Podcasts about fit dad nation

I've been largely absent from social media and this podcast for the last few months and there's a reason. My oldest daughter has been having some health issues for almost two years now and things seem to be getting worse instead of better. What started out as a herniated disc in her back and the surgery to repair it has now turned into something much more. And because of the physical and mental pain she's in and having to watch her helplessly, I've started to crack. I've withdrawn from my business and most social things and struggle day to day to keep positive. I've always taught the members of our community that if we can't take care of ourselves first, how can we take care of our families the best way possibe and I'm failing at this. I've let my diet go to sh*t. I've let my exercise go to sh*t. I've become lazy and weak. And it's taking it's toll on me. I feel lousy all the time and worse yet, I'm not being as strong as I should be for my daughter when she needs me most. So I made the decision to do something I really don't want to do and that's taking on the 75 Hard Challenge. It's named that way for a reason and it's designed to be a mental toughness challenge, not just a weight loss challenge. It's the push that I need given where I'm at and I'm committing to seeing it through. I've also opened it up to members of the Fit Dad Nation and to those who need a serious change as well. If that's you, join us. Learn more at fitdadnation.com/75hard and we start January 2.

Summer is coming and with that means swimsuit season! So who better to speak with than Steve Roy, founder of Fit Dad Nation. Fit Dad Nation is for dads who want “a place to learn more about how to get fit (again), become healthier, get their mojo back, and are looking to become the best versions of themselves.” If you get one idea or piece of inspiration that gets you more fit from this podcast, it's worth your time. And I bet you will! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find more Dad Podcasts from A Dad's Path, a website for dads.

Today we celebrate our 100th episode and I thank each of you who have taken the time to listen to what the Fit Dad Nation is all about. As a thank you, I'm offering free access for 30 days into our accountability program called Fit Dad Nation Inner Circle. Email me at steve@fitdadnation.com and I'll send you the info.  Today I want to share my core beliefs on fitness and how simplicity is the key to your results. I've learned a great deal over the years and I can tell you honestly that all the fancy diets, programs, and supplements don't mean sh*t compared to the basics of good health. Honestly, you really only need a few things to succeed regardless of your goals. The honest desire to change The commitment to making it happen A plan to make it happen The hard work and consistency to see it through I speak from experience here and I’ve shared my story many times here. If you don’t care about your own health, neither will anyone else. Here are the things to focus on if you want long-term progress: A healthy and sustainable diet that gets results for you. Stop eating sh*tty foods. You know McDonald’s is crap. You know veggies are good. Apply this information. Progressive resistance training. Train your a** off, sweat every day and push yourself daily. Move more and sit less. More fresh air and sunshine and less cubicle and lamp. Less stress and more happiness. Commit to being better every day. Long-term results require long-term consistency. Get more sun, sleep, and sex and less stress, anger, and apathy. Kill negative self-talk, excuses, and procrastination. Now is literally all you have. Use your f*cking head. Stop using supplements to try to hack your results. Stop looking for shortcuts, there are none. It’s not as easy as just following a few basic principles because most of us are full of excuses why we can’t do it. Here's how I look at fitness and I use these as my benchmark for progress: 1. Stop using f*cking excuses. We all have busy lives, kids, jobs, and dozens of other things to do daily. 2. Make your body a priority. It’s selfish to put yourself behind everyone and everything else. Take care of #1 and you will be a better husband, father, and man for it. 3. Life is hard, get over it. I struggle every day to keep my business afloat, to keep my emotions in check when I can’t see my daughters, and to keep myself from eating a box of honey buns. It’s hard, really f*cking hard, and some days it seems impossible. But it’s not. 4. Put work in every day. Stretch, walk, take the stairs, get more movement in. Lift heavy weights until they aren’t heavy anymore. Train hard. Be committed. Do the work especially when you don’t feel like it 5. Eat like you actually care about your body. Remember, nobody ever got fat from one meal. You did this to yourself over time. 6. Find your “why” as in why it’s so important to be healthy and fit. 7. Realize that life is immensely short. Do you want the best years of your life to be spent just trying to make it through another day? You can still live an amazing life while looking and feeling the best you ever have. It’s there. Take it. Thank you for all your support!

Today's episode I had the pleasure of having an amazing conversation with Steve Roy, the founder of Fit Dad Nation. Today's topic was all around client retention and how to actually keep clients for years! So many are focused on adding more clients and do just enough to maintain their current clients. Well, you won't be able to build a business like that! Steve is an expert in this area, which has allowed him to keep clients for 5 plus years. I want to add that his clients base is all men and just online. So, he certainly doesn't have it easy, and has still excelled in this area. I hope you enjoy our conversation and be sure to take notes and listen with the intention to apply not just learn.More about Steve Roy:Steve Roy has been a fitness coach, certified personal trainer, and business owner since 1997 and runs the Fit Dad Nation, where he helps dads get fit, live healthier, and be the best fathers they can be. He has two amazing daughters and considers fatherhood the best job on the planet. After his separation and divorce in 2012, his life (and health) fell apart and through hard work, dedication, and a lot of hustle, he turned his life around and started the Fit Dad Nation to help other men take back theirs.Connect With Roy Here:FitDadNation.comAre you interested in my mentorship program? How about having me come to your facility to work with you on designing YOUR business? Then let's hop on a connection call and see if this is the best fir for you. Book your call below, and I look forward to talking with you very soon!Book Your Connection Call With Justin

In BEASTDAD podcast episode 15 we welcome our guest, Coach Steve Roy (@thefitdadnation).Steve is the founder of FIT DAD NATION and is an absolute BEAST. A father of 2, Steve is a successful fitness coach to thousands of dads in his online community (www.fitdadnation.com/community) and through his personal fitness coaching. In our discussion, Steve speaks candidly about his early struggles as a father working in finance before starting over as a fitness coach in his early forties. Since then, Steve has built a thriving online community for dads and a successful podcast. His authentic and direct approach to "functional fitness" stands out in a world of quick fixes, pseudo-science, and “Instagram coaches”. In addition to Steve’s great story of resilience, we discuss strategies for steady improvements, being connected with the right people, fad diets, functional strength, and much more. We had a great time talking with Steve, and hope you enjoy the conversation!You can connect with Steve and join his brotherhood of dads at: www.Fitdadnation.com/community, and follow him at @thefitdadnation on Instagram.You can also connect with the BEASTDAD podcast @beastdadmode on “the Instagram” or at beastdadmode@gmail.com. Outro Credit: Slayer “Raining Blood”. Listen on Spotify, or grab a copy of their classic album Reign in Blood!

