A HOSPITAL worker is all set to tackle this year’s London Marathon after shedding an astonishing 12 stone in just two years.

Twenty-eight-year-old Adam Blanchard, who lives in West Swindon, will also attempt a London to Paris bike ride on an exercise machine outside the Great Western Hospital today.

Weight loss superman Adam, who works as the hospital’s catering manager, has seen his life transform over the last two years and is keen to do as much as he can to raise funds for Brighter Futures.

Adam said: “I almost got to the point of no return and I realised I had to make a change. I still don’t really know what triggered the change, but I’m glad it worked out alright.

“For me, it was about changing the mentality around how or why we lose weight. I had a complete lifestyle change. In terms of dieting, the key was not to restrict everything but to have it in moderation.”

At his peak, Adam weighed in at a hefty 28 stone. But simply through eating properly and exercising regularly, he’s now a healthier and happier 16 stone.

“Unfortunately a lot of people think there’s a big secret to losing weight, but it’s all down to hard work and educating yourself about food,” he said.

He exercises five times a week for between one and two hours each time.

When he first began running, he could barely even make it 100 metres to the end of his road. But after a huge amount of hard work and dedication, he completed the Stroud Half Marathon in November and will hit the streets of the capital in April to undertake his biggest challenge yet.

“I enjoyed the training process,” he said. “I was very lucky because I managed to get myself into the right frame of mind at the beginning.

“If you don’t enjoy it you are constantly battling with yourself. You get tough days when you are tired, but it’s those days that show you how much you have changed.

“For my whole life I excluded myself from doing anything like that and now I’m fit enough and strong enough to do it.

“But I am really looking forward to it – I like a challenge now. I feel much better in myself, too; I’m a completely different person.”

The London to Paris bike ride will be attempted over 12 hours and he will be joined at various points throughout the day, by work colleagues, friends and family.

“Everyone has been brilliant, I couldn’t have asked for any more support,” he said, proudly.

Speaking about why he chose to support Brighter Futures, he said: “Because it’s the charity for the hospital, I see all the hard work that the team does to raise money and I wanted to give them my support.

“It’s really important to bring radiotherapy to Swindon. I know people who have had to make the journey to Oxford and I’ve seen the added stress it causes.

“Having a radiotherapy unit closer to home will make people’s lives so much easier and should aid their recovery.”