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Fit Club for Dads

Fit Club for Dads

By Mitch Lowe

Fit Club For Dads is a podcast helping fathers become the fit, strong, and confident men they need to be for themselves and their families. Because being a dad whilst creating and maintaining peak physical and mental fitness ain’t easy! Join health & fitness coach Mitch Lowe as he gives you the tools and insights from himself and other fit dads to help you become the man you want to be.
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For the man who looks after everyone but himself

Fit Club for DadsJan 27, 2022

00:00
15:54
Ep48 - Changing the lives of men in 2023!

Ep48 - Changing the lives of men in 2023!

This week I’m sharing with you some of the massive changes coming to the podcast, and the way in which we serve the men in our community.

We’re gearing up for an explosive and growth orientated 2023.

Not just in terms of business, and the amount of men we aim to make a difference for, but also growth in ourselves.

With each new level comes new challenges, and we’re excited to overcome the ones ahead of us next year!

Are you?

Nov 18, 202215:48
Ep47 - Should we care what others think of us?

Ep47 - Should we care what others think of us?

One of the men who joined us for the most recent Unbreakable Man Retreat spoke about how he hated letting people down.

He spoke about how he really took it to heart when someone gave him negative feedback.

So much so that it was having a serious effect on his life and his mental health.

Towards the end of the retreat the same man said he was going to commit to “Not giving a f&%k about what others thought of him”.

Which got me thinking…

If we want to create the best outcome for ourselves, should we care what other’s think?

How should we deal with the opinion of others?

Whether you struggle with this, or whether you don’t give a single crap about what anyone else thinks of you…

This episode is for you.

Oct 26, 202211:32
Ep46 - Do you have written goals?

Ep46 - Do you have written goals?

I’m writing this after having just returned from the latest Unbreakable Man Retreat.

As the name suggests the retreat as about becoming an Unbreakable Man, because the way I see it, if I can give men the confidence and skills they need to not give up on the things that matter the most to them then there’s nothing they won’t be able to build for themselves!

Now the very first element of becoming Unbreakable is about doing the work required to find our purpose and direction in life.

What do we actually want? Not just this week, month, or year, but for the foreseeable future?

And what things must we accomplish to create that future for ourselves?

If we don’t know where we’re going then anything and anyone can take control of our lives, because we don’t even know what the hell we should be doing with it!

So we did a lot of writing, writing down the things that matter to us, and what we wanted our lives to look like.

It turns out that this seemingly simple task is actually quite difficult.

And it highlighted just how little clarity so many of the guys had about how they wanted their future to look.

No wonder many of them felt stuck in their lives!

But once they got into this exercise and with a lot of back forth between themselves, myself, and the leadership team every man experienced the confidence that came with feeling a little bit clearer about what they wanted and what they needed to do to get it.

So my question to you is:

If you're aiming to make some serious changes in your life, do YOU have written goals?

Oct 19, 202216:39
Ep45 - The “Family come first” Excuse

Ep45 - The “Family come first” Excuse

This one’s a bit controversial…

Because it challenges the idea that a man must always self-sacrifice for his family.

Excuses are some of the biggest killers of dreams.

I’ve heard them all from so many men over the years.

And the best excuses are always the ones that no one can argue against, because they’re often wrapped in good intentions.

It’s becomes socially unacceptable to call someone out on this particular excuse,

Because even insinuating that a parent may need to put their own needs before their family’s from time to time is seen as anti-social and wrong.

The guilt trip many men (and no doubt women) feel as a result causes them to accept situations they’re unhappy with.

And eventually this excuse becomes an easy way for a guy to give himself a pass on solving his own personal problems.

Now before any of you blow your lid, I invite you to hear me out and listen to the episode.

And then if you still think I’m a clueless idiot feel free to let me know in the comments!

Sep 29, 202227:32
Ep44 - Your Masculine Support Network

Ep44 - Your Masculine Support Network

One of the core values of Unbreakable Man (My new Men’s Coaching Brand)

Is Camaraderie.

It might be easy to think of fit, strong, and confident men is guys that don’t need any help,

But nothing could be further from the truth.

The men who are the most the successful across the widest range of key areas in life are men who surround themselves with other men who do the same thing.

In order to become the fittest, strongest, and most confident man we can be we’re going to need solid advice, accountability, and genuine friendships with men on the same journey.

I believe the quality and depth of connection in our masculine support networks is a crucial part of becoming the best men we can be.

If you don’t believe me, or you want to know more about how you can create a network like this too, then listen to this episode!

Sep 21, 202218:21
Ep43 - Life gets easier once we know what we want.

Ep43 - Life gets easier once we know what we want.

I can recall several occasions over the last 4 years running my coaching business successfully

But struggling to find the courage to “take the next step“ to grow it further.

Every attempt I made felt half hearted, like I was trying to keep one foot in the door of the nice comfortable situation I had created for myself,

Whilst simultaneously trying to get excited about the next stage, whatever that was at the time.

I lacked certainty in taking that plunge and consequently when difficulty arose (as it always does with such things) I always went back to what I knew.

Currently I’m in the middle of a big rebrand, and the biggest change to my business since its inception in 2018

And despite all the work that lies ahead, all the expense the various changes require, and all of the likely hiccups along the way…

I’m not remotely deterred.

I feel confident in this decision, and therefore I’m proactively making moves today to ensure this transition happens.

The old me would have doubted himself and procrastinated as a result.

But my certainty in the path I have chosen has given me the courage to take on this challenge!

Today’s episode is about how you can use this to change the way your life looks too.