Jorge Rosa has been a member of the Fit Dad Nation community for years. He's a busy father of two, a business owner, and former fat guy. After high school, he left behind sports and went to culinary school, where he went from a lean and fit 135 pounds to over 250 pounds in just over a year. For years, Jorge struggled to prioritize himself and always seemed to have more things to do than he had time. He was working two full-time jobs, working 18 hours a day at one point, and building his side hustle at the same time. This started his real struggle with weight and over the last 15 years, he's fluctuated up and down, always seeming to find more excuses than results. His wife also struggled with post-partum depression and he spent any extra time he had with her and his young children. Of course, his health suffered. His eating was sporadic, his sleep was hard to come by, and there was definitely no time to hit the gym. But his hard work and dedication paid off and he was able to start his own business, finally giving him more flexibility with his time. But it wasn't until January 2020 when we started our Project 45 Challenge in the FDN Inner Circle that Jorge went all in on his health. I've seen him start and stop many of our programs and monthly challenges and I know at some point things would "click" for him and he'd find his inspiration and motivation. And in today's show, he shares what brought on the changes, how it's impacted his family, relationships, and quality of life. And it's inspiring as hell, honestly. Any time I see a dad make the firm commitment to himself and then get after it with 100% focus and dedication is a reminder of why I do what I do. This is a show for regular dads by regular dads and Jorge's story shows us that regardless of all the sh*t we have going on in our lives, sometimes all it takes is that spark to set you on fire.

This week's Fit Dad Fitness Podcast guest is Steve Roy, founder of Fit Dad Nation (https://www.fitdadnation.com/).   In this, the final interview episode of 2019, Steve and I discuss his years of working as an in-person personal trainer in a gym and the transition his lived through in moving his business online. We also discuss his heart for fathers, and how a chance conversation with a friend ultimately changed the course of his life in so many ways after his divorce.   If you'd like to join Steve's private Facebook group, Fit Dad Base Camp, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp/.   Thanks for a great 2019, and here's to an even better 2020. Please share this episode with a friend or family member, and don't forget those ratings and reviews! They mean so much to me.   Finally, for all things Fit Dad Fitness, go to https://www.fitdadfitness.com.

This show is specifically for divorced men. I was separated in 2012 after 8.5 years of marriage and was away from my two young daughters for the first time in my life. It was the worst feeling I'd ever experienced. So I did what many newly divorced men do; I self-medicated. Only my drug of choice wasn't alcohol or narcotics, it was food. Specifically fast food and sugar. I turned to McDonald's to help ease the pain of not seeing my girls and adopted a 6 pack of Dr. Pepper a day habit in the process. This coupled with a few Red Bulls daily, Pop-Tarts, and Snickers bars and my body rapidly turned to mush. My health and energy followed suit and I felt like absolute sh*t every day. And it was a nasty and downward spiral I was in and if it hadn't been for a friend who stepped in and gave me a much needed wake up call, I might have gotten much worse. Instead, I made the decision one evening to take my life back and I started with a single 5 minute run. And I built on that each day. Every day. And within 6 months or so, I had completely changed my body, my mindset, and outlook on life. I was happier, healthier and a much better father and it prompted me to start the Fit Dad Nation. In today's show, I share the things I did that allowed me to reclaim my health and make the changes I so desperately needed. It wasn't quick. It wasn't easy. And it was a struggle every step of the way. If you're in the process of a separation or divorce or still struggling with the emotional fallout from one, you need to make sure you're taking care of yourself. It's not something you'll do instinctively and most of us fall into a dark place. But I can tell you from experience that if you don't take care of your health from the start, you'll struggle much more than you need to. You will suffer. Your kids will suffer. So I'm sharing the steps I took to turn my life around and ultimately become a much better father and man and I hope this helps you in some way. Divorce is something I wouldn't wish on anyone and it's unbelievably painful but the fact remains that 50% or so of Americans end up there. Please listen to this with an open mind and remember that you are your #1. When you're not at your best, you can't be the best father you're capable of being. Don't make the same mistakes I did and I hope this episode helps you get through some of your toughest times.

Joe Buckner has been on my radar since I started this Podcast and it's because he has an incredibly inspiring story to tell. I first met Joe as part of the Fit Dad Nation community in 2014 when he was going through a difficult relationship breakup and we sort of lost touch over the next few years. But I started seeing his name pop up over and over again in my feeds and after doing a little searching, I saw that he was doing some amazing work on himself and in the service of others. Joe had a rough upbringing and although he was an exceptional athlete in high school, he turned to a life of crime that ultimately landed him in federal prison. He shares the heartbreaking conversation he had with his young daughter before he left for jail and how he made a promise to himself that when he got out, he'd do everything he could to become a better man. He also talks about the breakup that led to him becoming homeless for 10 months and how he chose to hustle his way into a better life. He literally worked his way from living on the streets to earning upwards of $50k per month and he credits his work ethic and gratitude for the opportunities he had. Today, Joe is a successful entrepreneur, coach, TEDx speaker, and owner of the boxing studio, Beautifully Savage in Fort Collins, Colorado. You can't help but like Joe, and during our conversation he says "everything I've ever lost has claw marks on it" and “everything worth having in this life you’re going to have to fight for. Life is going to test you and fighters know this. They know they will get hit and how you respond is what matters.” When Joe say that fighting solves everything, he is talking about fighting for what you believe and what you want and is exactly what he has done for years in order to become the man he is today. There was also a very powerful short film created about his story called Beautifully Savage and you can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/315719826 You can also find Joe on social media @MrJoeBucker.

