40. Country Dads, Crushing It.

Welcome, everyone, to another episode Real to have movement podcast. Here we have. I was saying earlier, it's double trouble. The 2A's coming at you. Joined with Alex, one of the members in rdm. Thanks for joining us today, mate, as well.

Yeah, mate, thanks for having me on.

It's a pleasure. Alex is one of our country dads, one of our rural dads. He's a legend of a bloke and lots of. Look, we'll dive into your story, mate, and share a bit about, obviously, your journey with us so far to date. But this show is about connecting and that's what this is about, guys, connecting with real fathers, real men out there and really sharing where they're at, where they've come from and what they're currently doing in the level of inspiring and drawing. Different perspectives, different ideas, different methods and ways to break through and break free from a lot of the shit we can all face in life. Because that's what it seems to be a lot of the time as fathers, but it's how we see it and what we do that ultimately changes our future. So, Alex, before we dive into that sort of stuff, though, mate. Yeah, let's share a bit of your background, your history story, where you grew up, mate, where you're from, and we can go from there.

Yeah, no worries. Yes, I grew up on the. Actually grew up on the south coast, a little town called Klama. So, yeah, so that was pretty standard coastal upbringing, I suppose. Lots of beach as a kid. I'm the eldest of a couple of three, so a younger brother and sister, but probably did live down there for a fair while. Then I actually went away to school in Sydney in about year nine. So went to a boarding school in Sydney, which was good, good experience. And then from there went to. Moved up to Armadale and went to university there. Did some agricultural stuff, so I guess all the way through. We grew up in and around dairy, so we did a lot of that when we were kids. That was kind of our weekend jobs and our chores was helping out the neighbour and doing a bit of that. So good way to make a bit of proper money.

And then the blowhole's down there, isn't it? Kiama. I remember I used to play footy down there at Shell Harbour.

Kiama, Blowhole. Yeah. Yeah, it's good. Not a bad little spot down there. Yeah, for sure.

What was boarding school like, mate? I'm just curious.

Yeah, good. Actually, look, so probably where I was, where I grew up, the town I was in, wouldn't say I was getting in trouble but I wasn't loving it either. And my mother, she went away to school when she was younger so it was something she thought would be good for us. So it was like a selective public school though, so co ed boys and girls in the boarding school, not in the same boarding houses. But as much as we wanted it to be that way. Yeah, good. Look, I didn't go as young so like I said, I went year nine so I probably had a bit age about me when I went away. But look, definitely helped me build as a person, actually made me. Made my relationship with my parents not a lot better. But I started understanding more like you kind of get more what they do for you when you're not getting that every day. But it also gave me a bit of independence as well, so I could do, yeah, a bit more freedom, which was good. So, yeah, different experience. So there's about. There's a couple hundred people in the school, so a lot of people from the city and then, and then, and then there's probably about 200 borders or something. So. Yeah, yeah, something. I don't know like for my kids, whether that's something they. For them it will just depend on what we decide to do. I suppose it's. Yeah. Look, like I said, it gave me a lot of experience in, you know, having to make your own decisions and look, look after yourself on your own a little bit, which was. Yeah, which helped me grow as a person I think for sure. So actually met my wife there. I think we started dating in year 11 actually. So yeah, we were. That was where we kind of hooked up from there and yeah, it was good. So yeah, and then from there away to uni. So uni wasn't much different to school really just we're allowed to drink, Which was good fun. So that was probably my first experience in putting solid weight on quickly there. But yeah, and then moved to Queensland so ended up in a. In a town called Dalby and lived there for a good eight to ten years or something working up there and then during a period of time there. So my father, he got crook. He got sick when I was at uni or actually probably a little bit. Yeah, it was when I was at uni. So he. Non Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of blood cancer, so it was an awesome prognosis when he first got it, but he kept kicking on with that for a fair while. So he actually passed away when we were up in Dalby. So six months later my wife's partner at the time, but my wife's father, he got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so he actually passed away. So within like six weeks of Dad, I think he actually got diagnosed and he passed away really, really quickly. So two very different experiences, but they were pretty. Yeah, it was a very tough time, mate. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we didn't have. We weren't married at the time, we didn't have kids, but there's a lot of pressure. So we were driving home like eight hours. So I'd work a shift of 12 days or something, big days. And then we'd get in the car as soon as I was done and drive eight hours to get down and help my wife's mum or go. And further to go and see my mum. So we made the decision that we probably needed to move closer to home. So then it was just a matter of finding out somewhere where I could do my work. And, yeah, we ended up where we are here in Glenus at the place we're on now. So that was looking. That experience probably shaped a lot of what we do, my wife and I now, or how we look at things, I suppose. So, yeah, definitely drove us into a life's short kind of idea. So, you know, if we want to do something, we'll just do it. We take the kids away or whatever, because there's. So my father, he was 55 when he passed away and Liz's dad, he was a little bit older, but he would have only been a year or two, so, you know, quite young. Quite young there.