Sep 12, 202219:11
Ep42 - Conquering Your Nerves

Ep42 - Conquering Your Nerves

Last Sunday I competed in my latest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu comp.

My third comp so far, and my second as a blue belt (with many more to come).

If you’ve never been in a fight I can tell you it’s a nerve wracking experience, or at least it is for me.

So much so that at my last comp my nerves completely destroyed my ability to perform my best.

Have you ever had that experience?

Where you fail to do as well as you know you can purely because you let your nerves get the better of you?

And if you have experienced that before didn’t it annoy you that you got inside your own head,

Losing the match or missing the mark on a project, not because it was outside of your current ability, but because you worried yourself sick about it?

Confidence under pressure is an absolutely key skill to have if you want to be the best man you can be.

If this is something you want to develop then this episode will be worth your time.

Sep 07, 202225:54
Ep41 - Silencing the Inner Coward

Ep41 - Silencing the Inner Coward

This is a topic that I feel very strongly about.

Because I think that if we’re all really honest with ourselves the reason we don’t succeed is because we’re afraid.

It takes a brave man just to admit that, let alone change it.

Most of us make excuses about why we’re not where we want to be, or claim that we’re ok with where we are.

I’ve certainly done both of those things before myself.

But if truth be told there are absolutely things we would like to see change and improve in our lives.

We may be able to feel comfortable with where we are, but for me personally it’s hard to escape the feeling that one day I’ll look back and regret not going for those things I really wanted, and there may not be any time left to change it.

So this episode is all about silencing that inner coward, so that we can become the kind of man who does the work to make our lives the way we want them.

It’s about ignoring the little voice in the back of our minds that encourages us to make, and/or fail to make, decisions based on our fear of rejection, failure, and loss.

If you know this is something you do (even if you would never admit it) then you are the exact man this episode is for.

Aug 28, 202221:51
Ep40 - How to Create Motivation

Ep40 - How to Create Motivation

I was having a very interesting conversation over coffee with one of the men I coach earlier this week

And he shared a great lesson with me about motivation, and how to create it.

That’s CREATE IT.

Not wait for it.

Not look for it.

But how to flip yourself from an unmotivated to a motivated state.

Whilst I don’t believe motivation is absolutely necessary when it comes to getting things done.

It is a lot easier to do the hard yards when you feel motivated.

So today I want to share with you a strategy and a way of thinking about motivation to help you feel more of it in your life,

So you can become a better man.

Aug 19, 202219:31
Ep39 - What a man can learn from gum nuts

Ep39 - What a man can learn from gum nuts

“An interesting title” I’m sure you’re thinking…

“What is a gum nut?” “Do I even want to know…” might be your second thought haha

To you I say grow up!

A gumnut is the seed of a gum tree.

And it has an interesting property that ensures that it only grows in the most fertile ground.

In this episode I want to share the lesson the gum nut has to offer us as men.

And how it’s growth journey is much like our own.

Aug 12, 202215:28
Ep38 - Why can’t I JUST DO IT!

Ep38 - Why can’t I JUST DO IT!

We’re adult men (or at least we are most of the time…)

And we’ve got enough life experience to know what the right things to do are,

And we know when we’re doing stuff that isn’t helping us.

But we still often fail to do the right things and continue to do the wrong things…

WHY?!

In this episode I want to talk to you about becoming a leader.

Not a leader for those around you necessarily, but a leader for yourself.

I want to help you learn how to motivate yourself to take action on the things you know you need to do,

And to quit doing the things that you know aren’t helping you.

Aug 04, 202221:51
Ep37 - What fighting teaches a man that he can’t learn anywhere else

Ep37 - What fighting teaches a man that he can’t learn anywhere else

I’m not a violent guy by nature, I don’t enjoy inflicting pain, and I certainly don’t enjoy receiving it.

But one thing that becomes abundantly clear to all men as we grow up is that violence is an unfortunate fact of life.

To ignore that truth is not only dangerous, but in my opinion any man who chooses not to learn how to fight is placing a limit on how good of a man he can be.

And if you’re a father doing that, and you don’t encourage your children to learn this skill (especially your sons) you are also having a negative impact on their ability to reach their full potential.

In this episode I’ll explain why, by telling you what my sensei told me.

Jul 21, 202226:25
Ep36 - Man Up

Ep36 - Man Up

It’s a term that has gotten a bad rap in recent times because it’s been used to dismiss the real pain of many men.

Ignoring past trauma or trying to sweep it under the rug DOES NOT WORK.

You may think that the horrible things that have happened in your past that you haven’t put to bed aren’t effecting you,

But I guarantee that the effects of these memories (even if you don’t think about them) are there,

And they show up in our negative, self-destructive habits, and limiting beliefs.

Solving these problems requires a lot of courage and persistence,

but it is the only way for you to move forwards, and to make sure you don’t pass them on.

Whilst often times it isn’t your fault that you have to deal with these demons

It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

And that’s what it means to Man Up.

To confront the demons in your life with courage, and to remove them at all costs.

Life is hard no matter what, and at the end of the day only we can make it the way we want it.

That’s why we still need to Man Up.

Jul 14, 202213:36
Ep35 - Do you ever feel bad, but you don’t know why?

Ep35 - Do you ever feel bad, but you don’t know why?

Do you have the odd day where your head feels like it's going to pop, and you keep replaying the same crappy thoughts?  

Or maybe there’s been particularly challenging periods of your life where you’ve felt depressed or anxious on a recurring basis?  

Maybe you’re experiencing that now?  

I’m willing to bet every guy reading this has had the above experiences.  

There can be multiple factors at play when it comes to mental health struggles but one thing is true across the board…  

Getting yourself right mentally changes EVERYTHING.  