In 2010, I was working in finance, struggling in my marriage, and felt completely trapped and hopeless. It was a period in my life that I've learned a great deal from and over the past 9 years, have been able to leave a job I hated, turn my health around 180 degrees, and start my life over doing work I love. In today's show, I share why finding and pursuing your purpose and passion is so important and how I did it myself starting back in 2010 with nothing but a small blog called EndingTheGrind.com It took years of learning, setbacks, struggles, and almost quitting many times before I was able to successfully launch my online fitness business, The Fit Dad Nation. Aside from my divorce and subsequent custody battle, being an online entrepreneur has been the single most difficult thing I've ever done. Since launching the FDN in 2014, I've been on the brink of financial ruin several times, questioned my ability to lead a community of dads often, and spent many sleepless nights wondering if I was good enough to make it happen for myself. But I chose this life and I wouldn't change it for anything. And it kills me to see so many men struggling in their day to day lives. These men are grinding out their jobs, living for the weekends, and have little or no sense of purpose and fulfillment. And it sucks. It's no way to live and it doesn't need to be like this. I believe that anyone can take their experiences, knowledge, and skill sets and find or create work they love. And get paid well for it. But many of you, like I was, are scared to leave the "safety" of a 9-5 job, a steady paycheck and health benefits. And rightfully so. It is scary as sh*t! To become an entrepreneur, it takes commitment, a burning desire to pursue your passion, and a willingness to grind it out until you see results. Only this is a good type of grind; one that you can control and will pay dividends on your hard work. Or not. You might fail and many do. But take it from someone who spent more than a decade doing soul sucking work, life is far too short for that. Find what you love and make it your mission to create the life you want. It can happen I promise.

So I once had a client who said the only thing standing in his way to better health and fitness was his laziness. Come on, really? I told him if he didn’t want it for himself, neither did I. And unfortunately, I've seen this scenario play out many times in the Fit Dad Nation community and today I'm talking about it. Hell, we all would like to be lazy asses and sit on the couch watching Netflix because it doesn’t require any mental or physical exercise. But you'll never get what you want if you do that. Maybe you've used the word "lazy" to describe yourself but that doesn’t mean you’re a doomed to a life on the couch or that you aren’t capable of changing. Laziness is a habit, not something you “are”. There could be any number of reasons you think you're lazy. Maybe you're uninspired by your life. Look at your job, is it mind numbing and boring? Look at your relationships. Are they draining you mentally? Look at your diet, exercise and lifestyle, are they conducive for good health? Or maybe you’re overwhelmed. Too much to do and not enough time. Is it just easier to do nothing than take on all the things you know you need to do? Or you’re just honestly tired. Look at your food, water intake, stimulants and caffeine, sleep, and stress levels. All can have a huge impact on your motivation. Maybe it's self-sabotage due to a fear of success. You don't think you're good or worthy enough. Maybe you feel that succeeding will push those closest to you, away. Or a fear of failure? People may see you trying and not succeeding thus showing your weakness and vulnerability. It's far easier not to try at all. Why risk failure when you can just do something you know you can do well? The good news is that laziness is a habit and you can change your habits. Start by changing your daily routines, one at a time. It takes on average 66 days to create a new habit. Find your why, as in "why" being motivated and accomplishing things is important to you. Challenge yourself. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Find inspiration somewhere or in something. It’s out there, I promise. Get quick wins. Stop trying to hit home runs and shoot for singles. Break down tasks into small chunks. Put away mindless things that take away from you actually thinking about why you’re lazy. TV, video games, social media, and other time fillers. Stay true to your word. This will build self-confidence in the process. If you tell yourself you WILL do something, fu*king do it! Get help, join a tribe like the Fit Dad Nation Inner Circle (fdnic.com), find an accountability partner or someone who cares about you. Hire a coach. Write your bucket list down. Look forward to something. Start moving more. Exercise daily. Do things you enjoy. Get rid of things that suck your energy like booze, soda, fast food, and energy drinks. Eat food that gives you energy and is healthy. Realize you aren’t perfect and don’t need to be. We all can be lazy, but once it's a habit, it can keep you down in that dark hole for a very long time.  

Why do some men thrive and others merely survive? One of the secrets of successful, motivated, passionate men is that they surround themselves with a tribe to support them, advise them, and inspire them. Today we visit the Fit Dad Nation podcast hosted by Steve Roy. We discuss how we can optimize the 5 dimensions of manhood, which are health, work, marriage, children, and finances. We also talk about why men thrive in tribes and how to excel by surrounding yourself with other men who have what you want. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to gooddadproject.com/thursday177. ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance.

Larry Hagner is a dad to four boys, the founder of GoodDadProject.com, speaker, author, entrepreneur, host of The Dad Edge Podcast, and someone I'm proud to call a friend and mentor. Larry also runs a highly successful program for dads called the Dad Edge Alliance and I was a member for a long time myself. One thing is clear; he knows how men think and why they thrive or don't thrive. So today I asked him to share his thoughts on why being part of a tribe of like-minded men can mean the difference between success and failure. He says "Let’s face it, the most successful people in the world are successful for one simple reason...they surround themselves with other like-minded successful people. However, most men think they have to live life as a one man wolf pack. We feel we must take on life without any help, without any assistance from others, and most of us have an overwhelming fear of failure. Not to mention, we don’t want anyone else to see that deep down we struggle, we have insecurities, and we can be overwhelmed by everyday life." Larry shares his theory on why most men live with the lone wolf syndrome and why it's holding us back from being successful in so many areas. The reason I do everything in groups now with the Fit Dad Nation, with the Inner Circle being a perfect example of a successful tribe, is because I've seen how much more powerful it can be versus working with an individual. It's not even close. We need brotherhood and support especially since the first thing a man will sacrifice is his own well-being and I've personally seen this play out over and over in the Fit Dad Nation. I also lived this way for many years and put myself behind everyone and everything else. A band of brothers will hold you accountable and won't let you give up on yourself. He also says that isolation is the enemy of excellence, which is such a powerful statement because we as men think we can do everything alone and don't need anyone. It's just not the way we are wired. You can learn more about Larry at gooddadproject.com and more about our Inner Circle program at FDNIC.com

