We all love underdog stories — not because of the triumphs that come at the end, but because of the lessons we learn about beating the odds and overcoming excuses.
Fit Father Dave lost over 50 pounds and packed on muscle when he was in his 50s — but that’s only part of the story.
Dave did all of this while dealing with brain damage.
He was born with damage to the right side of his brain that has affected him his entire life, and as he went through life, he made a commitment to himself to defy the odds and not let the diagnosis define him. So he worked hard and worked out and stayed in shape and became successful in life.
But then his 40s hit, and as life, work, and family set in, Dave started to let himself go — like many of us often do. But, he was able to turn things around in his 50s despite tremendous adversity with both his neurologic conditions and the stagnation that he'd allowed himself to get into throughout his 40s.
There are so many excuses we can make in our lives not to do things. And Dave had every excuse that any man could have, but he found his higher purpose and his path to a better body, mind, and spirit. I can’t wait for you to hear all of his wisdom and inspiration!
Listen to Dave's Story on the Fit Father Project Podcast!
An Uphill Battle
As mentioned, Dave was born with right-sided brain damage, which has affected many aspects of his life, particularly with movements done on the right side of his body. Because of his condition, Dave grew up recognizing that he had a physical handicap. Nevertheless, he worked hard to stay athletic within what his limitations allowed.
From high school to his collegiate years, Dave remained physically active despite his condition. After graduating from college, he continued indulging his passion for physical activity and not letting his brain damage get the better of him. This continued well into his 30s.
Unfortunately, things changed when Dave hit his 40s. As with anyone his age, the pressures of work, fatherhood, and being a husband crept up and took a toll. Not to mention the brain damage! To attend to all of these aspects of his life, physical fitness had to take a backseat. Worse yet, his nutritional habits deteriorated with his physical activity levels during this time.
According to him, he began falling off the wagon, replacing his passion for physical activity with frequent indulgences in food.
“And once life started to get in the way, my diet was awful.”
As a result, Dave put on a significant amount of weight — and it only got worse. He continued to consume excess sugar and stayed inactive throughout his 40s. His sleep had taken a turn for the worse, as well, adding to the stresses his body was already undergoing.
As his weight crept to 221 pounds, his cardio-respiratory fitness suffered tremendously. He discovered how far his heart and lung health had deteriorated following an experience when he helped his daughter move out of her college dorm.
From that moment on, Dave knew he had to make significant lifestyle changes to get back on track.
Watch Dave discuss living his life with no excuses, overcoming brain damage, and transforming his body!
Overcoming Excuses
Dave decided to take action that very same year he helped his daughter move. He found the keto diet and while it did produce results, Dave had a feeling that there was a better way. This prompted him to search for a more sustainable nutrition and fitness plan.
That's when he found the Fit Father Project — and the rest was history.
After being on the program for just a few months, Dave began noticing his energy levels increasing and his weight coming down. Although he struggled at first, he began to love the sustainable training program and the nutritional plan that came with it.
It’s more than the nutritional program and training that Dave attributes his success to. According to him, what kept him motivated, on track, and accountable was the development of his mission statement.
The mission statement led Dave to find his higher sense of purpose — one that went beyond numbers on a scale. According to him, recollecting the death of his father-in-law and seeing what his wife went through was the kick in the pants he needed. He recalled how hard it was for his wife and how big an emotional toll the death took on the family. Remembering this, Dave didn’t want to put his family through all that.
With a clear motivation, Dave dove into his workouts. Before the Fit Father Project, Dave was working out at his local Planet Fitness, performing the same movements. While his adherence to the same exercises yielded results, he plateaued after a few weeks.
However, with the variations found in the Fit Father Project, he found workouts challenging, effective, and — most importantly — fun. He also mentions how new movements help cultivate the learner’s attitude — something he thinks is crucial to fitness, health, and life.
So what would Dave say to someone looking to join the Fit Father Project?
3 Key Takeaways From Dave's Journey
Here are the three key lessons you can learn about mind over matter from Dave’s life transformation.
Lesson 1: Obstacles Are Obstacles — Not Death Sentences
For Dave, a big part of overcoming excuses was recognizing that his condition wasn’t a death sentence. In fact, his condition became a significant source of motivation when he was growing up and playing sports. To this day, he continues to be at his peak physical, mental, and emotional condition for himself and his family despite his condition.
Lesson 2: Overcoming Excuses Is Easier When You Know Your “Why”
Dave associates his success with his mission statement. As he wrote his mission statement, he discovered that he needed to be the fittest version of himself for his family. Recognizing this, he found a greater sense of purpose and a larger sense of urgency in tackling his physical activity and nutrition.
Lesson 3: Consistency Is Key
Despite Dave’s dedication to his fitness project and self-improvement, he talked about times when he had the occasional indulgence in his favorite foods. He also mentioned how the COVID-19 lockdowns limited his ability to go to the gym. Nevertheless, he was always quick to get back on track, recognizing that setbacks are part of a long-term process. Consistency is what gets results.
What is FF30X?
FF30X is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program that is designed especially for busy men over 40.
With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team that is there for you at every step, FF30X can help you lose 30, 40, or even 50+ lbs — even if you’ve never picked up a weight in your life.
Click here to see what you get when you join the FF30X program today!
Check out the Fit Father Project Podcast on:
And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!
*Please know that weight loss results and health changes/improvements vary from individual to individual; you may not achieve similar results. Always consult with your doctor before making health decisions. This is not medical advice – simply very well-researched info on overcoming excuses.