That’s why whenever I have a bad day or go through a period of mental struggle,  

I like to explore the potential causes of these feelings.   

The answer my brain gives me always relates to me either:  

1. Not doing something I know I should be doing. 

2. Or doing something I know I shouldn’t be doing.  

In other words I find that when I start living my life in a way that doesn’t align with my own expectations of myself it’s almost as if my subconscious creates these negative feelings to try to signal to me to get back on track.  

The longer I ignore these feelings, or fail to recognise these signs, the longer they persist.  

In this episode I’m going to help you find out what might be causing these feelings for you.  

So you can break down whatever challenge you’re struggling with and boldly move forwards in your life!

Jul 07, 202221:47
Ep34 - The need for men to become Unbreakable

Ep34 - The need for men to become Unbreakable

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a difficult circumstance in your life this is going to resonate with you.

I can look back on multiple occasions where I knew what I wanted, and I knew what had to be done to get there,

But the thought of taking those actions scared the crap out of me…

I knew that having those tough conversations would bring pain.

And I knew that stepping into new and uncomfortable situations would bring pain.

So consequently I just stayed put.

I relaxed into this shit spot that I had found myself in, unable to go back, and too afraid to move forwards.

Fortunately I’d had enough experience at this point to know I couldn’t condemn myself to being unhappy with a key area of my life.

But that doesn’t mean it was easy to move forwards.

I had just made the decision that moving forwards would bring me less pain in the long term than staying in place would.

Unfortunately so many men are stuck in cycles that they’re not happy with

Whether it’s their health/fitness, self confidence, poor relationships, drug & alcohol use, or working a job they can’t stand.

Whilst changing these things is hard and painful in the short term, especially if you have all of the responsibilities of a father,

It is possible.

And no man who’s ever done the work required to change any of these things about his life has ever regretted his decision to do so.

So why do so many men struggle to change the things they’re unhappy with, and how can we improve this situation?

Jun 30, 202231:33
 Ep33 - Does your relationship lack love and intimacy?

Ep33 - Does your relationship lack love and intimacy?

After working with 100’s of fathers and getting to know many of their families and hear about their situations at home

I’ve noticed a pattern of a lot of men feeling unhappy with their marriage or intimate relationship.

Now granted there is no such thing as the perfect relationship where both partners are totally content with each other all the time.

There will be ups and downs no matter what,

But if there’s a consistent theme of you not feeling the intimacy, passion, desire, and admiration that you want to feel from your partner

Then there’s probably something that you’re missing.

You work hard, and do your best to give your mrs and your family the life they want and yet it still doesn’t get you the feeling you want from your relationship

Or perhaps you’ve just accepted this as the norm at this point and that feeling of love and intimacy has been absent for a while.

Well in today’s episode I want to share with you my take on how you can create the kind of relationship you want, and earn the respect, love, and admiration you want from your partner.

Jun 16, 202228:59
Ep32 - Why many dads avoid setting goals

Ep32 - Why many dads avoid setting goals

I’ve had so much first hand experience with this it’s not funny.

It’s the first question I ask every man before taking him on as a coaching client.

“What do you want?”

This usually involves 2 or 3 follow up questions before I’m able to get the father in question to a specific and realistic goal.

It’s not just dads that avoid setting goals.

I think you could ask the vast majority of people “What’s your goal? What are you working towards?”

And most would either have no clue or give you a standard cliche answer that shows that they haven’t taken any time to consider where they’re going.

For the dads I work with I think this is the result of 2 things:

Firstly It’s not something they’ve been brought up to do, so it doesn’t feel natural for them.

The second is fear.

And that’s what we’ll be discussing in today’s episode.

Jun 09, 202217:32
Ep31 - What it means to be the best role model we can be.

Ep31 - What it means to be the best role model we can be.

One thing all good dads can definitely agree on is that they want to be the best role model possible for their kids.

To me being the best role model we can be just means being the best WE can be.

And I’m not talking about having heaps of money, and being super talented or anything like that.

I’m talking about working on the parts of ourselves that we know we need to change.

Our weaknesses, anxieties, and insecurities.

We all want our kids to grow up to be the most confident, successful, and thoughtful human beings they can be.

But are we doing that ourselves?

Do we confront our own demons and short comings…

Or do we use being too busy with life and family as an excuse?

What effect might this have on our kids if we don’t address these areas?

What difference would it make in our kid’s upbringing if we made a consistent effort to incrementally address each of our insecurities?

Despite not having kids I often ask myself the question:

“What would I want my kid to do if they were in this situation?”

And whatever my answer is is what I must do.

Jun 02, 202218:09
 Ep30 - Overcoming My Addiction

Ep30 - Overcoming My Addiction

As we've reached a bit of milestone of 30 episodes I think it's time to share something more personal.

Although it's a time in my life I'm not proud of, the experience that I talk about in this episode I would not change for the world.

It taught me one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt in my life so far,

And has given me a great insight into a challenge that so many people face, and how best to put it in the past.

If you’re a man who suffers with any form of addiction whether it’s alcohol, smoking, drugs, women, or something else,

And you know that it’s having a seriously negative effect on the important areas of your life then this episode will be the best use of 20 minutes you’re likely to come across today.

May 26, 202221:47
Ep29 - Resilience: A Tool For Happiness

Ep29 - Resilience: A Tool For Happiness

I don’t think most people think of happiness when they hear the word resilience.

Usually “resilience” comes with visions of hard times, and suffering.

But as a man who wants to feel as good as possible as often as possible, I believe the two can’t be separated.

