On Saturday, my world came to a standstill when I learned that a larger-than-life celebrity and fitness legend passed away. Most people know Richard Simmons from his over the top television appearances, or his iconic “Sweatin’ To The Oldies” workout videos, but I’m lucky and appreciative to have had him in my life as a friend.
Me and Richard in 2013.
Richard was everything you saw on TV. He was that vivacious, that caring, that silly, that sincere. His life’s work was to help others, and he took it very seriously. He struggled with weight his entire life, and because he could relate with the people who flocked to his classes and bought his videos, it created a very special bond. In a world filled with fat-phobic and unrealistic messaging about fitness, body size, and weight loss, Richard’s fans felt safe around him. His messaging, for decades, was simple:
Spoiler Alert: I was a contestant on Jeopardy! on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. In this post, I’m going to share more about what that experience was like, and will include specifics about the show. So… if you haven’t watched yet, and it’s on your DVR or something, then bookmark this page and come back after! (If you missed it and don’t have it on a DVR, um… I don’t know of a way you can watch it. Sorry.)
Before I forget, a couple news articles came out before my episode aired. The one in the Detroit Free Press was written from information about me that Jeopardy! had provided, but I was actually interviewed for the MLive article, which was a fun little bonus.
Hey friends! It’s David. You know, from Keep It Up, David. It’s been a few months since I’ve posted, but I’m back with BIG NEWS. I’m going to be a contestant on Jeopardy!, this Wednesday, October 6th!
I filmed it in Los Angeles in August, and I’m about to share the story of how I got on the show. But first, some more details: You’ll need access to local broadcast networks in order to watch. It won’t be streaming, it won’t be available online. The channel and time will differ, depending on what city you’re in. In metro Detroit, where I live, it’s on at 7:30pm on NBC/WDIV channel 4. To find out when it airs in your town, click here. Tune in to watch me on Wednesday, 10/6, and save all your questions for after, because I can’t give any spoilers before!
Taking two weeks off of exercise sucks. I hate it. But that’s exactly what I had to do, thanks to the plantar fasciitis in my left foot, and the injury in my right knee. It’s a good thing to let the body heal, so I’m trying to be good, and not rush back into exercise. I don’t want to aggravate anything.
The first week of no exercise was tough, because I missed it, and yearned for it. But then, in the second week, I swung to the far other end of the pendulum and start thinking maybe I’ll never exercise again, and I’m just fine with that thought.
My trip to Cincinnati was short – I was only in town for approximately 24 hours. The biggest highlight, of course, was the race (which you can read about here), but I made the most of the rest of my visit, too. Starting with… the American Sign Museum!
I was woefully under-prepared, and nursing an injured foot. Why did I sign up to race up and down thousands of stairs?
This morning I collapsed on the grass (actually, it was turf), after a job well done, and felt a specific sense of pride that I haven’t felt since February 2020. It’s a mix of accomplishment, exhaustion, pain, and invincibility – and I only experience it when I complete a stair race.
So, the answer to the question at the beginning of this blog post is… Because I love stair races.Period.
I love Deviled Eggs, and I love making them at Easter. Want proof? This is the third Deviled Egg post I’ve published after Easter! I shared my recipe for Smoky Onion Deviled Eggs in 2016, and my Avocado Deviled Eggs in 2019.
This recipe is for a more traditional Deviled Egg, but it’s a healthier version, and they’re very good. My mom is a Deviled Egg connoisseur, and she loved ’em.
I’ve been keeping and updating my weight loss chart since 2010. And during that entire time, I had to taped to my wall, using painter’s tape. Up until a few weeks ago, that is. I finally got a bulletin board for my weight loss chart!
When I lived in California, I never saw the need. Taping it to the wall worked just fine. But Read the rest of this entry »
In 2020, I set a goal to walk one long trail from end to end. I broke it into chunks, and did a different portion every weekend, ultimately completing it in August, walking 102.6 miles in the process. Now I’m back at it!
JJ and I went for our first hike of 2021, and it was the first leg of my 2021 hiking goal: to Read the rest of this entry »
A big hello to everyone that’s discovering Keep It Up, David for the first time! I’m glad you’re here.
My name is David. I live in Michigan, and I’m 42 years old. In January 2010, I began eating better and exercising more, so I could lose weight. So far, so good – I’ve lost 160 pounds and am keeping it off! But it’s a tough road, and I need to keeping finding new ways to keep motivated and on-track. I’ll blog about my progress and share my struggles and successes. Join me on my journey!
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Keep It Up, David! 
