Slim running!

8:28am Tuesday 10th April 2007

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ROB Pennington used to weigh 19 stone, smoke 20 cigarettes a day and drink 9 pints of beer on a Friday night "with the lads".

In two weeks he will run the London Marathon for the first time after transforming his life in just two years.

He's lost six stone, kicked the evil weed and cut back on the booze.

Today the 29-year-old father-of-one from Cwmbran weighs 13 stone and exercises regularly.

"I used to do virtually no exercise," said civil servant Rob, from Greenmeadow.

"After work I'd spend the night on the sofa with a can and a takeaway."

A stint as a taxi driver a few years before didn't help his waistline either he added.

But all that changed when he became a dad. Son Iolo is now two.

When he was born Rob decided to turn over a new leaf.

Out went the kebabs, burgers and beer to be replaced by a new regime of exercise, lean meat, fresh vegetables and fruit.

"I wanted to be fitter for him," he said.

Wife Amy likes the new svelte-like Rob - although he disappears for up to 30 hours a week at the moment, training for the big day on April 22.

He's raising cash for Asthma UK. Both his mother and sister are sufferers.

"I'm not sure she's too pleased about me disappearing for three hours at a time sometimes, but she's happy with the new me," he added.

Last year he ran the Cardiff half marathon and Torfaen's half marathon in just under two hours.

"I'm hoping to run the marathon in about four hours," said Rob.

When he's not training for a long-distance run he runs three miles three times a week and goes to the gym once or twice.

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Daily diet Before: Breakfast: toast, cereal, bacon Lunch: Kebab, or burger and chips, fizzy drinks crisps.

Dinner: Takeaways, "anything with chips", or fry-up, followed by pudding.

Pub: Up to nine pints of beer plus shorts Late night snack: Takeaway, several cans of beer.

Cigarettes: 20

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After: Breakfast: cereal, fruit Lunch: lean meat and salad sandwich, fruit, squash or juice Dinner: lean meat such as chicken breast, fresh vegetables, fruit.

No late night snack, "occasional" drinking.

Non-smoker.