Because no matter who you are, how talented, smart, or capable you are, you’re going to experience hard times and suffering.

Not just from things that are physically happening around you, but we all have a lot of mental battles we need to learn how to win too.

That’s why I see training ourselves to be more resilient as a great move towards becoming a happier person.

Those who are able to withstand life’s set backs and tragedies are those who are able to look at their troubles in a way that makes them appreciate what they have instead of focussing on what they’re missing out on.

If you find yourself struggling to create a general sense of happiness and wellbeing then this episode is for you.

May 19, 202217:04
Ep28 - The Unbreakable Man Retreat

Ep28 - The Unbreakable Man Retreat

After an absolutely epic weekend of crushing fear, removing doubt, and injecting self-confidence into the 15 men that joined us on The Unbreakable Man Retreat myself and my team learnt a lot.

Way too much to discuss in one episode, but I wanted to start with this lesson:

Why I think men need to continue to challenge themselves to learn and grow throughout life.

As we move into the middle phase of our lives as men, and we begin to settle down to raise our families and work our jobs, one thing that inevitably changes…

Is that we stop learning and challenging ourselves, and instead we just do.

We do the same thing day in day out, go to work, raise the kids, pay the mortgage, take a day off every now and then, and repeat.

So it’s easy to see why some men end up experiencing midlife crises.

I think this is down to a total lack of consistent personal growth.

A lack of pushing our limits, and trying new potentially uncomfortable things but then learning that, HOLY CRAP! I can actually do that!

As we get older we have less and less of these experiences and whilst our lives may become more comfortable,

We seem to become less and less happy about living in the comfortable world we build for ourselves.

So this week’s episode is about understanding that maybe what we’re missing in our lives as family men is the chance to learn and grow like we did when we were young again.

May 12, 202218:03
Ep27 - If you just wish your life were easier.

Ep27 - If you just wish your life were easier.

Being a father is an absolutely amazing privilege, but it’s also a huge challenge too.

Looking after ourselves can be difficult at times but doing this to the best of our abilities whilst also doing the best you can for people who depend on you is a completely different ball game.

The workload, in both a professional and personal sense, can absolutely leave us feeling overwhelmed at times, and just wishing that life could be easier.

I’ve had these feelings myself and that’s why I wanted to share this message today.

Because recently when I felt like this something became apparent to me…

It didn’t seem to matter what was happening in my life I experienced this same feelings at times regardless.

And it occurred to me that life itself is just difficult, it’s hard if you’re struggling, but it’s also hard if you’re succeeding.

So all we can really do is decide what kind of “hard” we’re willing to accept.

Don’t get me wrong there are absolutely things we can all do to make sure we’re not suffering unnecessarily, and I talk about that in this episode.

But changing the way our lives look and feel comes from a combination of changing the things we do but also changing how we think.

I hope you enjoy the ep.

Apr 30, 202221:10
For the dad who is terrified of failure.

For the dad who is terrified of failure.

Who enjoys failure?

Nobody…

It hurts.

It reminds us that who we are today simply isn’t good enough to achieve the outcome.

It make us doubt whether we will ever be good enough,

Or if there’s something inherently lacking within us.

This is most people’s view of failure.

And it’s one of the most devastating attitudes we can carry with us through our lives.

Because it keeps us stuck in our little zone of comfort. Sticking only to the things we know how to do.

It inhibits our ability to grow, have new experiences, and learn and master new and life changing skills.

It traps us in jobs, relationships, and situations that we hate.

Ultimately I think this is the reason many people regret not doing more with their life when they look back on their experience.

But those of us who do have epic life experiences,

The men who radiate strength, confidence, and happiness,

The guys who are providing an amazing experience of life for their families,

And who just seem to go from strength to strength…

These men have a very different view of failure.

And that’s what we’re talking about in today’s episode.

How the men we look upto respond to failure and a powerful habit you can incorporate into your life to help you follow in their footsteps!

Apr 22, 202221:44
Why you have bad days, and what you can do about it.

Why you have bad days, and what you can do about it.

Hey brother, first of all we both know that there are many reasons why we might be having a bad day, week, month, or seem to be struggling consistently in some area of our life.

And often times a lot of these things can’t be changed immediately, and sometimes they’re completely outside of our control.

But if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a little while now then you probably already know that we like to focus on what we can control and not on what we can’t.

So in today’s episode I want to help you gain some perspective on the problems and challenges you face purely so you can make sure they don’t effect you negatively anymore than they already do.

So if you’d like to learn how to make a bad day good, or a hard decision easier than this episode is for you.

Apr 14, 202218:35
Where do I find the time to workout and look after myself?

Where do I find the time to workout and look after myself?

This is probably the number one challenge for most dads who want to make a positive change in their physical and mental health.

Between work, family, and sleep, where the hell do you find the time to make the necessary changes to improve your health or work on your own personal goals.

It’s not surprising that most men’s health tends to decline as they start a family, it’s a massive responsibility, and requires a lot of our time and energy.

The problem is as we invest less of our time and energy into ourselves and more into those around us this negatively impacts the amount of physical and mental energy we have, which intern means less for those people we provide for.

So the goal has got to be to find some kind of balance between spending the time you need to stay in peak condition inside and out, and the time you must dedicate to your family and work.

We’re going to discuss ways you can find the time to do this, and how easy it can be to fit these healthy habits into your busy schedule.

But there’s one thing that you must decide to do if any of this is going to help you create that change and get yourself in good shape for you and your family…

Apr 08, 202223:06
If you struggle to stick to the habits that will help you reach your goal, this is for you.

If you struggle to stick to the habits that will help you reach your goal, this is for you.

