WELL DONE STEVE!

If you are a member of a Fantasy Footfall league, the chances are that you will have come across May’s Member of the Month Steve Duckworth - also known as stevedee. We caught up with him to find out just how he fits so many steps into his day.

When Steve Duckworth was offered a Fitbug membership by his employer, Ford, it’s fair to say that he was a little sceptical about the idea.

He knew that he wanted to do something about his increasing weight, so despite his reservations he decided to give it a go.

“I came across Fitbug when my company Ford offered it as part of its edap (Employee Development Assistance Programme) scheme,” says Steve.

“I had just given up smoking and I’d put on a bit of weight and was feeling a bit podgy! I didn’t really think it would work, but I thought I might as well give it a go as I had nothing to lose.

“After a couple of weeks, I had already lost a couple of pounds and was starting to think ‘hang on, this could work’, within three months I had lost two stone and was looking and feeling healthy again.”

As well as following the Fitbug activity plan, Steve realised that dropping the excess pounds was also going to involve regaining control of his diet.

Although it was tough to cut back on his favourite sugary foods, he found that it was worth the sacrifice.

He adds: “I decided to cut back on fatty foods such as crisps, but I think cutting back on sugary foods, like cakes and biscuits and my sweet cups of tea and coffee, made a bigger difference.

“At first it was hard to stop eating my favourite things but I got used to it. I would rather have a slim waistline than sugar in my coffee!”

While many members find it difficult to cram the ‘magic’ 10,000 steps into their diet, Steve is a different kettle of fish entirely.

An average day includes at least 20,000 steps, while he has been known to do up to a whopping 41,689, and he says he finds it easy to fit all that activity - and a full-time job - into his life.

“In recent years I have become an early riser so now I get up in the morning and spend the time walking.

“There is the odd day when I would rather stay in bed, but once I’m up on my feet I am always glad I did it.

"I walk for an hour in the morning, another one at lunch time and then do whatever I can during the rest of the day.

“In the office, I take a little break - like walking to the photo copier or doing a tea run - whenever I can because it all mounts up.”

In his nine months as a Fitbug member, Steve has missed his targets just twice and unlike us mere mortals, he doesn’t let factors like adverse weather conditions or holidays get in the way of his regime.

“I have missed my targets a couple of times, when I have been sat in the car all day. It didn’t make me feel bad, but I can’t wait to get back to it.

“Activity has now become a part of my life, so when I went on holiday back to Yorkshire, where I am from, I even turned it into a walking holiday in the dales.

“If it rains, I just put up an umbrella and in the cold weather I wrapped up warm and walked faster!

“I know that I don’t want to go back to how I was when I started, so I’m not going to let minor things like a little bit of rain get in my way.”

Steve achieved great results after joining Ford’s edap scheme. To find out how to get Fitbug for your business ring 020 7449 4949.

If you think you could be our next member of the month - and receive a free Fitbug membership as your reward, tell us why.