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Lifestyle Strength
We discuss ideas, principles, and tactics that help people improve their position in life. With a background in fitness, Lucas strives to empower others by sharing amazing stories of challenge, transformation, and growth.
Lifestyle Strength
Transformative Parenthood and Wellness w/ Parker Dodson
Have you ever wondered how becoming a parent can completely transform your approach to health and wellness? Join us as Parker Dodson from Podcast Videos shares his personal journey of fatherhood and the profound changes it brought to his lifestyle. The birth of Parker's son became a pivotal moment, prompting him to re-evaluate his routines, priorities, and overall well-being. Learn how he balances the chaos of parenthood with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, from meal prepping to establishing consistent routines that cater to his family's needs.
Witnessing childbirth is an awe-inspiring experience, and we capture the raw emotions and strength involved in this miraculous event. Parker discusses the initial health concerns for his premature baby and the vulnerabilities felt as new parents. We delve into the incredible physical changes women undergo during pregnancy and the essential recovery period postpartum. Parker and I emphasize the importance of structured routines, not just for the baby's sake but for managing the demands of new parenthood. Meal prepping, although initially daunting, becomes a lifesaver, promoting healthier eating habits and saving precious time.
Parenthood is a journey filled with both challenges and rewards. From the joy of watching a baby's first milestones to the profound transformation of personal roles and relationships, every moment is uniquely enriching. Parker shares insights into how parenting has motivated him towards a healthier lifestyle and a stronger work ethic, driven by the desire to provide for his family. We also highlight the invaluable support system from friends and family, ensuring that even during overwhelming moments, new parents are never truly alone. Tune in to hear Parker's heartfelt stories and our shared experiences on this transformative journey of parenthood and wellness.
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https://www.competitorsedgemassage.com/
Support Lucas by booking training:
https://www.hydefitnessconsulting.com
Welcome to Lifestyle Strength, your guide to mastering health and well-being in the real world. I'm Ariel, a massage therapist with over a decade of experience in holistic health, and I'm here with Lucas, a seasoned fitness coach who's transformed the lives of hundreds in Northwest Arkansas.
Speaker 1:We're here to share real stories and expert insights about embracing a healthy lifestyle while balancing the everyday hustle.
Speaker 2:Join us as we explore practical ways to achieve wellness and thrive amidst life's challenges.
Speaker 1:Let's dive in.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to another episode of Lifestyle Strength. My name is Ariel and today I have a special guest, parker.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you want me to introduce myself?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so Parker Dodson, it feels weird not having the camera. We'll cut that out, parker Dodson, with Podcast Videos here where you guys record the show. Yeah, so you and Lucas have been coming in. You're actually really cool because you all came from the old space into the new space. Yeah, so it's cool to have some. We had some of the other clients like that too, but to see the transition from what it was into what it now is is really cool, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I'm happy to be here. So you're saying we're OGs. Ogs is exactly right. Yep Well thank you for being on, because I was thinking much about the health, wellness, fitness of what we do and the evolution of change and being in phases of life.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:And being currently pregnant, I know that. Congratulations, thank you. I know that you have a beautiful little boy. Yep, I know that you have a beautiful little boy and I was curious because I know the things I'm going through with not being able to really maintain some of my routines that I kind of find comfort in. I would imagine you're at a place where you also it's kind of up in the air, and so I was kind of curious what does that look like for you kind of with your routines, maybe some things that you had in place, whether you mill print, maybe you didn't, maybe you had some hobbies? Um, what does that look like as it's changing with children?
Speaker 1:yeah, so it's. It's kind of funny. I probably have a little bit of a different, uh outlook than a lot of people do, okay. So really kind of what. I probably have a little bit of a different outlook than a lot of people do, okay. So really kind of what happened. I grew up playing every sport under the sun and then played football in college and then when I got done, just kind of like my whole life has been working out and sports and all this, and so I was like, yeah, I'm just going to kind of chill for a while.
Speaker 1:You know that turns into 10 years and then you're like oh a while, you know, that turns into 10 years and then you're like, oh, um, so really with him, with you know, we've got a little five month old boy, um, who currently is sick right now. So, to go into routines, it gets thrown off. I've been up since two o'clock because he's just got a sickness and it's like, yeah, can't lay him down and it's like, you know, I'll just hold him and just hang out. So, um, there is and isn't a routine is what I'll probably say behind it and one of the I would say one of the biggest things for me was that um and not always trying to stay a little bit healthy, but never really like diligent in it, um, and it was really, I think, like right when he was born.
Speaker 1:Everybody's always like your world changes and it really kind of does Um like the week after he was born I was at home and like stepped on a scale for the first time Good gosh, I have no idea how long and I was just like, oh, I'm at my old football weight, but a very different physique than I was at my football weight.
