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Finding What Works: Good Shape vs. Shredded

Why Healthy Body Fat and Maintenance Workouts Matter for Busy Dads

Author

Geoffrey Griffin
March 31, 2025

Being shredded sounds impressive until you’re starving and wondering if a single blueberry counts as dessert. I’ve been there. But I’ve learned that being in good shape is more about being strong, capable, and present, not looking like a comic book superhero.

Here’s what I’ve figured out:

✅ My Baseline:

  • Strength training using Pavel Tsatsouline’s 5x5 method (3x per week).

  • One day of conditioning, usually a quick Peloton ride or a Deck of Cards workout.

  • Keeping things simple and consistent is the goal.

✅ Maintenance Mode:

  • When life gets hectic (like building this newsletter), I scale back but don’t quit.

  • Even if I can’t hit my baseline, I simplify—100 pushups beats nothing.

  • The goal is to maintain, not necessarily improve.

✅ Give Yourself Grace:

  • Fitness should enhance my life, not take it over.

  • Sometimes showing up is the win, even if it looks different than I planned.

Some days it's 5x5 lifts. Other days it’s sprinting through a Deck of Cards workout. And occasionally, it’s just lifting my own unrealistic expectations and putting them back down again. Whatever keeps me moving.

Read the full article to find out how I make fitness work without letting it take over.

Is pushing kids to get good grades the fastest way to raise successful children?

Surprisingly, the answer is NO.

Focusing solely on academics makes up just a small part of what truly nurtures a child's self-belief and independence.

So what's the real game changer in raising unstoppable kids?

It’s all about getting them to learn critical life skills.

Did you know skills like problem-solving, creativity, financial literacy and resilience make the difference between those who succeed and those who struggle later in life?

This is way more impactful than just pushing for good grades.

Unfortunately, many parents waste hundreds of dollars every month on tutors and academic programs focusing only on rote learning.

While adding tremendous amounts of stress to young kids.

Smart parents are discovering this simple solution to spark their child's fire for self-driven achievement, raising confident leaders fast.

Focused Wonder

The purpose of Focused Wonder is to foster connection and open communication with your kids and spouse. This section offers simple, focused questions designed to spark meaningful dialogue—whether at the dinner table, during a car ride, or at bedtime. Use these questions to build trust, curiosity, and laughter in your relationships.

What is something you wish you could tell me but haven’t yet?

Focus in Motion

Curated videos to help make you think, to motivate, or to just laugh.

One of my all time favorite mentalities! I always ask my kids if they have “stacked a brick” today. Same idea here by Chris Paul.