Darick had been a "big guy" all his life but decided to change that when he noticed his weight creeping into the 260+ lbs range. He wanted to take control of his health and weight but had no idea where to start—he hated gyms, and his doctor had advised him not to run. That was fine; he hated running anyway. But he had to begin his weight loss journey somehow.
He noticed that his close friend Natanya had recently lost a significant amount of weight and decided to ask her for some direction. She told Darick that she had just walked and watched what she ate. He was incredulous at first—how could just walking have that much of an effect on weight? He decided to start incorporating daily walks anyway to see if it would help. But how far? How many? Darick needed a goal.
He overheard a coworker talking about Run The Year 2019 and asked about it. Once he learned about the challenge, he decided to tackle it and joined their team. Now that he had a clear walking goal, he synced his Fitbit and “went on [his] merry way!” Darick began walking the year, and his steps have taken him not only through 2,019 miles but also down a path that leads to better health and a happier life.
Calculating correctly, Darick reasoned that he needed to fit in 5.5 miles a day to reach 2,019 miles in 365 days. He had started his daily walks in December and began using the RTY tracker in mid-January. If he could find an easy way to get his miles in without affecting his schedule too much, he would be more likely to give this challenge his all.
Darick found that he could sneak walks into his daily routine and rack up miles throughout the day. He started walking to the grocery store, to work, and around his neighborhood. Though the walk to work could take about two hours every morning, it quickly became one of his favorite routes. During the cold Chicago winter, Darick bundled up and steeled himself against the elements. He says he felt more energized and didn’t feel like walking was eating up too much of his time.
Walking also became an almost meditative practice. It gave him time to gather his thoughts and think through his day. It was a peaceful moment to himself—though not always silent. He began listening to podcasts and audiobooks, developing a deep interest in the crime genre. “I can’t go on these monster walks in silence,” he says.
Darick feels that his morning commute allows him to “get a jump” on his day and accomplish something before even starting work. He logs the recommended 10,000 steps before sitting at his desk, and it’s made a huge difference. He has discovered different paths through his neighborhood, his favorite being a trail near his workplace. He has walked it from winter into summer, loving the experience of watching the seasons change.
Through walking, he has reconnected with nature. He checks on the ducks, the sprouting flowers, the budding trees, and all the little elements of a natural environment that are easy to miss in urban living. He says he never would have discovered these hidden gems around his home and office without his daily walks.
But Darick realized he had signed up for more than just one challenge. Not only did he need to walk 2,019 miles in a year, he also needed to learn how to eat well. These two efforts combined were key to improving his health while maintaining a sedentary job.
A turning point came while watching an episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with Kanye West. When asked about his eating habits, West said, “I’m not calling it a diet, I’m calling it a liveit.” The sentiment struck a chord with Darick. Any attempt at weight loss had to be sustainable, or it was bound to fail. Denying oneself the pleasures of food in the name of health is hard to maintain for life.
Embracing this new perspective, Darick bought a food scale and began weighing everything he ate at home. He learned which foods satisfied his macronutrient needs while keeping him within his calorie limit. With his scale and a new mindset, he began controlling his portions without cutting out the foods he loved. He could still enjoy a hot dog and a beer on a night out or have a nice dinner with his wife—just not as often or in the same quantities. In fact, he says, limiting certain foods made him enjoy them even more when he had them. “Now when I have a burger,” he said, “I’m not going to settle for just a burger. I’m going to find the best burger in Chicago and enjoy it as much as I can.”
Between walking regularly and being mindful of his eating, Darick has shed 25% of his starting weight—almost 70 lbs! “Burn more than you eat” is the core principle of weight loss, but it’s not easy to achieve. He discovered how true that was when he realized he had been consuming nearly 2,000 calories a day just in snacks. By tracking his food and being more intentional with his choices, Darick lost those 70 lbs in under six months.
Though some friends worried his weight loss was too fast, Darick believes his “live it” is sustainable. “Just existing at a deficit feels very healthy,” he says. “Is it fast? Sure! But it feels good.” His only regret is not starting sooner, now that he knows how straightforward it really is.
Carrying around so much extra weight is not only physically stressful but can also take a toll on mental health as well. So, it stands to reason that as Darick lost the weight, he gained a new perspective of the world. He can now hold his loved ones closer when he hugs them. He can enjoy food more. He had reconnected with nature through his walks. He can wear shirts that haven’t fit him since high school. He can now fit onto his wife's 125 Primavera scooter! "I know I look better, but that's nothing compared to how much better I feel," he declares happily.
Darick gives hackneyed excuses and lack of motivation credit for holding him back from achieving a healthier existence. No longer! He realized that he could control his body and take responsibility for his own health. And that is exactly what he has done, with amazing results! He cites a line from the popular musical "Hamilton" as his mantra for his undertaking: "He says ‘I am the one thing in life I can control, and he's right! Hamilton ‘wrote his way out’ of poverty, and I can ‘walk my way out,’ I can control this," says Darick. And that is exactly what he's done! The knowledge that he is the only thing he can control and that he can "walk his way out" is what dragged him out of bed on cold, dark winter mornings, and kept him going when he wanted to give up.
As Darick approached 1,500 miles during the interview, he successfully completed the challenge on October 3rd! Setting a seemingly unreachable goal motivated him, and now he is enjoying the rewards of his dedication. Congratulations, Darick! We are incredibly proud of you and truly impressed by your achievements. You have demonstrated the positive impact a challenge like Run The Year can have, and we eagerly anticipate seeing how far you’ll continue on this path. Keep Walking The Edge!