Dan Ekblad, IAWP CWC, CPTDan is the founder of Improve Health + Wellness Coaching, previously Overeater Wellness Coaching. He specializes in lifestyle transformation.
CertificationsIAWP Certified Wellness Coach
Certified Personal Trainer American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Connect with me! |
My story is like so many others. As a child, food was a reward. My mother was a wonderful cook; that’s how I learned my way around a kitchen and how to eat everything! I can remember my parents telling me to clean my plate, because it will make it a wonderful day outside. Or the ever-popular quote, “There are starving children in China that would be happy to get this!” What did I do? I always cleaned my plate, of course! Throughout my teen years, I struggled with my weight and being over six feet tall it was almost encouraged to be the “big kid” playing sports. But, my mother didn’t like that I was getting big, so as a child, I was always on a diet. So not only had I developed a food addiction, I was also having issues with my weight.
Fast forward 30+ years, as a 48-year-old father of two, I had been on numerous diets, gained and lost over 600 pounds and at that time, had been through 21 orthopedic surgeries. My health was on the decline; standing, walking, sitting and even sleeping had become a problem. My weight was now over 350 lbs and all the health problems that can be associated with being overweight and out of shape started coming into play. What was I going to do?
In January 2011, I was being considered for a commercial for a Minnesota insurance company. They were looking to have someone live in an empty store in the Mall of America for 3 months—have them focus on losing weight and doing different challenges all while living in a “glass bubble” in front of everyone. It was down to me and one other person; I did not get the role. But what I had been doing to prepare was educate myself on nutrition, exercise and what it takes to lose weight and start living a healthy lifestyle. On April 1, 2011, I weighed in at 306 lbs—my journey was about to start.
Learning about proper nutrition and exercise were the keys to my success. But the one thing I have learned over all these years of losing and gaining weight was, losing weight is easy part, keeping it off will be the hardest job you’ll ever have. So, I was determined that this time I wasn’t just going on a diet; this time I was going to change my life.
By November 2011, I had lost over 75 lbs. The holidays were fast approaching and I was getting worried about falling back into old habits. So, I decided to start writing a blog entitled “I AM AN OVEREATER.” I did this to help provide accountability for my actions. Funny thing was that the blog took off. It became popular with those who could identify with struggling with their weight. With the popularity of the blog, I decided to put on weight loss competition in my area, much like the popular TV show “Biggest Loser.” On January 3, 2012, The Chippewa Valley Challenge was born. We gave away prizes and tickets to a local music festival for those who lost weight and either continued to lose or could maintain their weight loss for up to 6 months. Over the next four years the Challenge continued to grow. Right along with the success of the Challenge, my health and physical wellbeing continued to improve. In October 2012, I competed in my first physique competition. It was a huge step in building my self-confidence and motivating me to reach for even higher goals.
In 2013, I was training to compete in a couple more shows, mostly to see if I could get better. I also had many personal changes going on in my life, the biggest one being that I was going through a divorce. One of the struggles many couples can go through is when one partner decides to get healthy and the other one does not. On top of other issues, this can be a final straw in a marriage; it was in ours.
Throughout this difficult time in my life, I had found a growing friendship with someone who would become my partner in the gym as well as my partner with the blog and the Challenge and eventually my partner in life. Jen and I started doing everything together, including training for shows. We did three shows together where we both placed 2nd and we even won a 1st trophy in the couples’ category.
During this time, I wanted to bring an event to the city to not only help motivate people to get healthy, but to bring even more people into our community. I started working with the Biggest Loser RunWalk Race Series, where I helped organize the first ever Biggest Loser RunWalk in the area. We drew over 3,000 people to the event and raised a lot of money along the way. Shortly after this I started working for the Biggest Loser RunWalk. It was such an honor to travel and meet so many inspiring people all over the country. It was also my privilege to be able to speak and start telling my story to so many. I’ve been fortunate to meet some incredible people, make friends with many of the past contestants from the show and learn so much from so many people who have lived and struggled with their weight.
I stopped competing in bodybuilding, but I never stopped trying to improve my overall physical health. Growing up a “fat kid” and battling with my weight for so long, I never ran more than a mile (and that was because I had to for gym class). In December 2013, I did something I would have never thought possible in my lifetime—I ran a few 2-mile and 5K events. But considering I was working for a running company, I thought I better at least give it a try. On December 29, 2013, at the age of 51, I ran my first half marathon in 2 hours and 10 minutes. With Jen waiting for me at the finish line, I realized at that moment just how far my life had come and how much my lifestyle had changed my life.
Since then I’ve continued to work hard, refocus and set new goals for myself. You never want to stop pushing yourself. Never lose focus or drive to continue to improve your body and your life. Once you become complacent, you will start to lose the battle.
