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Tom’s weight loss and fitness challenge enters its second week and the chef and his gang are finding it hard to fit cooking and exercise into their busy lives. So this week is all about making the most of the time they have.

For the first recipe, Tom makes a big pot of beef mince - the starting point for some of the nation’s favourite dishes. He uses a batch to make a delicious cottage pie, while the rest is frozen to be used later, perhaps for chilli con carne, spaghetti olognese or lasagne. Batch cooking at the weekend is a great way to save time in the week.

Tom’s mate Adam - the gang’s fitness coach - drops in on maths teacher Manny at work. Manny has diabetes and suffers from poor circulation in his feet so Adam gives him some balance exercises to do. If Manny practices these new exercises regularly, he should see an improvement by the end of the challenge.

Adam joins Tom to cook smoked pancetta and lentil soup. While Tom makes the soup, Adam is tasked with making quick and easy soda bread rolls. For a baking novice, he doesn’t do too badly and the friends enjoy their lower calorie lunch outdoors in the sunshine.

There are several cooking novices in the gang and their lack of confidence in the kitchen is a barrier to losing weight. So Tom signs up Luke and Manny for a shift in a local cafe where they cook a delicious butternut squash and black bean chilli - proving to themselves and the customers that they can cook after all.

Tom showcases more quick and easy recipes, including peri peri chicken with rice and coleslaw – perfect for a lunch box. And at only 125 calories each, his lemon and blueberry yoghurt pots prove that puddings don’t have to be off the menu when you are losing weight.

Sandie and Maxine have been turning to convenience food when time is tight so Tom drops in to help them plan their meals for the week ahead. He gives them time-saving tips for using up leftovers, freeing up more time to do exercise.

The week finishes on a high when Tom and the gang take part in a boxing session, led by a former Olympian. This vigorous workout is a big hit with everyone and afterwards they step on the scales for the weigh-in. After two weeks, there are some impressive results but there is still a long way to go.