Some weight you can see. Some you can’t.
For so many men, the weight of work, family, stress and old excuses settles in slowly – until one day you look in the mirror and wonder when you stopped recognising yourself.
This is where the DadBod Challenge started, brought to you by USN and Planet Fitness and supported by celebrity dads Jaco de Bruin and Brad Jays. Not with perfection. Not with a six-pack. But with one truth: you don’t have to do it alone.
The Weight We Carry
Behind every ‘DadBod’ is a real story from early mornings, late nights to fast food, desk jobs and stress that drains your spark. For many, the idea of ‘getting fit’ feels unreachable when you’re already running on empty.
One of our winners, said it best: ‘A lot of people say – I would die for my family, but would you get healthy for your family?’
Others did it for different reasons to feel better; to prove they could stick to something, or just to wake up feeling proud.
The Power of ‘Us’
The real magic of the DadBod Challenge wasn’t just the workouts – it was the people beside you. In-club, they swapped tips, shared high-fives, pushed each other through that final set. Online, they posted progress pics, healthy meals and daily check-ins that said. ‘You can do it’.
One winner said: ‘What I loved most about the group? A lot of commitment, encouragement and motivation.’
Because this wasn’t about fancy equipment, it was about community. It was about showing up, together, even when no one felt ready. They learned that showing up alone is hard. Showing up together is stronger.
The Wins you Can’t Measure
This is Just the Beginning
Celebrity dads Jaco de Bruin and Brad Jays reminded every member that it’s never about perfection. It’s about the first step:
‘You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to start. Show your family or just yourself, what showing up looks like. The DadBod Challenge is just the beginning.
They proved that small steps break old excuses, build new confidence and remind us that it’s possible to come back from burnout, stress and feeling stuck.
Take the First step
Let’s be honest, most of us don’t know where to start when it comes to training.But these winners proved the hardest part is simply showing up. Once you do, the plan, the energy, the community it all follows. Tackling burnout is part of this too because small steps here help you build your spark back out there.
It’s your move – Join Planet Fitness and see how far you can go when you’re surrounded by people who won’t let you give up.