Speaker 1:You know where I was lifting every day, two days and all that kind of stuff, and then I was kind of like really flipped the light bulb for me to kind of realize that I obviously have a family to help take care of and they depend on me and me to really I'm not getting any younger, you know. That's another thing too, and so it's like I need to really be smart and actually, you know, apply myself because I want to be around for a long time, you know, for him and for my wife, and so really it's kind of an interesting wake-up call and just have been really getting clean and everything ever since. So it's kind of interesting because I'm sure a lot of people so I didn't really have a routine before, so that probably impacts it a little bit, right.
Speaker 2:But he was a, so, in your case though, he was a catalyst.
Speaker 1:Because you're like man, gotta be around for him, yeah, and it kind of put pressure on your, on your butt, yeah, and we never really had like a schedule, like a while ago we might eat dinner at six o'clock or not eat dinner at nine o'clock, like there was never really too much of a routine there. Yeah, um, so I had a weird way outside of the losing sleep and different things like that. It's been actually incredibly beneficial because it's required us to get on a schedule. Yeah, it's like he's up at this time, he's eating at this time, he's napping at this time.
Speaker 1:Um, you know, every night we start bedtime at six o'clock with a bath, and then we do a bottle and then a book, um, and then prayer and then bed. So it's kind of like a routine that may stretch anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. You never really know. But, um, you know it really had us get on a schedule whenever we meal prep every now and then we get on like anyone healthy kick, then we get off. You know, life gets in the way and, um, it really has forced us even to meal prep a lot more, because it's like he's going down to getting ready for bed at six, you know. Then it's like either I I'm doing it and she's trying to cook, or you know, and so it's a lot of times easier to kind of divide and conquer. So it's been actually interesting to see that it's actually the forces to meal prep more so that we can cause you don't know when he's going to go down or when he's going to be sick, or when he's going to be tired.
Speaker 1:Um you know you try to get that scheduled out. It doesn't always work, yeah, um. So in a weird way, it's been super beneficial, um, because it's required us to get on the schedule that I previously was never really on, um, so it's been really nice. He's um. Almost next week he'll be six months old, um, and officially, as of last week, yeah, last week hit a 40 pound weight loss mark for me, which was really awesome.
Speaker 1:So it makes you realize how bad you're. Like what are you doing, you know, and there's all kinds of different stuff out there, but it's when you realize, like, how poor you're actually eating like on a daily basis, like for me, because like I'll get up and like stop and get coffee and some breakfast on the way to work and then I'll go get something to eat for lunch and then for dinner we'll cook or whatever, and then you also. $1,000 is a terrible for me because everything's processed and fast food and everything, but it's also incredibly expensive. It's like I can actually get a thing of chicken and cook it and I've got it all week and it's not half the price.
Speaker 2:It's the price of one meal I want to say you're saving money, but really you're just allocating those funds to your boy now. Yes, yes, I have other things to spend money on honestly, I mean that's even more admirable yeah, you know what I mean, because you could selfishly just go.
Speaker 2:You know what. I'm not worried about my future self and for my son I'm not. I'm not worried about spending this money that I otherwise could utilize for him and and really you know you're selflessly going. Hey, I want to be the best version of myself for my boy. That, I mean. Isn't that the goal of being a parent?
Speaker 1:I would hope. I mean you just. I mean, everybody wants to, and it's one of my favorite things is every the. If I could give you a million dollars in the morning, would you take it? Knowing you're going to be like dead the next day or whatever it is, and everybody's like no, I wouldn't take it. And knowing you're going to be like dead the next day or whatever it is, and everybody's like no, I wouldn't take it. And so it's like you always will value your life over not necessarily just possessions, but just other things like that. And so whenever you and you'll get this soon enough, you know, it's just, and it's I mean the whole time we were pregnant, you know, I still felt it a little bit, and it's I mean obviously very different scenarios me to you, right, um, you know, but it's like the second that you see him.
Speaker 1:It's just like totally and it is very real. And to me, honestly, it didn't really kick in until I would say it did right away, but it didn't come to like really another level until about probably a couple months ago, uh, when he started kind of interacting. It's like when he sees you and smiles and you're like, okay, he recognizes who I am it really? Kind of changed it a lot.
Speaker 2:Well, I have heard that is actually because moms and babies receive the best oxytocin through nurture, and then dads, they receive the best oxytocin with child through play, and so y'all need that engagement y'all like when they're developing their personality and they're smiling and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:whereas, you're right, it is a little bit different caring yeah um, you know, I hear, so I'm in my third trimester, right, I hear so many women who are they're just, I just want to be done, like, like I, I want, I want him or her to be here because I just want to be done. I want him or her to be here because I just want to be done, and my thing is, I'm just eager to see what he looks like.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh yeah for sure I'm just eager to. I don't think I've ever been so eager just to get to the next step, even though he has radically changed a lot of my routine.