So he's young, mate. What were some of the biggest lessons or gifts that you got from your father or from parents?

Yeah, look, dad was a really. I never saw dad fust. He was a very calm and collected guy. He very. So he was an engineer by trade, so he worked a lot with the. With like manufacturing coal machinery and stuff for longwalls and different companies. So very methodical and very intelligent kind of guy, you know, that's probably something. Some of the stuff when we're talking about with RDM stuff like there's not a lot of. Not support networks, but the dad side of things isn't as well framed up as everything else. And that's probably something I've missed is just someone to call dad and just say, oh, you know, this happened. What do you reckon? Yeah, that's definitely been a tough challenge, but Mom's fantastic. She's still going on. She's been going lots of trips now and, yeah, really getting out there, which is awesome. But yeah, so he was a very strong character, dad. He was a fantastic guy. He liked it. Definitely family first. He was the absolute epitome of that. Yeah. Like nothing would get in the way of what he wanted to do with his family. I remember him. The block at home was an acre of grass. Like we were talking about grass before, but, yeah, just solid grass. And dad would be out there on a weekend push, mowing it. It was knee high, just. And with a bigger screen on his face and, you know, even if you can't help him, but he was happy to do it on his own and let you guys play or whatever, because that was kind of. That was his thing, you know.

So.

Yeah, but no, definitely look strong. Very strong work ethic and all that. That's definitely what I've picked up off my parents from that kind of.

We've picked that up from you since you've been part of rdm and just so everyone at home or listening or watching knows what. What is it you actually do, Alex? Like, what do you do? What's your line of work?

Yeah, so I work for a feedlot company, which is basically. So we have about 30,000 cattle on our place at the moment. So the property's quite large. It's 12,000 acres. But the cattle, we background them on the property and then bring them into the feedlot. So. Yeah, so we're basically taking them from 400 kilos and growing them up to 800, 850 kilos is kind of our business. Yeah. So it's a lot of animals to care for, I suppose. It's definitely. It's a very. So I live on the place and a lot of the senior staff here do, which is fantastic. You're only five minutes away from work, but it's not fantastic because you're only five minutes away from work, so you can really get drawn in. So quite often on our days off, we're still fighting around doing stuff, which is good and bad. Great for the kids, though. They love it. They love seeing the cattle and helping out. So, you know, that's a good environment for them too.

But I know you posted a picture of. In our group. I know there's a video, the Grass. Jeez, you've done well with that. Is that solely you've grown all that for the cows?

Yeah, yeah, that's it. So that's actually on. So that's on. So my wife and I, about six months ago, bought into my wife's mother's property. So she has a property down towards Tamworth, a Bit further south, about two and a half hours. So we actually. We bought into that and yeah, we run a little. A little Angus. Angus is a breed of cattle. So we have about 40 or 50 cows there and we breed bulls out of the cows. So. Yeah, that was from the block there, like I said. That's unreal, what rain does. A bit of H2O and away it goes. It's fantastic.

Unreal, isn't it? Is that the only thing that you feed them? Like that's the sole source. And is there a time period to get them up to that sort of weight as well?