So for today's episode, I wanted to do something a little different. I decided to share the results of a survey I sent out to the Fit Dad Nation with the question "how would your life be better if you were in the best shape of your life?" It was an anonymous survey and I asked each man for their honest feedback.  The response was awesome and within a few hours, we had a ton of survey answers with some quality feedback. And as I read through them, I saw a few trends repeating over and over. Things like "having more confidence", "being a better role model for my kids", and "having more energy" were the most common answers. Also things like "living longer", "not worrying about my health", and "having a better outlook on life" were mentioned and these are monumentally important things. I had also asked the men to tell me what kind of shape they were in on a scale from 1-10 and the overwhelming response came in at the midway mark, between 4-6. That's f*cked up. Think about that. The vast majority of men in the 35-45 year old range are living at an average to below average fitness level. It kills me to read through some of these answers and see how much dads are struggling and how so many obstacles are getting in their way to better health. This is an immensely important topic and I've decided to take a new direction with my content going forward in an effort to better help the men who need it most.    

It's easy for people to think that a fitness coach like myself has been fit all their lives or that's it's easier for me to get and stay fit. And that's just not true. I know there a lot of men out there who can't really identify with me because they think I'm just some fitness guy who makes everything look easy and who has probably never struggled with his health and fitness. My goal with the Fit Dad Nation is and always has been to help those dads who need it most; the guys who aren't commenting or sharing publicly but rather just lurking and listening. The dads who don't feel confident enough to share their struggles or don't think they have anything important enough to share are the ones who need help the most. So today I'm opening that door to you and sharing my back story of struggle in hopes that you can resonate with what I've been through and feel compelled to take action. I didn't have it easy. I wasn't blessed with amazing genetics. I didn't play sports. I wasn't popular. In fact, I was one of the dorkiest and most insecure kids you can imagine and if it wasn't for a small group of friends I had 25 years ago, I may have ended up as some recluse weirdo playing World of Warcraft in my mother's basement all my life. Fortunately, my path turned out differently and it was from the sheer amount of self-work I've done over the years that's made the difference. I hope this show sheds some light on where I came from and what I've had to go through to get where I am today. And I hope it inspires you to reach out to me and take action on taking back your health.

This show is a bit different than my previous 52 as I have no agenda, no script, no questions. Instead, I share my thoughts and experiences as the owner of an amazing community of dads, The Fit Dad Nation.   I've spent the last 5 years running the FDN and have seen so many men's lives transformed because of what we do here. And not just physically either. I've seen men turn their relationships around, take new career opportunities, start new businesses and pursue their passions, and recreate themselves as dads and men.   And it's been nothing short of awesome! As of this publishing, we have more than 640 men in our private Facebook group, the Fit Dad BaseCamp, which is our free group and where we share wins and losses, challenge each other, and is a place free from judgement.   And just a handful of months ago, I started an exclusive private membership program called the Fit Dad Nation Inner Circle and opened it up to the men in the BaseCamp. It was created for men who were ready to get serious about their health, take back their confidence, challenge themselves, and be part of a close knit accountability program.   And we have 40 men in there who are absolutely killing it. I'm serious when I say these guys are making big changes and have finally decided to put their health and fitness as a priority in their lives.   From the monthly fitness challenges, the weekly q&a sessions, the massive exercise and recipe library, the 4-man accountability teams, and having me to coach them through it all, it's an incredible resource for dads looking to get and stay fit. And this is exactly why I built it.   And this program doesn't discriminate. It's not just for fit dads. Not at all. It's for ALL dads and we have some who are training for Spartan Races and some who can't walk more than 15 minutes without getting winded. It's for all fitness levels and we work up from where they're at.   If you're a dad struggling with your weight, consistency, eating healthy, finding time to exercise, low energy levels, or poor overall habits, this program will help you and I invite you to learn more about it at FDNIC.com

Martin Rooney is the founder of Training For Warriors as well as an internationally recognized speaker, trainer, author, and host of the popular podcast Into The Roar. He’s also a father to 4 daughters and his list of accomplishments and accolades goes on for days and he’s one of the most well-known and respected coaches in the fitness business. He’s worked with MMA fighters, athletes from the NFL, MLB, NHL, collegiate and Olympic athletes, and his TFW system has also been implemented by the Army Rangers and Army Airborne Division. Martin was incredibly humble and his energy and passion were off the charts and he attributes it directly to doing work he loves. We ended up talking about finding our passions and pursuing them for a while and he and I have very similar mindsets when it comes to living your life with passion instead of what society thinks we should do. His point that there is nothing noble about sacrificing your personal happiness for the sake of providing for others hit the nail on the head and we talked about why this is costing so many men their lives.  We also spoke at length about the importance of the foundational things like proper sleep, good nutrition, movement, and living a healthy lifestyle. This is exactly what I teach in the Fit Dad Nation and we shared many similar thoughts on why many of the fancy supplements, fitness gadgets, and "diets" are largely unnecessary. At 47, he's in pretty sick shape and attributes it to his relentless consistency and how it's one of the most important aspect of health and fitness; one that is often overlooked or skipped over altogether. Martin and I talking about having a follow up conversation, because there was so much we didn't get to cover and this was one of the most thought provoking and content filled interviews I've done to date. Definitely worth a listen for all dads!  

