage.

Each of them had tips on how I could improve myself further. The best liquids to drink, the best foods to have, that sort of thing.

It's all stimulating conversation and I feel glad to feel part of it all.

I went to my training session full of determination that day.

It hurt like hell but I don't care. I'm heading for my 50s in the best shape I can manage.