How Our Nutrition Affects The Way We Spend Time With Our Kids
It is a beautiful day outside.
The sun is shining, the weather is nice and cozy, and you can hear the birds singing in their safe resident at the nearby treetop.
It is the perfect weather for a day at the park, so, you pack your bags and your kids and you make your way to the nearest lawn yards with all the needed accessories.
You have your baseball glove and ball, in case your son wants to play catch, you have your string, in case your daughter wants to play cat's cradle, you have a piece of wooden stick, in case your dog wants to play fetch and you have your fingers to function as an imaginary pistol, in case you want to play dead.
Because there is nothing more exhausting than a day in the park with your family.
When it was just you and your wife, going on a picnic was a great romantic gesture.
You used to grab a basket, stuff it with fat French cheese, bread and wine (don't forget the wine), and you would lie on a blanket, ignoring the world surrounding you, occasionally throwing a piece of wood to get rid of the damn dog for a few seconds, so you can cuddle without him sticking his wet nose to your chin.
Then the first kid came along, and everything was great, and still is, and you love him more than life itself, but going on a romantic picnic is no longer an option, because the cute little bundle of joy learned how to crawl, and then walk, and then run, and he just never stop, and there is nothing you can do about it, because, let's face it, he will never sit still when you really need those five minutes rest, so you have to run after him, so he wouldn't fall or step on some dog's poop, or even worse.
So you are bound to play with him, rather than read that book you always wanted, but the problem is that you are not getting any younger, and you are getting tired quicker than you used to.
And then the little girl came bursting into your life.
And oh, how much you love her, your daddy's little princess that can melt your heart with a single smile, and break it into pieces when she cry.
And though she does deserve all the attention she can get, and nothing can make you happier than giving her this attention, you sometimes feel too old and tired for this intensive activities, and all you can think of is laying your head for a few minutes, just to gather some strength and you'll be right back on your feet.
And you actually believe this lie when you whisper it in your mind, but let's face it, all the fat cheese and French bread and wine and butter and burgers and fries and let us not forget the beers, are here to take their toll, and you have nothing to do but pay the price.
Or is it so? Is it really a one way ticket to the blue? Do you really have to feel so old and tired when you try to enjoy some quality time with your kids? Do you really have to feel every muscle in your body after just five minutes of physical exercise? Are you bound to suffer exhaustion and old feeling in an early age? I guess you know the answer by now.
So, how can we reverse the wheels of time? How can we lose our extra weight and be the young selves we remember we ought to be, if not for ourselves than for our kids? Start by taking control on what you eat.
Let go of this hot, delicious pastrami sandwich, swimming in mayonnaise and grilled cheese, throw away this bloody steak and magical mashed potatoes that hold within them more butter than potatoes and taste like heaven itself.
Because if heaven is what you seek, this is exactly the food you need to eat to get there long before your time.
It doesn't mean you should stop enjoying a good meal, and live of lettuce and bean sprouts and rye bread and an occasional walnut when you feel that you deserve a special treat.
If you would only look, you could easily find thousands of surprisingly tasty healthy recipes that will compensate you for the loss of your beloved carbohydrates and fat and delicious cholesterol.
Just give it a try, and who knows, maybe you will gather back the lost fitness and be the father you really want to be, enjoying a day in the park with the kids without falling apart after two minutes of workout.
The sun is shining, the weather is nice and cozy, and you can hear the birds singing in their safe resident at the nearby treetop.
It is the perfect weather for a day at the park, so, you pack your bags and your kids and you make your way to the nearest lawn yards with all the needed accessories.
You have your baseball glove and ball, in case your son wants to play catch, you have your string, in case your daughter wants to play cat's cradle, you have a piece of wooden stick, in case your dog wants to play fetch and you have your fingers to function as an imaginary pistol, in case you want to play dead.
Because there is nothing more exhausting than a day in the park with your family.
When it was just you and your wife, going on a picnic was a great romantic gesture.
You used to grab a basket, stuff it with fat French cheese, bread and wine (don't forget the wine), and you would lie on a blanket, ignoring the world surrounding you, occasionally throwing a piece of wood to get rid of the damn dog for a few seconds, so you can cuddle without him sticking his wet nose to your chin.
Then the first kid came along, and everything was great, and still is, and you love him more than life itself, but going on a romantic picnic is no longer an option, because the cute little bundle of joy learned how to crawl, and then walk, and then run, and he just never stop, and there is nothing you can do about it, because, let's face it, he will never sit still when you really need those five minutes rest, so you have to run after him, so he wouldn't fall or step on some dog's poop, or even worse.
So you are bound to play with him, rather than read that book you always wanted, but the problem is that you are not getting any younger, and you are getting tired quicker than you used to.
And then the little girl came bursting into your life.
And oh, how much you love her, your daddy's little princess that can melt your heart with a single smile, and break it into pieces when she cry.
And though she does deserve all the attention she can get, and nothing can make you happier than giving her this attention, you sometimes feel too old and tired for this intensive activities, and all you can think of is laying your head for a few minutes, just to gather some strength and you'll be right back on your feet.
And you actually believe this lie when you whisper it in your mind, but let's face it, all the fat cheese and French bread and wine and butter and burgers and fries and let us not forget the beers, are here to take their toll, and you have nothing to do but pay the price.
Or is it so? Is it really a one way ticket to the blue? Do you really have to feel so old and tired when you try to enjoy some quality time with your kids? Do you really have to feel every muscle in your body after just five minutes of physical exercise? Are you bound to suffer exhaustion and old feeling in an early age? I guess you know the answer by now.
So, how can we reverse the wheels of time? How can we lose our extra weight and be the young selves we remember we ought to be, if not for ourselves than for our kids? Start by taking control on what you eat.
Let go of this hot, delicious pastrami sandwich, swimming in mayonnaise and grilled cheese, throw away this bloody steak and magical mashed potatoes that hold within them more butter than potatoes and taste like heaven itself.
Because if heaven is what you seek, this is exactly the food you need to eat to get there long before your time.
It doesn't mean you should stop enjoying a good meal, and live of lettuce and bean sprouts and rye bread and an occasional walnut when you feel that you deserve a special treat.
If you would only look, you could easily find thousands of surprisingly tasty healthy recipes that will compensate you for the loss of your beloved carbohydrates and fat and delicious cholesterol.
Just give it a try, and who knows, maybe you will gather back the lost fitness and be the father you really want to be, enjoying a day in the park with the kids without falling apart after two minutes of workout.