Football writer Neil Custis has cruised past the half way stage in his week-long Northern Bootcamp.
The Sun’s Deputy Football Editor has joined the team at Northern Bootcamp in Northumberland in a bid to winning his challenge with Louis Van Gaal.
Neil challenged the Manchester United manager to a personal duel after the Dutch boss labelled him ‘fat man’ to the astonishment of a global media audience.
Van Gaal had just witnessed his team draw 3-3 with Newcastle United and shouted the insult as he left the press conference at St James’ Park.
Challenge
Custis responded by claiming he would lose more pounds than United would win points from that moment and with just one week to go of the Premier League season Northern Bootcamp stepped in.
Northern Bootcamp co-founder Dan Smith, said: “We were happy to try to help Neil, he has been training really hard himself but a focused week will help him achieve his goal.”
Neil arrived at the Northern Bootcamp in Northumberland on Friday evening ready for his weigh in on Saturday and the start of an intense week of activity.
Healthy, balanced meals combined with four sessions of exercise every day backed by a steely determination by Custis are helping him towards his goal.
With United failing to capitalise on their victory at Norwich at the weekend by losing to West Ham last night they now have 29 points since the challenge was laid down. Victory against Bournemouth with give the a maximum 32 points.
Northern Bootcamp
Neil started the week having already lost a very impressive 22 lbs since issuing the challenge – that’s more than one-and-a-half-stone – but leaving him with a mighty 11 pounds to shift this week – almost another stone.
He has been recording his journey in The Sun and via his Twitter feed – though not every one has been supportive and there has been some ‘friendly’ banter.
Neil said: “It has been tough, really tough but also a fairly incredible experience so far.
“The team at Northern Bootcamp have been incredible, as have the other campers who are taking part and I thank them for allowing me to join them.
“It is really tough. I’m used to early starts but wouldn’t normally find myself running on a beach at 7am on a Sunday morning.
“It’s been pretty tough on my knees, ice packs between sessions but the stretching exercises before and after sessions have somehow enabled me to keep going.”
Paddy Power have offered a £1,000 donation to the charity of Neil or Manchester United’s choice. Neil will complete his final session at Northern Bootcamp on Thursday evening ahead of the big weigh-in.