I was a successful doctor and weighed 306lbs! It made no sense; I saw my patient’s facial expressions change when I advised them to lose weight. After each appointment, I would grab whatever snacks I had in my drawer and binge until there was a knock on the door. I was often caught with a mouth full of food, and it was so embarrassing. Despite being a doctor, I had terrible health problems, including sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and high blood pressure, to name a few. I knew they were all diet related, but the addiction had such a grip on my life I couldn’t stop eating.
I started comfort eating in college because my course was so stressful. It got worse in medical school because now the pressure was really on. But then my dad died from skin cancer, and that’s when I hit rock bottom, and my food addiction got really aggressive.
When my sister was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer, I knew I had to make a change. I was intentionally destroying my body, while she didn’t have a choice, cancer ravished hers. My sister was dying a slow and painful death, and I needed to make sure my health problems didn’t prevent me from being there for my nephews and nieces.
I researched a few diets and decided that intermittent fasting would be best for me. I chose the 16:8 diet, where I didn’t eat anything for sixteen hours, and ate for eight hours. During my eight-hour eating window, I ate healthy foods such as turkey, chicken, vegetables, legumes, fruits, non-fat Greek yogurt, and nuts. I also incorporated a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, replacing my carbs with plenty of meat.
Unfortunately, my sister died on June 1, 2017, when she was only 32, which completely broke me. But instead of turning to food, I put my energy into helping raise my sister’s children, who were two and six when she died.
Exercise was never a part of my weight loss journey, but I did start a running group at my medical practice and quickly learned that it helped me deal with work-related stress. Stress was one of the main reasons why I comfort ate, and so I needed to make sure I didn’t go back to that and running really helped. I still get strong cravings for junk food, and instead of giving in, I go for a run. But I haven’t been perfect, and there are days when I’ve given in and eaten foods I shouldn’t have. But the key is not to punish yourself for it because when you feel worthless, you’re even more tempted to eat junk. Instead, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again.
I’ve lost 125lbs, and all my health ailments have disappeared. I now weigh 181lbs, and I can look my patients in the eye and tell them they need to lose weight without feeling like a hypocrite! If anyone is struggling with food addiction, my best advice to you would be to find your ‘why.’ Mine was my sister dying of cancer and knowing I had to be fit enough to help raise her children. Once you have a ‘why,’ there’s no stopping you.
