Heavy Mob’s perfect score is a lift!

DAWN ECKERSLEY — with our volunteers every step of the way — reports on week four of the programmeIT might by perfect 6s for Torvill and Dean but it was a row of perfect 10s that had the Heavy Mob smiling this week.

Team leader Maggie Hurley and her band of merry weight watchers - Joan Hague, Malana Bridge, Chris Hamilton, Dave McGealy and John Carhart - all scored 10 out of 10 this week giving them a total maximum of 60.

Wide Load, who are expertly led by Nicola Melvin, scored 58 after - despite his best efforts - Big Al failed to lose weight in the week despite several visits to the gym and Roger Hindle missed a training session.

This leaves Wide Load on 226 points but it’s still not even the halfway point in the challenge and there are lots of points still to be played for..

Several of the recruits turned up expecting the worst after enjoying gourmet Valentine’s meals but the scales told a different story and the majority have kept up with their steady weight loss.

After completely letting his team mates down last week, it seems Chaddy the Owl has had his wings clipped as he turned up with his tail between his legs ready for action.

Despite his cheeseburger munching, penchant for pints of Stella and love of curry he actually managed to lose weight this week to the delight of his Wide Load colleagues.

But the mischief making mascot is never far from trouble so we’ll have to see if he can manage to keep up the good work.

His bosses at Latics promised me a new and improved Chaddy this week and while he still has his flaws — and plenty of them — his heart is usually in the right place.

Make sure you catch next week’s Chronicle to read the next chapter in the race to be weight loss champions.




Boxing proves a hit



RUMOURS of Jason ‘Bully Boy’ Bailey’s brutality have been flying around the Get Moving To Health camp from Day One.



And this week, our recruits finally got the chance to experience the full onslaught for themselves in an hour-long circuit session.

Beads of sweat started to trickle down their faces as Jason explained what was expected of them at each exercise station and soon enough we were on the move.

The warm up saw the gang looking like a group of drunkards in a town centre nightclub and Heavy Mob leader Maggie Hurley even put her handbag in the middle of the room to get us in the mood.

Soon enough, the real workout started and we were squatting, lunging, bending and lifting as if our lives depended on it.

For some reason, the boxing station proved the most popular, with our recruits using the chance to release all their aggression in a minute of fury that would have impressed Ricky Hatton.

We also had to contend with various leg raises, weight lifts and fit ball fun as the circuit continued.

After a workout on each station Jason ordered us to move on and before we knew it we were back to the start and the torture was over.

Much as the group would hate to admit it, I think they secretly enjoyed themselves and their gusto earned them all full marks for effort.

Find out how the gang get on when nutritionist Louise Brown gets her claws into their eating habits in next Wednesday’s Chronicle.




Pounds make £s for charity



EVERY pound lost by Chris Hamilton is money gained for the Royal Oldham Hospital’s Victoria Breast Care Unit — so the pressure is on.



The Roughyeds’ chief executive has bid a fond farewell to his old friends pies, chips and crisps and enlisted the help of new buddy — salad — to help him achieve his goals.

The 46-year-old signed up for “Get Moving To Health” to help him stay determined and focused and it seems to be working.

His frantic work schedule sees him eating irregularly but he’s managed to fit gym sessions into his diary and is loving his time on the rower, cross trainer and treadmill.

He said: “My exercise regime tends to be all or nothing and with the various physical challenges I have undertaken to raise awareness and money for breast cancer charities over the years, I am no stranger to hard work in the gym.

“I have to make going to the gym part of my diary in terms of putting it in almost like an appointment or else it tends to get pushed out as work takes over. Once I am there however I train hard — the only way I know.”

“I am starting to see results from what I have been doing. I am definitely starting to see the beginnings of a new shape. I know if I keep up it will come off and I am certainly feeling a lot fitter. Perhaps the most important aspect of this is the vigour it gives you to carry on.”

Chris’s team — The Heavy Mob — are leading the points race thanks to their commitment to keeping each other motivated and on track.

He said: “There are times when I wish I could eat the foods that I like but I have to admit that for me this will need to be the start of life changes as I am no good when left to my own devices.

“Moderation isn’t a word I know the meaning of and I look upon this as a chance to get fitter, slimmer and start to look after my body.

“I very much hope that I will carry on with the changes I have made once the challenge is over. My biggest problem will be thinking that if I am not being weighed every week then it doesn’t matter so much but I have to get my head round the fact that, for once, this is for Christopher Hamilton’s benefit and not somebody else’s and keep it a priority.”

Chris believes if he can put his mind to losing weight and getting fitter anyone can.

He added: “Some weeks you don’t think you are getting the rewards for the effort you put in but it is a great feeling when you lose weight and feel fitter.

“The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and if you have people around you to support you listen to their advice when you feel like giving up.

“Don’t put it off any longer - Get Moving To Health.”




Go to the Get Moving to Health section on the Chronicle website — www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk - for Deputy Editor David Whaley’s weekly blog on the trials of trying to lose weight