Daniel W. Started Crushing Finish Lines—Here’s How He Did It!

092915_DanielW_Blog_730x485_R1[1]

The decision to live a healthier life can be made in an instant, and for 33-year-old Daniel W. of Leesburg, Virginia, seeing a photo of himself on January 1st, 2013 was the catalyst for change. “Seeing that picture, I suddenly realized how unhealthy I’d become,” Daniel says.

From that moment, Daniel resolved to paying attention to his food choices and started tracking his meals. As a housing inspector, he thought he was pretty active throughout the workday, but Daniel was stunned to discover that wasn’t the case after purchasing a Fitbit One—the data he was expecting, just wasn’t there. “The numbers helped me see how far I needed to go,” says Daniel, “and having access to my data and seeing how that impacted my health helped me stick to my plan.”

Daniel’s initial plan was simple: move more. But as his weekly step averages increased and he noticed he was able to go even farther, he wanted to push himself more. “I started training for a 5K, and that really opened things up for me,” says Daniel. “Now, I’m running longer distances—and I’m faster, too!” (Since this interview, Daniel has completed his first 20K—way to go, buddy!)  

Over the next three years, Daniel upgraded his tracking device a few times, first to the Fitbit Flex, and then to the Fitbit Charge HR and Fitbit Surge, both of which he’s still using today. “I like that I can see my heart health improving now, too,” says Daniel. “As I continue to work out, I can see my resting heart rate going down, which signals to me that I’m getting healthier.”

Changing his eating habits has made a big impact, too. “I’m cooking a lot more now, and I’ve noticed that eating healthy gives me more energy throughout the day,” says Daniel. And he’s not just using that extra energy for running. Daniel has also managed to get back into activities he really used to enjoy and to try new things, like hiking and outdoor cycling.

Today, Daniel’s list of accomplishments is long—multiple finish lines have been crossed, more than 100 pounds have been lost, and his confidence is soaring. But his journey isn’t over. Daniel still wants to drop another 15 pounds to hit the weight goal he set for himself two years ago. “I know it’s just a matter of sticking with it at this point,” he says. “It’s not an easy journey, but I can do things now I never could have done a year ago, and that’s a great feeling.” And when he reaches that goal? “I’ll be focusing more on strength training, and I have my sights set on a  7-day, 300-mile biking event!” says Daniel.

Daniel’s Advice:

Look At Trends, Not Bumps in the Road  “It doesn’t matter if you walk 20,000 steps one day, and then only take two the next—you’ve got to look at the long-term data. Look at your weekly averages, and try to push yourself to increase those averages over time.”

Celebrate All of Your Victories  “Even if the scale has been stuck for awhile, there will still be positive changes to notice. If your weight isn’t moving but your resting heart rate is going down, that’s something to celebrate!”

Getting Healthy is a Marathon, Not a Sprint  “You don’t become overweight overnight, and you don’t lose weight overnight either. It’s unfortunately a long, slow journey. And if you want to be successful, you need to change your lifestyle—that takes time.”

 

Did you find your fit? Submit your story for a chance to appear on the Fitbit blog, and share your tips in the comments below!

 

1 Comment   Join the Conversation

If you have questions about a Fitbit tracker, product availability, or the status of your order, contact our Support Team or search the Fitbit Community for answers.

Please note: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately after submission.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.