23. Pioneer Pete - The First To 300

You have three girls as well, don't you, Pete?

Yes, I do.

One man. The grey hair.

That's it.

One man. That's why I got to keep you around, Pete. I got to sit in your corner, mate. Salt, pepper, salt and pepper.

Salt, pepper.

I'm going to need your wisdom, mate, as my girls get older. Because your girls are a bit older, aren't they? Yeah.

22, 19, 17.

Jeez, how do you do it, mate? Three daughters.

Yeah. You know, I've got a very strong wife.

She can hear you, mate, can't she?

Awesome.

Well, thanks for jumping on tonight, Pete. Welcome everyone, to Real Dad Movement podcast episode. What are we up to? I think 23. Outstanding. We've got Pete, one of our RDM members, one of the firing men in the. In the team. Got a couple of Petes in there spearheading the attack, certainly combining powers in the group and dominating. And Pete's mate, tell me, how does it feel? You're the first man in RDM history to crack the 300 club. 300 training sessions so far to date?

Oh, pretty good. Yeah, pretty good because I had a bit of a New Year's resolution. I wanted to exercise every day, so. And I started that last year. Last year I only missed something 11 days or all year. And this year so far, what we're into August. I've missed seven days so far. So between the training sessions, three or four days a week training sessions and then some days I'll double up, do cardio on those days as well. We're probably averaging gym and Cardio sessions, about 10 a week, I guess so. Yeah, since November, you know, since we started the first 28 day challenge back in November. Yeah. So crack the 300. Had a look today. I'm up over 350 at the moment, actually.

Chase. Apologies, mate. Three hundred and fifty. The 500, mate. You'll get the 500 this year, that's for sure. Jesus.

Unbelievable.

And how. What's the result of that, mate? Yeah, how do you feel after. After that and your journey so far with rdm?

Yeah, well, it's actually, it's been really interesting comparing this year with last year, because last year even though I was doing all that exercise and barely missing a day, my nutrition and drinking as well was just all over the place. So. I work in the insurance industry. It's very, very social industry, both with clients and also internally. So going out, eating quite badly, drinking a lot. So even with all that exercising, I was basically just holding all the exercises just to stay where I was so it wasn't until that was all of last year. And then when I got on board with RDM and your program, I know your tips that you had over Christmas helped me out. That was the first Christmas New Year period where I actually didn't gain any weight for years, God knows how long. So that was pretty cool.

All the tricks, mate.

Yeah. And then through that, and then after that, same from January, February, the weight just started falling off. I bought some new threads, actually, when I was up in, up in the Gold coast in January, Remember we had that training session up there with my daughter. And yet by May, I'd lost seven or eight kilos and those clothes were a bit loose.

So.

Yeah, it just shows how important the nutrition side is. And I found the motivation of being in the group, that feeling like it's a team very much feels like you're a member of a team and everyone's for helping each other out and everything. So what was that motivation? They helped me really clean up my nutrition. Your tips as well. And particularly when my drinking is way down compared to what it was, I certainly haven't cut it out. But unless I have maybe drinks after work, which I'll try to limit once a week, I don't drink during the week at all. And then I might have at home a glass of wine or rum and Coke or something just at the end of the day if I've had a good day. So all that combined. Yes. Compared to when I started with RDM back in November, I think I'm down. Well, I did have a couple of trips a month or two ago, so I did put a little bit of weight back on, but I was down about 9 and I'm now back down within only a couple of kilos of that, so pretty cool. And before that when I was on my own, even though I was exercising a lot. Yeah, I was just stable, so I couldn't budge anyway at all. So back pushing numbers of weight around the waist and everything, body fat percentage that I never really thought I'd see again ever since I gave up the running because up my knees. So, yeah, it's been fantastic, actually. It's been really good. You really kind of, how can I say? I mean, you just motivated me to do some stuff I didn't really think was possible. And you noticed that, you know, you notice in your clothes, you notice family members, friends, work colleagues, you know, commenting about you losing weight. So it's been really cool. Real good positive reinforcement.

Yeah. Well, Jesus, mate, I think we'll just leave it at that. That's the end of the show, Pete. The Pete podcast. Spitting Fire. And mate, look humbled and honored to have you in. Those who aren't watching this, this will be uploaded on YouTube and I might post on our Real Dad Movement page as well. But Pete's got number four of his hoodie, the fourth original member of rdm. So one of the staples, part of the what I say, part of the furniture, mate. Mate. It's a credit to you, Pete, for the leadership you show in the group. And I do remember, I think that session was good when we got to catch up up in Queensland. I think there's a picture floating around of your arm curling a 30 kilo dumbbell. And I've got a 15 from memory, mate.