Yeah. So for our cattle here at the feedlot, we actually feed. So they fed. We feed them grain, so typically wheat or barley, a lot of straw and hay and then corn, silage. So we grow all that on the property ourselves here and we make that into a silage and that goes into what we call our ration. And then cottonseed, so that's like a byproduct of cotton. So it's used as a food source there too. So. Yeah, so look, we're feeding about on the place we are now. We're feeding about 4, 450, 500 ton a day of feed to the cattle. So it's quite a bit. Yeah, it's a big number.

Keep you busy, that's for sure.

It does, mate. Yeah, yeah. And then, look, the cows are the easy thing. It's. So there's about 40 or 50 staff that work in and that's. We always say the cows are easy. It's keeping the people going that's the toughest job.

Was there something you were naturally drawn to, like what got you into agriculture and then. And then where you are right now?

Yeah, look, Mum's family was from a property, so growing up when we were younger and working on the dairies and stuff. Yeah, look, no, I originally went to uni doing marine science or marine biology or whatever, but to be honest with you, we started doing a bit of rock geology and that bored the living shit out of me. So I moved across into agriculture, which. Yeah, which I did always have a feeling, a love for. And then. Yeah, look, I have a real need to be busy, to be active and doing something so that. So the kind of. The bit more of a pace of the feeding industry is why I went into that and then why. So I kind of came in working in the feed mill and doing the nutrition sort of thing. So that's where I kind of sit now. Yeah, awesome.

It's good that you grow everything on your own place, mate. That's pretty cool.

Yeah, well, we do. Yeah, we do have to buy some grain in. But we try and grow whatever we can grow here. We try to.

Awesome. And mate, amongst all of that fatherhood hits, like, how many kids do you have?

How old are they?

And how did that change your life as well from. Because this is a show for dads, obviously from pre fatherhood to where you are now.

Yeah. So about a year after we moved back down here after the dad thing, we got married and a year later, our first Polly, she came along. So she's just turning 7 in April now. And then my youngest son or my youngest son. So I've got two. So Angus, he's. Yeah, he's just turned five in very recently. So that's the two Polly and Gus. And yeah, that's. You're a gay man going back for three. I don't think I got it in me, to be honest.

Unreal. Seems like the numbers are balanced then.

Yeah.

My dad. You can look after one each, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We divide and conquer, that's how. Yeah. So they were. Yeah, look, that Polly was a very colicky baby. So she was real tough in the. In the first six to 12 months. Eliza especially did it really tough. So there was, you know, she'd have a tough run all day and I'd get home late in the afternoon and poly be mine for a few hours while mum downloaded, which was, you know, it was good. So she came out of that eventually. But yeah, we battled a little bit with that. Angus didn't have it. Didn't really have it as bad. He was a pretty. He was a bit more settled. But yeah, fantastic. Like the kids are great, mate. They test you. It can be the most. The toughest thing you do in the day, but they're also the best thing. So. Yeah, so they've. And they definitely like, they're the driver behind what I think what you guys do as well. But what I want to do is just be fitter and healthier for them and give them a better life and show them a better way. I suppose, like it's easy to eat junk food and show them how to do that, but that doesn't help them going forward.

Yeah, I couldn't agree more, mate with that. It's like they are the hardest thing, but jeez, they're the most rewarding as well. And I think what you said then as well, that driver, it really drives me. I feel like since I've had Lillian, so we've got Two at the moment. Oh, mate, I'm doing way more than before I even had kids with less sleep. It's so funny, isn't it? You're more invested in life, mate, so. So to speak. And yeah, it is special though. It can be tough. Stella had. She was tough with. She was bad with the colic and I forgot about that actually. You're funny how you forget things. Hey, it's that traumatic at the time, some of your variables, mate.

Yeah, it was. God, it used to be a tough night with that. Like you said, you do forget it after a while. We were only getting reminded of it the other day. It was always funny because a lot of our friends were having kids at the same time and you know, they'd have little, little couple of month old babies that they just be able to put in, put in bed and walk away. And we're standing there all night bloody rocking Polly to sleep. So got pretty good at the one arm rock with the bum pat to get there to get all the burp. Socks. Yes.

