Getting Started

Like any well-organized and successful venture, a plan must be contrived. In your case, an exercise plan.  I know how busy kids’ schedules can get. You will have to put together a flexible schedule that will fit into your family’s activities.  Be prepared to change your plan often since activities change along with the seasons. 

My plan starts with the basic goals that I try to accomplish each week.  I try to have three cardiovascular workouts (running, walking, biking, swimming, aerobic wrestling exercises, etc.) and three weight (Kid) lifting workouts.  How I accomplish this differs from week to week and season to season.   I can’t even begin to tell you how many different workouts I have had. Here are a few sample weeks that I have used throughout my DADsercise journey.   (Reproducible weekly charts can be found in the appendix of this book or at www.dadsercise.com)

Before DADsercising:  (EARLY SUMMER 2004)

I started my journey to lose weight upon returning home in late spring of 2004 from a twenty-year class reunion.  I know that  seems backwards.   The typical pattern for most is to lose weight before a class reunion.  Not me.  I squeezed through the gymnasium door at 215 pounds, my heaviest ever.  Embarrassed by my condition and determined to change my lifestyle after Daniel’s surgery, I began by walking and running on the treadmill once I got home.  I even ventured outside for a run on extended lunch breaks although running on pavement was difficult because I didn’t have the treadmill pulling me along.  Sometimes my family and I would go on a family fun walk. Adam and I would often take a football along to go out for passes down the