For some, maintaining a balanced diet, resisting temptations and regularly exercising is part of their daily routine. For others, a lot more effort and direction is needed in order to keep in shape.

Regardless of whether you have a ‘dad bod’ or a ‘beer belly’, you should remind yourself that you are much more than what you look like, and you offer much more than your appearance. However, if you have realized that you are no longer comfortable with the extra pounds on your body, and want to get fit for your own health, there are a number of ways.

Finding Your Motivation

Sometimes, the most difficult place to start a journey is the beginning, where you need to gather the courage, energy and commitment to take the first step towards making a change. Doing this alone can be extremely isolating and unsuccessful, which is why engaging in a community with others who are following the same goals can make a significant impact on your life as you go through a new journey. One such community focused on masculinity is the one created by Masculine By Design – a motivating man that helps other men who are about to start similar weight-loss journeys to the one he has been on with his own ‘Dad Bod’.

Getting a Regime

We are confronted daily by the media with new obsessions over the latest health super food, and the contradictory claims about the importance of eating one food over another. It is hardly surprising that a lot of people who are looking to pursue a healthy lifestyle are unsure what they should and shouldn’t eat or do. It is important that alongside having a balanced diet, filled with healthy proteins, fats and carbohydrates, you let yourself eat or drink in moderation. This will mean you do not deprive yourself, and you are less likely to later eat or drink excessively.

Additionally, letting yourself have a day off of the gym in order to spend time doing something else that you enjoy, does not mean you are a failure or lazy. You are not a machine or a robot, and you are allowed to do activities that stimulate you in other ways. There is an assumption that to make exercise count, you must go to the gym. However, as long as you commit yourself to moving in some shape or form at least once a day, whether a walk to work, or a full gym session, you are working on keeping yourself in good health.

Making a Lifestyle

The best way to view these changes is to consider this as your new daily lifestyle, so that you aren’t tempted to regress or backtrack on any progress. Knowing that this change is a permanent decision to improve yourself forever will mean that you are more likely to stick to your choices.

Most importantly, don’t compare yourself or your journey to other people, as you are a unique individual in unique circumstances and learn to trust this process. The outcome of this lifestyle change is to feel better in yourself, not just to get rid of that ‘dad bod’.