Chef sheds stones for charity run

Indeed, just a year ago the 26-year-old former rugby flank forward had fallen into that very trap, piling on the pounds to tip the scales at more than 19 stones.

But determination, self-discipline and the support of his wife, Chloe, a student teacher at Brighton University, who herself lost several stones as the couple dieted together, mean Michael is now around 11 stones and feeling a whole lot fitter.

So much so that on April 10 he will be taking part in the Brighton Marathon, with the aim of completing the course within three hours, 30 minutes and raising more than £500 in sponsorship for the Sussex Air Ambulance.

Michael said: “I love running. It’s been part of my regime to get back in trim and in November I ran the Bexhill half-marathon in one hour 43 minutes, so that I feel confident of taking on the full 26 miles at Brighton and turning in a respectable time.”

Welsh-born Michael, formerly of Cafe Belge and who has lived in Bexhill for three-and-a-half years, is now training hard for the event, running five days a week over varying distances to build up his stamina and tone his muscles.

He said: “I was able to use my culinary knowledge, combined with a Tesco on-line diet, to change my eating habits so that I could safely cut out most carbohydrates and stop feeling so heavy and easily tired.

“My rule of thumb is not to eat anything looking remotely beige - chips are beige, rolls are beige, so that rules them out so far as I’m concerned.”

But both Michael and Chloe, in devising diets to suit their personal needs, were careful to consult their family doctor before embarking on their weight-loss bid.

Anyone keen to back Michael in his marathon efforts can call into the Mermaid to make a donation or sign a sponsorship form, or visit his charity webpage on-line at: www.everydayhero.co.uk/michael_veevers

Michael said he had chosen Sussex Air Ambulance as his cause for no other reason than he thinks its a vital facility for the county, yet relies entirely on donations to meet operating costs of around £1.7 million a year.