Yeah, absolutely.

Saved on doing curls anyway, so.

Yeah, that's right. Get the biceps going. It's yeah, tough, tough, isn't it? We, we had the order of Stella being a nightmare and Lillian being reasonably good. She's still got some issues. She had to have grommets and adenoids out. But you know, we've got friends who've had it the other way. They've had an absolute dream, they're gone. Oh, paradox. Not that hard. This is easy sleeping after eight weeks and all this sort of shit and then they have a second one and life hits.

Yeah, that's it. That's it. And that's what terrified us with the third. We get another one. That'd be great. That's just what we need.

Yeah, that's it. But mate, what happened? Cause obviously you reached out to rdm, so what, what happened once you started having kids? Was there a bit of a slip or a shift, I guess in, I don't know, like prioritizing for yourself or share us a bit through that, which ultimately led to, I guess, you reaching out to us.

Yeah, probably so like. Yeah, so I probably didn't focus on myself enough and that just led me into just getting into bad routines and bad habits too, I think. So, you know, it's quicker to something rubbish and then go and grab the kids and do whatever you gotta do than it is to like at the time. I guess I got into that mindset, whether that's actually accurate. Probably not, but yeah, so just Being very busy at work and then busy at home, you just kind of let yourself slip a bit. Well, that's what I found anyway. And I guess I always used to set a goal. So when I was probably the heaviest I ever was. I was a big kid, too, when I was younger, so probably before I went away to school, I was quite a big kid. And. And then at school, I got into playing rugby union and getting really fit through that and got down to, you know, about where I wanted to be. So in that kind of 16 to 17, 18 years old, that's, you know, I was really kind of kicking along there, and it was good. Then uni hit, and I probably had too good a time and drank too many beers and. And put on a bit of weight at uni, and I lost that straight away when I went out working and got into physical work again. So once you get your bits off the uni, once you get back out into the real world, that. That sorts you out. But then slowly, like, I just. You know, I'd set the benchmark of, right, well, you don't want to be over 90 kilos. And then. Right, well, 95 is the number. And. And I just let that number creep and creep. And I guess up until the point of when I called you, I was starting to push 100 and that I just kept wondering, where does it end? So, you know, next year is at 105 and 1. Like, you just start building and building and. Yeah. So that I didn't want to get into that routine. And I wouldn't have said I was super unfit. I still was quite active and stuff, but I could just feel it. I didn't like how I was. It wasn't. Especially in my head. I was mentally. I didn't like where I was at. I didn't like carrying the weight. It wasn't something that I enjoyed doing. I think I said to you when I first called up, like, I did. My wife and I did stuff. So when we were in Queensland, we did a boot camp, and that was fantastic. So, like, people to compete against. And that really helps drive me, too, is having people to kind of sign up to something and some paperwork and that's it, and that's what you do, and you go and do it, but then you're only accountable to yourself. And if. If you find yourself letting yourself down and you're okay with that, well, then you just end up back where you started. So, um. So the bootcamp stuff was great. We did, like, another program which worked, and I dropped a Fair bit of weight or 10 or something kilos. When I did that and felt good and that was fantastic. But again, just without that follow up and continuation, I'll just slip back into where I was. So I guess I. What. What triggered the. Some of your stuff to start popping up in things I was looking at, but. But I started seeing the RDM thing and I guess sat back and watched it for a while and thought, yeah, I don't know if that's for me. But then after all, like I said, it's just. Yeah. Seeing that continual climbing of the weight and thinking, well, I actually sat down, had a bit of a look at myself and said, where are you gonna stop? Like, what are you gonna get to where you tear? Not healthy. And my father was a really fit man, as was my father in law. So, you know, and that still happened to them. So that's not to say that was anything to do, like, but, you know, I need to be as healthy as I can to try and get like, I want to be older than 55. That's my goal. So, you know, I needed to put myself in the best position that I could do for that. So. Of course. But that probably led to me reaching out to you. Yeah. From there. So.

Just kept chipping away at you, mate, with my little ads.

