The Professor says he’ll try to keep this SAU coach on track to permanent weight loss in 2017!

By LMQC Battle of the Bulge blogger, Alan Sivell, St. Ambrose communications professor, RAGBRAI-er, pizza lover and longtime weight watcher.

Dan Tomlin, Davenport, has finally reached the end of the road. At just 33 years old, he has gained 60 lbs. since college days. Now, he says he’s putting on the brakes. 2017 will find him running in a new direction!

First, some background. Tomlin is the year-round women’s and men’s track coach at St. Ambrose. He coaches the throwers at the Brady Street dome, the runners at the Brady Street stadium and the weight lifters in the SAU gym.

Tomlin has no shortage of stress in the job … and he’s a stress-eater.

He drives the team to meets all year long, mapping travel routes, making room reservations, choosing restaurants, and keeping a watchful eye on 18-22 year olds.

In between, Tomlin has to keep and file receipts, recruit high school students, and host recruit visits.

It’s no wonder Tomlin – who weighed in the mid-180s when he himself competed in track for SAU – now tips the scale at 240.

He says his weight gain started soon after graduation – a familiar story – when he continued to eat as if he were still competing in track. And his stress eating got more intense as his job responsibilities grew.

Like me, Tomlin tried to lose weight on his own. He got down to 219 lbs. three years ago for his wedding. But it didn’t last.

Tomlin has tried plenty of weight loss approaches. He gave up French fries. He and his wife started preparing more sit-down meals. He’s been trying to walk 15,000 steps a day.

But he’s stuck. He needs a push. He needs motivation. Big motivation.

So, as 2017 nears, he’s making plans to get big weight-loss motivation … and he’s following my example!

Tomlin will enroll in Josh Paul’s Biggest Loser Contest in January, just like I did 2 years ago. I will track his progress here, for extra accountability.

Tomlin is a competitive person. He’s putting $50 down on this weight loss contest.

I’m betting that the chance to get that money back – and then some – will motivate him to be one of Paul’s Big Losers, and change his habits for good.

I’ll keep you updated!