I Don't Want My Kids to Get the Leftover Version of Me: Fatherhood, Men's Health & Legacy - 144
YouTube Brian hasn't spoken to his father since he was twenty-seven. The last real conversation they had lasted about five minutes. His parents divorced when he was twelve, and the connection he had with his father faded year by year.
(Have you thought about the kind of father your kids will remember? If you want the energy and the body to show up for them, learn more at www.thecalltorise.com)
This is episode 144 of Driven For Health. Coach Brian Parana shares his personal story of growing up with a father who was present and then wasn't. He talks about his four kids and the twenty-year marriage he has built with his wife Amber. He explains why your health is directly connected to your role as a father. The episode connects the cost of putting yourself last to what your family actually needs from you.
By the end of this episode, you will see why taking care of your health and showing up for your family are the same decision.
Chapters:
- [00:07] Why Brian is sharing this story at episode 144
- [07:13] His father and what the divorce cost over time
- [09:36] The one phone call after Tony Robbins that went nowhere
- [11:58] The kind of father Brian chose to become
- [19:00] Why your health is the foundation for being present
- [23:43] What The Call To Rise is built to do
Key Takeaways:
- A father who isn't taking care of himself doesn't have the energy or presence his kids need from him.
- Father-child connection doesn't break all at once. It fades through proximity, life, and time until it is gone.
- Taking care of your health is how you show up for your family and the men in your life who are watching.
Resources Mentioned:
- Episode 133 with Jeremy Bacon on the four buckets: family, civics, work, and self
- Episode 135 with Nikki Balloo on men showing up in the modern world
- Episode 142 on men's mental health and shedding the narrative
- The Call To Rise 100-day program at www.thecalltorise.com
Common questions from this episode:
- How does growing up with an absent father affect you as an adult?
Brian speaks to this directly from his own life. The fatherly connection he lost after the divorce created gaps in wisdom and closeness that never fully filled in. He didn't process the weight of it until his own kids reached the same ages he was when the distance began. That's when it became real.
- Why does your health affect how you show up for your kids?
When you don't take care of your body, you don't have the energy your family needs. Brian uses a simple image in this episode: a pitcher with no water cannot pour. Your kids need you present and engaged after a long day, and that takes a body with fuel left to give.
- How do you stay connected to your kids as they get older?
Brian builds shared experiences that create lasting memories. He trains for a marathon with his oldest son. He reads to his daughter every night and watches movies with his boys in the barn. The specific memory gives you something to draw on for years. Repeated presence is what builds the relationship.
The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it.
This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss.
Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work.
This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com
Want help applying this to your own health, weight, energy, or lab numbers?
Coach Brian Parana offers Health Hot Seat coaching segments for men who want a clear next step with nutrition, fitness, weight loss, blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C, or daily consistency.
Learn more about The Call To Rise, a 100-day coaching program for driven men over 40 who want to lose weight, improve their health, and rebuild confidence:
To connect with Coach Brian:
brian@brianparana.com
Disclaimer: This podcast is for education and coaching support only. It is not medical advice. Always work with your physician before changing medication, treatment, or medical care.
