Recognising that losing weight and toning up appear at the top of many wish lists, she also offered her services over a three month period free of charge to help kick-start the regimes of two readers and, hopefully, motivate many others.

Six of the magnificent seven met up with Linda for the first time for a getting-to-know-you meeting at Fortrose Leisure Centre.

The seventh, Mary Pickering, had to lie low because of 'flu but is now raring to go when the challenge proper starts in the second week of January.

All of the participants, who range in age from 29 to 72 and come from all walks of life, have agreed to share their experiences with readers in the weeks that follow.

All successfully persuaded Linda of why they felt they would benefit from her help.

Natalie Simmons (42) from Evanton admits that despite being a generally healthy person she "should be fitter" and sometimes lacks energy. In common with many, she's keen to lose a little flab around the tummy area. And she is adamant that "fitness is not just for the young"!

John Skinner, who lives in Rosemarkie, has played for Ross County in his time and even entered iron man-style challenges. The burly Black Isle grandfather, who still finds time to jog, also confesses to having tried many weight loss programmes and believes he would benefit from being pointed in the right direction.

Helen Bull, who is 50, works in a special school and also helps run the environmental education centre at Glachbeg near Tore. Helen wrote, "I have always struggled with my weight even though I often swim doing a kilometre or a mile twice a week. I suffer from osteoarthritis in all my joints, and a spongified spine caused in a fall 35 years ago and would love to become fitter in order to relieve some of the pain I suffer from. I would be even more productive at my work if I was able to feel fitter."

Seventy-two-year-old Mary Pickering is an ex-nurse who also suffers from osteo-arthritis and has had one successful knee replacement. She keeps active by bowling and going to an over-60s keep fit class but admits to dreading the winter when she finds it hard to be motivated.

Chris Young, who lives on the Black Isle, is the same age. Though she walks her dogs every day, she feels she could benefit from losing some weight and increasing her flexibility so she can walk further and faster.

Dingwall resident Gayle Anderson has a 30th birthday looming next year and admits to having put a lot of her time into her career as a team leader. While stating that her "get up and go has got up and gone", she also pledges to "work my backside off to reach my goals".

Mother-of-two Yana Swanson from Alness is the same age as Gayle and, like many, has seen her weight fluctuate dramatically since having children. Having previously done kickboxing and body pump exercise programmes, she says she relishes a challenge and sums up her attitude by saying, "I can't put into words how ready for this I am!"

* Our intrepid volunteers have now briefly met Linda and will be putting themselves forward for initial health assessments immediately after the festive season.

Watch this space to see how they get on...

editor@rsjournal.co.uk

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