Like I said, I don't know what I was looking at that made that pop up. But anyway. But that's the beauty of it, I suppose it's so, yeah, you can go looking for different things. You got to find the right thing that fits for you. I suppose.

I said, I just set up my ads on Facebook to find every father in the country called Alex and that was it.

Yeah. Giving away one Alex at a time.

Alex, redheads and fathers. That's all we need.

No, just kidding. Yeah, well, I get the red beard going, so we're kicking on.

That's it. Awesome, mate, and good on you. Like, it takes, it takes a lot of balls and courage, mate, to reach out, you know, to put your hand up. You know, it's no secret I share with you and all the guys in the group. I get anywhere from 1500 to 3000 dads a week reach out. And from there it becomes a process where I. They go through and show little lines of commitment and I end up having, you know, 10 to 15 conversations a week. It's pretty crazy, isn't it? Not that I'm a hard ass, but, you know, I'm not looking to have 150 conversations with guys who aren't committed either, but scary stats, man. Scary stats.

Yeah.

Reach out for a reason.

Yeah, it's a big dropout, like, but that's. And I mean, that was probably something, when I was talking to you that drew me more to. It was. And I think you've said before, it's not just anyone can sign up. So it's something that, you know, they're people with a goal and a drive that want to get somewhere. And yeah, like, everyone has rough periods on. Like, I have. Like, this will be a challenge for me the next little bit. But, you know, it's that common goal and drive really makes it group what it is anyway, I think, for sure.

Yeah, I agree, mate. That's the thing. It's not like I've tried. You can't save people. I've tried, mate, and I ended up falling apart myself. You know, the man's got to be willing to get into it and do the work. I mean, mate, I'd love to come out and check out your farm, but I'm not coming to your house cooking your meals for you, am I? So it's. But, you know, like, mate, how have you found it so far? Like, what results have you gotten? But more importantly, off the back of the results, the feelings and the changes in your life so far?

Yeah, I think the key thing you said to me, well, there's a couple of things, but one that rang through was, look, if you take care of the actions, the results are followed. So don't worry about where you don't worry about it. You just do what we say. Like, we just do it and get in and do the work and do the exercises and do the eating and all that. And then. And that's really. I've seen that. Like, that makes sense to me. It clicks with me. Oh, look, I've lost. I dropped about 15, actually, 17 kilos, I think, to start. And I've probably. I think I've put about a kilo back on lately, but. But my measurements haven't gone crazily up, so I think it's just my body changing around a bit. So I haven't added weight, I haven't added waist measurements or anything back on. So, yeah, look, I'm probably sitting around 15 or 16 kilos off, so I'm about 85, 86, something like that.

And it's funny, isn't it, how it changes. Like, you're in line with a lot of dads who are making these progressions. Where now it's almost like when I say body recomp. I'm not talking about going on stage, but we're talking about the gym, the home gym, weights and really starting to sharpen up. Instead of people just thinking, oh, you just drop a ton of weight and that's it. Like a lot of, I don't know, products or templates of programs where, here you go, just do this. Drop heat, lighter weight. You probably put it back on anyway. Now with you it's like, oh, this is your standard now. You know, this is what I need to do to maintain that now what can we do? It's awesome, mate. It's actually really inspiring. And what you share with the other dads too, and you see the others getting involved as well.

Yeah, well, I think. And I think it's not the way. It's not really the way for me now. It's the. And it wasn't like you. Like, as you said, like, we'll get there. You just got to do the work. So it was the. It's the. It's the mindset and, and the information and getting that sorted that's the important bit. Like, so that's. It's easy. Like, it's not easy, but you can drop weight. Like, you can stop eating for a week and drop weight. Like you said, it's. You then put it back on because you just go back doing the same stuff you were doing before and that's where you get stuck. So it's trying to change. It's getting that information and changing that mindset and putting the right stuff in into your body and into your mind to get it, to get that result. That's, I guess for me, that's where I see the journey going for a bit further going forward now. Look, I always said I wanted to be under 90 and I'd be happy, but, you know, now I kind of want to get down to 80 if I can. I'd still. I think I've got some more improvements to make. So I definitely. It's good to not set a solid bar just on weight. So I've tried. A lot of the guys have said too. I try not to weigh myself that often if. Just keep away from the scales. It's more about how I feel. So even now I've put a kilo or so back on, I'm getting more comments about looking better than I did when I was a bit lighter, when I was lighter a little bit before. So it's. Yeah, you can get stuck looking at the scales every day, but that doesn't. Yeah, it's more just getting your head right and then putting the right stuff in. And like you said, the results will follow if you do the actions.