So I think it was a bit less than that. And you were struggling too. I remember that.

Oh, mate, killer, man. Yeah, it's interesting, Pete. We've had a lot of talks back and forth on strategizing. That's what I love about what I do with fathers. Because why would I ever do a quickie cut approach? Doesn't make sense. Like we've got pilots, shift workers, flying fly outs, huge rang of men in our group, dads in our group. And remember that what you said, the social aspect, like working for that insurance company, having to work and please clients, all these different things. Traveling, that's bloody hard yakka, mate. Plus being a father and wanting your own goals and desires physically and mentally. What was it like before rdm? What was the biggest challenge you were facing within yourself and your own mindset? And then also with fatherhood, like father would affect that, I guess. Yeah.

Yeah, I suppose it was too many late nights, you know, coming home late. Yeah, I work pretty long hours anyway. So that when you throw in some drinks a couple times a week or more after that, on top of that, then you're getting home, you're barely interacting with the family at all, so. And you know, you're always. I'm always off probably in the city before they're getting up, even heading pretty early, so that was one thing. So just being home more, I guess. You know, I'm fairly lucky because my. I've got three girls, they're all a bit older though, so you know, they've very much got their own lives and they're all driving. So I've got a lot more time on the weekends than the dads with the younger kids, so that's pretty cool. So, you know, I'm able to get to the gym on the weekends and the missus and I know we can go up, go to the shops, go to cafe and all that sort of stuff. So it's pretty cool. But especially during the week, it was more just being present in the house rather than packing up a long day with a bit of a session at the end of it as well.

Yeah, and I'm just curious, mate, every dad's different, but for yourself, what was the biggest roadblock in your life, mate, that stopped you from, I guess, doing what you're doing right now on your own 12 months ago or nearly 12 months ago? Yeah, mate, getting close.

I suppose it was just a lack of motivation. So even though I'm fairly well disciplined, yeah, I was able to keep up all the training sessions, everything. Well, this is the motivation to really crack down on the food, cut back on drinking, all that sort of stuff, so. And when I was on my own now, I tried a couple other programs that really didn't, didn't work for me because it was much more, you know, cookie cutter type stuff. They weren't really looking after me and what I needed. So it was a very individual way that you run things with rdm and obviously we had a bunch of guys come through at the start, but since then you've been adding new guys. Now when you introduce them to the group, you know, every couple of days, wherever it is. So just, you know, slowly joining guys into the group. I know you've got a lot of work behind the scenes that we don't see to get these new guys, but also know you're not taking anyone and everyone. So, you know, you've been very particular about who you bringing in the group. So still it gives you a chance to individualize their introductions and get them on board and get them all sorted out individually. So I really like the way that you made a real individual program and you're looking after each of us individually when the fact that you've even the order we've come on board, you've given us the numbered apparel. I was pretty stoked. I didn't know that I was so early. I was pretty stoked when I snapped the hoodie and saw the number four order. It was pretty cool. That was awesome.

Yeah, mate, I love it. Yeah, I really love it. And I was chatting earlier about this, like I've done the number one with the jersey and then two of the guys who were two and three, one of them used to be a member at my gym anyway, Chris Burke being the other one, which I'm pretty sure was Ben Warner, signed Up even before the challenge ended. So you're almost like the first one, Pete, officially who, when the doors open, mate, to come on board. Which is exciting. But it's funny, mate, because you know what? I hear what you said just then. It's for me, mate, I can look at everything we're doing and this isn't just a plug for rdm, but everything that I want to do in my life, I want to do with personality, purpose. And even with the numbered memberships, I look at it and go, well, I've had people say, oh, that's a cool. That's a good niche you're doing with dads. Or that's a really good concept. Or your marketing is really good with the amount of videos you're putting out there. I'm like, what the fuck do those words even mean? And, sorry, excuse the French, but I'm like, marketing niche, like, looking here at concepts for me and call it delusional optimism or whatever you want to call it, but for me, mate, this is a real movement. It's something that I truly want to help fathers, regardless of whether they're with me for three months or three years. I truly want to help fathers and help find fathers that are just legendary blokes like yourself, mate, it's not necessarily dads. They're different. Some are heavily overweight, some are underweight, some are super depressed, and some want higher levels of excellence in their life. But the reality is we can all be better, including myself, mate. But I love just trying to pull that together. And for me, it's simple. Like, when you guys are successful, I am. It truly is that simple. Which is why I try and really push hard to make sure everything's doled into your life, mate. Because then I guess it's more sustainable, which means it's something that you'll enjoy, you'll do for the long term, mate.