Speaker 2:And I'm kind of the opposite. I live in the health, wellness, fitness where and like I've said before, I use it kind of almost as a security comfort thing to me. That's how I utilize a lot of it and I have been able to do that and I think maybe you discovered right in that moment where he's coming into his personality, that you learn a lot about yourself too.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, you know. Yeah, I mean I thought that I had patients. My wife always looks at like I'm the patient one and she's not. But you just be amazed when you get a little, and he's just a baby, you know. So he doesn't know, but you're just, you're sleep deprived and you're tired and he's just like crying. You're like there's no reason for you to be crying. It's like just please go to sleep, and it's like it's amazing how quickly, um, you know, that can kind of change around. But that's interesting to kind of hear and I know you, um, talked a little bit about it just like how much it's changed again from a carrying side. But you know it's your profession, is health and wellness, I know, and so, um, I'm interested to hear your kind of what your biggest, what's your biggest hurdle that you've come across, as far as not just the physical part of it, but just like the overall routine that you've noticed.
Speaker 2:You know, I think it comes down to because I love control so much, even though he's not here. He kind of dictates when I get to go to sleep and if he dictates you know me not sleeping then that transitions to my date and how much energy I have to give my business and my clients. You know Also, you know, something that I just have always I found interesting this whole experience is people will say and ask you questions that they otherwise would never ask you anybody else if they were not pregnant, and so in some ways it actually has taught me to extend a little grace and try to be like mindful and insightful and kind of express. You know, this is what I'm going through, so that other people understand, because knowledge is power, right, and if you've never gone through it, you might have some interesting questions or maybe some inappropriate questions or rude questions that I may perceive that way, but for you it might be out of curiosity.
Speaker 1:Genuinely curious. I don't know if it's offensive or if it's an awkward question to ask kind of situation absolutely.
Speaker 2:And so, like you know, if one thing I I've taken from this, it's like hey, ladies, like you're, you're in your most powerful position that you can be in, and society kind of teaches us that that's the opposite, that we we're growing an alien, we're fragile, all of this, but oh, my goodness, you're growing life, you are, you are a superhero right now, and so, utilizing your voice and taking the opportunity to say I don't want you to touch my belly, yeah, or to say you know what, I am so sorry that I am irritable today I just did not get enough sleep and that's okay. Yeah, absolutely right. But but utilizing that voice did your wife?
Speaker 1:oh yeah, I mean so. I mean you know she, she keeps it pretty well, kept it all pretty well under wraps. I mean I know she was going through a lot. Um, you know, we never really had too many like actual complications with anything other than like after he was born he had a little bit of like, he was a little bit early and so he had a little bit of weak lungs. So he had like two days in the NICU, but never like a threatening situation, uh, but it did make him feel like, oh my gosh, that's the most vulnerable thing in the world.
Speaker 1:Um, but to and everybody always says this, you know, like, um, and I know that, like you know, labor is this incredible, intense event. Yeah, but to see it firsthand is like and I've always had respect and love for my wives through the roof, but to see that happen and it's not that anything ever was bad, but we had a natural birth in the hospital and everything but nobody had a C-section yeah, yeah. And so, um, to like watch what it takes, even with, like an epidural where you're not feeling a ton. I mean it was a pretty long like. We got there at two, 30 in the morning, or, sorry, four, 30 in the morning, and then he was born at one, 30 the next morning.
Speaker 2:So it was a long day. First baby yeah, first time homes.
Speaker 1:You got the longest leg, oh yeah, that's okay and so, um, yeah, just to like watch that whole process of like him coming out, and it was like you know she could feel but couldn't feel, kind of thing. But just to see even like the amount of like force that it took to push, I was just like oh, changed your perspective, oh yeah, not, you know, never that.
Speaker 1:I thought that she was a week or anything like that, but just like I couldn't have done that, I'm gonna be honest with you like watching how much she was like getting after it, yeah, like, oh, I mean that's a, you know, but it's um, it's interesting and it's a very vulnerable place for both people really. You know, it's like sure she's going through that and then I'm not doing anything really but encouraging, but at the same time it's like watching her go through that, you know. So it was interesting for me. There was almost an equal amount of concern, if you want to call it that, for both baby and yeah, because it's like I mean she is going through it right now, right, um, but yeah, I mean it's just interesting and it's been really interesting to see how, um, you know the body overall, overall. You know it's incredible Like watching the process of it growing, to remember her like last little bit, you know you got stretch marks and everything with the baby and you know it was incredible to watch, from a physical standpoint, her body change.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then post, you know, watching it, kind of go back, yeah, yeah, um, and then post, you know, watching it, kind of go back, you know, and so it's um, it's just kind of crazy to me, like just thinking, because you know, I've kind of nerded out a little bit on it whenever all of it was happening, because it's like organs are moving around and she still gets a little bit to this point where she does certain things, where she's like I can feel like it still like everything's a little bit loose in there and she's like everything was just up in your rib cage, right, right, and then it's all descending back down and, um, yeah, it's just kind of wild, especially now, five months.
