Right, fellow Dads (and anyone else who wants to join). This is a call to action. – Sign up for the challenge HERE – (there’ll be prizes)

For too long, the term ‘Dad Bod’ has been used to describe the out-of-shape, beer-bellied fathers who have abandoned the fitness regime and healthy lifestyle of our younger years. It’s got to stop.

Let me start at the beginning. Well, a few years ago.

At university and well into my first real job on cruise ships, I was fat. I’d gotten up to around 270 lbs, which at 5ft 8″ looks bad. I had a spare tire around my belly and my chest went out horizontal instead of vertical. I felt awful and had no energy.

Skip forward a few years and I’d lost 80 lbs through diet and exercise. There was no trick. It’s a case of burn more calories than you consume and you’ll lose fat.

Jump ahead to now where I’m married, have a two-year old and I’m wondering what happened to my body. At least 20 lbs has attached itself to me and I haven’t been to the gym in about a year.

So that’s where I am right now and we’re just about to go into 2018. I’m happy to have a ‘Dad Bod’ as long as we reclaim what it means. It should stand for a Dad who takes care of his family and still makes his health a priority. We need to be around for a long time and that can only happen if we look after ourselves.

What do you say? Make this a turning point and look forward to the new year and say ‘This is MY year. I’m losing the gut, trimming back my man-boobs and adding some muscle. We should be proud of ourselves when we look in the mirror and hold our heads high when we step into the gym, and don’t leave until our legs are shaky and we’re dripping with sweat.

I want you to join me on my 90 Day Dad-Bod Challenge – Saturday January 6th until April 5th 2017 – RSVP HERE. There will be prizes awarded throughout! 

 Here’s how we’re going to do it.

1. Happy New Year – Time to set your goals. Weight-loss? Strength? Fitness? Running a Half Marathon? – RSVP HERE
2. Go to your local gym and make an appointment to be shown around. – If you’re in BC, Canada – get a free pass to your local Steve Nash Fitness World. 
3. Join that gym. It might seem like a frivolous expense, but this is your quality (and length) of life we’re talking about.
4. If they offer a free training session, take it.
5. Sign up for some classes. I took few weeks of ‘Body Pump’ and it was amazing. You’ll get more when there’s people around working out with you.
6. Look at your diet. Are you eating things that are good for you, or bad for you? Have more good than bad.
7. Keep track. Watch the numbers on the scale fall and the tape measure around your muscles grow. You’re looking great already!
8. Get some new clothes. Nothing fancy, just a couple of new shirts that fit your improving body.
9. Keep it up. January is great for going to the gym like everyone else doing a new year’s resolution. Don’t be a quitter by February.
10. Notice how people are nicer to you now. Seriously! When I lost weight the first time I saw how my colleagues and people I talked to were more polite and interested in what I was saying.
11. Take a minute to acknowledge what you’ve achieved. It’s easier to lift your kids in the air or chase them around. You can keep playing for longer without getting out of breath. They’re proud of you too.

You can follow my progress on Instagram @JamesRCS as I head to my local gym and get back in charge of my body and my health. I’ve also started a  Facebook group for everyone who is joining the challenge – click on the big yellow picture below and say Hi.

If you’re using Twitter or Instagram – use #SocialDad90Day so we can keep up with you.

Are you in? Leave a comment below and share your story. What are your goals and how are you going to reach them?

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I want to thank Steve Nash Fitness World for helping me on this challenge and supporting this campaign. All words and motivations are my own.