I lost my Dad in January, after a ten week illness and it’s taken me this long to write about it. I asked for your thoughts and prayers when he was diagnosed because we knew how bad it was. They weren’t enough this time but never give up on hope.

I wasn’t sure how I’d write about this stage of my life and if it wasn’t for teaming up with Arla Protein, I’m not sure when I would have been ready to write about it. However, Arla Protein believe strength comes from within and I have to agree with them. When you think about it, how you fuel your body is actually very similar to parenting. What you put in, you get out. Arla Protein asked me ‘How do I keep going?’ Well I think this time last year, this question would have only one meaning. Since losing my Dad, it now has two.

My own personal health and fitness journey began back in 2009, when my little boy was born. I suddenly realised I wasn’t as fit as I used to be. I’ve always been active mainly through playing basketball and football and I’ve always weight trained and ran short distances. So in answer to that question, it’s my family. My family keep me going and they continue to keep me working towards my goals. Remember also, kids will often follow your example, not necessarily your advice.

The past few weeks have been rather testing to say the least. When we heard about the diagnosis, I felt guilty – why didn’t I spend more time with my Dad. Then I felt angry – why is this happening to us? Then there was acceptance – when your number’s up, it’s up. I still struggle to this very day getting my head around the fact I’ll never see him again. I guess this is just something I’ll learn to cope with as opposed to ever getting over it. When we were told nothing more could be done, my Dad wanted to be home. He died peacefully and with family.

Lifting weights makes me physically strong but during this time, I was required to find my inner strength. Once I had accepted what was ultimately going to happen, I made sure to try and put on a brave face to those around me. It was just as important though, when I was feeling emotional, to just let it out! One thing we don’t talk enough about (especially as men) is how you feel when a loved one dies. Of course, we all deal with things differently and what I talk about may not comfort anyone else. I turned to old photo albums to remind myself how good my childhood was. I already had lots of happy memories but through the old photographs, I was reminded of old family holidays. I went to my Auntie’s house as she had lots of old photos of my Dad when he was just a boy. These were really great and comforting to see. The support around me has been incredible and I honestly believe, I couldn’t have coped as well if it wasn’t for the messages, the calls, the visits and the hands on the shoulder.

Now I said earlier on that this post was in collaboration with Arla Protein. They have kindly decided to work with Amy and I and they sent us a lovely little pack of goodies. We should all know by now that protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass and to a growth in muscle mass. One of the main reasons I weight train is enjoyment and it isn’t to get huge muscles, it’s to get smart muscles. Strength is great for posture and when you’re hitting 40 this year like me, posture is essential in supporting your body in areas such as your back.

Products we tried from Arla Protein included:

• Various protein pots such as mango, kale and lime
• Strawberry and raspberry protein water
• Raspberry strawberry milk shake
• Mango yoghurt pouch

We decided to use the blueberry protein pot to make a little snack. As you can see above, we used a jar and then layered it up. We placed a mixture of fruit on the bottom – raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and red berries. Then we added the blueberry Arla Protein, followed by some granola. Believe me, it was as tasty as it looks! Why not try it for yourself?

The Arla Protein Water was great for before, during and after my workouts. Nearly all of the products we sampled boasted 20–25g of protein, which is really good for that protein hit.

What you eat today, will have you walking and talking tomorrow. Start working from the inside, out. Find your inner strength, not just for your workouts but for a healthy mind too. We all face difficult things in life and they often come with difficult decisions. I feel how you deal with these situations, tells a lot about you as a person. Stand tall. Be proud of who you are and where you came from. I’d like to leave you with a little poem I found in one of my Dad’s notebooks…

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is a beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realise it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is costly, care for it.
Life is wealth, keep it.
Life is love, enjoy it.
Life is mystery, know it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is a sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is Life, fight for it!

Thanks for reading and please tell me, what keeps you going?

*Disclaimer: This was a collaborative post with Arla Protein and I was given the products above in order to give an honest review. All words and opinions are my own.