You’re trying to figure out what to get your dad for Father’s Day, and you’ve run out of ideas. After all, you can only get him so many shirts or golf balls. So, as June includes Father’s Day and National Men’s Health Month, why not give him the gift of a healthier lifestyle? FirstLantic, a company devoted to quality healthcare, has five positive ways you can encourage your dad to get some exercise and eat healthier! In the process, you might even get in better shape as well!

 

  1. Determine the right motivation.

Like most things in life, nagging usually doesn’t work, so let’s start by looking at what motivates men to get healthier.   Research has found that males are often inspired by achieving mastery or engaging in competition. So, if you want to encourage dad to take better care of himself, try engaging his competitive side. Another way to get him motivated might be to talk about his glory days when he was an athlete in high school or college or when he won that bowling tournament at the community center. People often feel more inspired when they think about when they were good at something or achieved success, so encourage that. Ask dad to give you some pointers on his sport of choice (even if you don’t need it).

 

  1. Plan an adventure.

Getting out and doing something fun that can also be good exercise is a way to get your dad back into the swing of things. If he loves golf, why not spring for a day at the course (and don’t use a cart). Or, if your father used to cycle, plan a biking trip that’s not too strenuous to start but will remind him of the enjoyable part of exercising. Whatever you do, it should be something that you can have fun doing together so that it doesn’t seem so much like work.

 

  1. Sign up to participate in an event.

Whether it’s walking for charity or running a half marathon, use the event as an incentive to get dad to eat better and start an exercise routine. Training as a team will not only allow you to spend quality time together, but it also might spur on your dad’s competitive side. After all, dad doesn’t want you to outshine him on the day of the event!

 

  1. Get him a subscription to a fitness magazine.

Maybe your dad still thinks that eating healthy must taste bad or that getting fit means hitting the gym. He may not even be aware of all the tasty ways to eat better and how many new ways you can exercise without it feeling like drudgery. A subscription to a fitness magazine might introduce him to a whole new way of thinking about getting in shape. Your father might also get into a fitness routine with a gadget or two like a smartwatch. Innovative tracking programs provide specific data, such as a running index score, to learn how to run faster with less effort. Other programs have features that track macronutrient balance. Or what about showing him some ways to prevent workout fatigue by learning new exercises. This Fitness Dice Workout Game includes 50-plus cards printed with images and descriptions for activities that can be mixed and matched to create unique mini-workouts.

 

  1. Treat him to some personalized attention.

Maybe your dad needs some tennis lessons to get back into the swing of things, a personal trainer, or a healthy cooking class at a community center. Sometimes all we need is a little friendly push to jumpstart good habits again. Your gift could also be a perfect way for your dad to meet new people and perhaps gain a workout or golfing buddy.   Or if your parents want to spend more quality time together, treat them both.

 

Summary

 

No matter which tactic you take to help your dad get healthier, make sure he knows that it comes from a place of love. Ensure that he understands that you want him to live a long and happy life and spend as much quality time with family. If your father finds it hard to get motivated just by himself, he may do it for the sake of his loved ones.

 

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