An exercise bike, a rowing machine, an Ab Roller, a racquetball racquet, a treadmill, one of those spring-loaded, grip strengthener thingys, barbells, dumbbells and even a set of ankle weights.
This is a short list of exercise equipment my dad collected in our basement growing up.
Looking at this list you would have thought Arnold Schwarzenegger lived there…but he didn’t.
Fast forward 25 years and you can find the following in my house: a road bike, a mountain bike, a medicine ball, a pull up bar, a 20 lb. resistance band, two GPS enabled watches (crap…two? really!), a Road ID, a membership to the YMCA, a (lapsed) membership in USA Triathlon, at least three pairs of running shoes, an expensive cycling jacket that I bought myself while Christmas shopping for my kids (Merry Christmas to me!), and countless running/cycling shorts, shirts and hats.
Judging by this list I should be that neighbor who fetches the morning paper from the driveway shirtless….but I’m not.
Am I in the best shape of my life?
Far from it.
As I enter ‘mid-life,’ am I prepared to set myself on the right course to live a healthy lifestyle? Yes, and here is “why.”
The motivation to live an active and healthy lifestyle needs to come from the ultimate goal….the “why.”
Here is my “why”…to me, exercise is the key to a happy family life. (Exercise = stress relief = feeling better = better mood = more productive at work = able to end the work day feeling good = able to focus more on family when home = better dad = happier wife and kids = happy life)
This section of DadBurbia focuses on my journey and struggle to improve my health, fitness level and happiness through exercise.
My wife and I have done a pretty good job of instilling an active lifestyle for our three kids and I want to set a positive example.
My goal with this section is to continue to remind myself, and hopefully you, of my "why"…to remember that in the end exercise = happy life.