38 Days Ago

That’s the day I started my journey to become a fit dad. It’s been 86 days since I took my first steps and I’ve learned quite a bit in that time. There is still a lot for me to learn, but I feel confident that I’ve set a great foundation to build upon.

Here are some tips I’ve put together from what I’ve learned over these past 12 weeks. These are not tips on how to lift weights or what types of diets to follow. You could consider these more general purpose tips that can be applied to several aspects of your own program.

• Keep it simple stupid - This is especially true if you’re just starting out on a weight loss program. Don’t try to do everything you read about in the magazines or on the net. Stick with what has worked over the years. Eat less (but more often), move more and add resistance training to your routine.
  
• You are probably not a certified trainer, so to help keep it simple and not get you confused, pick a workout program that’s proven to work and go with it. This saves you from hours of research and tons of aggravation.
  
• You’re only human - And humans make mistakes and fall off the bandwagon. Just don’t let it happen too often and learn from the experience each time. As the saying goes, don’t lose sight of the forest through the trees. Keep the big goals in mind, keep working towards them and no matter what little road blocks you encounter, you’ll eventually make it.
  
• Plan to plan and then plan some more - If you’re not planning out your meals, your workouts, your goals and anything else having to do with your weight loss, you’ll eventually fail. Planning allows you to take control of the situation. That control is your key to success. If you’re not in control, outside influences will exert their will or force on you and derail you.
  
• Success motivates others - An unexpected benefit to my weight loss success has been how it is motivating those around me. Chris and the kids are getting more active and the kids are making better food choices. My sister is starting up her program and some folks in the office have said that I’ve motivated them to get back to the gym. It’s a great feeling to know I’m effecting others in a positive way and that in turn motivates me to keep going.
  
• Seek out challenges - Believe me, nothing motivates like knowing you’re going to have to perform in front of people. Signing up for a triathlon with a friend of mine has kept me going sometimes when I’d rather not do another lap in the pool or mile on the treadmill. These challenges keep you interested and motivated.
  
• You don’t need the entire bar of chocolate to enjoy the taste - I’m addicted to chocolate, I think everyone knows that by now. I still enjoy a little bit every now and then. The thing I realized was this. It’s the taste I enjoy the most and I don’t need to eat an entire bar to get the taste. I can get that from one small square of chocolate, eaten slowly. Eating anything more is just wasteful and gluttonous. This goes for any food or indulgence. You typically just need a little to satisfy your cravings.
  
• Always push yourself to be better -If you don’t you’ll never see massive changes.
  
• What was once difficult will become easy - So don’t give up. I couldn’t swim more than 100 yards without dying when I started. Just this past week, I swam 1000 yards and could have kept going if it weren’t for time constraints. That’s after only a month or so of getting in the pool once a week.
  
• Don’t underestimate the power of community (or It Takes A Village) - Seek out online weight loss forums and blogs to participate in. The amount of inspiration and motivation you can find to keep you going is amazing. Don’t be a lurker in these communities either. The more you put into them, the more you’ll get out.

I’m no weight loss sage, but I know that if you follow these tips you’ll be much more successful in reaching your own weight loss goals.

If you have any tips that you would like to share, leave a comment. Remember, you get more if you give more.