The Google Dictionary defines “Dad Bod” as: a male physique that 

is relatively slim but not lean or toned. I prefer to think of it as “the melting of one’s former self, coupled with stress collection points around the abdomen, waist, and ass.” I would also like to be gender inclusive in that “dad bod” is not just for dads, but I would never in a million years tell a woman she has “mom bod” for fear of violent death. Anyway, the descension into “parent bod” can be a source of depression for many new parents, so this week I’m offering a few tips to help fight back against this terrible disease:

1. Let Food Go To Waste – Children at the dinner table can be the most unreasonable people on Earth. If your children are anything like mine, there is a violent revolution every time mac and cheese isn’t on the menu. Most nights the standoff ends with good food left on the children’s plate. Myself, being a child of a child of a child of the Great Depression and also an unapologetic glutton, can not stand to see good food go to waste. So, often times I eat it. Don’t look at me like that. You know you’ve done it. Judgements and self loathing aside, these are unneeded extra calories and a direct contributor to dad fat. Don’t be afraid to throw away food. Or buy a dog. Dogs are good garbage disposals.   
2. Designated Cook – Pick the worst cook in the house to be the designated dinner cook. In my house, that’s me. I’d say at least two of the dinners I prep each week are sub par. And that’s being generous. This means that at least two nights of the week, I’m consuming less calories. Not a bad start. (Note: This can backfire. If the cooking is so horrible as to be inedible, frequent pizza deliveries can occur.)
3. Turn Your Children Into Workout Equipment – Being a parent, it can be hard to find time to squeeze in a workout. In fact, it’s next to impossible to have a designated work out time unless its before or after the children go to bed. One solution to this problem is to work out with your children. Let me clarify, I don’t mean that your children are doing the exercises, too. I mean, use your children as workout equipment. By sewing canvas handles onto the backs of your children’s T-shirts, you can turn each child into a dumbbell, kettlebell, etc. By making the child hold various objects, you can change the weight of your “kidbell” as needed throughout the workout. Kids love to be lifted up and swung around, so everyone wins. (*Note: If you are using your “kidbell” as a kettlebell, please ensure the ceiling is high enough to provide overhead clearance. Otherwise your “kidbell” will get all whiny.)
4. Work Workouts – For many of us, our jobs consist of stagnant days staring at a monitor and doing keyboard cardio. This daily eight hours of inactivity can wreak havoc on our bodies, especially since we tend to consume high levels of junk foods at our desks to fill the gaping holes in our soul. One good trick to break up the daily monotony is to set a recurring alarm on your watch or phone and at regular intervals, get down on the floor and do a few reps of some sort of exercise. Not only will this help to burn midday calories, but it will reinforce with your coworkers that you may, in fact, be mentally unhinged and you should not be trifled with. If your boss catches you mid workout, you may want to learn some variation of a gang-sign to flash.
5. Be The Office Jerk – The office setting is notorious for being an ever flowing spring of processed sugars and trans fats. It is always someones birthday, anniversary, National Donut Day, National Cookie Day, National Deep Fried Double Stuffed Oreo Day, etc. So next time Dave from accounting puts a box of donuts in the break-room, you march right down there, grab that box of donuts, and chuck it in the trash.* Sure, Dave will probably cry. It’s his birthday and he can cry if he wants to. But then he will be thanking you for helping improve his overall quality of life. When your boss comes to talk to you about all the complaints he’s getting, just put him in a headlock with the biceps you’ve built from curling your “kidbells”.
6. Get Fired – Once you’ve choked out your boss, you no longer need to worry about going to work. Your newfound wealth of free time should provide you with plenty of time to work out and your lack of income will prevent you from overeating. Or eating at all.
7. Stop Drinking Beer – Just kidding. That’s a silly one.  

It should be noted that despite all of these tips, I still suffer from Dad Bod. These are not intended to be a magical cure, but a resource to keep Dad Bod in check. There is no cure for Dad Bod. It is terminal. The only thing you can do is make the most of the Bod you have left.

*Please never throw away donuts.

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