BROADCASTER David FitzGerald has signed up to the loveLIFE campaign and is planning to lose weight.

After being challenged to stop drinking alcohol throughout December, and being successful, the TV and radio personality has got a taste for health and fitness.

David, commonly known as 'Fitz', said: "I'm diabetic so I have to watch my intake anyway but I have a lot of friends who are chefs so I can't get away from food!

"I was an overweight child and I'm an overweight adult but now I feel fantastic.

"I've got to thank the Peninsula Medical School for monitoring my weight throughout."

Fitz found the task a challenge, but was shocked at the influence alcohol has.

The 50-year-old continued: "I stopped drinking overnight and kept it up for 32 days.

"During that time I noticed how much family and friends were drinking, I didn't turn into a preacher but I was surprised.

"Christmas Day and New Year's Eve were hard, I was filming on the Barbican on New Year's Eve and it was a real eye opener being sober.

"I felt so much better for knocking it on the head, just spending a few days a week not drinking felt great, and I don't binge drink either."

A couple of years ago Fitz was 18 stone 2lbs and has since got down to 16 stone 7lbs.

He said: "When I first started doing TV I was 11 stone and I think I was too thin.

"Now anything that is under 16 stone would be good to work towards, ideally I'd love to be 14 or 15 stone.

"These days I feel small compared to the next generation, the amount of weight others are carrying is unbelievable."

Fitz thoroughly backs the loveLIFE campaign and will actively work towards the weight challenge.

He continued: "The campaign will not only help the city, it will also help society.

"I challenge everyone to see what is being done in the name of alcohol and for people to see the damage they are doing to themselves.

"I will carry on doing a few days a week off the booze and I'm cutting out white bread from my diet, now I will only eat wholemeal bread.

"It will be interesting to see what kind of difference it will make.

"I can be the example that by cutting one thing out of a diet you can lose weight and feel better for it, so I hope many others can do the same."

Fitz hosts the Interactive Lunch show on BBC Radio Devon from 12-3pm every weekday.