Become a fearless father presents: The recording of the interview with Steve Roy, founder of Fit Dad Nation and father of 2). 0:00 - What's your mission .:.. - Who is Steve Roy? Links mentioned by Steve: https://www.fitdadnation.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp/ In this interview Klaas van Oosterhout had with Steve Roy, they talked about: * Divorce; * Podcast strategy; * How to re invent oneself; * Overcome your fears; * And much more. Visit us at https://becomeafearlessfather.com Music: https://www.bensound.com

Today I have the opportunity to talk with Fit Dad Nation community member, Jason Childs. Jason found our Facebook group, The Fit Dad BaseCamp, just a few months ago and went all in. He started engaging right away, joined a few of our challenges, and was super active with posting and commenting. Shortly after, he joined our private membership community, The Fit Dad Nation Inner Circle, and has been busting his tail with our programs. And he's crushing it. I asked Jason to come on the show to share his experiences as a dad of two teenagers and someone struggling with health issues like Lupus and pulmonary fibrosis. Jason shares how he lost his father to brain cancer as well and his 50 year old brother recently and has vowed to live long enough to see his kids grow up. He has dedicated himself to being healthy and being a good role model for his kids by leading by example. As busy as he is, he has committed 100% to his health and makes time every day for exercise. He's adopted new habits, discovered meal planning, learned how to track calories and macros, and is taking his journey about as seriously as one can hope for. He attributes much of his success to being part of our tribe and having the accountability it provides. This is one of the reasons everything we do in the Fit Dad Nation now is done in groups. Because there is so much power in being part of a like-minded community all working towards the same things. We talk about non-scale victories and how he measures his own progress and about the struggles he still faces day to day; struggles many of us as dads face as well.  We also get into the importance of mental health and being happy outside the home; primarily at work. I'm a big believer in pursuing your passions and not settling for grinding out an unfulfilling job year after year. Jason talks about his passions and what he'd like to be doing, but like so many others, doesn't know where to start. It's such a common thing and there are millions of miserable employees out there, each having a unique set of skills and gifts yet no idea how to turn it into a job or business. This conversation was real. Jason's not a fit pro, an athlete, or a guru. He's a regular dad like you and me and he's inspired me many times over with his raw dedication to his health and family.

At the Fit Dad Nation, we talk about men's health. And in my opinion, mental health is every bit as important as physical health and isn't talked about nearly enough. So today's show is about something that has so much meaning to me on a personal level and I see men everywhere suffering from it. It's the struggle to live a fulfilling life and do meaningful work. I recently came across something I had written when I was working in finance; a career I worked hard to have but hated every minute of it. This was posted on Jan 28, 2011: "As I sit here staring at my computer screen for the eighth straight hour while thinking of ways to kill myself with my hole punch, I have to ask my self, what am I doing here? Why do I continue to torture myself every Monday through Friday? And most importantly, when is it going to END?" Doing shit you hate isn’t good for you, me, or anyone else. I was a miserable SOB and not the best husband or dad I could have been. Why? My job sucked the life right out of me and I didn’t see a way out. I felt trapped and almost hopeless. That’s a recipe for a stress induced heart attack and I was almost there. Life doesn’t have to be hard yet most think it needs to be and that suffering is part of the process. It's not. We don't need to sacrifice our happiness for the sake of a paycheck and I proved that by leaving my career after 11.5 years and starting an online business doing what I love. I have to wonder a few things. Like why are we waiting for the end of our lives for the reward of retirement? What’s this pot of gold that justifies us spending the best years of our lives hoping for happiness in the last? It makes no sense to me and I believe our system is flawed. Get good grades in school to get into college. Then get good grades in college to get an entry level job in a big company. Then spend 40 years working for someone else in order to get a gold watch and hopefully a decent retirement savings. And so we do it. Millions of us. But how many of us are happy or fulfilled with what we do over the course of the 90,000 working hours in our lifetime? Very few.   I believe 100% that we don’t need to suffer because that’s what society tells us we should do. Working a meaningless, boring job that robs us of our happiness isn't what we were meant to do.   Yet the fact is that most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty because change is scary and most aren't willing to take the "risk" of trying something new. And I'll argue that the real risk is spending your most precious commodity, your time, doing sh*t you hate. It's not worth the sacrifice. I want you to ask yourself what it's costing you to put off pursuing your passions; mentally, physically, and emotionally. Then ask yourself what you're waiting for.

My guest today is a man on a mission; a mission very similar to the one I'm on. His name is Alex Van Houten and he runs DefinindDadBod.com and hosts his own podcast as well. Alex's passion for helping men shed their dad bods runs much deeper than just getting rid of that extra layer of fat or getting lean and ripped. He's been in the fitness industry for more than 13 years now and has dedicated himself to finding the reasons why men's bodies start to change after they have children. Alex shares a few insights that have some pretty significant meaning as it pertains to men and how our hormones control much of what happens to our bodies. We often hear that we need to just clean up our diets and train hard, but Alex says there are much deeper issues than that. He shares his method of creating personalized nutrition plans and how and why they start with his hierarchy of hormones and how trying to boost our testosterone before addressing other hormones is futile. He also talks about the importance of sleep and how it's critical for optimum health and fat loss and why it's imperative that we not only get enough sleep but that our bedtimes stay consistent. If you're a dad struggling with energy, losing weight, or trying to get your health back on track, this is a show you won't want to miss. And for those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, where we have more than 500 like-minded dads working together, head over to Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp and apply today to our free group.

