#LetUSBeGreat! CHALLENGE – How To Gain Support from your Significant Other

Why Did I Get Married?

We get married for different reasons and have kids during different times in our lives. Some of you may have married your high school sweet heart. Others may have settled down later in life and gotten married in your mid-30s. It is just as common to have been divorced, with or without kids, and remarried with a blended family. Whatever your familial composition, the common interests that brought you and your wife together may not have included PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.  

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Hey FAT DAD! You Are Robbing Your Grand-kids of Their Legacy!!!

No Research Necessary: We pour a lot of time, energy and effort into our children’s future. And rightfully so. We desire they go be greater than us, but ask nothing in return other than they become God-fearing, good American citizens as adults. At the same time, we rob them of their future by our very own selfish acts. These acts I am referring to are a sedentary lifestyle, bad eating habits, cigarette smoking and/or alcohol addiction.

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But Why Daddy? Because Our Kids Are FATTER Than Ever!

You have heard it called “Finding Your Purpose”, or “Following Your Dreams”! The new catchphrase is “Finding Your Why”. Live long enough and you will have seen old concepts repackaged into new, fresher terms (Emotional Intelligence vs plain ol’ Not Being A Jerk). Call it what you want. The idea remains, if you do not have a passion or something deep down, driving you to justify and validate your decisions, you run that chance of bouncing from one purpose to the next.

It is imperative to note that your “why”, CAN, and most likely, WILL, change with time. Or better yet, your “why” may stay the same, but your path to it will often change. In my case, it has expanded, and the path has become less treacherous.

Kids Ruin Your Life: I know you have heard it. There seems to be a growing negative connotation with having kids these days.

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6 Reasons Why Paternity Leave MUST Be Mandatory

As I am writing this post today, my lil’ man Tiras is on my chest. I am at home. Having been away from my office for three weeks now, with another week of leave planned, I know I am privileged. Recently, I was reminded by this.

Be Flexible With Your Time!

Moment of Realization. A contracted employee at my duty station was expecting his first child within a month of the arrival of Tiras Malachi, my son and second born. We often have discussions on how our families are doing and what we are doing to prepare. For me, I told him I planned on taking the 12-day paternity leave allowed by the service I am a commissioned officer in, followed by using an additional 12 days of annual leave. Basically, about one month of family time. His response was something in the vicinity of: it must be nice. This full-time employee did not such a privilege. This served as a reminder. Since this was my second child, I had not given it much thought this time around. Not every expectant dad is afforded the privilege of taking time off to allow the family to settle in to the new addition and try to get acclimated, somewhat.

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Prioritize Your Time

Welcome to the UP BEFORE THE SUN, dark side.

How to Prioritize Your time.

Do you ever feel like there is never enough time in the day?

In 2016, my beautiful daughter Elliora was born. Physical activity has always been a commonality shared between me and my phenomenally, extraordinary wife, JoAnna. So, we were uneasy with the feeling of not knowing how we would continue to prioritize essential components of our lives, and rightfully so. There is a popular notion around modern day parenthood. It states that you must sacrifice the life you desire to live, for your child(ren). A smart man once said that sacrifice entails giving up things you do not want to give up.

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4 Steps To Being An Active-Dad

Active-Dad laughing during quality time with his daughter.
Active-Dad with Active-Daughter

What does being a dad mean to you?

For some dads, fatherhood is defined by sacrifice. And that’s ok! That is part of the duty and absolute honor of a little human being calling you “Daddy”. In the same breath, some sacrifice is not for the benefit of you, or your family. Your own health should not be at stake! Your family cannot rely on you, if you cannot carry yourself. What if in the end, it is your family that must carry you? Statistically speaking, this may happen eventually any way. Every day that passes, we all grow older. Should we not do whatever we can to maximize our time with our family? Your family needs you to be strong and healthy, to live long and prosper.

Over the next few days I hope to help guide you through how I am able prioritize physical fitness in my life. The adage stands true…If I can do it, so can you!

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