Introducing your host #FitFamilyFriday

Last week saw the introduction of a new co-hosted link up that we call #FitFamilyFriday and this week is my first time hosting it! Welcome and thank you to Tony from Disillusioned Dad for hosting the first installment last week. If you don't yet know about #FitFamilyFriday then you can read about it here. We will be taking it in turns at hosting this health and wellbeing themed link up and this week is my turn. Last week I introduced you to my co-host and this week I will be introducing you all to yours truly. This regular link up will allow me to show a different side of me and this is the perfect opportunity to give you an insight of that version of myself. After you're done reading, don't forget to join in and share your posts. Why not copy these questions and answer them from your own perspective? I'd love to learn about you all. Anyway, here it is...

What does being “healthy” mean to you?

Being healthy to me is about being comfortable in yourself, with a reasonable level of fitness and most importantly…happy! It’s important to be active and physically healthy but also mentally healthy too and quite often the 2 coincide. I have a difficult relationship with food that often see’s me eat the most unhealthy when I’m feeling bad about my weight or self image. I look for a quick route to happiness through junk food despite knowing it will make things worse when the carb hit or sugar rush dies down. When I’m more focused on my diet and training I naturally look better. When I look better, I feel better and in turn I always eat better. So for me, being healthy starts with being in a good place mentally and feeling happy.

What are you currently doing to change your “health” and what do you plan to do in the future?

I’m focusing on routine. I count calories and exercise as often as I can. I plan my workouts in advance and stick them on the fridge so I know what needs doing and check them off as I make my way through the week. My goal is to get to a place where I’m happy and comfortable and then be a little less rigid in my routine whilst maintaining that weight and fitness level. It’s important for me to make my fitness a priority and a lifestyle rather a phase so that in the future when my children understand more they see me setting the right example. I can become quite obsessive over it though and that’s why I intend to be a little less rigid in the future. The last thing I want is for my children to develop body image issues because they see their Father obsessing over calories and skipping meals because the last one was bigger than it should have been.

What positives and negatives have you seen so far?

I’m close to my goal weight and as light as I’ve been in years at this moment in time. I’m also fitter, stronger and have a resting heart rate close to that of a professional athlete. There’s lots of positives but I still want more and that’s where negativity creeps in. I’ve become obsessive and I know I have. I spend to much time on scales even though I know that numbers count for very little; I spend too much time criticising myself in the mirror. Because I’ve achieved so much it makes me want to achieve so much more and I can’t help but focus on what I don’t have rather than what I do sometimes.

What one tip would you give to anyone trying to be “healthier”?

I could give many tips but if I had to pick one it would be to plan for long term results. Fad diets and binge training might work for a few months, but you won’t be able to keep it up forever. Plan to make being healthier a part of your lifestyle and do it in a way that you can maintain it forever. If you don’t think you could go 5 years without something or go 5 years doing something you don’t currently then don’t plan to. Choose something else. Set yourself a goal that you’re confident you can achieve with the right mindset.

What is, in your opinion, the most controversial bit of “healthy” advice you have seen recently?

For me, I hate hearing about any fad diet but lately I’m bored of every man and his dog talking about the paleo diet craze. For me, anything in moderation is fine so long as you’re staying active. The paleo diet is all about eating like a caveman and I can’t help but feel that it’s more about being fashionable than being healthy. The idea of eating nothing that a caveman wouldn’t have been able to eat seems so restrictive to me and needlessly rules out a lot of food options. Food can still be fun as well as healthy and you shouldn’t have to think twice before every culinary experience.

How do you fit personal fitness around family life?

It’s difficult! I work an irregular shift pattern and have 2 small children and as a result get very little time to myself. I plan all of my workouts a week in advance and stick them to the fridge and make a conscious effort to tick a workout each day. Naturally though, in a busy household it isn’t always possible to find the time to workout and if I miss a day or 2 then I really try not to beat myself up over it. The hardest thing though is sticking to a healthy diet when everyone else in the house in a different wavelength. My wife is a feeder and when you’re sleep deprived it’s a constant struggle to say no to sugar.

Do you do anything fitness related with your children?

We regularly walk as a family and chasing after my eldest, playing games rolling around is energetic enough. Both of my children are under the age of 2 though so joint fitness isn’t really on the agenda. I had my eldest watch me work the heavy bag in the garage once and he screamed the place down watching me be aggressive and I’ve learnt a lesson from that. I’m looking forward to them growing older and being able to kick a ball, run around parks and enjoy sports together. For now though it’s just tickle fights and swimming that helps parenting merge with fitness.

Now it's your turn! Link up to #FitFamilyFriday by sharing your posts on fitness, health and wellbeing or weight loss. Join us on our journey to healthy.

Rules:

1.  Comment on as many posts as you want, but please do comment on at least one, this is meant to be a collaborative community.

2.  Link as many relevant posts as you like, but be sure to paste the #FitFamilyFriday badge on the post(s) you do link up.

3.  Tweet your post with the hashtag #FitFamilyFriday and mention your co-hosts to get retweeted (@costyy2k and @Papa_Tont)

4.  Whilst you’re tweeting about #FitFamilyFriday, why not follow us as well, we would really appreciate the support.