Yeah. It is a trap, isn't it? Funny thing, because it's almost the, I guess the dichotomy of your vision or your progress or your goals is one side in looking at the result. That's like what I say in our group, like our true north. Cool, that'd be nice. But it's a moving target. Like you said, it's already changed for you, so that's a good thing. We used to reflect, but this is the bulk of where our life is spent, which, what you said, like, the habits, the routines, the actions. But I'm curious, like, just to get your feedback, because I can always talk about it quite easily and comfortably. But what we've set up for you with your training and nutrition, I guess the entire process, like, is it. Are we Nazis, cheerleaders? Like, is this something that would, you know, crack in the whip? Does it seem that extreme in what we're doing with your mate or it's something that's doled in for you in your life?

Oh, no, proper. Not really at all, mate. Look, it's dialed into what you do, so I think it's a great. Yeah. So all the help. When you, like, you'll give us a nutrition plan and say, look, this is what you should target for your body, but it's changing too. So again, it's not something that you just print out on a piece of paper or email to us and then say, there you go, see you later, it's something. Look, if I said to you tomorrow, look, this isn't working well, then there'd be an opportunity to mould that and get it sorted out for what we do. So. No, definitely. It's much more driven from. Look, if you're not in your mindset to get in and do this stuff, we're not going to do it anyway. So it won't matter what you say, look, it won't matter if you're cracking the whip or chasing us every day. If we're not going to do it, we're not going to do it. So that's. You got to have the right people in the right mindset and then you guys are giving us the information, so. And probably opening a door for us to go and look at more stuff and to go and search out more information as well. It's fantastic to be able to fight back if we find something and want a question. You guys, the guys in the team, just get on and help out there too. So yeah, and like I said, we're about, we're not far from town, but we're 30, we live 35 odd k's from town. So I don't actually, I live where I work so I don't actually go to town very often at all. So my workout stuff's all done at home with body weights and you know, maybe a little bit of free weights, but so that again, that's tailored to help, that helps me get done what I need to do. Like I don't have, I don't go to the gym, but I can still lose the weight and with the information on the nutrition and eating right and getting active, that, that'll work. If it was a one size fits all thing, it probably wouldn't fit me out here where I am.

No, definitely not. That's one of the blessings that I have with. I mean, I hate calling it online coaching. I've heard some people mention life coaching, all these tags, like fuck does that even mean? But for me it's looking and going. It's just connection. Using technology, the right way to connect with good, genuine men. Otherwise, mate, I wouldn't even know you existed. 10 years ago, 15 years ago, you know, like what we do on the phone, our video that we did last night, pumping the fellows up. Like it's awesome to have that access. But I'm curious to see what your thoughts are, mate. What do you find is like the best or the greatest thing that we have or that we do in rdm? Like what's the greatest thing that you've gotten out of RDM and what we do and stand for?

I just, I think it's the, like I said before, it's that common goal and that drive. So if you're on your own and you're not in a team environment, I think that's where you can let yourself slip. Whereas here, so you can get on a group, I mean it starts pinging off at about 5:00 in the morning, sometimes the messenger app, but there's always people. If you're having a tough time, you can throw a question out there or say where you are and not that you do that for people to comment back to you, but there's the support there or guys that say, try this, do this. You know that for me is where it really works is being able to tap into not just your knowledge and the guys, but everyone in the team. So you know, everyone's from a different area or have had different successes or different stuff in their life. And everyone has a different opinion and can help us out. Like you can just access information and help if you need it and drive. So you know people sending messages at 5 o' clock that they're going for a job or a walk, well, and you're sitting in bed halfway going, well geez, I'm gonna have to get out and do that because I don't want them doing something I'm not. So yeah, I think that really is for me. Like it's getting that information. Like we all tailor a bit of an action plan and what you need to do and then just getting to work and doing it. And you guys, you know, we touch base once we touch base weekly so you get that accountability and that action to get into it. But like I said, if your head's not in the right spot, you're not going to do it. So you got to be focused and get into your journey.

