10/09/2024
As a father, health and fitness are about showing up with energy, strength, and stamina for my son—not about looks.
Becoming a dad changed my relationship with my body and exercise.
I used to chase fitness out of fear—fear of not being strong, lean, or manly enough. I even wrote the TedEd video on “What Makes Muscles Grow” (Google it!).
I got that “look,” but it trapped me in rigid, anxious patterns, always chasing an idealized version of myself I could never reach.
I thought discipline meant lifting heavy, pushing harder, and controlling every bite.
Motivated by fear, I wore myself down rather than building myself up. Despite the visible success, the more I tried to live up to an image of perfection, the emptier I felt.
My workouts were compulsive, and my life revolved around the gym. I realized I was chasing a one-dimensional notion of being a man.
As I grew up, started a business, and became a father, I learned to stop punishing my body and start listening to it.
I let go of the need to control everything—including my body—and leaned into gentler, more mindful living. I began collaborating with my body, seeing it as a partner rather than an object to control.
The gym is still a great source of satisfaction, but building meaningful relationships with myself, others, and the world has become more important than any workout.
Today, I manage my body, food, and exercise without obsession. I’m just as fit as I was a decade ago, but now I trust my body, and I’m not attached to rigid, all-or-nothing thinking.
The best part? I’m more present with my wife and son. I don’t feel guilty about sharing dessert or skipping a workout for family time.
I make intentional decisions about food and exercise but no longer define myself by them. I cherish this balance—living as a healthy, emotionally attuned man who no longer defines his worth by his body.
I want this for you, too.
If you’re stuck in a cycle of stress, poor eating, and dissatisfaction with your body, I can help you redefine your relationship with yourself.
If you want to regain your energy and physical health, be more present with your family, and feel confident in your body again, DM me.