Pat Rigsby is one of the true "good guys" in the world of online business and has been building and running successful ones for a number of years. 10 years ago, Pat taught me a very important business lesson, one he doesn't even remember, and one I incorporate into The Fit Dad Nation today. He taught me the importance of looking at your business as a people game and not a numbers game and if you've ever worked with Pat, you know he is all about relationship building. He's actually more like the anti-online marketer despite the fact that he's built multiple 7 figure businesses, because he spends his time working on truly helping people and solving their problems versus trying to get a million followers on Instagram or trying to trick people into buying products using fancy marketing copy and fake testimonials. I wanted to interview Pat because so many dads are unhappy in their jobs and are looking to create something on the side or a "side hustle" and the easiest place to do that is online. It's actually how I got started in 2010 when I was miserable in my own job. With virtually a non-existent barrier to entry, anyone with a computer and Internet connection can reach out and connect with the world. Anyone can take their passion and turn it into a profitable business and Pat and I discuss how to go about doing just that. He also makes the important distinction of getting someone's attention versus getting them to part with their hard earned dollars and he's an expert in both. If you're interested in building an online business or improving the one you already have, listen to this call. Also, I want to take a quick moment to invite all you dads who are listening right now and who are ready to start taking action on reclaiming your health and fitness and becoming better fathers and better men to join our online community and the best way to do that is to head over to Facebook and apply to our private group at facebook.com/groups/fitdadbasecamp

Ryan Michler is the founder of Order of Man, which is a thriving community of men who are looking to become the best men they can be. Ryan has quite a story and as a husband, father, Iraqi combat veteran and former financial planner, his message and passion for what he does are clearly needed as his Podcast has amassed over 7 million downloads to date. Ryan has some very strong viewpoints on masculinity and manhood and why so many of us are living domesticated lives of ease. He talks about fatherhood and exposing his children to difficult situations in order to eventually render himself obsolete, and how he encourages his boys to handle their own challenges in a way that allows them to learn by experience, not hand holding. We talk about why it's selfish not to let our kids experience failure, which is a huge issue in today's "everybody gets a trophy" society as well as why this is having such a negative impact on today's youth. We discuss the eight specific topics that he teaches in his Iron Council Program and why they are so important to have as a man and what we can do to become the best husbands, fathers, and men we are capable of becoming. His message and work with dads is closely tied in with what I do at the Fit Dad Nation and within my own private community in the Apex Alliance and I have a ton of respect for Ryan. 

This week we are talking with Steve Roy who has an interesting background, coming from the corporate world to become a personal trainer and then starting an online, virtual fitness coaching business that has seen many pivots. If you are interested in building an online business, you'll want to check this out. Topics: Steve's background story On being bullied while in high school The workshops he took and how it changed his life His wake-up call HIs journey towards creating Fit Dad Nation Biggest mistakes he made on his first online business On finding the work you love Links: https://www.fitdadnation.com (Fit Dad Nation) http://www.endingthegrind.com (Ending the Grind) http://facebook.com/groups/fitdadbasecamp (Fit Dad Nation on Facebook) http://www.entrepreneurhotseat.com (Entrepreneur Hot Seat Hot Seat) https://www.linkedin.com/in/andystorch/ (Connect with Andy on LinkedIn!) For questions, comments and guest suggestions, contact the host, Andy Storch, at andy@andystorch.com

This week we are talking with Steve Roy who has an interesting background, coming from the corporate world to become a personal trainer and then starting an online, virtual fitness coaching business that has seen many pivots. If you are interested in building an online business, you'll want to check this out. Topics: Steve's background story On being bullied while in high school The workshops he took and how it changed his life His wake-up call HIs journey towards creating Fit Dad Nation Biggest mistakes he made on his first online business On finding the work you love Links: Fit Dad Nation Ending the Grind Fit Dad Nation on Facebook Entrepreneur Hot Seat Hot Seat Connect with Andy on LinkedIn! For questions, comments and guest suggestions, contact the host, Andy Storch, at andy@andystorch.com

Bryan Ward is an entrepreneur, writer, and the founder of ThirdWayMan.com. I was first introduced to Bryan's work through his LIT Black Paper, How To Get Your Soul Back, which was raw with emotion and sent an incredibly powerful message about how we, as fathers, are failing short of our true potential and how we can go about changing it. After reading more of Bryan's work, I knew I had to talk to him and we had an incredible conversation about fatherhood, business, inspiration, masculinity, and courage. He mentioned a few powerful things that really stuck with me and he touched on something that I teach in my programs and groups and that is the importance of us, as dads, prioritizing ourselves, instead of putting ourselves last. Bryan's mission is a noble one and he states he is looking to change the world by changing men. He says that "fairly or not, men have a disproportionate amount of influence on the people around them" and have a huge impact on the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual tenor of the home. This is a conversation you'll get a tremendous amount of value from and I'm honored to have had the opportunity to speak with Bryan. And for those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, where we have 500 like-minded dads working together, apply to our private Facebook group today at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp/

When I first heard of Jeff Koettel, it was through his Facebook page, The Incredible Shrinking Bearded Man, and I was immediately interested in learning more about his story. As it turns out, Jeff, who is a single dad to one daughter, was once over 500 pounds and his life revolved around food and bad habits, but looking at him today, you'd never know it. Today, he is a lean 220 pounds and is as healthy as he's ever been and his story spans over 20 years with many setbacks and triumphs along the way. He shares his personal journey with me in our interview and his struggles with food addiction and how his whole food plant based diet has completely changed his life and health. He shares how he uses intermittent fasting to help him stay on track and why a simplified approach to eating works so well. What I like about Jeff is that he's a regular guy, not some fitness coach trying to sell us on his "secrets" to massive weight loss. He's just simply trying to live a healthy life for himself and his daughter. His story is one you won't forget and I highly encourage you to listen to this episode and also to check out his personal Facebook page and YouTube channel. And for those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, where you will join over 500 like-minded dads working together, head over to Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp and apply today.  

Brad Pilon is whipsmart and committed to his training program and philosophy of intermittent fasting. From his firebrand start picking public battles with some of the biggest names in the fitness game, Brad's rhetoric and rabble-rousing may have cooled down, but his passion for fitness hasn't. A husband, dad and author of "Eat Stop Eat", Brad grew up just outside of Toronto, Canada and first fell in love with bodybuilding after watching Lou Ferrigno on The Incredible Hulk. Brad has seen tremendous gains from the practice of intermittent fasting, paired with a good workout regimen and while I don't always agree with him, I respect and admire what he's accomplished. In this episode we talk about his background, his beefs and the no BS final word on fasting. To learn more about intermittent fasting and Brad's take on it, check out his intro guide here: https://bradpilon.com/introduction-to-intermittent-fasting/ And for those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, where we have hundreds of like-minded dads working together, head over to http://Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp and apply today.