Yeah. And that's appreciate feedback. Like the environment's huge, isn't it? It's something that I really pride myself and us on. And it's not that, it's not that I'm a hard ass or this is a super selective group, we're better than everyone else. It's just a process of going well everything you just said, you can get that on paper with probably. There'd probably be over 100 different men's support groups and social support groups with 2,000 or 5,000 or fucking 10,000 blokes. But the quality, it's not there, man. Like you said that the drive, the quality of the follow through in the support, the accountability, the processes and the team and the information because there's so much out there. But how we dial this in to you and what you need now, mate, it's something I'm really proud of. And that's not me, that's you. Like I might be the one who helps obviously coordinate, initiate that, but it's, it's awesome, mate. Something I love seeing you and the.

Other fellows and a dad thing too, I suppose, like I say all those other groups like you said, but they're not like this is like. So you get that commonality and everyone has had that experience. So like I say to you something about colic and you're like, yeah, I've been there. I know, like, you know, the, I guess work and home life, then everyone has a kind of idea of, you know, the, the things that you're trying to achieve or work around and all that stuff. So that really helps. Really good that way for sure.

Massively mate, what's on track for the rest of the year, mate, talk to me. Where are we going from just in March now? Where are we going moving forward?

Yeah, look, we. It's pretty big, so we're getting. Work's getting quite busy now, so we just. I've got to make sure I dial in. Like I said, I'd like to drop a little bit more and then kind of get a bit more toned up. So working, that's kind of a workout for me. You know, we'll be quite busy going home because we took over this property. We've got a lot of work to do there too. So, you know, digging into that, that's been something on this journey that's been quite interesting, I suppose. So my job's to feed cattle and work that out. And I guess when you start thinking about your own nutrition. I should have probably tweaked earlier, but, you know, when we're feeding cattle, we're feeding the microbes in the room and the bugs in the room and that's what you're feeding to get the. So they get energy for the Catalans, you know, it's probably not something that I've thought of heaps before, but I've been doing a lot more reading, you know, about human, like say your own gut microbes and that helping your health. And so looking into a bit more information around that for my mind will be. It's something I want to do a little bit going forward.

Yeah, they can tell our emotions, mate, you know, all the bacteria inside of us.

That's it. But that's. I should have tweaked that earlier. But that's something. That's something I wanted to look a bit more into and then, you know, and start working on a bit. There's some kind of interesting stuff in there and it deviates a bit. But with the farming stuff at the moment, it's looking at what they call regenerative agriculture. So there's some cool stuff there that I wanted to look at and it all ties back in, say. I mean, I think you talk about it when you talk about the kind of nutrition you eat, there's a lot of guys starting to talk about that in the farming style. So eating, you know, feeding animals, the certain things so that. So that. Then what you get out of them, whether it's eggs or milk or meat, is their nutrient dense. So they're getting a wide variety of diets. So then you get a wide variety of diet. So that's, you know, that's kind of stuff I wanted to work back onto our farm a bit and you know, and yeah that'll just, that's something I want to work on in the next little bit anyway. For sure.

Unreal. You'll do that best mate when you keep diving into the RDM journey and dominating in your own story in life.

Yeah. And that's so, that's like. Yeah. So going forward like it's been fantastic lately. Like the kids have, the kids are starting to like they come out and do. My little fellow tries to do sit ups next year and my daughter's there trying to do a push up and you know that's shaping them a little bit. Like they're quick to, they were quick to say in the past or you know, dad loves beer. And then when you don't have a beer for over, you know, a few months and then they're still saying it, you're like well Jesus guys, go on, I'm changing here a bit. So let's get, let's get. Dad loves doing push ups going or something like that.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

They pick it up, don't they? Right away. They pick it up though when you're exercising. That's going to be their norm.

