A lot of people ask me for fitness advice, so I decided to create “Fitness Fridays” to tackle the topics about which you care. If you want me to address a specific fitness topic, let me know in the comments!
I’ve never shared much about my personal fitness journey, other than the occasional tidbit about motivation or obesity. So without further ado, here’s how it all came to be.
I was a skinny kid, until second grade. When I was 8, I started packing on the pounds. I filled out fairly quickly, and the weight stayed with me through the end of elementary school. I wasn’t massive or obese, but rather husky. As much as I can remember, I was never annoyed by the extra weight (despite constant teasing by my family). I didn’t think much about it in those early and innocent years.
In sixth grade, I started middle school. And right around this time, puberty kicked in. I became aware of my appearance and realized that my attraction to other boys was called being gay. I also realized that other boys shared these same-sex urges. I wanted these boys to like me back, and so in a rather unconscious effort, I decided to change the way that I looked.
I didn’t eat much in middle school. I bordered on anorexia. I wanted to be skinny, and thus counted my calories obsessively. I remember growing 4.5 inches in one year, and losing 10 pounds. The doctor asked me if I ate well, and I lied. He believed me; it’s very easy for a boy to get away with an eating disorder.
By the time I was in high school, I realized the gym was more effective than starvation. By age 16, I started attending the gym regularly. At first, it was a few times a week. As I also participated in gymnastics, regular workouts were a necessity and so over time, it became four days a week. Then five. And then six.
My body was very athletic by age 17. I also participated in track during high school, and discovered my love-hate relationship with running (which continues to this day, though now it’s more love than hate).
When I entered university at age 19, I became involved in cheerleading and taught gymnastics. I was in the gym as many as six hours a day between practice, training and coaching. Looking back, I wonder where I found time to study?
Around this time, I started to realize that there was more to training than “looking good” and achieving goals. Yes, working out does generally lead to a body type deemed “attractive” by our society, but it does something else. When you use your muscles and joints, and when you push yourself to your physical limits, you feel alive.
Moreover, it’s an investment in one’s physical body. I am not my body, but it is through this body that I’m able to experience this human journey of life. As such, honoring my body is an extension of honoring me. If you are truly conscious, then there is no escaping physical stimulation. It’s like tuning the engine or changing the oil.
This is when I really started to understand the true importance of fitness. Not to mention the clarity, improved health, focus and calm that can come from daily exercise.
Soon after, I realized that sharing the knowledge, information and skills that I had acquired over the years, and through thousands and thousands of hours of research, training and coaching, was part of my path. I began teaching fitness classes at a local gym, and eventually built on this momentum by creating a fitness program and exercise videos.
Now, I’m 26. I still go to the gym six days a week. Not for 6 hours or 4 hours, but for 2. I get up early, often before the sun, and make this daily investment in myself.
And to take my understanding of fitness, science, physiology and anatomy to a higher level, I am currently enrolled in a personal training certification program with the AFPA.
So, that’s where I’m at.
But what about you? What’s your story?
November 13, 2009 at 10:48 am
I have to admit that regardless of what activity you do, so long as it generates a healthy feeling in you. Training for a sport or simple exercise for its own sake can be rewarding and enjoyable without caving to the cosmopolitan workout ideal of our society. Ive been in a gym and doing personalized training since I was 15, I found team sports and track and field enjoyable in certain aspects, but the ability to challenge myself as a unique entity apart from a team based setting was much more enjoyable for me. I’ve performed things from aerobics, calisthenics and gymnastic based routines to the kettle bell based fitness programs I currently use.
Regardless of what “you” do, I think the evolutionary growth one can take with personal fitness is a constant and consistent in an ever shifting world and is a reward unto itself. And hey abs are nice too.
November 14, 2009 at 7:31 am
you cannot formulate a sentence. why should anyone trust
you with his body.
November 13, 2009 at 11:11 am
I like your post!
I won’t talk about me and tell you again my story ; I prefer reading the story of blogbuddies.
My secret of health is to do running, swimming and bodybuilding as often as I can. Between studies of biology, work and sport, I try to set aside time to read your blog of course. That’s why I go to sleep so late at night or in the morning!
I only hope you are aware of my efforts to write in English and that you appreciate some of my comments.
bye,
November 13, 2009 at 11:21 am
It was a crisp fall day on October 14th when a beautiful baby boy was born…
Ok maybe we do not need to go that far back.
As a kid I was full of energy. Always laughing and being silly. I had a vivid imagination and wasn’t afraid of anything. Well, except snakes.
I was a great student and loved to perform or take a simple dare from a friend. I lived in my own world and I loved it.
After experiencing intense bullying for being gay (which I did not know at the time) I started to become insecure, scared and afraid. I remember as a kid praying I would wake in the morning and just all of the sudden be normal. I just wanted to be accepted.
