Ditch Your Dadbod To Honor God And Your Family

It’s a common refrain among dads who have let themselves go after they’ve been married and chased their kids around for a few years. “I’m just working on my dadbod.” This phrase became popular in 2015 when Mackenzie Pearson penned an article explaining how a man who can balance his “8 pack” with a few workouts here and there is equally as appealing as a man with a more superior physique. 

Unfortunately, this has become an easy out for far too many dads to get comfortable on the couch, polish off another bag of chips, or push off the gym for yet another week. It’s time to ditch the dadbod not just for your own sake, but also to honor God and your family.

Why You Need To Kick Your Dadbod To The Curve

Being a dad is hard work. It takes a lot of physical, mental and emotional energy to train up a child according to the bible. It can be easy to use your busy life as an excuse for letting your health and physical appearance fall by the waist side. You might think that trading a workout for more playtime with your kids is honorable. You might even feel its objectively the right thing to do for your kids. This is understandable, though a bit misguided. 

Do It For Yourself

All too often one of the first things new dads abandon is their own self care, specifically anything having to do with improving their own personal health and wellness. Time becomes scarce and the kids become the main priority. 

This happens with the best of intentions. The problem arises when doing what’s best for your family trumps your own mental and physical wellbeing. Abandoning your own needs for the needs of your loved ones is an honorable gesture, but one that will eventually have you feeling very negatively about yourself.

You can turn this around by focusing on a couple of things. Commiting to exercise regularly and eat healthier provides dads with numerous benefits, like those shared below. 

Making the decision to stop using your kids as the excuse for your slipping health and wellness is step one. Step two is taking action to get rid of your dadbod and keep it away for good. 

Do It To Honor God

Part of following Jesus includes taking your health seriously. One of the more well-known bible verses that speaks to this is when the apostle Paul talks about our body as the temple of the holy spirit. 

For the Israelites the temple was God’s original dwelling place. It was His sacred, holy home until Jesus was crucified. The temple was treated with reverence, respect, and honor. We are to mimic this attitude with our own bodies. This means, among other things, being careful about what we put into our bodies and refusing to use excuses for why we slowly let our bodies atrophy as we get older. It is our duty to honor God with our bodies by eating right, engaging in physical activity, as well as being intentional about prayer and meditation to keep our minds and hearts in alignment with the purpose He has for our lives. 

At the same time, we need to be cautious not to take this to the extreme. Is there anything wrong with getting ripped? No, unless your physical appearance starts to become more important to you than investing in your relationship with Jesus, or spending time with your family. You need to find the right balance that will allow you to keep your temple holy, while also not turning this type of activity, or lifestyle into an idolatrous act.

Your health is a key factor in honoring God, but you must remember that Satan can twist your mindset into focusing on insecurities about your weight, beauty, or age to distract you from sharing your faith. As you ramp up your physical activity you may or may not be able to get your body back to the peak physical condition you were once in.

That’s okay. That isn’t your goal. Your goal should be to invest in your physical and spiritual health, without sacrificing other important aspects of your life. You can find peace in knowing that we’re all created in the image of God no matter what type of body we possess. 

Do It To Put Your Family First

Like most dads, you’d do anything for your family. You’re committed to giving your kids the best life possible. You want to be there for them for years to come. This is why you shouldn’t be okay with “rocking the dadbod.” 

Ironically enough, by putting your children first you’re doing a disservice to them. When you neglect your physcial well-being for the sake of you children, you aren’t giving them the best version of yourself. Even worse, you may eventually rob them of years they could have spent with you due to your poor physical, mental and spiritual health. 

If you’re like me, you all too often use your kids as an excuse for why you “deserve” that heaping bowl of ice cream at night, or time to veg out on the couch and stream the latest netflix series instead of foregoing dessert or hopping on the exercise bike. This thinking is flawed. 

Firstly, these unhealthy habits will just make you feel even worse about yourself and cause you to continue making unhealthy choices. It’s a vicious loop. A little t.v. or dessert now and then is okay, but the problem arises when these behaviors become a mindless daily pattern. 

Stop using your kids as an excuse to prop up unhealthy habits and instead use them as motivation to do better. Think of your kids when you’re making decisions that affect your body. After all, doesn’t your wife deserve her spouse to be by her side into old-age? Don’t your kids deserve to have their dad around for graduations, wedding celebrations and the birth of their children? 

How You can Get Started Right Now

Once you’ve made the decision to ditch your dadbod you might be tempted to sign up for that half marathon, tough mudder, or start a 48-hour fast. These are lofty and difficult goals to start off with. If you chase after challenges like these too soon you’re more likely to fail and head right back to the couch. 

1. Start Small

Its best to focus on one thing and develop a consistent habit. You could decide to do daily walks, jogs, hikes, or bike rides. Pick something that you can stick with for the long haul. It may take anywhere from 21 to 60 days to develop a solid habit.

2. Take Control of Your Diet 

An obvious starting point is altering your diet to include less sugar and processed food. Eat three good meals a day that include generous servings of fruits and veggies, and drink lots and lots of water. There are lots of popular diet options out there, but if you want these habits to be sustainable you need to find something that works for you. Focus on changing your lifestyle rather than following a short-term diet. 

This is particularly difficult for me as I enjoy a sweet bite after dinner. Breaking that habit has proven to be a challenge. If you’re in the same boat do what I do and focus on stacking small wins.

• Resisted dessert this evening. Win!
• Choose a salad for lunch over pizza. Win!
• Have a smoothie for breakfast rather than a doughnut. Win!

Over time these little wins start really piling up and contribute to your success in a big way. 

3. Incorporate Your Kids

Physical activity doesn’t have to be boring. Include your kids when you can, and make it fun! The options are endless. Also, be sure to take advantage of little moments throughout the day. 

• While the kids are playing do some pushups. 
• Do some jumping jacks as you push them on the swings. 
• Give them a ride using a running stroller 
• Play tag with them, or make an obstacle course

4. Call For Backup

Don’t go it alone. Like a wolfpack, you’re more likely to succeed if you have others surrounding you, encouraging you, and watching your back as you go down this road. 

If you’re having a rough day, or make a bad decision, don’t beat yourself up. It happens. Reach out to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’ll give you the support you need. You may also want to consider joining a mastermind, or support group of like minded people going through the same experience as you. 

5. Be prayerful

It goes without saying that you should be prayerful as you begin this journey. 

Seek God’s wisdom and strength as you strive to honor him with your body, mind and spirit. Ask for grace as you hit bumps in the road and become discouraged. Thank God for His direction and encouragement as you celebrate your wins. Finally, pray for the resolve and courage to resist temptation and make sound choices that will not only benefit you and your family but will be pleasing to God. 

Conclusion

It’s time to stop making excuses and get rid of your dadbod. Doing this will not only benefit you but your spouse and children also stand to gain from your decision. In addition, doing what you can to take care of your body honors and pleases God. Start small by choosing to eat healthier foods. Take advantage of little moments throughout the day to squeeze in some exercise and try to make it fun by incorporating your kids. Be prayerful throughout, and seek God’s wisdom and strength as you make the commitment to honor him with your body.