Happy Friday! Today’s featured fitness patron is Darron Baker, who is a health teacher with Kettering City Schools. Darron began his wellness journey after losing his wife to cancer. In the three years since he joined our fitness center, he’s lost nearly 100 pounds and has enjoyed making many positive changes to his routine. Congratulations on all your hard work, Darron!
Tell us about yourself and how long you’ve been a member of the Kettering Fitness and Wellness Center.
My name is Darron Baker. I am a 40-year-old health educator at Kettering Middle School. I have been teaching for 16 years, 14 of which have been in Kettering City Schools. I have been a member of the fitness center for about three years. When I am not working or at the fitness center, I enjoy being outdoors. I am an avid hunter and fisherman. In the summer, you’ll find me fishing various ponds and lakes for bluegill and bass. In the fall/winter I can be found in the dove fields, duck blind or at the farm deer hunting with friends and family. In the spring, I chase longbeards (turkeys) in the hills of Southern Ohio.
What personal obstacles have you overcome and how did our fitness facilities help you through?
My entire life, I have always been on the heavier side. The event that really motivated me to make a change was after my wife passed away of cancer. I initially lost about 20 pounds due to stress, and I decided I needed to keep it off. I joined the fitness center after hearing great things from friends and colleagues. I also implemented intermittent fasting into my daily routine. I am excited to say I have dropped almost 100 pounds from three years ago. The facilities have allowed me to maintain my weight, yet improve my strength and sculpt my body. At 40, I am in better shape now than I was in my twenties. The hardest part is telling myself not to overdo it, because there’s so much you can do in these facilities. And I’m no spring chicken anymore 🙂 The fitness center has been a great escape for me and allows me to manage the stress of everyday life.
Do you have any personal health and fitness goals, won a competition, etc.
At this point in my life, I want to be an example for my students. No matter what age you are, you can make positive changes with hard work and dedication. I hope to start participating in races soon. I also want to maintain my strength and endurance for longevity purposes.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
In addition to strength training, once a week I like to add in a “functional” circuit workout for cardiovascular endurance. It gives my body a break from the weights and allows me to get my heart rate up for an extended period of time. It’s one of my favorite activities to do.