So yesterday, I was poked, prodded, measured and weighed. I had my picture taken, met my fellow team members, did the first night of circuit training at the gym and I hurt!What in hell did I just volunteer for? What bet did I lose?Ooh yeah, I remember now . . . it's now coming back to me; it was the assistant editor . . . “Hey, let's do this together it would make a great story for the paper,” he said. I was busy doing something or the other. I popped my head up from behind my monitor and said: “Yeah, cool whatever.” Head went back down to finish what I was doing.When I got an e-mail from the organiser of the 100-Day Challenge, Sarah Fellowes, that jogged my memory and the assistant editor, Jeremy Deacon, well, he says he's upset that he didn't make the cut . . . but I don't believe him. The man lied like a rug; apparently he was too skinny or something.So I'm trying to psyche myself up for yet another weight-losing programme. Don't look at me like that. We have all done it. We've most likely made more promises to ourselves about losing weight or getting fit than those promises we make to ourselves on those Sunday mornings, when, with our heads sorrowfully in the toilet bowl we swear blindly we are never going to drink again. Well, at least until the next weekend.But I do have this quote from Winston Churchill: “Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” Churchill knew the importance of perseverance. Success does not always come easily. It may even elude us a few times, but if you stay firmly on your course, you will soon have it within your grasp.Of course, it is easy to lose heart in the face of failure. It is easy to throw down the towel and just forget about your goals. But staying the course is precisely what sets a courageous man or woman apart from the crowd.I have never thought that I failed those other times that I tried to lose weight, just . . . I don't know, maybe it was just prep work for today . . . yeah, that's it!So what is going to be different this time? How am I going to stand out from the crowd?Well, I'm taking control control of my life. I quit smoking six months ago after years of nagging from de wife thank you, honey. That was a biggy for me. It was a pack-and-a-half some days and even more if I was at a bar or working late. I've started to eat more healthily I can't remember the last time I had a good burger with the works, and fries (my God, I'm drooling) and I've been going to the gym twice a week with a personal trainer for the last three months . . . and don't think I don't see you, Frith, biting your bottom lip, trying not to laugh, as I do those crunches on that frustrating ball with that stupid Japanese-sounding name. Just remember, I'm twice your age, mate!Why am I doing this? Well, my father passed away at 65 less than three weeks into his retirement. He had worked his whole life providing for his family, making sure we, his three children, had all we needed. The best schools, the best homes to live in and he died before he could enjoy the fruits of his labour. I'm not going to do that. I'm 51 and I want to enjoy a long life with my two girls and de wife. I want to enjoy a long retirement. I want to make sure I can be a pain in the butt to as many people for as long as possible. I owe it to them!Will I make it to the 100th day? Don't know. I would like to think so, but to me it's not important to make it to the end. What is going to be important is to educate myself in how to eat more healthily, and how to train harder and how to turn this body into a lean, mean and fighting machine. Well, or at least lose 20 to 30lbs that would be nice, too. To my co-workers and friends . . . don't worry. Even if I lose all that weight, I won't be wearing Speedos on the beach. But I am looking at one of those one-piece Borat bathing suits. High five!So, for this morning's breakfast, I will be making myself a healthy protein shake. Gone are the days of heading to Bermy Cuisine on the way in for one of those fried egg and bacon sandwiches with extra mayo.Well, wish me luck!Let the games begin!