Yeah. Yeah. And that's right. And that's fantastic. And even like my wife, she lost, she's lost a little bit of weight too just, just from a flow on of me changing a bit. So she comes along with me which has been really good too. So for her she's stoked about it. So yeah look it's, it's getting that yeah it's interesting what your environment does. So even I think I said to a few of the guys, start on like when you go out and have a night out with some mates. Now if you, you know, you used to be a guy that drank a heap of beer and now you don't drink much at all any. You know you can see a bit of a change in your group too. They start thinking, well yeah, that doesn't have to be the normal. We can be a bit different to that. So it's definitely been an interesting journey.

Yeah, they're very interesting, isn't it? What's like it's just to finish up. It's been awesome having you on with us today mate and appreciate your time and like what's something that you'd like? Your $0.02 worth. Some mindset motivation. Just some advice that you'd like to give another father out there who may be struggling. Got nothing to do with rdm just for yourself to Try and help, help them sort of break through some of the ruts or patterns or strongholds that they would have faced that you faced as well.

Yeah, I just that it's. What have you got to lose, really? Like, I suppose that's where I got to. You can, you can not take action and do nothing and that won't improve your outcome. So if you want to get to the outcome you want, well, you know, just taking that first step and looking at yourself, that was for me, was the moment when I kind of looked at myself, is this really what I want to be? Is this how I want to show my kids? You know, do you want to have more energy for them? So, you know, if you start answering those questions honestly with yourself, it's easy to say, oh no, it doesn't matter and not tell the truth to yourself. But you got to be honest and say, look. And that's where I got to look. This is. I want to change, I want to be a bit different. So, you know, and then go and find the resources to help you do that. I think I said to you, it's got to happen, you got to do it. I had to do it. I couldn't keep doing what I was doing. It wouldn't have been a great outcome for me or my family. So, you know, if you're worried about it or just getting that support network and that group to really kick you on and keep you going is fantastic.

That's amazing, mate. Like it's, you know, if you don't take action, you won't change your outcome. It's so simple and true, isn't it? And then when it comes to honesty in what you said just then, as well as fatherhood, we're invested in more than ourselves now, aren't we? And that's the thing, it's not a burden, it's an opportunity with our children because that's what lives on, isn't it?

Right?

I mean, that's the goal for our children to live on obviously longer than we are. And what a blessing, mate. And credit to you for having that outlook as well.

Well, yeah, it's just a non negotiable for me. It's just you gotta be, you gotta be around for them. It's not. Yeah, like I said, it's. I'd love to ring my dad and have a chat with him now. So I'd hate for them to not be able to do that. So that's something for me that I just got to get in and get it done and I haven't been perfect at it. And, you know, I think one, one, one analogy that you had was the spiraling up thing. So, you know, even if I have a rough week or a fortnight now, it's still better. You know, I'm still lighter and happier and healthier than when I started this journey. So I'll just keep chipping away and keep working at that. So it's okay to have a tough day or week or whatever, but as long as you just keep that goal and keep moving on, moving upwards, that's where it's at.

Absolutely, man. Now you're a legend now. Thanks for joining us today. Really appreciate your time.

All right, mate, thanks for having a chat. The hours will conquer the world, eh?

We will, mate. Yeah. You're absolutely legend. One of many of the country and rural dads. We have an idm, which is great.

I love it.

I think it's awesome having a group of dads who may not be close to big cities or access that sort of stuff like you said, but we still, we find a way, mate, which is just phenomenal, something that I love seeing. Thanks again for jumping on today, mate. And look, I hope you guys appreciated the show and we appreciate obviously you listening or watching and getting some golden nuggets, some great things in there, which Al shared some amazing truths and insights into his story and what's possible for all of us moving forward. So obviously, if you ever have any questions, reach out Alex at realdadmovement. Com or jump on different podcast platforms. We have, we've got six as well as our YouTube channel. And we'll see you on the next show. Thanks again, Al.

Thanks, Al. See ya, mate.

Cheers. See you guys.