Shawn Eckert's journey started with a single step that transformed his whole life. After years of struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, Shawn weighed 446 lbs. After his doctor warned him that he would die early if he continued the path he was on, he made a commitment to improving his health so he could be there for his family and for himself. His first steps were painful and challenging but after only one week of daily walking, he felt empowered by the dramatic physical and mental changes that were taking shape. Over time, walking became the activity he relied on to keep his mind clear and happy.

During our conversation, Shawn shares his journey with walking and how it impacted his relationships with his family and improved his mental health. He also experienced an incredible physical transformation, including the complete loss of the foot and heel pain he'd been struggling with and an overall weight loss of nearly 200 lbs. Shawn is now an ultrarunner who recently finished a 100-mile race. He credits walking for helping him stay motivated during both running and everyday life.

You can connect with Shawn on Instagram at @shawnsmahal.

Learn more about KEEN Footwear and the WK400 walking shoe at https://www.keenfootwear.com/wk400

The Solve By Walking podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or participation in a physical activity. The views expressed by guests of the podcast are their own, and their appearance on the podcast does not imply any endorsement by KEEN or its affiliated entities.