How to Become a Fit Father

Staying active is hard enough even without kids, but when you're a dad and have all the responsibilities that come with it, that difficulty can feel overwhelming. Regardless, getting fit is important for your physical, mental and emotional health and may just unlock hidden fatherly potential you never knew you had.

Here are some ways to stay active when you're a dad.

Write Out Why You Want To Do This

Think about why you want to be fit. What is important to you? Imagine gasping for air any time you chase your kid around the yard or throwing your back out during a piggyback ride.

Write out the reasons you want to get more active and tape it to your mirror or somewhere you will see it on a regular basis.

Make It Easy

They say the hardest thing when starting a new routine is just starting, but the thing is, it doesn't have to be hard. No one expects you to get a gym membership and go hard seven days a week right away.

There are other ways you can start and stick to a new routine easier. For instance, if you want to start jogging, put your running shoes next to the door the night before. If you want to start lifting weights, just spend five minutes doing some stretches and light lifting. If you want to quit smoking, use a patch like Thrive to help you quit (and be sure you're aware of the thrive side effects.). Try to do these at the same time every day and over time you'll increase the time spent doing it.

Put in Healthy Foods Before you Take Out Bad Ones

It's hard to quit eating the foods you love cold turkey. Thankfully, you don't need to start a high-intensity meal plan or change your entire diet from scratch.

Start simple. Put a banana in your breakfast cereal. Add some leafy green vegetables to your lunch.

These foods are easier to digest so you will feel better overall and be encouraged to continue making healthy choices.

Track Your Progress

A fitness progress chart that records where you've been and where you're going can be really helpful for setting and sticking to goals. This can help motivate you to push yourself harder over time, and stay consistent with your routines.

Another thing you can do is give yourself rewards, whether that's a pat on the back or an extra five minutes of relaxation time. Try to avoid rewarding yourself with things that will get you back into old bad habits (like eating sugary sweets).

Find a Partner

A reliable partner will provide you with accountability and keep you moving forward. They can share the benefits of achieving their own goals while helping you with yours. Pairing the social aspect with your workouts will have the added benefit of strengthening your relationship with your partner, so if you can find the right person, count yourself lucky.

Give Yourself Reminders

Once you've made the decision to start being more active, you'll be faced with a daily choice whenever a co-worker brings donuts to the office or when the couch beckons you to take a load off when it's actually time to exercise. You need to remind yourself why you have chosen to be more active. That can start with the information you consume. Listen to podcasts, read books and watch content tailored to personal health and fitness. Keep a steady stream of information flowing into your brain so that you don't forget.

The important thing to remember when you decide to become more active is to set a good example for your child. Use these tips to build a solid foundation, so that a week, a month or a year from now, you're still going strong.