Add college experiences as well as work politics mixed with being forced to climb the career ladder, I was caught up in trying to fit in, do what I was told and follow in line with everyone else in society. I learned it wasn’t good to rock the boat, speak your mind or try to change anything.
I realized I was unhappy. What had happened to the boy who was full of life? Who was always laughing, taking risks, and having fun. That boy who was full of dreams and never let anything get in his way of achieving them.
It was time for a change. It was time for me to live my life by my own set of rules!
It did not happen over night and trust me, I still spend time working on creating the life I want. I know this is process and I am enjoying the journey.
I learned very quickly I was not alone…
It is so easy for us to get caught up living life for others that we forget to be authentic to ourselves, our needs, our wants, our dreams, and our goals.
I want to make that difference in others lives by helping them to move their dreams in reality. To create their own personal rules on life and realize that life can be happier than they ever expected!
Isn’t it about time that you start living your life out loud?
November 13, 2009 at 11:22 am
How did you break the cycle? It’s exhausting me. I would like to eat normally but I can’t get my head around what is ‘normal’.
November 13, 2009 at 12:42 pm
once you can’t help yourself anymore you need help from the outside. I was very lucky to see what my ex-boyfriend was doing early enough when he was becoming bulemic. I could help with such simple measures as showing him the risks of what he was doing. And I still can’t forgive his mother who knew so much longer than I and didn’d do anythi about it, she did not even want her husband to know cause he’d be “too sour” – he would have seen the risks and could have helped!
but once you’re in a viscious circle find a helping hand to get out
November 13, 2009 at 12:37 pm
can you with 100% certanity say, that you are not addicted to sports?
November 13, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I am pretty sure that Davey really is addicted… not like addicted of heroin or so, but I can tell you that physical activities cause the secretion of the endorphin, a happiness hormone xD So he might be addicted, and this might could also be an explanation of his “shiny happy people laughing” acts… lol, just kidding. Well, not about the addiction.
As about me to reconsider – I want to improve my body so I walk about 6km (I really don’t know to convert in miles or something but it is 6 x 1000 meters) on the tape for running (I’m not sure about translation, it’s a device for running in spot lol) every day. And about three times a week I do some exercises for legs and stomach muscles. I am also on a pretty hard diet, parents usually make me take at least about 1000kcal per day, but I don’t, let’s say I do take about 800/700… which I know is not healthy but I hate myself at the moment.
November 14, 2009 at 1:04 am
I think if Davey was addicted, he’d be a lot bigger. At least, if he’d been addicted for as long as his fitness journey would suggest. Think about those guys who work out all the time, who don’t use steroids, and look like brick walls. Those guys are addicted, definitely, because they don’t recognize when it’s no longer healthy. Davey, on the other hand, does not seem like an addict.
November 14, 2009 at 8:35 am
His looking might could be about genetics, too. You doesn’t have to be a “brick wall” if you are addicted on physical activity, he is actually addicted on endorphin, and he gets it while working out… and, by the way, have you seen any marathon runners? Lol, they certainly are not brick-wall people, but they’ve been working out hours and hours every day for years…
I can bet that Davey is addicted… if he wants, he could try not to work out few days, and see how his emotions will vary. And even if his not addicted on endorphin, he must be habit addicted, he’s been working out for a long time.
November 13, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Hm, I’m fortunate enough to be an army brat. While both of my parents aren’t crazed physical maniacs they did teach me the importance of eating right. Coupled that with just childhood playfulness & the sports I do now I like to think I’m pretty healthy.
I think I’m the only person at my school who’s happier throwing a nerf around with my friends or going to practice than trying to get into clubs or just drinking it up.
November 13, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Sky –
Glad you mentioned eating right.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found it’s not as important how much time I spend at the gym, as what I put in my mouth. (OK, all you guys, get your mind out of the gutter).
November 13, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I hope you distinguish between fitness and being healthy.
Going to the gym for 2 hours a day 6 days a week may equate to being more fit in some ways (depending on what areas of fitness you concentrate on), but from a health standpoint, 30 minutes, 4 days a week would achieve the same results.
Case in point, is a body builder who can bench press 250 healthier than someone who can bench press 150. No, he’s just stronger, but not healthier.
Is someone who runs 100 miles 6 days a week healthier than someone who runs 20 miles 3 days a week? No, one just has more endurance, but that doesn’t equate to being healthier.
Moderate exercise is enough for health, anything else is for other reasons: looks, ego or for doing a sport competitively.
November 13, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Do you believe that obesity is just as much an eating disorder as anorexia or bulemia? I do but thats cause I am obese but for me food is an addiction. I live to eat not eat to live. Im working on it but its hard.
November 13, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I have tried to explain this very concept to people hundreds of times. I agree whole-heartedly.
Over the past three years, i have lost 1/3 of my body mass in fat. It took 20 years to battle my psychological woes and be able to make the changes necessary to do this.