Hey brother if you read the title of this episode and instantly thought: “YEP! That’s me…”

Firstly you’re not alone.

The truth is most people don’t accomplish their goals.

Take a second to think about the people in your life and ask yourself how many of them you see kicking goals consistently?

Then have a think about how many of them have tried to make healthy, positive changes in the past but fell off the bandwagon at some point and quit.

You’d probably say most of them right?

This is the norm unfortunately.

And no doubt all of the people you know who have done this had their reasons: no time, too busy, too tired, injuries, work, family. You catch my drift.

The thing is all of these reasons are absolutely real, and they absolutely do make it more difficult to stick to the good habits that will help us reach our goals.

However people who actually do manage to stick to good habits and achieve their goals ALSO HAVE ALL OF THESE SAME CHALLENGES!

You think other dads who are in great shape physically and mentally don’t also have to deal with the stresses of work, family, and life?

Obviously they do!

So what do they do that you don’t that allows them to push themselves like this?

Well I’m willing to bet that every one of these men understands deeply WHY they put in that consistent effort.

They know WHY they push themselves when they’re tired, and stressed, and busy.

They know WHY it’s so important to stick to these good habits,

And they remind themselves of their WHY whenever they feel like not doing the work.

So before you commit to a goal and plan ask yourself…

WHY DO I NEED TO DO THIS?

Apr 01, 202214:54
For the dad who struggles with recurring negative thoughts.

For the dad who struggles with recurring negative thoughts.

Hey brother if you have any negative thought patterns that continue to pop up inside of your life then this episode is for you.

I don’t think there’s a single human being on the planet today that doesn’t deal with something like this in their life.

From my experience some thoughts we just can’t control.

For example:

Something happens in our environment and BOOM

Thoughts of why you’re not good enough may pop up inside your brain instantly.

Or something happens in your environment and BOOM

Your brain reminds you how much better you would feel right now if you had a drink or a smoke or whatever that vice may be for you.

Or you feel lonely or bored and BOOM

Your brain reminds you to check facebook, email, or your text messages.

All of us have some version of this feedback loop inside our brain, and many of these responses that may be negatively effecting our lives are so engrained within us and so instinctual that there will never be a day where they are completely gone no matter how hard we try.

So today’s episode is all about how to overcome these thoughts, and what it will look and feel like when you do.

Mar 24, 202219:59
Are you struggling to convince your teenager to get off their computer and get a job?

Are you struggling to convince your teenager to get off their computer and get a job?

After working with dads for so long I’ve noticed a pattern, typically regarding teenage sons more so than daughters…

Where their kid spends the vast majority of their time in their room gaming.

Most of their socialising happens online

And you have to push them to get a job, which they may not even be able to hold onto for long, because they genuinely do not want to be there.

I’ve heard many stories of the tension this creates, mostly between fathers and their sons.

I have absolutely no doubt that there are multiple causes of this scenario but today I want to talk about one that you may not have considered.

Hopefully this helps shed some light on the situation.

Mar 14, 202215:48
Watch how you talk to yourself brother.

Watch how you talk to yourself brother.

I had an interesting conversation with my pool guy just before recording this.

As he was describing a problem he was having concerning his health he used a line that many people use that I take great issue with.

He said to me “I’ve tried everything!”

If you’ve ever said this before, or something like it, or if you tend to say “I can’t” quite a lot then this episode is for you.

Seriously if you know you say things like this please put this episode on and listen, so you can understand exactly what you’re doing to yourself.

Mar 02, 202220:42
How to do something you never thought you could

How to do something you never thought you could

On Sunday the 20th of Feb myself and 21 Legendaddies set out to tackle the 6km trek to a rocky outcrop we call Springbrook Pinnacle.

My main goal with the Legendaddies is to help them build courage and self-belief so they can create the lives they want for themselves and their families.

Muscles and fitness are just a bonus ;)

To build courage and self-belief you must act courageously in the face of a challenge you’re uncertain you can complete.

Bravery is not the lack of fear…

Bravery is a choice you can make when you’re afraid.

And to be a truly good man, and father, you must be brave.

Knowing this I try to give the Legends the opportunities to be just that.

The pinnacle climb we did on Sunday is not physically difficult even if you’re not that fit,

But it can be very challenging mentally if you’re afraid of heights or have simply not done anything like this before.

My personal highlight for the event was a Legend called Dean

The man is 50+, 120kg, and has Parkinson’s disease.

It took the direction and assistance of 3 of us to get Deano half way up the pinnacle

Where he got to a point that required him to step onto a small rock platform with a sheer drop on either side.

Far play to Dean he was shitting himself all the way up to this point

And his fear didn’t help his already shaky hands

But he’d done his best before he decided not to attempt to cross this crux.

And to be honest I think it was the right call.

What I love about this is the fact that no one in Dean’s condition has ever been to that place before.

This man was able to do something that most able-bodied people wouldn’t even attempt!

What makes this possible?

That’s what we’re going to discuss in this episode.

Feb 24, 202217:43
Why I think a lot of men struggle to spend money on their health.

Why I think a lot of men struggle to spend money on their health.

In my time as a PT and the GC’s favourite “Daddy Coach” the most common objection I’ve heard from men is money.

But what we as men are really asking ourselves is…

“Is it worth it?”

Because I don’t think money is truly the issue.

The issue is always whether we think we’re going to get MORE VALUE in return for what something costs.

So the real question is how much do you be willing to

Whilst most blokes would agree “You can’t put a price on your health and quality of life”

I think it’s easy to take our health for granted, because the value isn’t as clear.