Speaker 1:Of course, he's grown quite a bit to like hold him or look at her holding him, and it's like that thing was like you grew that, like I put in like one percent effort for being honest, like I had a very little bit to do with this, um, but yeah, just so, like it was crazy and you'll see this as you get. You know you've got some scans already, but to see, like from our 3ds and everything that we did, and you see him and it's like, wow, like it's a, it's a, like it's a person, like he's got fingernails and hair and eyes and it's just like crazy. The whole experience is crazy, um, but it's um, it's good and it's bad. I will say for, for me, like again, like I mentioned earlier, it's just.
Speaker 1:I think it helped my routine a ton because I didn't have one, um, but also I don't really have the time to, like you know, cook something super unhealthy. You know, it's like it's easier just to cook a bunch of chicken or whatever else. No, prep it out because I don't know what I'm going to get to eat, you know, and meal, prep it out because I don't know what I'm going to get to eat.
Speaker 2:That's a fascinating concept because you know, for a lot of people, they perceive some of these health, wellness, fitness routines, like meal prepping, for example, to be something that is taking away from your time and to be tedious, but you're kind of saying no, actually, because he's around. It actually makes our life more convenient. If we were to meal prep, you're kind of forced into a completely different perspective on that. That is awesome. So, on that note, did y'all do any kind of freezing of meals preemptively or anything, because I hear people do that. I'm currently doing that.
Speaker 1:Like for the baby or yourself.
Speaker 2:For yourself.
Speaker 1:No, we never did too much pre-prep. Really. It was just kind of like you know, it's a lot to handle a baby and so it was, like you know, taking time to go get takeout or whatever. It's like it's just easier to pop something in the microwave. So I would say we would have a really mass prep like that pretty far in advance. You know, we would just like on a Sunday I would get in and cook and stuff and then we would cook through. I usually would cook through Wednesday, on Sundayay, and then, like on wednesday, we would cook through thursday, friday and then saturday we might go grab something to take out. But when you first have a little baby it's like I'm not gonna go out to eat, we're not taking that thing out to eat, it's too much work. So it was what worked for that too, because we just didn't go out to eat anymore. Not that we would ever like. You know, we would probably go out a couple nights a week or so and eat out. It would just stop doing it all together. Then you get little things.
Speaker 1:We had some friends that set up a meal train thing for us, which was really great, very nice. You kind of get to pick and choose a little bit of what you want on there. We just did a lot of fairly simple stuff. It was interesting. I feel like the meal train kind of helped prep us for making our own food more, which I love cooking. But it's one of those things where it's like, okay, well, it's like this is fine, it's here, it's not takeout or whatever else, this is great. So, um, it helped kind of get us started on there. But now we usually just do it like a couple of days in advance keep in the fridge, um, so congratulations.
Speaker 2:That's what got to be bittersweet.
Speaker 1:It is. It's obviously a lot tougher for my wife than it is for me. Not that I, you know, I'm definitely missing and everything. But I know able to kind of sit back and be like I miss him when he's there and everything. But I've been at work, you know anyway, so I'm not like it's. There's not a huge change for me in the morning, which I actually really enjoy.
Speaker 2:So you're creating even a new routine.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely right.
Speaker 2:It gets to be y'all's time essentially, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:So we get up and I'll drink a protein shake on the way to work with him and he's in the back, usually either with me listening to the happy song 500 times over and over and over, or he's dead asleep and we're just kind of hanging out.
Speaker 1:But, yeah, it's been really cool to kind of hanging out, but, um, yeah, it's been really cool to to kind of see that. But my wife's back at work now, you know, during the week, and so it's again another shifting, because now you know she'd be at home and eating. But now we kind of prep a little bit more. Um, or she's not at home to kind of prep stuff or make something for the evening, and so it's actually now that he's started daycare, it's like he's off your hands a little bit more, but actually you're now both working again, so we have to prep even more so because now she's not at home to like, hey, I whip up dinner, like you know, yeah, I'll be home in a little bit kind of thing. It's she gets home at 5, 4, 35, I get home at 5, 36 kind of thing, and so we really don't have any time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, so it's, you know so it's like the evolution of change. So it started with, like maybe that mill train really helped catalyst us into mill prep. Now you're getting into this other phase where now you need to mill prep even more, given the situation. But isn't that beautiful, like just having a child, like you would never think that that would have been the factor that that led you to mill prepping and meal prepping more and doing it in a way that it you're like man, this is efficient, I like this and you're seeing the results.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's the biggest thing. Like I haven't really worked out until lucas to the point that I probably should be now, I'll get out and run in the evenings, you know a few days a week, and I might bike or do some you know just kind of a little HIIT training real quick. But, um, so's been interesting. It's just really just portion sizes and eating clear and that's one of the biggest things too with the meal prepping is it's way easier because I'm not sitting and eating a chicken breast and a half and a big thing of this and a big thing of that. It's like I may have to chicken breast, have to rice or whatever that I normally would.
