LIKE many Londoners who are looking forward to summer, I felt the need to shape up.

Sure, the days of wearing bikinis and shorts are still some time away, but I know how quickly they sneak up.

So, when I heard about the new Nuffield Health Fulham Fitness Wellbeing Centre, I decided to give it a try.

It opened in January, newly converted from a Cannons Health Club.

On the banks of the Thames, off Stevenage Road in Fulham, it is a tranquil haven to chill out and get fit.

Nuffield's medical approach to getting fit meant I took a one-hour health assessment to ensure the new regime is safe for my body.

Jonathan Carpenter, my wellness advisor, asked me many important and searching questions on smoking, tea and coffee drinking, water intake and exercise.

I calculated, laboriously, how many units of alcohol I drink per week.

I scored well on diet, being vegetarian with a penchant for munching through bushels of vegetables.

However, I didn't do so well on sleep. I average six hours a night due to my love of lengthy evenings. I was told this was not enough.

Neither was my water intake. More sleep and water were two of my three targets, which are set at the end of the assessment.

The third target was to work out three times a week, plus a half-hour run at the weekend.

My body was thoroughly weighed and measured.

My Body Mass Index was calculated, as was my hip to waist ratio (the wider your waist, the more at risk you are from heart disease).

My pulse, blood pressure and heart-rate were taken and figures were calculated, which meant I was safe to start my challenging work-out regime.

I also discovered, from blood taken from a pin-prick in my finger, that my glucose and cholesterol levels were healthy, which means I have a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease.

I was given a print-out to keep and Jonathan gave me the 'green flag' to start my personalised regime.

I didn't need to lose weight but wanted to tone my muscles and get my heart-rate up to improve my fitness.

My workout lasted about an hour-and-a-half, including a 20 minute run, 15 minutes on the cross-trainer, and then nine different exercises with weights. Jonathan oversaw the first, demonstrating the exercises himself - although he has a head start on me as he is a professional-standard marathon runner.

I left feeling inspired and invigorated. Two months later, I have stuck to most of my targets. I haven't always worked out three times a week, but I feel successful whenever I do.

I now keep my sleep target - and I have never ached afterwards.

I can talk to Jonathan whenever I need help or have a question.

And I've found that working towards a fitter body has become a lifestyle rather than a 'fitness kick' so I'm inspired to maintain my new, healthier way of life. [25cf] Monthly membership is from £66 per month.

There are centres in Bloomsbury, Fulham and Covent Garden.

Call 0800 688 699 or visit www.nuffieldhealth.com  for more details.