It was leaving the bright California sunshine that helped shed some light on what Jim Schneider needed to change: "When my beloved sun went away for a good portion of the year, I was destined to be an unhappy man without some significant changes to my lifestyle," he says.

The move to Philadelphia proved difficult for the college professor and native Californian – he gained weight and had seen both his waistband and blood pressure rise to uncomfortably high levels. Schneider soon found himself suffering from depression, but rather than give in, he decided to take action. "I began to become concerned about the big picture," he says. "I had a beautiful son, and my wife and I were working on having our second. Would I be there long-term for my kids?"

Of course, not all fathers experience a lifestyle transition as dramatic or obvious as Schneider's. In fact, for many dads, it is more a slow realization that their bad habits have managed to sneak up on them and add a few extra pounds or cholesterol points. When did one cheeseburger at the barbecue become two? How much beer is required while watching sports on TV? (Never mind how much couch time is required to actually watch those games.) At what point did those trips to the gym become more trouble than they were worth? Without even paying attention, or perhaps because he wasn't, Dad may have started a trend that can pose a health concern not just for him, but also for the kids who are looking to him as a role model.

The "big picture" of raising a healthy family extends well beyond simply eating the right foods and exercising, though these are obviously important components.

Terra Wellington, syndicated wellness columnist and author of The Seven Elements to Balanced Living (Wellington Media, 2002), believes that a father plays a critical role in establishing a healthy and positive growth environment. "When your family is young, sometimes it doesn't seem like children notice or pay attention to how well you eat, but as they start to grow, they begin to observe their surrounding world more," she says. "There can be no denying that if the surrounding world contains parents who are conscious about what they eat, then the children will take on a number of these traits as well."

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