Fly Little Bird
Commit to Fit | Week 49
Author | Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave Mckew
I’ve been working out three times a week with Billy since March 2011. Starting in December, he started having me work out for part of our session without him, so I that I would start learning “independence” in the gym. The day is coming where I will no longer work with Billy three times per week, and I’ll need to be ready.
How Far I’ve Come
Commit to Fit | Week 48
Author | Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave Mckew
On Saturday I met up with Sarah (Eating Free) and Billy and Mike (DIAKADI) to interview the 2012 Commit To Fit finalists at DIAKADI. The candidates were a diverse group, men and women from all walks of life, spanning a 35 year age range. I listened to them tell their stories…many of which were very familiar to me because, one year earlier, I’d sat in that very chair and told the same stories.
Your Questions part III
Commit to Fit | Week 47
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave Mckew
(1) You mentioned in a recent blog that you have lost over 90 pounds and you still eat the majority of your meals at restaurants. What are you eating when you eat out?
Three weeks ago I wrote in this blog, “I eat out a lot, and simply make better choices off the menu than I used to, thanks to Eating Free! I do keep food in the house, mostly healthy snacks and breakfasts, but food preparation for one can be a little depressing so I tend to eat a lot of meals out of the house, with friends.” And it’s true. I really don’t think Eating Free would have worked for me as well if it had tried to force me to magically become a cook. In my opinion, Eating Free works for me because it works so well with my existing habits, likes, dislikes, etc.
100 Pounds Down!
Commit to Fit | Week 46
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave Mckew
On January 13th, my weigh-in at Eating Free revealed that I had lost 100.1 pounds in just under ten and a half months. My initial long-term goal was to lose 100 pounds by March 1, 2012, and I managed to get there 7 weeks ahead of that goal.
Eight Sizes Smaller
Commit to Fit | Week 45
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave Mckew
As promised, I re-engaged with food after the damaging holidays and lost over 6.5 pounds during the first week of the month. This was my largest drop since October, and a welcome one after basically “treading water” on the scale for most of November and December. At this point I have lost 98.3 pounds in just over 10 months.
Holiday Wrap-Up
Commit to Fit | Week 43/44
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave McKew
Funny story: Billy at DIAKADI gave me two amazing grass-fed steaks for Christmas, and challenged me to actually cook them, since I NEVER cook. (Yes, it’s true, I’ve lost over 90 pounds since March and I hardly ever cook at home. I eat out a lot, and simply make better choices off the menu than I used to, thanks to Eating Free! I do keep food in the house, mostly healthy snacks and breakfasts, but food preparation for one can be a little depressing so I tend to eat a lot of meals out of the house, with friends.) So anyway…I get these *beautiful* steaks home, I fire up the stove, turn on the overhead fan and go to town with cooking one of the steaks in my awesome grill pan, a gift from my old friend Tracy. I do a great job, it looks beautiful…but my apartment is filling up with smoke, because apparently my kitchen fan sucks and the overall ventilation is poor, even with the windows open.
“Your Questions Part II”
Commit to Fit | Week 42
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave McKew
When are you writing your novel?
It’s a flattering thought, but I assure you my life isn’t interesting enough to sustain a novel. Even if I lose 50 more pounds, my weight loss story isn’t all that compelling because I’ve not overcome any personal tragedies or anything like that. In fact, my life has been generally free of major obstacles (knock on wood or whatever this desk is made out of), even when I was at my heaviest.
That being said, my life’s journey has definitely been ridiculous enough to sustain a one-man comedy stage show, and that will probably happen in San Francisco in late 2012, so…stay tuned for that.
“Your Questions Part I”
Commit to Fit | Week 41
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave McKew
What is the most surprising thing about your weight loss?
My increased sex drive. Good Lord, I’m 38 going on 25. It’s insane.
Another thing, perhaps less predictable: my concept of how much space my body takes up has NOT adjusted to my decreased size. I keep saying “excuse me” to people who I *think* need to move to get out of my way, but it turns out I don’t need them to move. This happens almost every day, in the aisle at a store, on while standing on public transportation…everywhere. When I’m about to sit down between two people on the bus, I’m convinced I’m going to brush against and disturb both of them, and now I can sit between two people without even touching them. I am just so used to needing extra space that apparently I don’t need any more. What a relief!
“I’m Tired of Your Excuses”
Commit to Fit | Week 40
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave McKew
The Commit To Fit team is looking for their 2012 winner. I cannot stress what an amazing gift this opportunity is for someone in the Bay Area! So if you or someone you know (who is over 18 and has a BMI greater than 30) is ready to benefit for a year’s worth of personal training and nutrition counseling, make sure you (they) click on the links below. And if you’re a local-to-SF obese person who is making excuses as to why you shouldn’t apply…then you should keep reading.
“The Biggest Loser”
Commit to Fit | Week 39
Author: Commit to Fit 2011 Winner, Dave McKew
As a fat person, I have been particularly sensitive about how fat people are portrayed in media. For example, I hated that movie “Super Size Me,” that movie about the guy who eats nothing but McDonald’s for 30 days, becomes unhealthy, and then we’re all supposed to think his research is groundbreaking and that he’s actually NOT an idiot. I feel like in that movie the filmmaker creates a strong association between obese people and stupidity, and that basically no one noticed this because the film’s anti-corporate message was Bandwagon Of The Year that year so it overshadowed everything else in the film.