The men we treat at Balanced by Katie are managing being a superstar Dad & husband, a talented and valued employee or leader in their career field, and make time for their health and fitness by letting us guide them to their fitness goals. These men are smart, successful, thoughtful, athletic, growth oriented and intentional about how they spend their time.
On the brink of the New Year we got curious about the underlying motivators behind their New Years Resolutions. We believe that there are important values everyone has that drive why they do what they do. Therefore, we asked our BBK Superhero Dads: what motivates you to stay active and how does it impact your relationship with your kids?
“I love being active with my kids! When my girls were little and I took them hiking they joked that we were going to do another “Daddy Death March.” Now they love it! I think the best thing to do is to introduce your kids to a lot of things. When they were little I took my kids to Joshua Tree to hike, into the ocean to surf and body surf, on bikes, and on camping trips.
Live your values and be an influencer. You can’t control your kids but you can influence them by taking them to do things that give you a natural high such as being in the outdoors and see what sticks for them. Their passion has to come from within. Once they find their passion you can support that and watch them shine.
One of my girls is wired the same as me, is naturally very athletic, and loves all sports and adventures. My other daughter is more introverted and art inclined but she will go body surfing with me and excelled in volleyball. Both girls found what stokes their inner fire and can find those natural highs with activity. ”
Stay Fit at Home
Whether gyms are still closed or you just don’t have time to go to one, make it a goal to get a home workout in at least 3-5 days a week. This could mean lifting weights, doing HIIT workouts in the garage, riding your new Pelaton or even something as simple as desk push ups. If you’re feeling lost when it comes to at home workouts, sign up for our Friday Virtual Strength & Conditioning classes with Lauren! She will show you body weight exercises you can easily add to your daily fitness routine!
Get your Kids Involved
“I’m lucky, my son is 8 and wants to hang out with me all the time so he is up for everything and anything. We ride bikes, we wrestle, we go body boarding. My goal is to lose weight this year because having more weight on me makes me more lethargic. For example, I’ll be playing tag with my son at the beach and with more weight on, I notice I don’t want to play as long and tire easily. I don’t like the feeling that I don’t have the energy to be fully there for him. Being active has also always been a way for me to spend time with my 16 year old daughter. She’s kicked my butt on hikes for years now and I wouldn’t trade it for the world because it lets us have quality time together. ”
You read it above! Don’t feel like you have to decide between spending time with your children and staying fit. Do fun activities with your kids that will also help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals. As parents, it is essential to be a good role model for your children and teach them how to live a healthy and happy lifestyle. Take your kids on a bike ride, go for a family hike, or take them for a swim in the ocean. This will not only help your personal fitness goals but it will be a great way for your kids to release some energy and make the at home schooling process go much smoother. Dedicate time to do physical activities with your kids!
Make Time to Stretch
“My kids became active I believe because they see that my wife and I are active. Kids mimic behaviors rather than being told. Now they motivate me because I want to stay injury free so I can play sports and keep up with them. Now in my 40s I find my mobility and core exercises are non negotiable in that if I don’t do them I have pain and get little injuries that prevent me from sprinting, playing catch or wrestling with them. I have 2 boys who are very physical and doing my daily maintenance exercises which takes me 10-15mins, allows me to be more involved in their active lives.”
Being a dad means being busy..but it is important that you make time in your day to stretch! It’ll be more beneficial in the long run so you can enjoy physical activities with your children. Stretching doesn’t take up much time and can easily be done at home with zero equipment. Not dedicating time to stretch means pain and stress remains held up in our bodies. Set yourself a goal to stretch daily for 2021 and I promise you will move and feel better.
Set up a physical therapy appointment with Balanced By Katie to implement a physical therapy, fitness + wellness plan that works for you!
We will make sure to hold you accountable so that you will feel your best in 2021!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Let’s stay fit, healthy, and happy in 2021.
