I am Brenda Reaves L.P.N. and a friend and protege of David.  We are also AFPA Certified Nutritional and Wellness Consultants.  David has made an amazing difference in my life in more ways than I can address in an introductory post.  Over time I will elaborate on some of these things.  At this time David has asked me to address some women’s issues and I am thrilled to have this opportunity.  Various elements of David’s Way will present themselves all along because I incorporate David’s methodology into everything that I do and my life is so much better for it.  As women we tend to over-complicate everyday events and also major sources of stress in our lives. David’s Way is a tool to navigate life with less stress and more success in what is important to us.

Weight control is high on that list for most of us. David has a very simple way of living that involves choice of food, preparation and cost of that food, stress reduction, activity and overall well-being.  I have benefited tremendously from his teaching about how the choices that we make shape our reality for better or worse.  The ball is in our courts.  We are in charge, not our significant others, our hormones, our boss or our co-workers.  We are. Once we take that responsibility with no room for excuses, we can have the lives that we want.

When I first became acquainted with David, I was at a weight that seemed to be okay for me. The problem was, I still had high blood pressure, insomnia, arthritis, anxiety and depression. I was also too fat for my frame even though a popular weight loss group told me that I was at a healthy weight. Well… I began to read David’s posts and realized that I needed to make some changes.  His “numbers” at the doctors office could make the Surgeon General jealous.  As a nurse, when I see his lab reports, I’m just blown away.  Mind you, my lab reports are awesome too.  My doctor is very impressed every time I go in, but I had never personally known anyone who rivaled me!  I guess you could say that we are serious health freaks.  We compare, and almost compete, for lab results…really.  So that’s the types that you’re following here.

I will post a photo soon and you will see that I’m pretty healthy myself.  I’m strong and resilient.  I’m never sick.  I can work circles around people half my age.  I have boundless energy.  I’m 5’6″ and 139# and I am a power lifter.  In 2018, I am 61 and my age is a non-factor in my life.  I work full time, long hours and have no plans to retire.  I also work out hard.  Life is good.

I learned a tough lesson one night after many years of struggling with my weight.  I had a decision to make.  On this particular night, the urge to binge was so strong that I was almost hysterical.  I realized that I had NOTHING in the house to satisfy those cravings!  I thought about the frozen, gluten free bread and started towards the freezer.  My original thought was to make cinnamon toast but as I neared the freezer, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.  The desire for immediate gratification was so strong.  It was overwhelming.  I knew that I was going to eat that bread frozen.  Gluten Free bread is different and it’s actually amazingly good frozen.  (Notice that I know that…).

I had been yo-yoing on another weight loss program  and these late night cravings were the reason. Still eating sugar, I had horrible cravings.  I was eating to dispel stress as much as anything.  I had not learned the Lesson of “Make Your World Small”, which is a key component of David’s Way, and my life was a mess and I was miserable and at least I could enjoy THIS! Right?

I opened the freezer and stopped dead in my tracks and hung onto the door with tears starting to well in my eyes.  The words “Which do you want MORE, frozen bread or to be healthy?” spilled out of my mouth and I broke down and sobbed.  I had suddenly made myself profoundly accountable to the worst, or the best, interrogator, myself.  There was no escaping that question.  Everything changed in that moment. I began to be responsible.  I had eaten in rebellion most of my life but right now my anorexic mother was nowhere in sight.  It was just me and frozen bread. Health, wellness and well-being came into clear focus as my goals..  I wanted to live and be fit and healthy I got the bread alright, and soaked it in Dawn Dishwashing Liquid and threw it in the trash.

After this climactic event, I worked hard to get my weight down.  I did it in a short time and was so proud and cocky for a couple of years and then… I asked David about my level of fitness… Oh, Lord…He told me to lose 20#.  Yes. He. Did.  Well…some folks would have balked at that, like gone crazy and never spoke to him again. However, I had already had that moment when I realized what my goals in life are, an epiphany I suppose.

I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that David had my best interest at heart.  He had absolutely no motive to tell me anything except the truth.  He has an impressive military career and has always been deeply involved in physical fitness.  I knew that he knew his stuff, so if I didn’t want to know, then why did I ask?  I already knew from reading his social media posts that he does not mince words.

David put me on the Starting Strength (1) weight lifting program and advised me concerning my health and nutrition.  In just a few weeks, that 20# was GONE and I was getting stronger by leaps and bounds.  About this time, he told me that I am a power lifter…cool.  One lesson of the iron is that nothing in our lives is going to require any more effort than we exert at that bar.  It takes everything in me, so when I face other hard things I have learned that I still have strength in me.  There is nothing that I face that is any harder than rising from a heavy squat.  For you, it may be another form of physical activity that pushes you to your limit but the principle is the same.

https://davidsway.blog/2019/07/20/are-we-there-yet/

David has taught me well.  He continues to be my friend and mentor and I learn from him daily.  His life has caused him to coin the phrase, “I’ve Never Done Easy In My Life.” (David Yochim) and he hasn’t.  He has faced difficulties greater than I have ever had to deal with and my life has not been a storybook.  What this teaches me is that no excuse is a reason, merely an excuse.  David lives this.  He is not the “expert” that tells you to lose weight while wearing polyester pants so tight that they’re two inches too short.  He holds himself to the same standard of health as me.  So come along and join us on our journey to health, wellness and happiness. David’s Way works.  His passion is health.

“Life Is a Beautiful Journey, Enjoy The Ride.”

(1) Starting Strength