After suffering a brief setback David Paynter, The Royal Gazette's weekly 100 Day Challenge columnist has found redemption by cutting back on alcohol.

On Monday night, the father of eight-year-old Alyssa worked late and found himself ordering takeout with his colleagues.

It amounted to a pasta dinner and beer, which he said made him feel guilty because he was on the 100 Day Challenge and his exploits are documented in the paper each week.

But the determined Great Things furniture store manager refused to give up, which he believes is half the battle for most who gain weight.

He said: "I had the biggest pasta dinner and bread. That was Monday night, but I just had to work harder for the rest of the week.

"I've still lost 27 pounds. It was exercising and getting back to it. People have setbacks and you know you just have a bad day.

"The problem people have is when they get that setback they just give up. Getting the call from you each week keeps me going."

He also says cutting out alcohol, which he calls wasted calories, has helped him with the dramatic weight loss. No longer relying on his wife, he now volunteers to be the designated driver.

And it's his daughter who is helping him keep his exercise routine exciting by getting him on the basketball court and now investing in a baseball mitt and ball.

At the weekend the father and daughter duo planned to take to the diamond.

He said: "We just bought a baseball mitt and we are going to get out on Sunday and maybe play some baseball.

"My daughter's quite the sportsperson so it's keeping me motivated."