Speaker 2:And you can portion, just roll that, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:And and he can stretch it for that. Oh yeah, yeah, and it stretches further, exactly like what you're saying. So it makes it, uh, makes life a lot easier, but it um, yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure there's a thousand people out there that every one of them story probably a little different, um, but I think you know, coming from a no routine to really being forced into a routine, because I am not my wife's a scheduler, she's a routine person. I am not that person at all. I'm like that's how I wake up at 4 am or 6 am, like what are we going to do today? Like I don't. She's prepping everything in advance. Like she's asking me, what are we going to do the weekend of blah blah blah in August? And I'm like I don't know what I'm doing and it's forcing me to get on schedules has been probably the most beneficial.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because she's kind of had to get a little bit of that up. So while you gained it, she lost it. I know, from my perspective as a single mom, you know one thing you know you'd said, well, we didn't really have to do the freezing in the night. I was thinking in my mind I bet you didn't, because you know you downplay your value and your role. But her body is completely changed. What she could and couldn't do while she was pregnant, uh, potential postpartum, I mean just all these things and guess what. You have so much value as a dad. Um, you know, and father's day just happened.
Speaker 1:So I think it's great that we're first father's day congratulations.
Speaker 2:I love it that we're talking about this, but you know, even when you were talking about being in the delivery room and knowing like you had a bit of concern for both. Innately, a man is a fixer and you don't want to see somebody you love suffer and really it's out of your hands. And man, what a position to be in. Like you said, you're vulnerable in that position, both for her and you and baby. Like you said, you're vulnerable in that position, both for her and you and baby. And inevitably, I just want to remind you, dad, you are valuable, you have so much value for mom and if mom I mean what is that saying If mom's not happy, nobody's happy. Right, like mom is going through it, you know. And like you said, she's held it like a champ. When she was pregnant she kept it composed, whatever, but you know she's going through her things and the fact that you're able to be that support system.
Speaker 2:Yeah, your little boy is going to be so much well, more well-rounded and he's going to be able to see the value of man brings to a woman and that relationship, yeah, um, I, I, I just I love that. You know what I mean. Like that warms my heart. I'm like, yes, that's, that's so. That's so beautiful, so important. But before we wrap up, I thought that I would ask you what has been the most rewarding part of being a parent and kind of making these transitions in life that you didn't expect.
Speaker 1:And don't say 40 pounds, no no, no, that's a good one, that's a good one, it's a bonus. It is a bonus, you know. In all honesty, though like it's before I get into the answer too much like the weight loss thing has made so much stuff easier. Like it's incredible, and I don't think about it until like I picked up a couple 20 pound weights the other day. I'm just kind of walking around. I was like I was carrying everything around every day, like everything's just messing with him and everything. It just makes life a lot easier, you know, and so uh, but anyway, so to get into the answer with that, what's fatherhood taught me? That much?
Speaker 2:is that the question I'm just like what's the most rewarding thing, that, okay, you've learned from this process of becoming a new parent, because, innately, I mean like you know it's going to be different for everybody, but you know I'm not there yet. You know I don't get to hold my little boy yet. But, I'm thinking oh man, like maybe I will learn through this, you know, and through you and through kind of some of your perspectives.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I said the most rewarding thing. I mean obviously a little bit later, especially now, like he's giggling and doing all kinds of stuff and it was like that's the best feeling ever, like when you can get him to laugh because he sees you and he's just happy as can be is a fantastic feeling. Just happy as can be, um is a fantastic feeling. Um, I would just say really almost kind of testing the limits of us as people. Oh, because you know you really everything's fine to be who you are and act a certain way when you're, you know, going to bed at nine o'clock, getting up at seven, going to work, like life is easy, you know, uh. But it's those nights where, especially like that first week, you know you get home and you're just like literally you'll experience this. You get home and you're just like I mean just what do I like, what do I do with them? Like in the hospital, there's people there and it's fine, yeah, and then you walk through the front door. I remember just sitting there and being like I don't know what to do, like what do I do with this thing now? And you just get your routine. I would say it's the most rewarding thing is just kind of seeing how resilient and adaptable people can become. Yeah, because you just don't think about that stuff until you're in that situation, right For sure. And then just seeing them get bigger, because it's like you, you know, when you realize it, when they're so small they. And then just seeing him get bigger because it's like you, you know, when you realize it, when they're so small they literally can do nothing for themselves. It's like it's up to and it's a big, it's a big responsibility that you feel, cause it's like this thing will not take care of itself unless I'm doing it Like it physically can't. Yeah, like it physically can't.
