For many dads, especially dads of newborns, sleep seems like its the one thing we need the most yet can't seem to get enough of. No surprise there.

But as Efren Pelayo (of The Dad Lift) and I discuss on this week's episode, not getting the proper amount of sleep can wear you down and, at best, render you ineffective as a provider for your family. At worst, it can put you in the hospital — as it did for both Efren and myself.

The need for sleep is even more heightened as a fit dad — one who expends energy exercising — as if chasing around kids isn't enough!

I hope this week's episode of the podcast encourages you to pay attention to the amount of sleep that you're getting and to focus on making sure you're taking care of your needs, especially you new dads. It was fun just to sit and talk with Efren about sleep and the ways to get more of it. Enjoy this one guys!

Check out all that Efren has going on at TheDadLift.com, and for all things Fit Dad Fitness, check out FitDadFitness.com, or on Instagram (www.instagram.com/fitdadfitness), Twitter (www.twitter.com/fitdadfitness), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage).

This week's Fit Dad Fitness Podcast guest is Benoit Roure, a man who has seemingly done a little bit of everything in his life. Growing up in the south of France, he was a basketball player, a volleyball player, and even got into fencing.

After moving to the United States to go to college and pursue his dream of playing in the NBA, life happens, as they say, and now, Benoit finds himself a fit dad of three living in Idaho and teaching ninja warrior-style fitness classes in his community.

Benoit was my Featured Fit Dad of the Month in March 2017 (https://fitdadfitness.com/featured/featured-dads-in-2017/benoit-march-2017/) and his story is so cool I had to have him on the podcast to get into it a bit more. I don't think you'll be disappointed listening to Benoit's unique perspective. He's drops some awesome truth nuggets in this episode!

Be sure to check Benoit out on Facebook (facebook.com/leninjafitness) and Instagram (instagram.com/le_ninja_warrior), and share this episode with someone who might find it motivating and entertaining.

Check out all things Fit Dad Fitness at fitdadfitness.com, or on Facebook (facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage), Instagram (instagram.com/fitdadfitness), and Twitter (twitter.com/fitdadfitness). Don't forget to subscribe and leave a rating and/or review!

I'm a huge believer that having goals is a major driver of sustaining success when it comes to health and fitness. Having something to aim for and achieve is extremely motivating and personal.

Right now, I'm struggling to figure out what my next goal should be in my fitness journey. I love challenging myself mentally and physically, and for the past couple of years, I've accomplished this through competing in mud races. But what now?

I talk through this in this short episode of the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast. I'd love to hear from you: What are your goals for your own personal fitness journey over the next few months? Let me know by shooting me an email to [email protected], or messaging me on Facebook (facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage), Instagram (instagram.com/fitdadfitness) or Twitter (twitter.com/fitdadfitness).

As always, thanks for listening, and if you would please leave a rating and review, I'd be so very grateful! Take care everyone!

It's a short, solo episode of the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast this week, as I simply want take take some time to acknowledge the things that I'm grateful for in my life.

With it being Thanksgiving week here in the United States, we pay special attention to all that we have been blessed with. However, no matter where you live, it's good to take a moment to reflect on the things in your life that bring you joy and those people you care about most.

I detail the things I'm thankful for in order of their priority in my life: Purpose, People, Passions, Profession. This is the outline of my upcoming book, The Involved Man, which will be released in 2018.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I'm really excited to share this episode of the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast with you, as this week, I interview fit dad Ashley Kirk. I consider Ashley to be an example of what a lot of us guys are — a man who works full-time, has a family at home that he loves and supports, and who cares about his health and fitness. In that respect, Ashley is perhaps as relatable a guest as I've had in my 25 episodes of this podcast.

This week's episode is quite simply a conversation with a fit dad. Ashley and I get into everything from sports, to how he schedules his workouts, to his goals, to a recent injury that sidelined him for several weeks.

Be sure to listen to the end, because as the interview begins to wrap up, Ashley and I discuss something very profound, and it strikes to the core of why I started Fit Dad Fitness and this podcast. Ashley brings a new perspective that I greatly appreciate.

If you enjoy the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast, please do me a huge favor and at the very least subscribe. If you want to take it a step further and help me out, I would greatly appreciate a rating and review of the podcast. Be sure to check out FitDadFitness.com for tons of great content, as well as my social accounts (instagram.com/fitdadfitness, twitter.com/fitdadfitness, and facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage).

Nutrition can be one of the most misunderstood aspects of creating a healthy and active lifestyle. How you fuel your body directly affects how you perform in the gym, on the court, on the track, or wherever you choose to be active.

