The Powerhouse Mentality
We all have a story. My mission in life and with this podcast is to help you stop tolerating your own bullshit to finally win in life. This podcast will teach you how to become the best version of yourself; mind, body and soul.
When you never stop learning, keep the commitments you make to yourself and intentionally seek discomfort; you are truly limitless.
I'm here to show you through my story and the story of others that anything is possible when you are willing to suffer a little bit more.
The Powerhouse Mentality
From Over 570lbs to Strict Pull-Ups: David Fennell on Addiction, Bariatric Surgery, and the Power of Community
At his heaviest, David Fennell saw 573 on the scale. Today, he’s knocking out strict pull-ups and training with a CrossFit crew that helped pull him out of the darkest stretch of his life. In this episode we cover David’s full arc: growing up in poverty, learning grit early, using food to self-medicate, the wild swings of 75 Hard, regaining the weight during lockdown, and the decision to fly to Mexico for bariatric surgery just days after burying his mother. He opens up about the mental health fallout that followed, kidney stones, a torn shoulder, and why he chose a GLP-1 (tirzepatide) to quiet the “food noise” while rebuilding standards, strength, and sanity. Most of all, we talk about community—the 6 a.m. class that kept him showing up, the simple wins, and why “just show up” isn’t cliché when it saves you.
Highlights:
- Addiction vs. “just discipline” and why shame never works
- Bariatric surgery, the first 6 months, and grieving the old coping habits
- CrossFit as a lifeline: standards, accountability, and starting over at 44
- GLP-1s without the stigma: using tools while protecting muscle and health
- The rule that never fails: show up, do what you can today, come back tomorrow
If you’ve ever thought you’re too far gone, this conversation is proof you aren’t. Listen, take one step today, and keep the promise you make to yourself.
Follow David Fennel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fentastic_76/
Read David's article on Crossfit.com: https://www.crossfit.com/essentials/the-differentiator-is-crossfit-david-fennel-goes-from-550-pounds-to-strict-pull-ups
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