DADsercise
Lose Weight! Build Muscle! It’s Child’s Play
by
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As soon as my son Daniel, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, joined our family as our third child, his heart became the focus of our doctors. Knowing that many children with Down Syndrome are born with defects in the heart chambers, the doctors painstakingly took him through numerous tests to determine if a problem existed. Daniel was not an exception. Our hearts heavy but hopeful for the best, my wife and I scheduled the surgery designed to patch the holes. As a former wrestler and football player, I''m accustomed to taking on challenges head on, but I knew that to have a child go through open-heart surgery at five months would be an emotional event, its outcome life-changing.
When so many aspects of my life were in chaos and seemingly out of my hands, I began to concentrate on elements in my life that I could control. After some introspection I came to the realization that I was probably headed for heart problems myself. I was the heaviest I had ever been, packing 215 pounds on a 5’ 7” frame. Even the thought of any meaningful exercise made me shudder. I would squeeze any health-conscious thought to the bottom of my priority list (if it even made the list). However, after a while the fear of my kids having to grow up without a father and my wife having to raise these three children by herself began to slowly burn a hole in my conscience.
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One evening as I was playing with my youngsters, I playfully bench pressed Adam ten times. He loved it. Ellen, not wanting to be left out, began clamoring for her turn, so I obliged. That evening I went through the lifting routine my college partners and I used to do, using my children as the “live” free weights. I got an unbelievable workout, and the kids didn’t want to stop. Even Daniel, who came through his surgery with all flags flying, loved to watch his siblings and Dad “play.” As soon as he showed an interest in participating, he became a part of the fun. It started to become a nightly agreement with my children: they could play with Dad while he got a workout. We started calling it DADsercise.
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About the Book
When Perry Schnacker, a successful 38 year-old computer consultant, finally recognizes his enemy—a nemesis poised to ruin his health, undermine his confidence, and steal years of his life from his family--he turns to an unusual team of heroes to save him: his children, ages 1, 4, and 8. Daniel, Ellen, and Adam--demanding, relentless, and cute-- show their dad how to battle obesity without leaving the house. With pictures for every exercise, this book shows how the diminutive trainers use DADsercise to revitalize their father! His childhood experiences serving as a catalyst, Perry Schnacker gives every busy father who craves more family interaction a tremendous way to lose weight, build muscle, and gain precious family time!
Too often people cite time and money as reasons they can’t get fit. Not anymore! This book shows the general public how you can get a great workout without needing expensive equipment, a gym membership, or time away from your family. The exercises are dynamic and easy to fit into any lifestyle. It follows the idea that to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you must add activity into your day. What better way to do it than with your kids; teaching them about fitness along the way.
Julie Eastland, BS, DPT
BS in Exercise Science
Doctorate in Physical Therapy
Teacher of Just for Kids – a weight management class for children
I have had a chance to read your book and found it very interesting. You have a lot of insight into the "medical" aspects of the weight loss and exercise recommendations---I'm impressed!
Your recommendations for charting and goal setting are excellent. Also, I think it is very important for people to understand about weight loss plateaus and you did address that very well. The emphasis on "life-style changes" is right-on. Also, I like the urge to be patient which is very important. The pictures are very helpful to the explanation of each routine.
David E. Jenny, M.D.
About the Author
Perry Schnacker has lived a life of diversity. Raised on a