Coronavirus goal: Tipp treasurer loses nearly 70 pounds, on way to healthier lifestyle

TIPP CITY — Dave Stevens has tried to lose weight in the past.

This time, his weight loss journey is being boosted by powerful motivators: COVID-19 and his family.

The treasurer of the Tipp City Exempted Village Schools has lost nearly 70 pounds since summer.

The effort came after celebrating his 40th birthday; having a heart to heart talk with wife, Heather, about COVID and obesity; and thinking about what his family including seven children would do without him.

“I have always been a big person,” said Stevens, who lives in Beavercreek. He wrestled heavy weight in junior high school and weighed 200 pounds in high school.

While in college, he read utility meters for Dayton Power and Light Co., a job that required a lot of walking and helped him maintain a “pretty consistent” weight.

An internship at the state auditor’s office changed things. “They put me behind a desk for six months and 50 pounds suddenly appear. I was now pushing 250,” Stevens recalled.

Over the years, his weight increased as he didn’t find time to exercise, was busy with work and his family grew. “The next thing you know, I was 350 pounds last year (2019),” he said.

Like so many, he’s been on diets before, including 2019 when he lost 60 pounds on a green smoothies’ diet. He grew tired of the smoothies every day and more eating returned at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond.

With COVID-19 this year, his 40th birthday and reports of obese people being at high risk for the virus, it was time for change.

“My wife said, ‘I am really concerned about you … You are morbidly obese,” Stevens said. After seeing a post on Facebook by a friend who had moved to Arizona and noting how good the man looked, he contacted him. That was the beginning of change.

The friend is a life coach with the Optavia food program. “I have not done this on my own,” Stevens said of embracing that program and working with his friend, the coach. He bought one month worth of food, saw great success and was hooked.

“My goal is to be healthier, skinnier, have a better quality of life,” he said. Since September, he’s lost 64 pounds with a long-term goal of reducing to 200 pounds, his high school weight.

“The thought of something happening and not being around for the kids is something I don’t want to think about. It is awful,” Stevens said. “You don’t want to leave your family behind earlier than you should because you weren’t making healthy life choices. It is selfish.”

As the time to introduce exercise in his new lifestyle nears, Stevens said he looks forward to walks with Heather.

“I still have a long way to go. I feel like I am more prepared this time, more in for the long haul,” he said. “I feel better, I am happier. My wife is happier. I am pretty sure I am healthier.”

Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com

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