Yeah, well, other thing that makes it sustainable is you're very good. You don't shove stuff down people's throats. So you very much, you know, you provide the information, you provide the videos, all the rest of it, but you leave it up to guys to, you know, to get involved as much as they want to. So, you know, to me, we've got the quick, the Tuesday check in, the Friday check in, although I tend to do that on Sunday just so I can talk about the whole week rather than just Monday to Friday. So I've done that, the roundtables on Wednesday. So you're looking at probably those combined maybe an hour, tops of Your week and that's checking in, keeping involved with the guys, particularly the roundtable, seeing other guys, what they're up to, seeing new guys coming through as well. So that's all pretty cool. So I really like that. Even though you're very available so you know, you get back in touch with us when we reach out to you very quickly. But at the same time you're not, you know, you're not forcing stuff down people's throats and you're leaving up to blokes to decide how much they want to get involved.

Yeah, that's what I love too, mate. It's funny like I used to bag out that term online coach but I guess when I look at some of the things that were out out there, it was like every industry, mate, there's some good and a lot was laughable. But utilizing technology, man, how good is it? I mean like you said, overall, I think it's maybe two hours a week of the Dad's times. Checking with my maximum Monday AM pm That's like mindset stuff. The Think tank live videos. I do the pillar of power podcasts that I do mobility videos. What H who does mobility technique videos. Like it's huge amount of content but we don't force it down their throats. But there's a lot of different check ins which, and it's nothing against obviously members who might be listening to this of my gym, but they do. You guys do get a lot more of me than they do because we don't have to worry so much about that physical component of what if I wasn't in the gym that day or you were sick that day or we only caught up once here and there and next. You know, we've seen each other three times in a month with this. It's like without, without sitting on top of each other, mate. We've got that access to each other if and if and when we need to make sure that we're just staying focused with the goal at hand for that week or even the monthly goals we set.

Yeah, I think that's really working as well because when we had the, the first dads workshop, so that was started July was it or June.

Yeah, end of June. Right.

So and I was talking to a couple of guys to Grant and I think Zach and maybe one or two others there that remember we had that very first training session downtown when in December. Most of those guys were there. So most of those guys from the early day there was only one people who were with us that day back in December. Who aren't with us anymore. So, you know what, six out of eight or whatever it was, he's still there today, seven or eight months later. So I think that's a bit of testimony to just how well what you're doing does work, because the guys who've been there from the beginning generally still around. So that's pretty cool.

It is, mate. It'd be awesome to keep the originals together as much as we can, mate, which is pretty amazing to keep donning the. The numbered. The numbered hoodies and gear and. Yeah, we'll get some proper footy jerseys made up, maybe just West Tigers for you, mate. Is that the team or. Unbelievable, mate.

Ripped my heart out, I tell you. Geez. Geez.

Oh, mate. Yeah. Yeah, it must be. Must be rough, Pete. Were you born into that, mate, going for the Tigers or.

No, no, I played under, like, under fours, under fives for the Aspworth Magpies when I used to live up at Hornsby, and I just followed the Magpies in any sport, including the West Magpies and Western Suburbs, and now they're part of the West Tigers. But I'm going out to Brooklyn on Thursday night, so I think I might be in a bit of royal hurt out there.

Yeah.

Although when the Tigers aren't supposed to win, they tend to be better than when they are.

Yeah.

So you never know. Might get the last laugh over some mates out there.

Yes. Oh, mate. Especially the Shire. Bloody give it to them. Or Northern Suburbs. Sorry. Yeah. Northern Beaches. Sorry. Yeah, I used to live there for a bit. Yes. When I told them that I used to come from, when I came from Penrith, they certainly changed their attitude towards me, which was hilarious. But most. Most of them. But, mate, what's. I'm just curious, though, Pete, like, what's the greatest thing that you love about being fitter and healthier and what does that entail or leave for you in the future, mate, for yourself and for your life moving forward as you progressively get into your 50s and onwards.

Yeah. Well, not far off. So December. I'm 49, so despite my youthful appearance, I'm actually getting up there. To me, it's activity, but it's also health. So just being fit and healthy. My old man had a cerebral haemorrhage when he was in his early 40s. Never worked again, Was never really the same. So certainly, although he was a very heavy smoker, very heavy drinker, so stuff that I've kept away from largely, but just to be healthy and live a long life, I guess, be there for the girls, as they have their families and grandkids and all the rest of it. So that's a big one for me and just. I suppose I take pride in my appearance. So, you know, obviously you want to be as lean as possible and as you're getting on also, it makes it that much harder to lose the weight. So when you can't get it off and then you just want to try and keep it off, you know, so all those things combined and. Yeah, that's probably about it, but all I can think of at the moment.

