This is the next profile Q and A in a series entitled "
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community" that the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee is producing.
Profile: Bryan Marshall, Millikin
Profile: Kim Ling, Ole Miss
Profile: Rick Baker, Mars Hill University
Profile: Sam Atkinson, Gallaudet University
Profile: Judy Willson, Mountain West Conference
Profile: Chris Wenzler, John Carroll University
Profile: Tom Caudill, Muskingum University
HAVE IDEAS OR MEMBERS TO NOMINATE FOR THIS SERIES?
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Chris Mitchell, Washington University in St. Louis Assistant AD for Communications, via cell (618-560-9280) or email (
mitchell@wustl.edu).
Q&A with Brian Davis
Associate Media Relations Director, University of Texas
by Chevonne Mansfield, American Athletic Conference Director of Communications
CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee member
Brian Davis is an associate media relations director at the University of Texas and is the primary contact for the women's soccer and softball programs. Here is an account of the significant lifestyle and weight loss changes he has achieved over the last 13 months, culminating in running a half-marathon this past July.
Brian’s challenge (how his surroundings, upbringing, etc., contributed to his former state)
Q: When did you become unhappy about your health and/or lifestyle?
DAVIS: I’ve struggled with my weight throughout my life, so I guess you could say there’s always been a level of personal unhappiness with where I’ve been health-wise. I was more active when I was younger as a Boy Scout and with sports and all, but I have always had a natural propensity to gain weight.
Having been a SID for almost two decades now, with our hours, stress, travel, etc., the job has definitely helped contribute to an even more sedentary lifestyle. It was always easy for me to cite work, and all the challenges it brings, as a reason to not work out or to keep up a bad diet. I’ve had good phases where I’ve done ok at taking better care of myself, but have never been consistent with it until now.
As SIDs, I think we often get so caught up with taking care of our teams/coaches/media that we sometimes forget about taking care of the most important person of all.
Brian’s turning point
Q: What made you decide to make a lifestyle change, any tipping points?
DAVIS: I can’t say that there was any particular tipping point that made me change things. Perhaps it was the clock people hear ticking a little louder when they hit their early 40’s that made the difference. I know there’s a history in my family of health problems, especially heart-related ones. I’d say getting older and knowing there were still things I could do to potentially help me avoid dealing with those issues was a big motivation. Plus, honestly, I finally got fed-up with feeling bad all the time.
Brian’s plan
Q: What were the most important changes you made to your lifestyle?
DAVIS: The single most important change I made in my life was forcing myself to get up and move every day,
Davis completed a half-marathon in July 2016.
even if that just meant getting out of my chair and walking around the office for a few minutes. There had been times previously where I did ok with running, so I started off SLOWLY on the treadmill by jogging one lap (0.25 mile) and then walking one lap for maybe 20-30 minutes.
I drastically overhauled my diet by cutting out the majority of fast food and by not eating at odd hours after road trips or late night games. I added a lot more grilled chicken, salad, water, you know all the things the experts tell us that we are supposed to eat. I also bypassed a lot of press box food and just brought my own. Overall, no gimmick diets here or anything - just better eating and a lot of hard work!
Q: What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your lifestyle change/weight loss journey?
DAVIS: Patience is something I struggle with too, so trying to remain patient over a long period of time with weight loss has been tough. Seeing the physical changes and the numbers shrinking on the scale is great, but it certainly never goes as fast as we want it to.
Perhaps the most surprising challenge I faced is with other people. I was amazed to run into people at times in my daily life that almost seemed to be rooting against me and trying to sabotage what I was doing. I won’t get into specifics, but just little remarks that could be discouraging or whatever. Perhaps they’re just unhappy with how they feel or with what they aren’t doing? As I’ve continued on with my plan, I’ve done a better job at ignoring the negative out there and focusing on all the positive.
Brian’s life now
Q: How much weight did you lose?
DAVIS: My original goal was to lose 110 pounds, but I’ve actually lost 115 total as of July 14 (I started my plan on July 7, 2015).
Q: How long did it take you to start to see results?
DAVIS: Once I got started with running/walking 3-4 times a week and altered my diet significantly, I started seeing the numbers drop some on the scale after the first two weeks. When you have a lot to lose, the weight loss usually goes faster at the start and then slows way down the lower you go.
Q: How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
DAVIS: I actually reached what I set as my original goal weight of 225 on April 11, 2016, so it took just over nine months. Probably a little faster than experts would suggest, as I should have done more lifting/cross-training along the way, but me and patience don’t co-exist very well.
Having gone through it, I’d suggest going at a slower pace to keep from shocking your body/mind as hard as I did. I battled some injury/illness along the way that might have been better avoided has I proceeded with a little more caution.
Q: How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
DAVIS: It’s still pretty recent for me to have hit my original goal, but I’ve now been there consistently (and even below that to 219 pounds) for three months and counting. Diet is important, but the most important factor in my opinion, the 100% factor, is exercising 3-4 times a week. I like long-term cardio more than anything else (most people despise it), so I always look to that as a first option. With the help of one of our Texas strength and conditioning coaches, I’ve done better since March with adding in weight lifting, rowing, stair-climbing, etc. She has been kind enough to put together some weekly plans for me and answer a lot of stupid questions to help me feel more comfortable with everything.
The weights are something I’d suggest everyone do right from the start with any weight loss plan. I wish I could go back and do a better job with that. I have also been very blessed here at Texas with a lot of support from the boss, coaches, players and staff, as well as some solid co-worker examples to follow, in helping make this happen.
Q: What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success/new lifestyle?
DAVIS: It’s pretty easy to stay motivated now when I look in the mirror, am forced to get new clothes because my old ones don’t fit anymore or have people give me compliments or say that they are proud of my hard work. I feel so much better now than I used to both physically and mentally. I have a lot more energy, and I sleep better. I also use training for road races as motivation and am about to participate in my second half-marathon on July 16th!
Q: How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
DAVIS: I feel that I’m more outgoing than I used to be and that my confidence level has risen significantly. When you don’t feel good about yourself and being overweight, it affects every aspect of your life. I haven’t always been the biggest fan of myself as a person, but that has changed for the better. I like to think that’s noticeable to those I associate with both at work and in social circles.
Q: Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
DAVIS: My obvious advice is to keep fighting! It’s cliché I know, but take it one day at a time. Try to win the first day, then wake up and try to win the next day. You’re going to mess up some along the way, but it’s winning more days than you lose that matters.
Don’t get discouraged when plateaus show up. Just work a little harder, and you will crack through them. Also, and the part I struggle with most, be patient! Anyone who’s never had to lose a lot of weight just doesn’t understand how long a process it is to lose even one pound. Don’t focus on the end game of how much you want to lose, but focus instead on setting little goals along the way, one pound, five pounds, 10 pounds and CELEBRATE THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS! Be proud of yourself.
I started and stopped this process over the years 1,000 different times and never succeeded the way I wanted to until now. I used to think it was impossible to get where I am now, but it isn’t. Just keep fighting!