How many championship titles do you have? No, not boxing championships; nor even a beloved Superbowl Championship (Go Bills!). I am talking about being the champ of your wife’s heart. Say wha …? Ahem. Yes. That kind of gooey, sappy, fluffy kind of love champ. This kind of champ is not made by slugging weights, or by nasty reps, or by knocking heads, but by love.

Wait, you say. She doesn’t even ask me to plan dates, not since I was a 34 waist and had sculpted Conan the Barbarian shoulders. That’s because she’s given up on asking! Trust me, she wants you to romance her.

My wife and I have built our marriage on dates. And, husbands, if you want your wifey to think your now 38 waist and soft shoulders look even more appealing than your once-upon-time 34 waist and boulders for shoulders, you’ve got to become and remain the champ of heart. Dating your wife is the path to achieving this.

Here is how to put this together. You’ll need then following tools:

Concentration
Focus
Effort
Consistency
Imagination

Ok, here is how you use these tools.

Budget some money for once a month dates, or perhaps two, if you can. But plan it all yourself. Meaning, don’t rely on your wife for any help. You want the element of surprise. Take the kids to the babysitter and inform your darling wife that your going out on a date. Explain what she needs to bring and how long you will be gone. They like these details. Oh, do they like details. Sigh …

In planning, you want to avoid anything where you are not talking: movies especially. Dating is talking. It’s a soul swap. Of course a rare exception is OK. Dating is not for the time for the strong silent type routine. Ladies like the gooey talkie talkie stuff. So bring your “A” game. For date ideas, think walks, parks, picnics, strolling, and pondering flowers and other endless types of grasses on a garden tour. Yup, that’s a man up moment more painful than squeezing out that last dumbbell rep. But the results are beautiful! There is more than a grain of truth to the saying that a happy wife makes a happy life. And doesn’t she deserve it? I’ll say she certainly does.

And if this is your first date since your first car together, be prepared to talk about your relationship. Yes, that’s right, until you get into the habit of dates, the first one or two are going to studded with romance land mines. Be wise, and be open to making some apologies. She is going to want to make sure your souls are aligned before letting you wander around in her heart. Listen. After that, you’ll be good to go.

If you can’t find a babysitter, bring the children. But remember to hold your wife’s hand, or put your arm around her waist. And be kind and complimentary. Letting your children see this affection is very good for their mental and emotional well-being. They see all this mom and dad love as stability.