Unfortunately, nutrition is so misunderstood because there are so many "diets" and "nutrition plans" out there that champion extremes. 

On this week's episode of the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast, I welcome in Cam Hall from Fight The Dad Bod (fightthedadbod.ca), where we talk about realistic, sustainable nutrition. Cam has a very straightforward and achievable approach to nutrition based on easy-to-follow concepts, which he explains in this interview. As dads, following some super strict and regimented diet isn't always in our best interest ... or our family's bet interest. I think you're going to appreciate Cam's insight.

Please share this episode with at least one friend. Also, I would be so grateful if you left a rating and a review of this podcast if you get even an ounce of value from it. Follow all things Fit Dad Fitness at www.fitdadfitness.com, www.instagram.com/fitdadfitness, www.facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage, and www.twitter.com/fitdadfitness

How do you have time to get to the gym every day? It's the most common question I and most other fitness professionals get when speaking to someone about how to make a change in their life regarding their health and fitness.

Time is our most valuable resource, and we all want to feel as though we are using our time wisely and efficiently. However, until working out becomes something you enjoy and look forward to — and you will get there if you remain dedicated — it can feel like a time suck or a waste of time.

On this week's solo episode of the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast, I want to give you actionable ways you can make time in your life to begin working out, starting today. These are the tactics that have helped me on my journey to becoming a fit dad.

I hope this episode provides you some motivation to implement these measures into your own daily routine. I'd also love to hear what has worked for you when it comes to making time to workout while still paying attention to the other important areas of your life.

Please share this episode with at least one friend. Also, I would be so grateful if you left a rating and a review of this podcast if you get even an ounce of value from it. Follow all things Fit Dad Fitness at www.fitdadfitness.com, www.instagram.com/fitdadfitness, www.facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage, and www.twitter.com/fitdadfitness. 

In the span of less than two weeks earlier this summer, this week's Fit Dad Fitness Podcast guest, Brian Mazza, suffered a debilitating injury that literally knocked him off his feet and he became a father for the first time.

Needless to say, Brian - the President of the Paige Hospitality Group in NYC - had some major adjustments to make, as his world was rocked with change.

But if you've followed Brian at all on social media (www.instagram.com/brianmazza), you've seen just how intensely dedicated he's been in coming back from his injury and to being a dad to his son, Leo. It's inspiration to the highest degree, and he details his willingness to adapt to life's changes in this week's episode.

Please subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode, and if you feel so inclined, leave a review and rating. Follow all things Fit Dad Fitness at www.fitdadfitness.com, and on Instagram (www.instagram.com/fitdadfitness), Twitter (www.twitter.com/fitdadfitness) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage).

Are men today too soft? Do we shy away from hard work? Do we tell ourselves lies to make ourselves feel better about not doing the things that make us uncomfortable?

This week's Fit Dad Fitness Podcast episode is one I've been looking forward to releasing for a while now. This week, I welcome Ryan Michler, the creator of Order of Man (www.orderofman.com), to discuss the idea of hard work, and why men need to seek out challenge rather than comfort.

Ryan and I dive into several areas of our lives where this applicable - from men raising boys to be men, to fitness, to how we form the habits that make us successful. Ryan brings so much wisdom and insight in this week's episode, along with some practical action steps we can take to become better men.

Share this episode with your friends and family. Please subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode, and if you feel so inclined, I would greatly appreciate a review and rating. Follow all things Fit Dad Fitness at www.fitdadfitness.com, and on Instagram (www.instagram.com/fitdadfitness), Twitter (www.twitter.com/fitdadfitness) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage).

I recently went through a particularly trying period of time. The situation caused a lot of stress for me and my family, and had it not been for my family, my faith, and the gym, the situation would have been far worse.

In this episode of the Fit Dad Fitness Podcast, I get into exactly what happened, and why the habit and routine of getting in the gym every day and staying consistent with my fitness became the outlet for stress relief I so desperately needed.

After you listen to this episode, if you are going through a similar situation, please reach out. I'd love to encourage you and offer up my support. You can reach me by messaging me through Instagram (instagram.com/fitdadfitness) or Facebook (facebook.com/fitdadfitnesspage), or send me an email at [email protected].

I'm also happy to announce my new partnership with HealthIQ — life insurance for those people with a high "health IQ." My wife and I just switched our life insurance to HealthIQ, and we doubled our coverage while reducing our monthly premiums by about 20 percent. Check out www.healthiq.com/fitdad for more information and to request your free quote.