HYPOCRITES, us? Never.

Adver journalists Anna Mansell, Stephanie Tye and Hayley Court are ready to announce to the world that they're on a diet mission.

The three twenty-somethings have signed up with the best known slimming clubs and are taking part in charity walks to make a difference to their waist lines and their clothes sizes.

Shamed into action by the thought of producing weekly items for the Shape Up Swindon campaign, this trio of reporters are admitting their efforts so Adver readers can keep a check on them.

Stephanie said: "I've been going on about losing weight for two years and just haven't got around to doing it.

"With the Adver's Shape Up Swindon campaign, I didn't feel I could be involved with the project if I didn't practice what we were trying to preach."

The pressure of writing a blog about weight loss and getting fitter is just what Anna needed to keep her motivated, with the weekly weigh-in sessions with WeightWatchers also getting her on track.

"I've tried losing weight by myself, but I just lose my way instead and it gets side-lined," she said.

"As a rule, I've always eaten healthily - brown bread, rice and pasta, skimmed milk, no butter, and plenty of fruit and veg - but I just enjoy food too much.

"The discipline I need to reduce the amounts of these good foods is being provided by WeightWatchers. And announcing my intentions in the paper will have to help too - I can't fail now."

Since starting their diets in January, Anna and Stephanie have lost more than half a stone each.

Hayley is taking the exercise route, with the addition of a Lenten pledge of giving up chocolate.

"I hadn't noticed how much weight I had piled on until I saw an unflattering photo of myself posted on my friend's webpage," she said.

"I've put on jmore than two stone in two years and have gone from a rather slender size 8/10 to a wobbly 12/14.

"At the moment I'm trying to battle the bulge by going swimming once a week. I have also invested in a lateral thigh trainer which promises to turn my spare tyre into a toned stomach - as long as I do 15 minutes every day."

AIMS:
Stephanie: To get back to the size I was when I left school, a healthy size 12. Back then I thought it was fat, but looking at the pictures I'd be happy to look like that again.

Anna: My initial goal is to be a size 14 again, comfortably. I know the skinny brigade will say that's just not good enough, but to me it's important to stay true to who I am. I'm aiming to get fitter too, as having a healthy heart is more important than clothes sizes.

Hayley: To tone my stomach and shed a few pounds in the 33 days remaining of Lent.