For years and years prior to this, I tried ‘eating well’ many times, but this failed, because I lacked the capacity to make a permanent change. I hated it. I took so much comfort in food, and when this comfort was taken away, this negatively reinforced my urge to eat unhealthy.
My dear mother bought me a 6 month gym membership when I was 18, and I went about a dosen times. Again, I wasn’t ‘ready’ to make the change. I didn’t enjoy exercise, I didn’t understand exercise, the results weren’t coming as fast as I imagined or hopes, and I couldn’t alter my eating to make the results more obvious. After those 12 sessions or so, I had no motivation to go.
Now, at the age of 23, I have never been happier with the way my body looked.
My weight loss has happened in ‘stages’, where I would lose 5 or 6 kg, maintain it for a few months and then work on losing another 5-6. This was achieved with the classic ‘eat less, do more’ mentality. I poured over recipe books and invested in making food that was delicious and healthier, as I couldn’t jusr sever my ties with the food that I loved so dearly, and I discovered that I liked running, which I gradually developed into a long-distance regime.
By some miracle, I was able to teach myself some psychological techniques to give myself a kick up the butt… and by realising that losing 5-6 kg at a time with a struggle was easier than trying to lose 30 kg all at once, I settled for what I could. I would have loved to lose all of the weight in 6 months, but for me this was not a realistic goal for me.
About 5 months ago, I had maintained a stable weight for about 2 months prior. I had finally reached my goal. I was happy with the way I saw myself, and how others saw me (NOTE: I know that in the grand scheme of things, you need to be happy with yourself, but I reckon you’re kidding yourself if you think that the complements of others won’t boost your motivation – I cared enough about what others thought to help myself).
Now I attend the gym 5 times a week as I wish to maintain the weight and build and define the muscles in my body. Also, gaining muscle increases ones Basal Metabolic Rate (i.e. ups your metabolism) so this allows me to enjoy more delicious food without putting on weight as fat as fast as I did when I was younger.
So… that’s my story, eh?
November 13, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I was always thin and tall my entire life. When I was in 8th grade I was involved with all star cheer leading,so that’s when I started getting exercise,because we had conditioning on Mondays and Fridays,on Wednesday there was tumbling practice and Sunday was when we practiced our show. I stayed involved with that until my freshman year,when I tried to join the high school team,but they were so awful. It wasn’t the competitive cheerleading that I was anticipating. No one worked as hard as I did when I was in competitive cheer leading.
I got more involved with band as I began to discover my appreciation and talent for music. Since 8th grade I haven’t been very physically active until recently. I’ve always wanted to start working out but it’s hard to motivate myself to go out running or to lift weights,so once a week I work out with my friends because their good motivators(I’d like to exercise with them more,but I have too many rehearsals,clubs and other obligations after school).
Whenever my friends and I have time,we go to the tennis courts at school and play for a long while,until we feel like we’re dying.lol This may not count as fitness but everyday before I go to bed I do about an hours worth of yoga. I guess I’m gradually trying to become physically active again.
November 17, 2009 at 8:30 pm
hi! this is girard,I’m from the philippines how can i get my six packs?
November 13, 2009 at 8:33 pm
How much cardio is too much cardio is I workout often? When does it strain my bodies ability to produce muscle?
November 13, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I was just wondering how important sleep is to you (Davey), and how long do you sleep a night? I just ask this question because you said you are often up before the sun. Waking up before the sun isn’t unheard of, but making it a regular part of your lifestyle would put you to bed quite early.
November 14, 2009 at 8:42 am
…which is healthier than going to bed at 4am, and getting out of it at noon.
I usually wake up early, in this period of time – before sun, but we were forbidden to go to school for a week because of stupid flu panic, and I watched some movies (Latter days, Shelter, Wilde, etc), and I was awake till 2 or 3 am… and for two days it’ll have to wake up 6 in the morning, sharp. It’ll be hard at first, but I am looking forward to it
November 14, 2009 at 10:12 am
I think Davey is aware of sleep’s importance and role in health because in his earlier blogs he spoke about how he doesn’t go to sleep later than 9pm or something. He said in this post he gets up early, likely 5 or 6am, and goes to the gym. That would equate to 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night. I read some article or essay recently that said documents show that people two hundred years ago slept 11 to 13 hours a night. I think modern people sleep less because we have electricity and addictions to tv and the internet. haha
November 13, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Hey Davey…
Have you ever used protein supplements in your fitness routine?
November 14, 2009 at 6:01 am
So your exercise regime now is purely for health benefits and nothing else? Is that why you are frequently not wearing a shirt or pants on your blog?
If part of it is due to vanity *at present* then just admit it. But don’t give the impression of being some enlightened super human who doesn’t care about how he looks when it is fairly apparent that you do. It smacks of hypocrisy.