Good on you, mate, for making that key priority. Because when you're staying fit and lean and strong and bearing in mind longevity in what you do, mate, then it puts things in perspective for what's important to you and your priorities, from which I guess everything else is better both with your kids, even though the girls are older, but just yourself, mate, how you are within your work, your career, everything that you do every single day, mate. Because we don't spend time with anyone more than we do with ourselves, do we? Yeah, I think a good goal before you're 50, mate, will be a thousand sessions. Reckon that's possible. What have we got? Just over a year, mate.

I reckon I'll be getting close there.

You'll be over 800, it'd be. Oh, geez, mate, you'd have to go now, Pete, if we hit. How many days have you got? 5.

November. So when we started, I was a month away from 48, so I'll have two years. So I'll just. I'll need to do about 500 a year over two years.

We'll see, mate. You'll come back on a podcast at the end of 2020 and maybe we'll see.

I do find it much easier in. In summer because when I have a. Like, if I'm exercising home just on exercise bike, you get. You get a bit sweaty until I get a bit of a better session, but then I just jump in the pool to cool off and. And clean up rather than have to go through rigmarole of a shower and all the rest of it. So, yeah, over summer I can tend to pump it out a bit more than what I've been doing the last couple of months. But you never know.

500 a year, mate. Jesus. Bloody powerhouse. But it's been awesome having you on, Pete. I'm just. You know what, I'd love to share. And it's not all dads who listen to this, but just your insights and a bit of wisdom from you, mate, on, like, what do you. What do you feel is the biggest thing that dads, older or younger kids aside, what do you think is the biggest thing they struggle with some of the dads that are in the rut? In your experience of being around and being with other men? And what would be your advice to them? And this isn't necessarily pushing towards idm, just in general, to break out of that rut or move forward.

Let's see. Well, from what I've. What I've experienced, what I've seen, I think it's. Yeah, it's guys just getting too insular, you know, they. Whatever's happening, whether it's, you know, at home or at work, whatever, they go through a rough time and they get a bit withdrawn, you know, they get within themselves that reach out to mates, family. And to me, that's the thing, you know, one of the reasons I've got a good bunch of mates at work, because we, we do go out regularly and lunch or after work, whatever, have a drink, have a. Have a meal, whatever, and just have a, you know, a good chat. And it's a really good way. If someone's going through something, you know, we get together and have a chat and just, you know, try to guide them through it, I guess. So I think my concern for dads would be if they're going through some sort of struggle not to.

Be isolated.

Yeah, to go out and talk to whoever it has to be, whether it's health, professional, mates, family members, whatever, just to get those issues off their chest. And, you know, even if other people can't fix it, even just the act of getting off your chest and other people know about it can be a real godsend to someone who's struggling.

Very wise words, mate. Something I did one video on a little while ago. I want to touch that again, actually. I might do it this week. In active vulnerability. That's what I call it. Because like you said, when you do that, you're taking ownership over where you're at and that strengthens you make it. You're taking control over your feelings and how you're expressing that and it gives you that opportunity to then map something out. Instead of. Like you said, if you're withdrawn, isolated, it can manifest. Like I said, you're insular, so you're within yourself and Dangerous place to be at times, mate, isn't it?

Exactly. So that's from what I've seen and what I've experienced myself as well. So, yeah, just getting out and talking to people, I think that's the most Important thing you can do.

Unreal, mate. And obviously with yourself having three daughters. Continuing the arm curls when the boys come home, mate. Hey, like that seed out of Bad Boys, is it? Like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, hang in there earlier. They'll be there before we know it, I'm sure, mate.

Stella's three going on 33 and Jesus. Some of these punks up here on the coast with their long blonde hair and surfboards, they want to. They want to be good in an arm wrestler if they're going to be allowed in the house at the table, mate. Awesome. But look, I'll let you go, mate. But look, it's. It's been a pleasure having you on. Thanks for. Thanks for joining us, mate, and giving you time.

Thanks for the invite. I've had a blast. It's been fun. Thanks very much, Al. And I'll be seeing you on the video shortly.

Yeah. Bloody earth, mate. And appreciate you coming on too, Pete, and sharing some insights into yourself, your own life, your experiences, mate. It's really good because I don't like people just hearing it from me. Not just rdm, but just changing in life and especially dads. So many, like you said, mate, so many out there, they need this and they really need a different resource, whether it's podcasts or watching a video, to have access, to know that they're not alone and it's okay. Like, mate, you're not alone and there is something you can do. But good on you, Pete. You're a legend, mate.

Thanks, Sal. Thanks very much.

Appreciate it, mate. And thanks for tuning in, guys. And we'll see you on the next one.

See you later, guys. See you, guys. Good night. See you later.

Bye. Bye.