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Often, body goals are imposed on women while men are ‘allowed’ to walk around with their ‘Dad Bods’ as long as they’re working hard and providing for their families. The more cholesterol a man stores up, the more successful he seems. Unfortunately, few people talk about the health implications of these societal expectations or lack of, but I certainly do. I am becoming like a male version of Lady Boss by balancing family, work and health while inspiring other men to become the healthiest versions of themselves.
I used to live the routine life of the regular dad; coffee in the morning, fries, burgers, and soda for lunch, snacks in the evening, dinner and some TV accompanied by ice cream after dinner. It took an out-of-shape body, low self-esteem and frustration before I sprung into action and started taking care of myself. Today, I run a company called Dad Bod Health. I want to help other men get rid of their dad bods, boost their confidence and live healthier lifestyles. I am truly solidifying myself as the male version of Lady Boss who has it all; family, health, career, and a fit body. Below are my thoughts on what it takes to achieve that balance;
You Don’t Need Motivation
Many people live their lives carelessly, saying “I just don’t feel motivated”. That is simply an excuse for laziness because no one needs motivation to live a healthy lifestyle. When I decided to make changes in my own life, I only needed to see my unappealing “Dad Bod.” I was also not happy with my life and the example I was setting for my son. Similarly, if you’re not happy with how you look and the kind of lifestyle you’re living, you don’t need motivation to make changes. You simply need to get your life together and stop making excuses so you can establish the discipline needed to become the healthiest version of you.
It Takes Less Time to Balance Life
I run a program that helps busy dads live a healthier lifestyle. With a 9 to 5 job, tons of meetings, paperwork and family responsibilities, it may seem impossible for a dad to get into the kitchen and prepare a healthy meal. Queuing for that delicious burger may seem like the ultimate solution, but I beg to differ. As a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, registered nurse and a health coach, I can confirm preparing healthy meals requires less effort than queuing for fast foods. In my article “17 Minutes Per Day on Food Prep Destroys The Dad Bod” I explain how spending less than 20 minutes in the kitchen can result in the perfect body. I advocate for planning and clever strategies such as chopping ingredients beforehand, taking more of freezer friendly foods and dividing foods into small portions before freezing them. This will help save time when cooking as well as aid in portion control which can be essential when it comes to weight management.
The Tools Are Readily Available
Even with my knowledge in nutrition and health, I still lived the average life of a regular American Dad thinking that was the only way to live. Often, people have the necessary tools to make their lives better but they ignore them. You may not be a nutritionist or a health coach but there are a lot of tools available. It starts with simple things like meal planning and workout apps, freezers which make it easy to store ingredients and cookers that allow cooking multiple meals faster. You only need to take a quick look around and establish what tools can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
We Only Get One Body, One Life
Failing to mow the lawn is one thing but living an unhealthy lifestyle is another.. The grass will keep growing and you might get a warning from the city but life will go on. But every time you consume unnecessary calories or drink too much sugar, you destroy your body little by little. I realized that I had only one shot at life and I had to use it wisely. Being a Dad and the leader of the family is not an option or some form of luxury. It is a necessity like going to school or work. It takes this realization to become proactive about health and nutrition.
Conclusively, I am living proof that dads can balance their lives. You don’t need society to impose body goals on you. You also don’t need a life scare or a doctor’s appointment to start balancing your life. You can have it all if you make the extra effort. That coveted six-pack alongside a successful career and a picture-perfect family are not gifts, It takes hard work and accountability to self.
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