(VIDEO) Powerlifter Jay Pateman, from Leicester, aiming to beat his own British bench press record

Powerlifter Jay Pateman is going from strength to strength.

The 33-year-old strongman has transformed himself from an 11st 6lb (74kg) wannabe to a 24st (155kg) British record holder over the past 10 years.

The 5ft 8in father-of-two, from Knighton, set the Great Britain Powerlifting Federation bench press record after pushing up 235kg last month.

He is now aiming to beat his own benchmark on Sunday.

Jay, who trains three hours a day, five days a week, spends £180 a week on his food regime, which sees him eat seven times a day, with his first meal at about 6am.

He consumes about 10,000 calories a day, compared with the suggested average calorie intake of 2,500 for a man.

Jay said: "It all started when I was at school and I suddenly realised that about the only special talent I had was being able to beat anyone at arm wrestling.

"I became fascinated by all things related to strength and seeing Geoff Capes compete in the World's Strongest Man on television was a turning point for me.

"I thought to myself, 'I want to do that. I think I can do that'."

Jay started well with a punishing fitness regime at the age of 13 but as he got older his discipline deserted him.

He said: "I got in with the wrong crowd and got really lazy and lacked focus. I started to go on boozy nights out instead of training. I lost myself."

Jay in action...

... and getting to grips with some rather big dumbells!

He puts his transformation down to the love of a good woman.

"I met my wife Elizabeth 10 years ago and she has grounded me, got me focussed and given me the support and encouragement I needed to get me going again," he said.

"It was no surprise I met her in a pub – the Soar Point – but it was surprise that she asked me out.

"We have been together ever since and we have two wonderful children."

Jay quit his job as a debt collector and became a house-husband, looking after his son Samson, five, and daughter Scarlett, who is 16 months old.

Elizabeth, 30, runs her own bespoke jewellery business and has two telesales jobs.

She said: "Jay is very powerful but he has a soft side, too.

"He loves our children to bits and he allows me to go for it and devote as much time as I want to my business.

"I want to be able to support him, too, and let him follow his dreams. He wants to be the best at what he does and I believe he can.

"He is a real tower of strength for us – in and out of the gym."

Jay said his dream was to emulate Geoff Capes.

"He was a British bloke who became the strongest man in the world," he said.

"He has inspired me and I want to achieve what he did.

"He also had a soft side. I am not ashamed to admit I have A soft side and I look after my kids.

"To be honest, that gives me the strength to train on when the going gets tough because I know I am doing it for them."

Jay is to compete in a British bench press competition at Horncastle, Lincolnshire, on Sunday.