Intro to Me and Why this Diet?

Thought this would add some info on why I am dieting and my day to day.
First my mother died 9 years ago of a sudden heart attack. I still cry about it. She wasn’t obese, but could have been much healthier. I also think her prescriptions and smoking wasn’t so great.
My grandpa died of a heart attack after several heart attacks.. so I am trying to lower my already stacked odds against me of having a heart attack.
My whole family- (wife, 4 kids) is skinny. I have been skinny before and I am not obese. I am a pretty big guy (muscles) and have been 240 for the last 6 or 7 years. My goal is to lose around 40 pounds. I have always been in the gym and run or walk a ton. My eating and drinking habits are what kill me. I love beer and bourbon.. Have a kegerator in my back yard. I also love to cook and drinking and eating always leads to large portions for me. Cooking for a family and keeping good habits is also tough.. each one of my kids has different eating habits and so pizza and cheese dogs usually do the trick (along with McDonalds or burger king). When I make salad or healthy stuff, only one or two (my girls) eat that. My son actually starts to gag when he puts down a pea or mushroom.
I run a business from a home office, raise a 4 and 1 year old during the day and make my house livable everyday (clean, organize).. So to shop, cook and stay healthy is a constant challenge.. A challenge sadly I have failed.
Ok, why this diet? I have done it all like most of you. Up and down.. Feel great then feel bad.
This is really a drastic diet, that takes a ton of self control.. Why do it?
1. The first reason is I want to be alive for my kids. Really I don’t need any other reasons. I said before about losing my wonderful mother (I could write a whole blog just on her) and I want to minimize the possibility of leaving them without their dad.
2. On a recent trip to Mexico, my wife had a talk with me about losing some pounds. It wasn't so much about how I looked in my swim trunks, but more of how she couldn't live without me. Pretty powerful stuff!
3. My oldest son (13) said to me the other day after I made fun of him about brushing his teeth or showering (which 13 year olds hate to do).."Why don't you lose some weight fatso". I can handle the hair jokes and stuff that I can’t help because I am getting older. THAT stuff doesn't bother me. But the fat stuff does. I never knew what it felt like to be called fat. I mean I have been teased by friends about chubby and stuff... but this time it really affected me. That was the TURNING point. I don't blame my son for saying a hurtful thing; I actually thank him for pushing me to get off my ass and start to make changes. (sh*t I’m crying) But I don't want my kids to someday be embarrassed to hang with me or bring their friends around.
I’ve got some pretty good reasons to be healthy.. This diet is not about a beach body or wearing my skinny jeans.. But to be around to watch my kids grow into the people they were meant to be, and I want to be a big part of that.