Anthony Trucks is an amazing individual and my conversation with him was incredibly inspiring. He was basically given away at three years old by his mother and fell into the foster care system where he was beaten and starved. He struggled through his childhood and through sheer perseverance, he managed to take the hand that was dealt to him and turn it into something positive. At 14, he discovered football and made the decision to become great at it. Through hard work and dedication he was given a scholarship to Oregon University and ended up being drafted into the NFL, playing for the Redskins, Steelers, and Bucs before a shoulder injury ended his short career. He then went on to open his own gym, became an American Ninja Warrior, wrote a book about his life, started working as a fitness consultant, and became a highly sought after speaker. This man does it all and his passion and positivity is contagious. He now owns several businesses including Trust Your Hustle and sets a phenomenal example for his three children. And for those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, where we have hundreds of like-minded dads working together, head over to Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp and apply today.

"I drowned my sorrows with McDonalds and Soda - I would sit in my car and inhale it in like 5min" - Words from a trainer who has walked the negative "Dad Bod" path and uses the passion and experience from the school of hard knocks to help other Dads Today. Enjoy a real conversation between two passionate dads, trainers, and business owners who are hell-bent on getting practical, no nonsense support and advice to this generation's parents.Take responsibility for your body, shake yourself free of complacency, and don't go through life trying to do minimal damage. It's time to redefine what we mean by "Dad Bod"Support the show - www.patreon.com/definingdadbod

"I drowned my sorrows with McDonalds and Soda - I would sit in my car and inhale it in like 5min" - Words from a trainer who has walked the negative "Dad Bod" path and uses the passion and experience from the school of hard knocks to help other Dads Today. Enjoy a real conversation between two passionate dads, trainers, and business owners who are hell-bent on getting practical, no nonsense support and advice to this generation's parents.Take responsibility for your body, shake yourself free of complacency, and don't go through life trying to do minimal damage. It's time to redefine what we mean by "Dad Bod"Support the show - www.patreon.com/definingdadbod

Jordan Syatt is a fitness entrepreneur, Gary Vaynerchuk's personal fitness coach, self-proclaimed Harry Potter dork, and probably one of the most genuinely nice people I've met in a long time. Jordan has an immensely successful online fitness business and gets to travel the world with Gary V, but it's not as glamorous as it might sound. He busts his ass seven days a week and it's not uncommon for him to put in 16 hour days. He shares how and why his work ethic changed so much and how he deals with the things he hates doing the most. In the world of online fitness fakes and scammers, Jordan stands way out and it the real deal. Just by speaking with him, you immediately can tell he is in business to help people. His passion for what he does is apparent and if you aren't following him on social media, especially Instagram, you're missing out. This was an amazing conversation with one of the truly good guys in this industry. And for those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, where we have hundreds of like-minded dads working together, head over to Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp and apply today.

Jason Khalipa is a machine. From winning multiple CrossFit games to traveling the world speaking to running a successful fitness business, which includes opening more than 20 CrossFit gyms worldwide, he is at the top of his game on many fronts. He's also married to his high school sweetheart and has two young children. His daughter Ava was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016 and as of April 2018, she has stopped treatment and is in remission. Jason shares how his life and focus have changed since his daughters illness and how he has used the AMRAP mentality to remain positive and productive throughout it all. We had a great conversation and I found his humility and dedication to his family and businesses so inspirational and I remember asking him how he managed to keep it all together and not crack under all of his stresses and his answer was not what I expected. Listen in to this incredible guy share his story and I have no doubt you'll walk away inspired as well. And for those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, head over to Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp and apply today.

Tony Gentilcore is a a Boston based strength coach and former founder of the infamous Cressey Sports Performance facility. He's also a writer, online entrepreneur, and new dad and is honestly one of my favorite fitness personalities online. We talk about some things that suck in the fitness biz as well as what are some of the most important aspects of health and fitness. Tony is by far the funniest writer I know and his style of teaching and entertaining is a rare thing, especially in a relatively serious niche like fitness. You can check out his stuff at TonyGentilcore.com or on his social media accounts, where he is super active. For those of you who would like to become part of the Fit Dad Nation brotherhood, head over to Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp.

So this episode will tell you all you need to know about me, Steve Roy and why I started the Fit Dad Nation. After spending almost 12 years working in a career I hated, I was finally able to break free from the 9-5 grind and pursue my passion for fitness. The Fit Dad Nation is a community and brotherhood of like-minded dads who are all looking to become healthier, stronger, happier, and the best dads, husbands, and men they can be.   To learn more or to join our brotherhood, apply to our free group at Facebook.com/groups/FitDadBaseCamp

Like it or not, many of us see a “dad bod” staring back at us when we look in the mirror. Years of less than perfect diet and more time watching sports than playing them eventually add up. Life happens, we get it. The best of intentions somehow don’t make