Speaker 1:Um, and so I would say it's just seeing, I would say seeing us grow as individuals, my wife and I, as he continues to grow, but then also kind of growing like together, because it is. I mean it's. You know everyone's situations, you know different, but it's like you know it's. And I have all the respect in the world for single moms, because it's not an easy job, you know, and so. But it also like no doubt in my mind that if I wasn't around, my wife couldn't 100% doubt it herself. Like she won't tell you that She'll be like there's no way, but like she very well could have.
Speaker 1:Like you know, I mean there's only so many things that I can do, which we went to formula decently early on, so I became way more active at that point. You know, when you're breastfeeding it's like I mean I'll get up with you, but I'm just kind of sitting here talking to you. You don't want to be talking to me because you're exhausted anyway, right, right. But I think it's just really seeing how people change yeah, absolutely, because it changes you as a person entirely. I mean the whole pregnancy thing, like I thought I got it, but it was really and I don't even say after that, first couple months it didn't really a ton until he started like interacting more, and then it was like okay, like this is a not that it's not a person, but like there's a little bit of personality there, there's some interaction there and it's like okay, like this is.
Speaker 2:That's where I'm saying that oxytocin is finally kicking in for you and y'all are really getting that opportunity to bond. So now that you've seen like you change, I'm assuming it's a it's a bit of a humbling experience to go like, wow, I, I can persevere through that. And then I'm assuming you have a deeper love for your wife because you know I it's one of those things you remind people like you're not just parker, yeah, uh, you're not just a husband Now, you're also a father and taking on those different roles and it does cultivate a deeper relationships. Right, it's throughout the chaos of the process, so to speak.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it just. It makes you want to be make sure any better husband, makes you want to obviously want to be a great dad, but it makes you want to be healthier. You know more in shape, so it's to eat. I mean, in all reality it's been, I have noticed, and he's getting bigger, so normally I would think it's the opposite, but it's getting easier to take care of him because I'm getting healthier.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, and so yeah I'm not just, you know, a slobbing around and I'm eating healthier, which makes me feel better and giving me better energy. Yeah, um, you, you know, but it's like it makes me work harder, not the weight loss, but the baby, cause it's like I've got to take care of my family, you know, and so it's, you know, makes me want to, like, make this business successful because it's like it depends on, you know, my family depends on me and so, but you know, it's it's going to be. I'm excited that you are recording here because it's cool. I would talk multiple times off, you know, after recordings about babies and this is what's going on and everything, but I'm really excited to see that transition and have you guys kind of continue on and then just see you kind of grow, yeah, cause you'll change. You won't necessarily always change, I'm still a goofball and everything else, but you know, you, just you, you kind of view things a little bit differently overall.
Speaker 1:Yes, it just kind of changes your whole life's perspective and I think it's not for everyone necessarily, but for me, you know, it was for the better, because it just not that I've never not had a purpose, like I've got a thousand hobbies and things that I like to do. But right, um, I think it's because my wife's very independent. I think it's the first real time I've had something that I feel like fully depends on me. Yeah, you know, not just me, but you know it requires that level of attention, yeah, you know. And so that patience and that, like, in all honesty, the patience of being a dad, has helped with weight loss, because I'm very much a person of like, oh, I ate a clean meal, let me go step on the scale, and it's like, oh, didn't lose any weight, like, oh, well, too bad, you know. Um, so having that patience to kind of stick with it in routine, it's been just on my overall health been extremely beneficial too, so that's awesome.
Speaker 2:I'm I'm so glad that I had you on. Yeah, I was just like lucas got a flat tire.
Speaker 1:Yeah, lucas got a flat tire.
Speaker 2:I was like I've got a, I've got a top to park. I was like, you know what is something that's so relatable? And, like you said, you know off, uh, you know air, we talk about the pregnancy a lot and you're those steps ahead of me. Yep, and so it's. You know. You're like, oh, use this app for, oh, yeah, for the feeding and the changing. And I'm like, oh, okay, and I've been talking to people about it and you know it's um, you're kind of giving me insight into what I get to look forward to, and and, honestly, I think that's why it's kind of changed, uh, or at least I have the perspective of going, instead of being like, okay, I'm run down, it's, I'm actually eager and excited because I get to see what you're getting to experience already. And I'm like, oh, I get that.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, it's fun. Like, yeah, he's still out of the bun, where he's even running around and we're playing and everything. But like, yeah, just to see a giggle in, and he's, you know, you'll pop, you know it's um, and I was, you know, very similar situation with you. I've got some friends that have had, uh like a couple of months babies a couple months before we did and everything. So it's like I've got, you know, finding that network or support system, even to a degree, or just someone to have you the advice, um, you know, is very helpful. Because it's like, hey, man, like I've got a group chat and all of my buddies now we're all married with kids and so so there's one that's got one two months younger than me, one that's got one two months older, and then some that have some older, and it's like going through this and it's like, oh yeah, I remember that and so it's a very beneficial course today with social media, it's like I see some of my wife every day and it's like, hey, we could try this, and sometimes that sometimes doesn't Right. Yeah, absolutely, but it's really cool, it's just different.
