On a bright sunny morning, my four-year-old self cherished the sight of my dad finishing his daily exercise routine. The moment he began his push-ups, I eagerly sprang out of bed and hopped onto his back, a routine I never missed.

As a young boy, I believed I was all grown up and capable of doing "manly" things just like my dad. I even asked if I could join him on his morning jogs. He kindly said I had to wait until I was ten years old, but that didn’t stop me from asking again when I turned eight.

My dad eventually agreed, and I could hardly contain my excitement. I thought I’d finally become big and strong—just like him. At 5 a.m. on that Saturday, my dad roused me from bed, and we embarked on the run. What started as excitement soon turned into fatigue. "Why did I think I could do this?" I wondered.

By the time we returned home, exhausted and defeated, I was ready to trade jogging for cartoons and cereal. But my dad gently reminded me that I had started this journey, and now it was time to see it through.

And so began my fitness journey.

As busy professionals, especially doctors like us, it’s easy to feel like that child again—excited to get fit, only to feel defeated when the schedule, exhaustion, or life's demands make it seem impossible. Maybe you’ve been there too. You've made promises to yourself, maybe even started a routine, only to hit a wall of fatigue or frustration.

But here’s the thing my dad taught me that day, and I want to share with you: starting is one thing—persistence is what gets results. You may not have hours to spare, but with the right approach, you can build a routine that fits into your life and still brings the results you crave.

If you’re ready to stop trading fitness for exhaustion, keep an eye out for more tips on how you can reclaim that energy and tackle the dad bod for good—without sacrificing your career or family time.






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