Never give up! Never lose sight of your goals. Strive to become a better you!
There are 14 principles by which Jen and I live our lives. The 14 principles are taught in our Warrior of Wellness Program. I only wish I had started when I was much younger. But, I have no regrets. My life is in front of me now and there’s nothing holding me back anymore. And I am excited to share that I recently completed my wellness coaching certification program and I am now an IAWP Certified Wellness Coach! I am also a Certified Personal Trainer.
Fast forward 30+ years, as a 48-year-old father of two, I had been on numerous diets, gained and lost over 600 pounds and at that time, had been through 21 orthopedic surgeries. My health was on the decline; standing, walking, sitting and even sleeping had become a problem. My weight was now over 350 lbs and all the health problems that can be associated with being overweight and out of shape started coming into play. What was I going to do?
In January 2011, I was being considered for a commercial for a Minnesota insurance company. They were looking to have someone live in an empty store in the Mall of America for 3 months—have them focus on losing weight and doing different challenges all while living in a “glass bubble” in front of everyone. It was down to me and one other person; I did not get the role. But what I had been doing to prepare was educate myself on nutrition, exercise and what it takes to lose weight and start living a healthy lifestyle. On April 1, 2011, I weighed in at 306 lbs—my journey was about to start.
Learning about proper nutrition and exercise were the keys to my success. But the one thing I have learned over all these years of losing and gaining weight was, losing weight is easy part, keeping it off will be the hardest job you’ll ever have. So, I was determined that this time I wasn’t just going on a diet; this time I was going to change my life.
By November 2011, I had lost over 75 lbs. The holidays were fast approaching and I was getting worried about falling back into old habits. So, I decided to start writing a blog entitled “I AM AN OVEREATER.” I did this to help provide accountability for my actions. Funny thing was that the blog took off. It became popular with those who could identify with struggling with their weight. With the popularity of the blog, I decided to put on weight loss competition in my area, much like the popular TV show “Biggest Loser.” On January 3, 2012, The Chippewa Valley Challenge was born. We gave away prizes and tickets to a local music festival for those who lost weight and either continued to lose or could maintain their weight loss for up to 6 months. Over the next four years the Challenge continued to grow. Right along with the success of the Challenge, my health and physical wellbeing continued to improve. In October 2012, I competed in my first physique competition. It was a huge step in building my self-confidence and motivating me to reach for even higher goals.
In 2013, I was training to compete in a couple more shows, mostly to see if I could get better. I also had many personal changes going on in my life, the biggest one being that I was going through a divorce. One of the struggles many couples can go through is when one partner decides to get healthy and the other one does not. On top of other issues, this can be a final straw in a marriage; it was in ours.
Throughout this difficult time in my life, I had found a growing friendship with someone who would become my partner in the gym as well as my partner with the blog and the Challenge and eventually my partner in life. Jen and I started doing everything together, including training for shows. We did three shows together where we both placed 2nd and we even won a 1st trophy in the couples’ category.
During this time, I wanted to bring an event to the city to not only help motivate people to get healthy, but to bring even more people into our community. I started working with the Biggest Loser RunWalk Race Series, where I helped organize the first ever Biggest Loser RunWalk in the area. We drew over 3,000 people to the event and raised a lot of money along the way. Shortly after this I started working for the Biggest Loser RunWalk. It was such an honor to travel and meet so many inspiring people all over the country. It was also my privilege to be able to speak and start telling my story to so many. I’ve been fortunate to meet some incredible people, make friends with many of the past contestants from the show and learn so much from so many people who have lived and struggled with their weight.
I stopped competing in bodybuilding, but I never stopped trying to improve my overall physical health. Growing up a “fat kid” and battling with my weight for so long, I never ran more than a mile (and that was because I had to for gym class). In December 2013, I did something I would have never thought possible in my lifetime—I ran a few 2-mile and 5K events. But considering I was working for a running company, I thought I better at least give it a try. On December 29, 2013, at the age of 51, I ran my first half marathon in 2 hours and 10 minutes. With Jen waiting for me at the finish line, I realized at that moment just how far my life had come and how much my lifestyle had changed my life.
Since then I’ve continued to work hard, refocus and set new goals for myself. You never want to stop pushing yourself. Never lose focus or drive to continue to improve your body and your life. Once you become complacent, you will start to lose the battle.
Never give up! Never lose sight of your goals. Strive to become a better you!
There are 14 principles by which Jen and I live our lives. The 14 principles are taught in our Warrior of Wellness Program. I only wish I had started when I was much younger. But, I have no regrets. My life is in front of me now and there’s nothing holding me back anymore. And I am excited to share that I recently completed my wellness coaching certification program and I am now an IAWP Certified Wellness Coach! I am also a Certified Personal Trainer.