We can’t see the difference being a fit and healthy dad can have on our kids growing up.

We can’t see all of the opportunities we might miss out on if we’re not in good shape inside and out.

And only when our health becomes a big problem do we appreciate it.

If we were really honest, I think the biggest reason we struggle to invest in ourselves is because…

We know it’s going to cost more than just money.

You will have to change your habits, your thought patterns, and the way you deal with problems

In order to become the man who has the physical and mental health and confidence you want

And I think the hardest part is believing we can be that man.

Feb 17, 202215:24
The wonderful thing about feeling insecure!

The wonderful thing about feeling insecure!

Alright Mitchy boy what have you been smoking mate…  What the hell could be good about feeling insecure?  

That’s the feeling that usually appears when we’re reminded that we’re:  

- Not that strong 

- Not that fit 

- Not that attractive 

- Not that smart 

- Not that successful  

And a whole host of other areas of our life in which we lack.  We all know that feeling, and for most of us it’s something we avoid like the plague…  But think about this example:   What makes most of us want to start going to the gym?  Because we don’t like the way they look, or how unfit we are…  We look at ourselves in the mirror and we see something that makes us unhappy  And then maybe the fact we don’t like to take our shirt off in public or the fact that we don’t feel confident around women really starts to bug us  And so we make one of three choices:  We choose to either avoid the problem, and avoid people and places that remind us of our insecurity.  We choose to address the problem and build the body that we feel proud of and confident in.  Or we learn to accept the way we look regardless and be happy and confident anyway.  (Personally a combo of the last 2 is the best outcome in my opinion)  

The first option is what the majority of people do in some area of their life and it’s the reason they don’t experience life the way they want to.  But both the second and third options show us how our insecurities help us grow and become a better person.  In a way our insecurities light up the path we ought to take in life.   Because we only feel insecure about things that matter to us that we’re not that good at, that we wish we were better at.  

And today’s podcast episode is all about how I’ve used my insecurities to shape myself into the man I am today, and how you can too.

Feb 10, 202217:37
For the dad who constantly doubts himself

For the dad who constantly doubts himself

As a Men’s Coach, sometimes when I’m talking to a man about something in his life he’s really struggling with that he wishes he could change,

It feels like I’m in a debate where the statement we’re debating is something like:

“Can John become the fit, strong, and confident man he needs to be to lead a life of health, great relationships, and success?”

There’s me on one side, and I’m aiming to support the claim that “Yes, that’s possible for John”.

And who’s the person across from me arguing against this?

Fucking John.

And the worst part is…

John has some really good points.

He has chronic injuries, or his marriage is falling apart, or he’s struggling for work, or a combination of these and more!

Yet each of these pretty significant problems still pale in comparison to the thing that’s really stopping John from becoming the man and father he wants to be…

Feb 02, 202222:12
For the man who looks after everyone but himself

For the man who looks after everyone but himself

This episode is for any dad who feels guilty about investing time, energy, and money into himself.  

I’ve coached 100’s of Gold Coast dads in the areas of fitness, mental health, and self confidence over the past 4 years. And in the process had well over a thousand interactions with men who knew they were heading down the wrong path.  Overweight men who were struggling to get up a flight of stairs or run around with their kids.  Men dealing with alcoholism, and addiction to food, cigarettes, and other substances.   Lonely men who had let close friendships slip away to focus on family and work.  Men battling with depression, or who had just lost their zest for living but didn’t feel like they could open up about it.  And men absolutely stressed out of their minds running business’ and working jobs they hate for years to pay bills with no end in site.   

The one thing that each of these men shared is that they would do ten times more everyone else than they would for themselves.  It’s hard to watch a man who desperately needs to work on his own health and happiness, not just for himself but for his family’s sake too, continuously struggle to prioritise his own needs for once.   

Any man reading this right now who can relate might be thinking something like:  “My family always comes first.”  To that I agree, your family deserves the best you can give them.  And giving your best requires you to be in great shape physically and mentally. It requires you to be the strong and confident man they need to guide them through the challenges of life.   

None of this is possible if you don’t give yourself the chance to become this man.  Your health, happiness and success matters, no just to you, but to your family too.

Jan 27, 202215:54
Do the people around you inspire you?

Do the people around you inspire you?

Have you ever heard the saying:

“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.”

I’m not too sure how common of a saying that is, but even if you haven’t heard that before now might be a good time to consider the things you want to change in your life, and then to ask yourself if you spend time with anyone (or spend time listening to the words of someone) who already has the life you want to create, or who is also working towards a similar goal themselves?

If the answer is no then ask yourself whether the people you spend most of your time with currently encourage actions that are helping you get to where you and your family want to be or whether they encourage actions that are keeping you where you are…

This is a really tough topic to consider for most, because it implies that in order for you to create the healthy, happy, successful life you want for yourself and your family then you may need to remove people from your life that you love in order to get there.

If you know this is a struggle for you, or you believe this is a challenge you face then this episode is for you.

Jan 20, 202215:48
Why do most people who lose weight put it back on again?

Why do most people who lose weight put it back on again?

From experience most of us know that changing ourselves in a permanent and fundamental way seems deceptively difficult…

Have you ever had a period in your life where you set a goal, maybe it was weight loss, or business etc. You found success initially, and maybe even kept it going for a time, but today you look at yourself and you’re right back to where you started or close to it?

If not do you know other people who have had an experience like that?

Maybe?

Ok, well now how many people do you know who have created a big shift in their life, maybe in their fitness, mental attitude, career, or something like that and have been able to maintain it?

