Coronavirus: Bulletproof Dad Jay Merrilees helping keep families healthy while in isolation
Jay Merrilees has helped hundreds of dad’s get fit, healthy and happy. Now as the coronavirus pandemic sets in, he’s come up with a way to help families become “bulletproof”.
Central Coast
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Forresters Beach dad Jay Merrilees has always been in the fitness game.
But it wasn’t until he became a dad that he discovered a niche in the industry, inspiring him to develop the program Bulletproof Dad which is helping busy, working dads create the bodies and lives they desire.
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and many families self-isolating, the father of two has teamed up with other health experts to develop Bulletproof Family – a free Facebook page giving families advice on health, fitness and nutrition as well as training videos and medical updates on the virus.
“Bulletproof Family has been in the wings and we thought now would be a good time to help people,” Mr Merrilees said.
“We want to give families the resources required to get through this time.”
If it’s anywhere near as successful as Bulletproof Dad, hundreds of families are set to benefit.
“Bulletproof Dad has been going for two years and started out with three guys in a school sports hall,” Mr Merrilees said.
“We wanted to put a program together to help dads. At that time they were a bit of a forgotten group.
“Being a dad can impact people’s physical and mental health. It’s so important for dads to be able to take care of their health and wellbeing. It has a ripple effect on their entire life.”
Two years on and Mr Merrilees, originally from the UK, has expanded Bulletproof Dad from a 28 day trial to a 12 month program which he says changes lives.
“We didn’t want the program to just be a short-term fix but more of a lifestyle. So we started to build up a relationship with the community and other health experts,” Mr Merrilees said.
“We want them to gain skills and attributes to be transferred into their everyday lives. There’s nothing else like this in NSW.”
The program not only runs group training sessions during realistic parenting hours, but has teamed up with Mingara Medical, Healthpoint Mingara and other health professionals to give advice on health, lifestyle, nutrition, psychology and physiology.
“We have a theme each month which our professionals speak on such as lifestyle and nutrition,” Mr Merrilees said.
He said the program included four pillars; exercise or moving everyday, eating nutritious food, five minutes breathing exercises everyday and a weekly check in.
“I’ve had feedback from partners who say they have noticed huge changes,” he said.
“It’s inspiring for me. At times some of the guys struggle with training sessions and other guys pick them up and get them through. It’s a real team atmosphere.”