In this episode we will learn a bit of the story of Steve Roy, a fitness coach specialized in working with dads and helping them find the time and the motivation to change their lives becoming better for themselves, for their family and for their children. He is the single dad of two girls. He is also the founder of the Fit Dad Nation website and community with thousands and thousands of dads from all over the country and from all different backgrounds. We will learn invaluable lessons from Steve as he shares his experience with his divorce and all the changes it brought to his life at a personal and family life with his daughters. It is beautiful to see parenthood from his perspective after the split.    “When I was married, of course I loved my kids, I loved being with them, but it was almost like I took it for granted, my time with them. A lot of times I would be doing mindless stuff not really paying attention to them, not REALLY connecting with them and so, now, literally, every time I see them it just comes to the front of my mind how precious my time, just a limited time, I just have them for a couple days a week, is with them. I am really, really present with them. I am excited because my relationship with them has grown tremendously because I am sitting with them and I am talking with them. I am listening to them and not just sending them off or playing on my phone or doing something else.” It is an amazing thing to see how he was able to come from his own struggle after the separation to change his own life for the better and then create a strong and positive community on Fit Dad Nation to help other parents often on a similar emotional situation dealing with a divorce or just dealing with the big and time consuming adventure raising a kid is.  “The way I ended up starting the website was I fell into a deep, dark place for a long while and really let myself go and just felt terrible, I looked terrible. Well, I was just a physical mess, and I was in the fitness business as well so it wasn’t a great thing. I kinda got a wakeup call one day from a good friend of mine and I started to make some changes and I ended up just running with it.”                 Time and time again here on Diversity Dad we will learn and re-learn on several different perspectives and ways that spending time with our kids is one of the most important things we can do as parents. Steve’s experience not only taught him how to be strong and improve his own health but also how to be a better parent by spending more time, and quality time, with his children and teaching them valuable lessons while at it. A lesson all of us should regard as a very important one. “We do a lot of stuff with them. It could be looked at as “hey, you know, we are out spending money on them.” That type of thing, the typical Disney land dad, but what we are actually doing is giving them experiences that they will remember forever. They are not going to remember sitting at the couch and watching cartoons, they are going to remember going out for that hike or you know, the other day we went out and gave some money to some homeless people and talked to some homeless people. Those are the types of things that they are going to remember. And that is what we are trying to do every single weekend.”                 We will learn not only from his experience with his divorce but also from his experience dealing with a lot of parents on his daily routine and if he says something that he learned from his experience spending time with those parents we should really listen to what he has to say. The second most important lesson he takes for himself and shares with us comes from the way he sees some parents dealing with their children. His answer was amazing and we do hope you can take that and a lot more from today’s episode just like we did. “Talk and actually listen to your children. Talk to them, not at them. I see a lot of parents that cross the border of “I am your father, I am your mother, this is what to do, period” and coming over the top and I understand that philosophy and I have to do it at times but I really think about the respect issue and I don’t think a lot of people think about that. I think the bigger picture is giving them the respect that you in turn expect from them.”   We hope that after listening to this episode you feel inspired to change, either in the way you handle your children or on the way you handle your couch and your free time!   OTHER QUOTES: “I typically don’t exercise on the weekends unless it is with the girls, we will go for bike rides, hikes, fun type of things. But I don’t actually train on the weekends because I don’t want to take my time away from them.” “Regardless of what time you have, it is just finding that time that you spend with your kids and Steve does a really good thing incorporating fitness as well as that quality time.” “I was a very hands on dad. When I was married I did a lot for the girls and as soon as we split I was left with them only on the weekends. I wasn’t with them every day for school and so I had to kind of figure out again the right way to handle all of it. How to talk to them about the divorce, how to handle the emotional side, how to teach them what I needed to teach them on the weekends, they are getting one thing from their mother and something else from me. It has been a challenge to say the least.” “We decided to handle it as a positive thing (the divorce). When I sat down with my in laws and we had the conversation about “Hey, this is what we are doing.” It was terrible. My ex-wife comes from a very catholic family where divorce is not an option. I mean, that is not even on the radar. So when we talked about it, it was not well received and so there was a lot of negativity. We chose to talk the girls as “hey, listen, this is what we are doing, you are going to have two houses now. Daddy is going to be here, you are going to spend the weekends with him and you will stay here with mommy and we are going to be happier separately. So we really tried to make it positive.” “If you are going through a divorce or a separation, make it about the kids. I know this is easier said than done because, not as man but just as human beings, we have those emotional things that we want to make sure that we get across to anyone that we are talking to or have feelings for.” “I work with a lot of single dads and unfortunately a lot of them succumb to anger, hate and the bitterness, and it is so bad for the kids. They will see it, they will hear it. I just refuse to go down that route. It has worked out, I feel like the girls are doing really well because of the way it has been handled.” “Why would you waste your time sitting on your ass watching television drinking beers when you haven’t seen your kids. And they don’t think about it. A lot of married dads, obviously not all of them, don’t even think about it. “Oh, you know, the kids are fine, they are right here, I see them enough.”. But what is going to happen if that is taken away and you can’t see them.” “I do think that personal time is very important, regardless of who you are you need your down time, you need to unwind, unplug. And a lot of guys do that through drinking beer and watching the game. I am not saying there is anything wrong with that but I am saying is when you already barely seeing your kids as it is, I just can’t understand why you would want to go off hunting with your buddies or spend all day on a weekend when this is a perfect opportunity to connect with your kids.” “I just really wanted her to feel better and have more confidence, she just was looking like she was miserable out there, the other kids were running circles around her and I felt bad but she wanted to get better but didn’t know how. We went to the very first game and she ended up scoring the very first goal of the first game. It brought tears to my eyes. I felt so good for her.” “They need to be kids, they don’t need to be involved in that stuff and they don’t need to hear anything bad about their mother regardless of how I feel about her. That is not something that my father believed in. He was not happy with my mother and let me know all about it. That created some problems. I didn’t like my mother for a long long time until I was probably in my thirties I was still pissed at her. Until I finally realized that it wasn’t her. That is what I am trying to avoid.”   LINKS: FIT DAD NATION WEBSITE http://www.fitdadnation.com/ Twitter – Steve Roy@TheFitDadNation https://twitter.com/TheFitDadNation INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thefitdadnation/     “Let’s learn together. Let’s grow together. Let’s be dads together. Peace.”  

Fitness coach Steve Roy talks about how he started Fit Dad Nation, the importance of optimal nutrition and physical training, how we prepare our bodies to build resilience, and the importance of physical health in aiding with depression and anxiety. Guest Bio: Steve Roy is a fitness coach, certified personal trainer, and business owner for… The post SA 055: Steve Roy On How Becoming Physically Fit Drives Resilience appeared first on Nick Dinardo.