So, when was the last time you actually prioritised yourself—your energy, your strength, your well-being—without feeling a little guilty? For most parents (and especially for the dads out there), “dad bod” has become something of a Singaporean rite of passage. You work hard, you play hard, and if you lose a bit of muscle and gain a bit of belly along the way.
Not if you ask Felix Sim. Felix is 41, a husband, a father of three active kids (Riley, 10; Elliot, 8; Emma, 5), and the co-founder of GO Events, a Singapore-based events and marketing agency that’s orchestrated more than 4,000 events over 14 years. If that sounds like a lot of plates to keep spinning, plus keeping a marriage strong and a business thriving, you’re not wrong.
But here’s where Felix flips the script. Instead of accepting that “dad bod” is his fate, he decided to challenge it head-on, and in the process, redefine what strength, resilience, and “dad energy” mean in 2025.
What if it doesn’t have to be this way? What if you could still be a hero at bedtime and actually have the stamina to carry your kid up the stairs without wheezing like a broken air-con?
Remember when “dad bod” was everywhere? It was practically a pop culture phenomenon—memed to death on social media, featured in group chats, and even printed on those “funny” T-shirts you swore you’d never wear outside the house. Felix remembers, too. But he thinks it’s time we let go of the old clichés.
He’s right. The truth is, you don’t need to choose between family life and fitness—or settle for the “dad bod” by default. Felix is on a mission to show Singaporean parents that “discipline” is the new sexy. And with three kids, a bustling business, and zero time for excuses, he’s proving that it’s absolutely possible.
For Felix, the turning point was subtle but powerful. “When I turned 41, I always felt that there was something else that I needed to add to my life. And it’s not just family, work, and my wife and me. I just felt that I needed to do something for myself.”
The honest truth? Running a business meant lots of events, networking, and socialising—and that led to “13 to 14 servings of alcohol every day.” Yes, you read that right.
Sound familiar? Maybe your version isn’t whiskey, but it could be late-night snacking, skipping workouts, or just never getting enough rest. The result is the same. The classic “dad bod” creeps in.
But rather than just accept it, Felix decided to shake things up—literally. He signed up at Ultimate Performance (UP) Fitness for “structured, no-nonsense strength and conditioning that could rebuild his foundation.” This wasn’t about vanity; it was about getting the energy and focus he needed for both the boardroom and the playground.
Felix is brutally honest about what it takes: commitment. There’s no room for “I’m too busy”—not for a man running a business and raising three kids.
Read that again, dads. For Felix, strength training isn’t a luxury; it’s as essential as a big client meeting or school pickup.
And here’s the best part: he doesn’t even always want to do it.
For Felix, it’s about choosing your hard. Do you want the “hard” of sweating in the gym, or the “hard” of not being able to keep up with your own kids?
As parents, you are always told to lead by example. But how often do we show our kids what that looks like, especially when it comes to health and fitness?
Felix takes that seriously. Not just in business, but at home, too.
Felix admits, “Parenting young kids for sure is not easy, I’m sure many of your viewers will resonate with me.” Between juggling work and family, it’s tempting to let personal health take a back seat.
But Felix sees it differently. He believes the small things parents do every day leave a lasting mark: “I think that what’s important as a parent is really setting the right examples for our children, and I think fitness is for sure a lifelong example that we can set for our children.”
He’s noticed that even simple routines don’t go unnoticed. “Our kids, they see us go to the gym because on gym days we dress differently and they say, ‘Oh, Mommy and Daddy are going to gym today.’”
With that consistency, fitness has naturally become a visible and valued part of family life. Felix shares, “They start to understand that there are days within the week where we dedicate to the gym and hopefully with this, they can resonate with it over time and as they grow up and they become more and more like us, they incorporate that in their lifestyle as well.”
So, forget “dad bod”. Felix is quietly proving that the most powerful lessons you can teach your children come from the habits you live out in front of them, week after week.
More Energy, Less Guilt, Better Parenting
Source: Felix Sim
Felix’s results are the kind you can feel (and see). He dropped his body fat from 28% to under 15%, but that’s not what lights him up most. It’s the sense of agency, purpose, and stamina.
“This makes me feel stronger. It’s made me feel a lot more healthy and definitely a lot happier, you know, when people see me outside and we socialise and you’ve been training, you know, and it just makes me feel good.”
He also noticed more patience at home, a steadier mood, and—yes—even the ability to enjoy life more. Because guess what? He still eats ice cream, fried chicken, and the occasional potato chip. The secret isn’t to give up everything you love. It’s about balance and setting your own rules.
“Controlling your diet doesn’t mean eating less, it just means eating the right thing. I’m not saying that I don’t eat ice cream or potato chips or fried chicken. I do that all the time. It’s just that I don’t do it every single day, and I definitely don’t do it multiple times per day.”
Life Lessons from the Gym
Here’s something every parent needs to hear: Felix’s gym lessons spill over into the rest of his life. Whether he’s handling 30 employees or three energetic kids, he approaches challenges with the same mindset he brings to lifting heavy weights.
“One thing that I’ve learned from training at UP is no matter how tough the problem is, all you really need to do is first you need to understand the basics, you need to understand how you should set yourself up for success and then really honestly just take it a step at a time and just commit to it and just push.”
So whether you’re facing toddler meltdowns, business setbacks, or just a pile of laundry that won’t quit, take Felix’s advice. Break it down, commit, and keep pushing.
No Excuses: “There’s Always a Place for You”
The last word? If you think you’re too busy, too tired, or too far gone for fitness, Felix wants you to know that it’s never too late to take care of yourself.
“I think fathers need to learn how to take care of ourselves more. You cannot pour out of an empty glass, yeah? We need to, as dads, as fathers, not only do we need to set an example for our children obviously and our employees if we’re an entrepreneur, but I think in reality we need to constantly find a way where we can reset and refill ourselves, we need to be able to take care of ourselves, we need to be able to give ourselves the strength, the energy, the discipline to be able to address all these problems that we face in our lives.”
And it’s not just about not having a “dad bod”—it’s about building the life, the body, and the mindset that helps you show up for your family, your work, and yourself.
Ready to Challenge the ‘Dad Bod’ for Good?
No one’s asking you to transform overnight or chase perfection. Real change starts with small, mindful choices—a walk after dinner, blocking out non-negotiable time for yourself, or simply paying closer attention to how you recharge. It’s about setting a new standard for self-care, not just for you, but for the ones who matter most.
Let go of the old clichés. The “dad bod” isn’t your destiny—it’s just a chapter you can choose to rewrite. As Felix shows, strength, energy, and presence aren’t luxuries for parents; they’re essentials. This is about showing up for your family, and for yourself, in a way that feels good and lasts.
Take a cue from Felix Sim. In today’s world, discipline is the new sexy and self-respect is always in style. Isn’t it time to make your own well-being part of your legacy?
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