Speaker 1:That's probably the everybody's always like what's your word? And I'm like, well, it's, you know, there was like magical and I'm like, yeah, I mean, yes, but it's just, it's just different, like it changes your, your life and obviously, the best of ways, it didn't seem like it always at the time, times that we've been sitting there and I'm just like, what have we done? Yeah, yeah, we wanted to have three. One's good, I'm good with one kind of thing. Um, and I was always on the boat with two. She wanted three, and now she's now, even still at this day, she's like, yeah, being too probably so well you know, I always say that perspective is both a beautiful and or crippling thing, and you get to decide.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you, ultimately you get to decide, like am going to utilize this and view this as a beautiful opportunity. Like you said, it's different.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Or am I going to let this cripple me and make that decision like, oh, what was I thinking? Like I'll never do this again? And the reality is, we can become very humbled by the fact that we got through it. Oh yeah, and you're keeping something alive. Yeah, like goodness gracious.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean resilience is just insane, like even with him. You know he was born kind of weak lungs and you're like this thing is so fragile and then it's like two days later he's like good to go and you're just like man, like he's so designed for this. Yes, we are Reproducing is what we're just made for. We're designed to do that, and so it's weird. It's weird how instincts kick in. You've already got them.
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't know. People keep telling me that because I'm so worried It'll happen. You said you had that first week where you're like what do I do with it? I. You said you had that first week where you're like, what do I do with it? I'm telling you, I've been telling people like so what do I do with it after everybody leaves and everybody's like what do you mean? No, it's a valid question and I'm like no no, I really am concerned Like what do I do with?
Speaker 1:it. You feed him, you change him, he falls asleep. You just do whatever while you're hanging out with them and then you repeat the process all over again, like that's pretty much all that happens. Yeah, um, not much really happens in that first, like couple weeks, uh. But you know it's crazy just to watch it all change.
Speaker 1:Um, instincts like get weird. Like I mean, I was usually a pretty heavy sleeper, I'm I mean more like I didn't hear the slightest little bit and it's like what was that? Like, what did I hear? Um, I will give you one word of advice Nobody this may be just ours a little bit.
Speaker 1:In particular, babies are very noisy at night. Now, we were kind of hyper aware of it. It may have just made me harsh. He's a very grunty sleeper, but I was also very aware of it because he was having trouble breathing at the hospital. So every time I hear him grunt at night I'm like is he breathing okay? Because the hospital's fine, because I've got monitors on him and I can check his O2 levels and how's the heart rate. And then you get him at home and it's like is he good? Like the first night you're staring at him like okay, he's still breathing, and so it's just, you won't sleep those first couple nights. Just because you're one, you're waking up every three hours anyway. But you're just because you're one, you're waking up every three hours anyway.
Speaker 2:But you're just, you know, you're so aware of, yeah, yeah, hyper aware.
Speaker 1:But it's just uh, yeah, it's just weird little things that pop in like that, where you're just like yeah, like I just like yeah, I feel like he's probably staring a little bit and you'll like go check them out, or sure enough, he's like in there kind of messing around. You're just like that's weird, like yeah, how do you have those feelings?
Speaker 2:no, clip like it doesn't make any sense at all, and I think that's what people are saying, because you know they they'll flippantly be like. Everybody will be like, oh, you'll be fine, you're gonna get, you'll be fine. I'm like what's fine me, and you don't have to tell everybody when I call you at three and crying my eyes out. I'll be like remember, you said it was fine. And really, I think what they mean is you're going to figure out what to do with Elias, because your instincts are going to kick in and we had that happen. So we know we're on the other side of it. You just don't quite understand it yet. And that's where I'm like okay, I really have to take your word on this and and and then also innately rely on, like you said, what we're created for. The body is so magnificently designed that that it supposed we're supposed to have instincts. You know what I mean. Absolutely I'm designed to do this. Yeah, I don't know what it looks like.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I definitely wasn't given a handbook yeah but somehow I also know at the core of it yeah, I'm designed for this and I can do this.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and just remember, with everything that I've kind of noticed so far is there's a million things. It's like well, I saw this on TikTok or this on Instagram. Like just find what works for you. Like you know, as long as the baby's taken care of, like you just do what works for you, like there's no set way to do any particular thing. Like figure out what works for your baby, figure out what works for you, and just stick to it, like it's fine.
