Danny Toffel is certainly a determined man.
After making a fortune in the computer industry he retired at just 29 and invested his money in the stock market.
But he lost everything in the space of just six months back in 2000 when he was declared bankrupt.
It was workaholic Danny's determination that led to him starting his new business, Watches2U .
The 49-year-old explained: "I set up the business so I could order a pizza over the phone. I couldn't get a debit card, I had to use a cash card."
With just 40 and operating out of a garden shed, Danny started selling watches on eBay to supplement his family's income.
That was in 2002 and the business has now grown to become Britain's biggest independent retailer of branded watches.
Last year it had a turnover of 12million.
However, with Danny's newfound success he was seriously risking his health.
He worked huge hours and didn't take a single day off for seven years straight.
His immense work ethic also meant his diet suffered, with him choosing quick and easy takeaway foods to satisfy his hunger.
Danny said: "I don't remember exactly what I ate but I used to have two steaks for dinner and if a ready meal was for two people, I would eat two of them, so I was eating enough for four.
"When I went out to eat I didn't care what I ate, I only cared about it being a large portion."
His weight ballooned to 25 stone and Danny had also developed a hobby that was making his eating patterns even more erratic - poker.
He said: "I was working 15 hours a day, every day and then playing poker until late into the night.
"I was a rubbish husband and father because it was all about work or poker."
Then, when his wife, Katrina, was desperately struggling with the demands of running the family home, Danny realised he needed to change.
He quit smoking five years ago but realised his weight was still a massive issue.
He said: "I've always done silly diets but as soon as I'd lose the weight I'd put it back on.
"I started to get liver disease because of my weight and I went on holiday determined to shed some pounds - but ended up putting even more on."
That's when Danny knew he wanted to take drastic action to deal with his weight and decided to have a gastric sleeve fitted to help him shed the pounds.
He admits he was nervous before the two and a half hour surgery but just an hour after he left the operating theatre, he was back at work.
The weight began to fall off and Danny also developed a love of the gym.
It took him six months to drop from 23 stone to just 16. He is now a svelte 14 stone with a medium top and a 34ins waist.
And Danny's diet could not be more different. Gone are the takeaways, which have been replaced with a fresh soup for lunch every day.
He said: "I eat a lot of fish, I can't eat steak any more or a lot of meat or bread."
Although it isn't just Danny's waistline that has seen the benefit of his new healthy lifestyle.
He says he is now a much better father, with his spare time now revolving around his family and not poker.
He spends more time with his two daughters Eleanor, 15, and 13-year-old Christina, who he named his succesful accessories website, ChrisElli after.
Danny added: "I'm now home every night with the kids and I have a great relationship with my wife. We go out and do a lot more stuff as a family.
"I play tennis four times a week and I go to the sauna in the gym evey day at 3.30pm to get away from everything for an hour.
"It's changed my whole mindset. I've thrown all my old clothes out because I won't be needing them again."
Read more:
Man who started 12m business with 40 in a shed is unrecognisable after weight loss - Mirror Online
