My name is David Grim and this blog is all about helping you Get Fit and Get Lean! I want to share with you my experiences and insights about achieving a higher level of fitness and getting lean-not bulky. I Believe that life is meant to be lived to the fullest and to do that you need to be at your best to enjoy it! So why not look as good as you can at the same time!
My Background
I was raised in Massillon, Ohio. I played all the sports a young kid usually does-baseball, football, basketball, track and field, etc. But my first love was basketball. I just loved the competition, the skills that you needed to develop and the look of the players. Tall, lean, athletic. Running, jumping, being physical. So I concentrated solely on basketball-being 6’6″ in the 9th grade helped a lot too!- and I got pretty good. Good enough actually that playing basketball earned me an athletic scholarship to the University of Minnesota. I played for the Golden Gophers from 1991-1996. Those were some great times!
Life After College
When I graduated college-longest 7 years ever-I did what most people do. I got a job, got married (I have the best wife ever-I love you Teresa!), had a couple of kids (3 actually! They’re awesome!). I also got terribly out of shape. I just let myself go. A few months of exercise were sprinkled in here and there but nothing consistent and nothing that kept me fit or lean. 
[This is me in July or August of 2009. I weigh about 245 here. Beer belly and double chin coupled with no muscle definition = no good!] Then one day when I was going through some old pictures of when I was in college. I looked pretty good back then! So I made the decision to do something about how I could get back into college shape. I read a ton of information on nutrition, exercise philosophy, methods, techniques and research. Then I implemented what I had learned and tracked the results. I learned what worked for me and what didn’t and amazing things happened. I learned that conventional wisdom wasn’t always right and most of the time it was wrong! I cut out the fast food, soda pop and the other stuff that I knew was bad for me. I started to exercise regularly and lift weights again-You gotta lift to get stronger!-and I started to transform my body. My health, body composition and overall look started to change. People even told me that I looked younger-even though I’m only 37! I started to look like that college basketball player that I once was. 
[This is me in April of 2010. Looking and feeling like I am young again.]
I Started To Feel Alive Again
All the positive comments about how I was looking made me feel great! It had been a long time since someone commented on how I looked-in a good way. It made me want to work even harder, eat a little better and it even put a little pep in my step. My family has benefited too because it has made me a happier person to be around.
My Methodology
Finding out what works for you is important. This is what has worked for me: A hybrid mix of Primal (Paleo) Nutrition, CrossFit (I work out here: The Athlete Lab), Strategic Weight Lifting and High Intensity Interval Training-or HIIT-bundled with a dose of common sense. Doing a combination of these things has worked wonders for me and I know that they will for you too. So let me help you on your path to getting fit and getting lean. The benefits are great and you will have fun transforming your body into the one that you know that you want. Stay positive and feel free to share your experiences so that together we can help as many people as possible. Thanks and take care. Be awesome in all you do,
David Grim
Hi David! the site looks pretty cool, looking forward to learning from you.
S/F
Charles
Thanks for stopping by Charles. Check back soon for a new post.
David
Hey Dave,
Awesome story–very inspirational. My husband thought you were great and really enjoyed talking to you. Love how you signed off–be awesome in———-. You are going to be very successful. I hope you don’t stop coming to TAL all together when you open your own place.
Ellen,
Thanks for checking out the blog. It is people like you that inspire us. Your determination and hard work are something that everyone should strive for. I’ll be at The Athlete Lab as long as Kate will have me! See You soon.
Be awesome in all you do,
David
[...] new blogger I found is David Grim, a fellow basketball fan and player too. He used to be in top shape but after college basketball [...]
Hey David,
Just noticed that we have a lot in common including themes and subject matter. I hope we can share some thoughts and ideas on how to make our sites successful. There is plenty of room! Lets talk often if possible…
Tim D
Tim,
I would love to share ideas on how to help people and each other. I’ll be in touch.
David
Hey David
.
The site is looking pretty good. I’m loving your articles and learning from a fellow baller is always nice
Your story is very motivating and I’m sure you will have more interesting and challenging posts to come.
Michael
Michael,
Thanks for stopping by. I think that basketball really gives people that lean, muscular look. Running, jumping, shuffling around and the skill/coordination involved really takes some ability. Maybe I’ll write a post about that.
David
David,
The site looks really great! I am a fellow alumni of UMN-TC as well. The school is crazy huge but I loved it there. Finally got sick of freezing my butt off for half the year and moved out to San Diego recently. Minneapolis is a great city but I am NOT regretting it yet! I look forward to checking out more of your posts soon.
Darrin,
Go Gophers. I am sick of the cold too but don’t know where I would want to move to. Glad you like the blog and stop back soon.
David
Dave I work with Dave Craig and my daughter is a figure skater. We are trying to increase her vertical about an inch or more. She already does squats, agility drills, runs and pushups. Any other thoughts?
Gary
Gary,
As smart alecky as this sounds, the way to increase the vertical leap is to do more vertical leaps. Plyometric jumps would be a great start. First measure her vertical leap. Then practice doing that same movement. Do 3 sets of 10 jumps. Then jump up on a box that is 12″ high or so (Depending on her vertical). Work on increasing the height of the box over time. Hope that helps.
David
David, great site. My story is similar to yours. I once was the #1 ranked amateur boxer in the nation and made the 1980 Olympic team but as you know we boycotted. Fought Sugar Ray Leonard toe -to toe and beat 4 world champions as an amateur. My Sugar Ray Leonard fight can be seen on his website. Turned pro and was 13-0 when i suffered a slight eye injury that ended my career.
Afterwords I got married and had a family with 3 kids also, But got out of shape so I began working out doing the same training I did as a boxer. Lost weight and lost my pot belly stomach.
Now all I want to do is help others by teaching them to use three minutes rounds like pro boxers do to trim their fat and tighten their abs.
I hope to learn from you on the aspects of blogging and reaching the people that can benefit the most. .
Thank you and stay strong and athletic because it is the best shape you can ever be in.
Terry Silver
PS please visit my site at http://www.threeminutefit.com and critique me. Don’t worry about hurting my feelings because only Iron can sharpen Iron. and one athlete helping another is good.
Terry,
Nice site. You certainly have a lot of information and experience to share with people. Make sure you get that about page on there so people can see who you are and what you have done. Good luck and I’ll be checking back soon.
David
Hey Dave,
Just wanted to tell you that you did a great job in the 7:15 this morning. Thanks! Also thanks for finding a sub for wall balls–that was good.
Ellen
Hey David,
Nice to come across your site. You really did a transformation on your body composition. I work at a nonprofit that serves families on the North Side of St. Louis, I know “the way” and am trying to bring it to those who need it (56% of the ZIP code we serve has diabetes, and I just found out yesterday that our garden helper is just a hair’s width from diabetes). Just wanted to post on your site for the sake of solidarity. Congratulations on finding “it” and, for god’s sake, enjoy it! (I’m 5’0” by the way, trying to eat my way up to a higher level
Alex
Alex,
Unfortunately, statistics show that poorer people are even more at risk because of the food that buy (mainly refined carbs). This makes them fat and unhealthy. It’s a nasty cycle.
David
Hi David,
From your post on Mark’s Daily Apple and reading on your website, I am assuming you live in the Twin Cities. I am looking for a primal buddy or local group. I am also interested in learning about your experience with CrossFit. I am 40 and my fiance is off and on low carb/primal.
Thank you,
Cathy