2010 and beyond
Well the new year is fast approaching, and I always find this a great time to set some plans for what I want to achieve in the year to come. Here’s a little hint of what’s on the cards for Room 13 in 2010…but to first understand the project, here is it’s essence and origin…
As a kid I was always interested in fitness, my sports of choice where Skateboarding and BMX. When I was introduced to the Rocky films by an older brother at the age of eleven, I knew then I had to find out more about this man, Sylvester Stallone and how he made his body look so amazing.
Having grown up in a family of Boxing fans, it was always part of our family discussions. My mum used to recount stories of the great Cassius Clay, whilst my brother Chris would always tell me about the great battles of Sugar Ray, the mighty Hearns and one of my all time favourites the Marvelous Marvin Haglar. For my twelfth birthday my parents got me my very own set of weights and I started straight away trying to emulate the amazing training montage that became a trade mark of any Rocky film. This then followed soon after with my own weight bench, speedball and punch bag…my bedroom had become a shrine to all things iron. Whilst all my friends had posters of A-Ha, Duran Duran and other bands of the day on their bedroom walls, mine had become adorned with pictures and news clippings of Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, Sylvester Stallone, Mr T, Arnie and other great men that had pushed themselves mentally and physically to the max.
Unfortunately, as is the story of most young men at this period in their life, puberty was just around the corner and the inevitable distraction of girls became more and more of a priority. This soon passed and by the age of fifteen I was back on track and training. I was never 100% committed to the iron but it always played a part in training, whether it was cardio for surfing or leg work for riding.
By the age of seventeen I was living to skateboard and surf whenever it was possible. My nights where spent in the city until the early hours and my weekends where spent mostly on the west coast of England hunting and hoping for a wave or two. This as before became the routine for many years to come, life was skating, surfing and a girlfriend…in that order.
Time went on and marriage, children, mortgages became an ever increasing factor; so recreational activities took a back seat. Unfortunately at the same time I suffered a back injury which heavily restricted my movement and ability to train for quite some time…after being so active growing up this didn’t sit well. As is life’s great way of dealing you a hand every now and then, this was timed perfectly with the death of my brother Chris, the inevitable bad habits started to appear…drinking alcohol, smoking, and other recreational substances being some of the worst.
The weight soon started to hang around and bad timing being what it is once again, I went from a very active job to sitting behind a desk. Before I knew it I was several stone overweight, my cardio had fallen through the floor and age was becoming an ever increasing issue…
…enter Fatdads
I don’t know about you, but being thirty-seven and out of shape is bad enough. Having kids and trying to explain to them that they should eat healthy and be active…just makes me personally feel like a fraud. I’ve always been a believer in ‘leading by example’, whether it was managing a design team, playing a team sport or just trying to be the best you can be…put your money where your mouth is, no matter what.
Having spent the last ten years as a web designer I have learnt first hand the power of the Internet when used correctly. Now with Social Networking site like Facebook and Twitter helping people interact on a more personal level, it became obvious to me that a like-minded project dedicated to encouraging and supporting fathers in a similar position as I found myself a eighteen months ago had to be a good idea.
So over the past couple of years I’ve developed training and lifestyle principles specifically aimed at the middle aged father. Using myself as instructor, student and general Guinea Pig I’ve found what works and what doesn’t…what is realistically achievable with a family and a full time job, and what is just bloody ridiculous to undertake.
Fatdads is due to roll out in 2010 after becoming a trade mark product of Room 13…if we can encourage and support each other to become the best we can, leading positive and healthy lifestyles as a parent and father, this liberating approach to life will have no choice but to filter down to our children and encourage them to do the same…
…LEADING BY EXAMPLE!!!
Everyone at Room 13 would like to wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful, healthy New Year…