Educator Dave McDowell inspires others to lose weight

Long-time educator Dave McDowell lost 114 pounds, and in the process he found a new life and new inspiration.

The Shields Elementary assistant principal found he could make a difference by improving his own health. McDowell found his motivation and a new family at the Sussex YMCA in Rehoboth Beach.

“I decided I needed to start losing weight during the Thanksgiving of 2010 when I stepped on the scale and found out I weighed 338 pounds,” McDowell said. “I knew I had to do something.”

With some advice from flag-football friend James Bodie, McDowell started going to the YMCA.

“The first day I only lasted about 15 minutes on the exercise bike,” McDowell said. “I left feeling very discouraged with myself that first day.”

He started going to the gym every day and working out for as long as he could. Soon that 15 minute workout increased to 30 minutes and longer.

“Around New Year’s Eve the gym got really crowded, but I kept going, even though I was discouraged by how out of shape I was,” he said.

The fear of being stared at was always present in his mind, “But eventually I realized no one was looking at me because they were all doing their own thing,” he said.

After two months, McDowell stepped on the scale and weighed 296 pounds.

“Getting under 300 pounds was my goal, but then I thought 280 pounds wasn’t too far away,” he said.

After that, 270 pounds was within reach, so he kept at it.

“A lot of people at the Y started to take an interest in me,” McDowell said. “They kept telling me I was doing a great job and that I was inspiring.”

McDowell used to think he would inspire others through his work at Shields and through his church. Soon he realized he was inspiring others through taking the time to improve his own health.

“I started really working at it. I worked with a trainer and got myself on a nutrition plan for my blood type,” McDowell said. “At that point, the weight just started flying off.”

Each week his new friends at the Y would ask how much he lost and their interest kept him working hard to lose weight. Soon he was down about 80 pounds as the one-year anniversary of his new weight-loss program loomed.

“At some point it became the goal to lose 100 pounds in one year,” McDowell said. “It was getting closer and closer.”

About a week before Thanksgiving, McDowell stepped on the scale at the Y. Cheers and applause erupted from his many friends and new Y family when he announced he was down 101 pounds.

“Yeah, I worked really hard, but it was like we all did it together, so that made it fun,” McDowell said.

He hasn’t stopped going to the Y either. Now at 114 pounds lost, McDowell is hooked on spinning classes, swimming and exercise, and his work has motivated others to get back to the gym.

“Here at Shields, people have noticed that I am losing weight, and they are starting to lose weight too,” McDowell said. “Since news of my weight loss has gotten out there, I have heard from so many people who are also starting to lose weight. I just received an email from a girl I coached years ago who said my story inspired her to go back to the gym.”

“Dave’s story is a great one,” said Daniel Meloy, health and wellness program director at the Sussex YMCA and one of McDowell’s new friends. “He’s really someone who took control of his health and made some incredible lifestyle changes.”

McDowell said his weight loss has given him renewed energy. Today, he does more with his free time, whether spending time with his wife, Colleen, or having fun with his five sons.

“I am looking to lose about 30 more pounds to get below 200 pounds. But if I don’t get there, it’s OK because I am feeling good and building muscle,” McDowell said.

“I have so much more energy to do things. I do things I didn’t do before because I didn’t have the energy.”

Several years ago, McDowell had both hips replaced. Today, he wonders if the surgery would have been necessary if he had lost weight sooner.

“This experience has been life-changing,” he said. “Now kids look to me to see the right way to eat.”

When he visits the YMCA gym, McDowell is surrounded by a support group of friends, and now he is the one encouraging others to try different exercises. He now recommends machines he didn’t know how to use when he began his weight-loss plan.

“When I started, I could only do three pushups. Now I do sets of 50,” McDowell said. “I never thought to make time for myself before, but then I also never wanted to look in the mirror to see who I really was. Now, I feel great about myself, and I look forward to helping others in a positive way.”