To the men that need to hear this.

As a dad of three I know first-hand how hard winter can be to stay motivated, to rely on your discipline and push through to February/March.?

The current state of the economy is making many worry with the surge in the cost of living, bringing with it great uncertainty at the thought of rising mortgages, utility and food bills. Throw in Christmas, silly season nights out, pier pressure etc etc my god everything is SO expensive!?

Your fitness and wellbeing are to be brutally honest…. DOOMED! They are the last thing you think about and the first thing thats dropped when the stresses of family life, fatigue and winter bugs kick in. It seems keeping up with your friends, neighbours and colleagues become priorities instead of your health!?

You head to work in darkness, drag yourself home in darkness, come home after a tough day to lose your patience with the kids, fall out with your other half then fall asleep on the couch most likely having eaten all the wrong food for it all to start again the next day. You never quite manage to get that run in or workout that you promised yourself!?

Act NOW?and get your health in order.

Make?yourself accountable?to stay healthy through the winter.

Say NO more often than yes?when you know another night on the town will be a nightmare headache in the morning and a gunshot to your wallet.?It is ok to say no!

Make an effort to?get outdoors?and move.

Push your kids to be active through winter and not fear a cold night. Make it fun; lead them with head torches through a local wood. Surprise them with a fire pit and entice them outside with marshmallows!?

Do not shy away and delay for the new year, new start. The diet starts in January! You have tried and failed at that for the past 30 years!

Take action NOW!

You may think it is easy for me to write this and shout out some truths that may hit home to many. But do I have any advice? I do……?

Get around men in similar situations. We all have a mate that’s a bit over weight who hasn’t run in a long time and used to be an athlete.?

1st XV rugby team at school and now deep within is a man that wishes he hadn’t let slip the fitness he used to have.?

The healthy husband has disappeared and now eats the kids left overs after dinner before eating his own dinner. The family sized bar of chocolate for the journey home after work. Binning the wrapper evidence before you cross the threshold.

So many dads like to pretend that our health isn’t on our mind. Hating what we see in the mirror and are constantly pulling our t- shirts down to cover the ever growing belly.?

Be the spark that gets you and your mates moving. Meet at the park, go for a walk or jog. Talk about your health with your other half. Open up and announce what you are not happy with, then write it down.?

Nobody can do it for you and 2023 might just be another year ticked off doing the same things on a path of regret where you didn't make an effort when required!

Starting is the hardest part but when momentum takes over and your friends make you accountable. Watch out for progress, it will sneak up fast and you’ll start to crave it.?

The Dads and Dudes is a free community that brings men together to get moving and talking. Reach out and connect. It might just make you proud of yourself!?

Alan Nash

Founder - Dads and Dudes

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