70

When I started out on the diet back in January, one of the key motivators was to lose weight so as to enable me to be a fitter and healthier man for my son and his then unborn brother. Ten and a half months later and that remains very much a driving force that keeps me on a successful path. I don't just want to be a good daddy in the short term; I want to be around to see them grow up into fine men and hopefully have families of their own.

If he were alive today, my father would be celebrating his 70th birthday. Sadly he passed a little under 24 years ago, denying him the opportunity to see his children mature into adults and produce five wonderful grandchildren. His illness was not preventable, but disease related to obesity is. I've got a responsibility to take care of myself, so that my boys have a dad to be there for the long term.

I've only very recently achieved a healthy weight according to the Body Mass Index. My task is now to maintain it, for my own health and for the good of my family. Motivation indeed.

Happy birthday dad. Wish you could be here.