By now, everyone has heard of the dad bod.
This marvelous body type gives guys an excuse to believe their bodies are "good enough," and it gives women the excuse to say, "Well, I might as well get used to this because all guys end up like this anyway."
More often than not, the dad bod is a result of laziness.
Not every man in the world is going to have a perfect body. No one expects every member of the male population to be perfectly shaped, buff, toned or athletic.
But, dad bods are usually a result of drinking too much beer and eating too much unhealthy food. (Cheeseburgers and pizza, anyone?)
They’re also a result of sitting and binge-watching Netflix and Sunday football games.
Before I dive any deeper, I’ll go ahead and give you a reason for why you should listen to me.
I’m a certified personal trainer, so I understand how the human body works, and I am a living example of a healthy lifestyle.
Fitness is a part of my everyday life. I'm in kickass shape, and yes, I could kick your ass if I needed to.
But here’s the thing: While fitness is important, what you eat is even more important.
The truth is, you just can’t out-run or out-lift a bad diet.
This is why I've created a guide to getting rid of that gut, even if you're extremely lazy.
1. Drink light beer.
Drinking beer is an easy way to consume hundreds of unnecessary calories.
Instead of drinking heavier beers, switch to light beers.
There are a ton of options, including Bud Light, Corona Light and Miller Light. If you already do this, then drink less of it.
I hate to break it to you, but you really don't need to drink 12 beers a day.
Try limiting your intake to one to two beers a day, or only drink on Friday and Saturday nights.
In this case, less really is more.
Drink less beer; you'll live longer.
2. Skip the late-night meals.
I don't have to tell you binge-drinking usually leads to binge-eating.
Those 2 am Waffle House runs are an easy way to consume a stick of butter and half a cup of oil, and you better believe these meals aren't helping your waistline or your overall health.
If you commonly get the munchies, try to munch on healthier options, or make yourself go to bed before you crave that late night meal.
3. Pick a different side dish.
If you're always eating bar food, you're probably eating a lot of french fries.
You have burgers and fries, sandwiches and fries, chicken fingers and fries, fries, fries, fries.
Have you ever looked at the other side options?
If eating a salad will kill you, try a baked potato, coleslaw, baked beans or green beans. Just eat something besides fries all the time.
4. Be active every day.
Join a gym.
If you're not into the whole standing in front of a mirror and pumping iron thing, try joining a group fitness gym.
If you're competitive, find a CrossFit gym nearby.
If you want a fun way to get your aggression out, join a kickboxing or boxing gym.
If you played sports in high school, find an intramural league to be a part of.
If joining a gym isn't in your budget or your lifestyle, get active in your everyday life. Walk places, ride a bike, play football in the backyard or just do something to get your heart pumping.
5. Skip the protein shake or smoothie.
It seems like every guy I know works out and then immediately chugs a huge protein shake or smoothie.
This is completely unnecessary.
Yes, you need protein after a workout to repair your muscles, but you don’t need that much protein.
Most protein powders are filled with unhealthy, processed ingredients.
Also, what most people don’t realize is the extra, unnecessary protein you consume that isn’t used by your body is stored as fat.
You’d save yourself calories and make yourself healthier by just eating a healthy meal after your workout.
Try to eat some lean protein (like chicken or fish) and vegetables after your workout.
6. Have more sex.
Yes, you read that right.
If you've ever needed an excuse to have sex, here it is. This is an easy (and awesome) way to burn extra calories.
Doesn't sound too hard, does it? Good luck busting that gut.
