What the family learnt in those few weeks was catalyst to a new, adopted lifestyle that embraced plenty of exercise and healthy eating.

The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids program is about to recommence at the Muswellbrook PCYC and Shane is encouraging all dads to think about taking part.

“It definitely had an impact on all of us, it just enforced the benefits of exercise and a healthy lifestyle,” Shane said.

Mr and Mrs Lloyd learnt about the program in their daughters’ school newsletter and Shane didn’t take much convincing to put his hand up.

“It made me realise the role model I was to the girls and made me more aware of how important it was to live a healthy lifestyle,” Shane said.

Nowadays it is not uncommon for the family to go for walks, the girls on their scooters and even though Monique didn’t take part in the program, she too started seeing the benefits.

“I lost weight too just from hearing them all talk about the program,” Monique said.

She added that she was a little envious there wasn’t a Healthy Mums program, given the fun the rest of the family was having.

The program encourages dads, granpas and any male role model in a child’s life to spend time together to get fit and healthy.

There are nine 90 minute weekly group sessions that offer plenty of advice but it is the games that the girls enjoyed the most.

Sometimes they couldn’t do them because they were laughing too much.

“There were lots of giggles and laughing,”‘ Shane said.

Thirteen-year-old Kate still laughs at the attempts she made trying to lift her father off the ground and said it is far easier when she tries to do this in the pool.

Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids comes to Muswellbrook PCYC next school term, and registrations are taking place now with only a handful of places remaining.

If you are interested in taking part register now at Muswellbrook PCYC or drop into the centre to find out a little more.

The program was developed by the University of Newcastle.