The following message is geared toward hard-working parents and busy grandparents, but it applies to anyone who has others counting on them to be at their best at all times.

Have you ever said, or heard someone say, “I would die for my kids.” I have, and like many of you reading this, I mean it. Then I look at the photographs of me at my heaviest, holding my then-newborn son, Zach, and knowing precisely what I was thinking.  Was I going to live long enough to see his most formative milestones in life? His first step, first day of school, graduation day, marriage, fatherhood – at the rate I was going at 250 pounds and counting, there was no guarantee. It’s morbid but true.

That version of me was unwilling to take the necessary steps to live for him. So few are willing to do that because we’ve been brainwashed into believing we have to sacrifice ourselves to take care of others.

In today’s “Live to Work, Not Work to Live” society, we wear the sacrifice of long hours on the job and little time taking care of ourselves as a badge of honor. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” and “rise and grind” are all phrases many of us live by, while the quality of life we live slowly but steadily decays.  We have to be our best to be our best for others. Which means we need to be selfish at times with our time to take care of ourselves, and we need to be OK with that. Yet too often we feel guilty for taking time for ourselves to do right by us.

Meanwhile, getting out of bed without feeling like I was run over by a bus was challenging enough for me. It was hard to spend time with Zach because I didn’t have enough energy to keep up with Zach and the rest of my family.

Now, they have to keep up with me. And one day when I become a Grandpa, my grandkids are going to have to keep up with me too.

I demand more of myself for him because they’re worth it. If you have children or grandchildren, I encourage you to take a hard look at how you take care of yourself and what example you’re setting for them. And if you’re not holding up your end of the deal…

Demand better of yourself. Affect change in yourself. Show them how to take responsibility for their own health. They count on you. Even if you don’t think they’re paying attention to everything you do, they know what’s going on, and they know how important your health is to their well-being in life.

I work extremely hard for my family, to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, clothes on their backs, and smiles on their faces. But the #1 job I need to do is be present for them, and it only happens if I’m taking care of myself.

If you need help with taking control of your health and well-being, or if you would like to learn more about me and Fernandes Fit, contact me at 814.504.7774, send an email to [email protected], or head to fernandesfit.com for more information.