November 14, 2009 at 8:45 am
Davey was saying in many videos on YouTube that he is not his body, but that he is contacting with the world trough is body, and so his appearance matters. He is not hypocritical.
November 14, 2009 at 8:47 am
p.s. I think that he was writing about it here, too. Soooo, hush…
November 14, 2009 at 2:16 pm
What’s that got to do with half naked clips on a blog? He can still contact the world without doing that. Clearly he is doing to illicit a particular response from the audience, no doubt a complimentary response.
November 14, 2009 at 10:15 am
Speaking for myself, I LOVE being naked. When I’m alone in my dorm, or with my bf, I’m naked or just wearing boxers because I hate clothing. I don’t do it to “show off” or anything. It feels so much better.
November 14, 2009 at 11:58 am
I’m a thin college student who does almost no excercise. I would like to be more active and to gain muscle. My problem is that I don’t actually know how to work out. I have a membership at my school’s gym but I feel as though I need a personal trainer to get me started and I don’t think that service is offered. I’m afraid that if I just use a few of the self explanatory machines myself then I will just be guessing and will not do have a well balanced workout. I’ve been reading Men’s Health for years, but the pictures/explanations don’t seem to make me feel comfortable enough to try the excercise myself without doing something wrong and embarassing myself. How much money do I have to dish out to get myself on the right track? Suggestions?
November 29, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Does your university offer fitness classes? That might be a good option for you. You could also find some classmates to work out with. An instructor or friend would be able to give you pointers, and your workouts would probably be more fun as well.
November 14, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I’ve worked out for years and picked up a fair amount of info along the way including the fact that spot reduction is a myth which is sooooo disappointing because the one area that defies me is my belly fat. It’s not that I expect a 6 pack to arrive but it’s a struggle to not keep inching up ( now a 36 inch waist ). I’ve temporarily stopped looking for a magic pill ( although there seem to be a bunch available for purchase starting with infomercials LOL ) so is there perhaps an approach that you could suggest? Dieting, working out and running have been useful for the rest of my body but the belly seems to be immune to these approaches. Thanks,
Erick
November 14, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Well, _ gnjen: There’s no need to hate urself. Coz, Davey and all of us here, Love-You
!’ And Eric: Good-2-U, on ur english, as Davey and we-all love to hear what You and each-othah have 2say. L & P to-All, _ _ davvi
November 14, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I’ve been lifting weights for many years. I stopped going to the gym about 4 months ago because I just decided being outside enjoying the beautiful summer weather was more important to me. Well, in that 4 months, I’ve lost most of the muscle that made guys turn their heads. I guess I’ve just taken it for granted all these years. And dammit— I miss it— I WILL go back to the gym because my ego misses the stroking. (Yeah, I’m beautiful on the inside and all that… but guys can’t see that just walking by !)
November 15, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Well–I am 54 and I have been loving this blog for a while. I am HIV plus for over 17 years but you have to know that I have not needed to take drugs for more than 8 years. This is because I work out religiously. I am an intellectual property/entertainment/fashionlawyer in NYC and you have to understand how difficult this is. I run on the west side highway at 7 am every day except if the weather is bad I go to my crunch gym, I finish my 90 minute run and then I lift in the gym. And my doctor says this keeps me healthy–i do not need drugs and I am perfectly fine. And I am a superb lawyer but of course my big problem at the moment is getting clients who understand that I can do the job despite my condition. And by the way, I am a hot body guy–I can go on the dance floor shirtless even now and the boys like it. But I still worry that because I am poz and open about that people think less of me. Well–it should not be that way but I love everyone anyway.
November 15, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
The one difficulty I suffered with fitness was trying to do it for my own health and fitness.
I hate that in order to get men to notice me, I had to look a certain way or not be fat.
There are times when I could disguise my body fat so well that men just dont realise from a distance and think im some really sexy guy.. but when they approach they realise that im not what they first thought..
But reading all your blurbs has given me massive insight into my self and realising that actually, I dont need to hide and that by embracing what I am and how I look, I can begin to tackle the problems I face.
Thankyou for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us..
November 18, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I’m planning to start the wonderful jurney of fitness next year…hopefully I can do it.
November 27, 2009 at 3:34 am
My fitness regime is dancing. I’m 20 and have been learning jazz since the year began and the reason why it is amazing is because my focus is on learning the dance and not on fitness, so there’s no pressure and the fitness comes on its own. I can run much faster, lift myself much better and get an inexpressible joy from dancing. I tried the gym/running fitness thing earlier but it was too boring and demanding. I also eat whatever I feel like, I simply don’t feel the urge to have junk food or alcohol. I haven’t had a pizza in months and have never touched alcohol in my life. I have a natural desire to eat fresh, vegetarian food. Somehow this feeling is natural, I don’t need to force myself! I love being fit!