Temperatures were below freezing Thanksgiving Day last year, but they were soon to be above average for Danny Doyle.
He was home in Dallas, in bed and watching the news on NBC 5.
"You guys made an announcement about a turkey swim at SMU," recalled 46-year-old Doyle. "I made a decision, right then, to stop feeling sorry for myself, get out of bed and go down there."
Danny was 298 pounds, taking medicine for high blood pressure and cholesterol and looking to make a change.
"I was overweight. I was out of shape. I was depressed, and I was in a rut," he said. "And I did not know how to get out of it."
Doyle swam competitively as a child and knew he could swim again. So that morning, he got out of bed, drove to the outdoor pool at Southern Methodist University and joined Dallas Aquatics Masters for its Turkey Day Swim 2013.
"Once I got through that first practice, I knew I could do this. I never missed a practice after that," he said. "The people I swim with are the nicest and coolest people I ever met."
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He credits the professional coaches and other swimmers for keeping him motivated and committed during the past 12 months.
"When you show up to a group environment to exercise, it's much easier," he said.
These days, Doyle is in the pool four days per week — spring, summer, fall and winter. Thankfully, the outdoor pool is heated to a swimmable 83 degrees.
A year after that first plunge and 51 pounds lighter, Doyle is a new man.
"People are used to seeing me at 300 pounds. They're not used to seeing me this thin," he smiled. "I feel great. The main thing is I'm off of my prescription medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol."
His next goal? "Now, I want to get down to 225."
Swimming got Doyle out of his rut and he hopes his story encourages others to make a change, too, preferably in a pool.
"I just feel fantastic, wake up with a smile on my face every day," he said.
Anyone can join Dallas Aquatics Masters. Sign up for a FREE trial week at damswim.com.
They have six pool locations with various swim practices scheduled mornings through evenings and weekends.
