About

Hello. I'm a man in my mid-thirties who has let himself get a little portly over the festive period, and I want to lose some weight so I can see my abs and obliques again.

However. I like my free time; object to paying money for the gym; get up before 6 every work day; get home from work after 7; and don't really have time to take a lunch break.

That said, I have a PhD in a biological discipline, was a research scientist and, while it wasn't my major field of study, can remember some of my biochemistry and physiology. I have a set of dumbbells, can usually find a few minutes while the kettle boils in the morning to do some press-ups and, while I have a chin-up bar, it's starting to take the door frame apart, so I've had to knock that one on the head.

I enjoy pies, pints and I actually do enjoy cooking, but it's just not how I want to spend too much time -particularly on a weekday.

I also like doughnuts - and I can get five of them for 75p.

Can I lose weights with a predominantly caffeine-based breakfast and doughnut-based lunch? Will I be dead in six months? Will I be so unhealthy I won't be able to function, feel terrible, have no energy and succumb to every mild cold virus that passes through the same postcode?

Let's find out...