Speaker 1:Um, the best thing we ever did, though, was we got him on a schedule early. I think we started it like around two and a half to three months. We kind of started our whole little best time, yeah, kind of routine, um, and outside of the four month regression, for about a month and a half straight, yeah, from about yeah, for about two and a half months to four months, he slept every night from seven to six am every day, and it was like this is the best, and then a four month regression hit, and it was like what the heck is happening? Like why are you crying, why aren't you sleeping through the night? And now he's sick, so it changes a little bit, but it's like schedule is the biggest. We've got friends that don't do a schedule Right and it's like yeah, it goes down anywhere from 6 to 11 o'clock. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1:You know not to say it's bad for your kid by any means, like you do your thing, but like get them on a schedule for yourself. Yeah, it's like usually with him, like outside of outliers or being sick or whatever, like by 7 7.30 like at the latest, like he's out and done usually for the night. So it's like I can go for a run this time, go for a run or cook a little bit of quick dinner if I need to, or watch a movie or something. I think one of the most important things that I've found is still doing finding time to do stuff for yourself. That's just a huge thing, whether it be like go take him to the grandparents and then go do this, like because I was out of town a couple weeks ago and she would take him over to her mom and dad's and she would just go to the pool or go shop or whatever, just to like because you got to keep that mental. You know that mental toughness up with with her and me, and exclusively too. But you know it's one of those things where it's just to have that time to yourself, because unless you're taking care of yourself, it's hard to take care of a baby too. That's absolutely right, um, so we take care of yourself, exactly right. So that's, uh, that's a big thing.
Speaker 1:Like even if it's simply, you know, drop them off at grandparents and just sit in your car for 10 minutes, then go back in and get away. Just 10 minutes of just silence. I don't have to worry about anything. You'll be worried about it the entire time. And here's how it works. Like anytime we drop him off, I'm like good, is he good? Not as much anymore. Once you. Once I thought I hit that kind of five month mark. Of course he's a little, but it's like I'm Bada's. Like yeah, yeah, here you go, here's kid. I think at first you're like, yeah, here's the baby. Like you got him. And now she's like, yeah, go see your mom.
Speaker 1:Like toss you're like please, please, take off my hands yeah, but but no, it's been really cool, but thank you for asking me to come do this yeah, absolutely, thank you for being on. I'm excited to see how it all grows for you.
Speaker 2:You're moving what is your due date is. My due date is August 15th. Okay, but we'll see with baby.
Speaker 1:So less than two months.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we'll see how long I can keep him in, just with my spinal cord injury, unfortunately.
Speaker 1:There's been some complications with that.
Speaker 2:So the goal is just to, you know, not damage my spinal cord anymore, but then also to keep him out of the NICU as long as possible. So I'm in a little bit of a different situation than most people, but you know, going back to routines and that health, wellness, fitness, lifestyle I have, you know, my high risk doctor. One of the first things he told me was he's like Ariel, you have set yourself up for success. You've done everything to equip yourself in this moment to have a successful pregnancy. Yeah, and I think that's just that reminder for everybody, when, when we're not thinking about our future self, we don't know what's to come. But if we're willing to put in that work now, yeah, like I'm able to have this beautiful pregnancy and I'm supposed to be living in a wheelchair peeing in a bag like that, that was my, that was what the original outcome was supposed to be, and yeah and to be able to be doing this um and facilitate life and bring a little beautiful little boy into the world, like man I mean it's.
Speaker 2:It's profoundly beautiful because if you had asked me five, oh, it's in august. My injury was five years, so it's kind of crazy that he is going to be born potential in the 15th.
Speaker 2:My injury was the 19th oh, wow so it's, yeah, it's, it's just one of those beautiful things. But if you'd asked me if I would have been like what? Yeah, like there's no way right and and to be here so, um, even though our situations are completely different, I hope you know people that are listening. Yeah, I know like you can. Either you know, relax in some routine and and understand adapting, or you can gain routine yeah even if everything is just a little bit differently, you know different.
Speaker 2:I think that's the biggest thing. Like you said, it's just going to be different and it's what you choose to do with it yeah it's your perspective on how you you choose to move forward, right?
Speaker 1:yeah, it's a mindset, with not always just a mindset, but with a lot of those things. It's how you choose to move forward, right? Yeah, it's a mindset Not always just a mindset, but with a lot of those things. It's how you're going to choose to view it, and then what are you going to do about it? What?
Speaker 2:are you going to do about it, guys? On that note, I think that's a perfect time and place to end. On that note, what are you going to do with the next phase of life that you're faced with and with? And we hope that, uh, by listening to lifestyle strength, you kind of get better insight and things that maybe can help you move forward. So thank you, thank you for coming on, until next time, peace.
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