(If you don’t know anyone then that’s a big problem and we’ll talk about changing that in Episode 14…)

But whether you do or you don’t it’s clear that it’s much less common to see someone permanently create change like this.

So why is that?

Is it because it’s not possible?

A lot of people tell themselves that, and it’s the biggest reason they struggle to succeed themselves…

Believing it’s possible is a necessary part of the equation.

The second most important part is understanding how some people are able to create these positive life long changes, and why most don’t.

That’s what we’re talking about in today’s episode.

Jan 13, 202215:06
This KILLS me every time I hear it from people I care about!

This KILLS me every time I hear it from people I care about!

I’m writing this on the 3rd of Jan 2022.

It’s a brand new year and as such it’s a great time for most people to give a little thought to what they want to accomplish over the next 12 months.

I love hearing about the goals and visions that my people are working towards so I’ve been asking the question quite a lot over the last few days to my friends, family, and clients.

In asking this I hope to either hear all about what they’re excited to work towards, or hopefully prompt them to start thinking about what it is they want.

BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THEM HAVE A FUCKING AMAZING YEAR!

What really kills me to hear though is when someone I care about is just hoping to have a better year than the last year or the last 5, 10, or 20.

It kills me to see someone (especially a friend) who’s been stuck in the same old pattern for however long set themselves up for more of the same disappointment.

Having faith in the future being better than the past is necessary, but creating a better life for yourself and the people you love means relying on what’s within your control and then taking control.

We can’t leave our lives to chance.

That’s what this episode is about.

Jan 06, 202210:40
Spiderman had a pretty good point…

Spiderman had a pretty good point…

With great power comes great responsibility.

A lot of dads feel powerless in their own lives these days, constantly having their decisions swayed by the ever-present needs of their family, their employers or employees, the government etc

As men feeling like we have control of our lives is necessary for our mental health and happiness.

I think we all want to feel like the captain of our own ship, sailing the people that mean the most to us to new and prosperous destinations.

The trouble is you cannot have the power of a man who leads his own way in life if you do not also take on the responsibility of a leader.

This means holding yourself accountable for every outcome or circumstance you find yourself in in your life.

I hate my job!

Becomes: I chose to work for this company in this industry…

My kids are always glued to their screens and never play outside!

Becomes: I haven’t made it a goal to get them out and about each day/week, and I haven’t prioritised my own energy levels to make that possible…

My relationship has lost all passion and excitement!

Becomes: I haven’t surprised my wife/partner romantically in longer than I care to mention, and I haven’t been prioritising romance in our relationship at all for a while.

You may be reading this and thinking but Mitch you don’t understand! How the hell am I supposed to do all that whilst working full time, raising kids, and just generally trying to keep our heads above water…

Dude, I get it…

It’s not easy being the captain huh?

That’s why a lot dads find themselves feeling like they’re stuck in a cycle they can’t get out of.

If that’s you then listen to this episode. Hear me out…

Dec 23, 202115:13
The life you’re not changing is the life you’re choosing.

The life you’re not changing is the life you’re choosing.

The life you’re not changing is the life you’re choosing.

If you’re a father struggling in a particular area of your life or multiple areas…

Maybe you’re not happy with your body, your appearance, your physical ability.

Maybe you hate what you do for a living, or maybe it’s just monotonous and soul crushing boring.

Maybe you don’t have a great relationship with your partner, a family member, or friend.

Or maybe you have a problem with drugs or alcohol that’s seriously affecting your life.

Regardless of what it is, if you don’t know how to begin to FREE YOURSELF from this struggle in your life, then this episode is for you.

The only other thing I’m going to say is that:

You’ve got one life brother, please for the love of god do not spend any more of it heading in a direction that makes you feel unhappy or depressed.

If you want to start changing your circumstances, listen to this.

Dec 15, 202116:31
Are you afraid of change?

Are you afraid of change?

People say they’re afraid of change, but it’s not change that scares us, we love change. We are afraid of transition. We’re afraid of the space in between where we are and where we want to be.

If you wanted to be a fit, lean, strong father. The idea of having that only sounds positive. We picture ourselves looking in the mirror, and liking what we see, we think about not being insecure about our bodies. We think about feeling attractive to our partners. We think about feeling confident in our own skin and the ability of our bodies to perform day to day.

It’s only when we begin to think about everything we have to do to accomplish that do we start to doubt ourselves, because right now we can’t picture ourselves doing all of the things that that version of ourselves must do in order to have those results.

The no man’s land between your current self, and the guy you want to be is what you’re afraid of. That space is filled with things you may have never done before, it’s probably filled with people that you’ve never met before, people who are much better than you are, and potential new judges of your current self.

The hardest thing you’re going to have to do if you want to change the way your life looks is going to be the letting go of your current life.

In all honesty there are people and things in your current life that you cannot take with you into the one you want, and that’s ok. It’s going to take some guts to leave them behind for the people and things that are waiting for you in your new life.

Dec 07, 202115:45
How Fear Literally Kills Men

How Fear Literally Kills Men

If the title grabbed your attention then I hope you take the time to listen to this whole episode.

This is potentially the most important episode to date when it comes to men’s health.

Every year men die needlessly as the result of failing to get themselves checked up regularly by their doctor. As a group we’re more likely to allow our health to slide and ignore the potentially severe outcomes that come with this. When we have a problem we’re more likely to believe that it will just “go away by itself”. We’re more likely to withhold potentially life saving information from our doctors because we fear receiving a bad diagnosis.

As men, fathers, leaders, and protectors, we’ve got to start prioritising our health and well-being, because if we’re not looking after ourselves (or worse still, we’re not around anymore) and then we cannot look after the people who look up to us.

I want to see you live a long, happy, healthy, and prosperous life. 

If that’s what you want too, then please don’t neglect your annual check up or any immediate health concerns!

Dec 07, 202109:34
What is the best goal to have? - PART TWO

What is the best goal to have? - PART TWO

This is the sequel to episode 6 where we spoke about men needing a purpose in their life, characterised by the consistent setting and driving towards meaningful outcomes.

Most people don’t sit down and clearly define their goals, and I tiny fraction of the people who have done this do it consistently and check in with their progress along the way… (Why are we not taught to do this from day 1?!).

So consequently you may have listened to the first episode and be thinking “Well that’s great Mitch, but I don’t even know what I should be aiming at…”.

If you’re even slightly feeling that way then 1) That’s totally fine, and 2) This means you didn’t make some generic bullshit goals that everyone makes like wanting to lose weight, and make more money (Not bad goals to have of course, but we should all aim to dig a little deeper than that.).

Your goal should be something that matters to you, something you can easily justify, not just something that sounds good to you.

And in this episode I discuss what I believe is the most important thing for any man to focus his time and energy on. The thing that forms the foundation for all the other success he wants to experience.

Nov 29, 202114:40
Do you have a purpose? (What it is, why you need one, how to set one) - PART ONE

Do you have a purpose? (What it is, why you need one, how to set one) - PART ONE

This is the first part of a two part topic based on the idea that progress towards a desired outcome is a key part of creating a fulfilling and meaningful existence.

As men and fathers it’s very easy to find ourselves living the same day on repeat as we allow our responsibilities to run our lives for us. Men in this situation tend to feel low on energy all the time, a lack of enthusiasm for life, and potentially a feeling of frustration that they can’t quite put their finger on.

If that’s you then my question to you is:

What goal are you currently working towards? And I mean really working towards… not just the stuff you say you want or would be nice to have. What are you striving for in your life right now?

If you don’t have an answer for that question then this episode is for you.

Nov 29, 202114:49
Why do some dads climb mountains on Sundays?

Why do some dads climb mountains on Sundays?

If you’ve read the title and mountains aren’t your thing you might be thinking; “Because they’re idiots?”.

If that’s the case just replace climbing mountains with a more relevant but equally challenging task for yourself.

Today’s episode is simply a nod to all the dads out there who choose to push themselves when it isn’t asked or expected of them, but simple because they want to have a better understanding of their limits.

If this isn’t you, then that is totally cool, but if you’re tuning in to this podcast then it’s probably because you’re a dad who wants to improve himself. If that’s the case then that actually makes you the perfect listener for this episode.

Because today we’re going to be talking about the secret sauce that separates the small minority of fathers who seem to be able to be on top of their game physically and mentally despite all the challenges of fatherhood, from the vast majority of fathers who struggle to find the time and energy.

Nov 16, 202113:35
What would you want your kids to do?

What would you want your kids to do?

I’ve been coaching fathers now for well over 3 years. I’ve met over 400 men, some of which had found themselves in that classic rut as a full time working father who was neglecting his own needs, to dads who were in dire need of a lifestyle change otherwise it was going to cost them their job, their family, or even their lives.

As you can imagine the conversations can get quite heavy from time to time, and it’s always difficult hearing some of the situations some men find themselves in.

At the end of the day one thing seemingly always remains to be true in my experience; they only person who can truly improve your situation and change your life is the man in the mirror.

Knowing this there’s always one question I ask of any dad struggling to justify making the time for himself that he needs in order to address his own issues…

That’s what today’s episode is all about.

Nov 16, 202115:53
The Ultimate Diet

The Ultimate Diet

Brother! I hope you’re excited, because I’m about to share with you the diet plan you’ve been waiting for. You are literally never going to need to question whether you’re on the right diet again after this…

Or at least that’s what I would say if I was like 90% of the fitness industry trying to sell you a “miracle fix”

Truthfully diet is the trickiest part of the “getting fit and healthy” process. It takes the most time, effort, and trial and error before you find your own personal groove with it.

And that’s what this episode is all about; finding your own personal “dieting groove”.

Nov 16, 202113:50
How to achieve mastery in anything

How to achieve mastery in anything

Achieving mastery in any field requires consistent action over a long period of time. You will know when you’ve become a master at something because you’ll be performing that action flawlessly with hardly any effort.

You may think it takes a special kind of person to achieve mastery. You may think that it takes time and dedication that the average human simply doesn’t possess. As you’re reading this you may not realise it, but you are in fact already a master in at least a few actions.

Don’t believe me?

Well when was the last time you really had to focus on walking correctly? (excluding the night out that had you stumbling home at 2am, or the day after your first leg training session in a few weeks…)

The point is you’ve been doing it every day of your life for years, you’re so good at it that you can put that action on autopilot whilst you go about your day.

With a goal, a plan, and consistent and conscious effort this same level of experience can be accomplished in each of the areas of our lives that are most important to us.

This episode is about knowing where you are in the process of mastering the key areas of your life currently.

Nov 16, 202117:50
Why I started coaching fathers

Why I started coaching fathers

Hey guys, Coach Mitch here and welcome to the first ever episode of the Fit Club for Dads podcast! I’m super pumped to have you onboard for the journey, and I’m looking forward to hearing your responses and thoughts on the messages myself and some fit dads will be sharing on this podcast.

As it’s the first episode I want to set the stage for what this podcast aims to deliver, and also tell you a bit about how a 26 year old PT from the Gold Coast with as much parenting experience as a wet paper bag came to coach over 400 fathers to help them become the fit, strong, and confident leaders of their families.

Nov 16, 202114:42