Fat Doctor Takes her Own Advice and Loses Weight!
jkhartsock
Posts: 3 Member
Hey everyone!
My name is Jenny and I am a doctor in Dayton, OH. Like so many people, I myself struggled with work-life balance for years. My whole life was about my job, and I always put my personal life and health second. Last year I decided that had to stop. With diet (and using MFP of course!) and exercise alone I have lost 83 pounds so far. I am 23 pounds away from my goal weight!!! Calorie tracking has been such a lifesaver for me, and my diet has completely transformed. Thanks everyone else for sharing your stories, we need to keep each other motivated!
My name is Jenny and I am a doctor in Dayton, OH. Like so many people, I myself struggled with work-life balance for years. My whole life was about my job, and I always put my personal life and health second. Last year I decided that had to stop. With diet (and using MFP of course!) and exercise alone I have lost 83 pounds so far. I am 23 pounds away from my goal weight!!! Calorie tracking has been such a lifesaver for me, and my diet has completely transformed. Thanks everyone else for sharing your stories, we need to keep each other motivated!
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Replies
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Strong first post! I mean that, sincerely.5
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"Physician, heal thyself."
And you have - well done. :flowerforyou:16 -
Congratulations! You are ROCKING that bikini!1
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Great post - time to take the pretty dress to the tailor!8
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Yes, there is a doctor in the house! Stick around cause I'm sure there will be people who will want some advice!!
Awesome job BTW!
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Congratulations!
I wish my doctor(s) had made an effort to speak to me about my weight when I was 220. No one told me that weight loss would change my health so dramatically. I hope you tell your patients your story!
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Thank you cmriverside! I do share my story with select patients as well as my online posts. It is hard to talk to people about being obese (even my own doctor friends would always just be reassuring to me, telling me what I wanted not needed to hear). I think a lot of docs don't know how to have a genuine discussion about weight loss while remaining empathetic and not judgemental.8
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jkhartsock wrote: »Thank you cmriverside! I do share my story with select patients as well as my online posts. It is hard to talk to people about being obese (even my own doctor friends would always just be reassuring to me, telling me what I wanted not needed to hear). I think a lot of docs don't know how to have a genuine discussion about weight loss while remaining empathetic and not judgemental.
Well, I think it has to be discussed. I mean, first thing they do is have me step on a scale. Why bother to do that if you're not going to address an obese patient? It's like me weighing 220 pounds just didn't even matter to my health.
In fact, when I lost 70 pounds I also "lost" my reflux, back and knee pain, headaches, gum disease, balance problems, female um...stuff, sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, isolation. The list goes on. I was really mad at my PCP for never even mentioning how weight loss could help with my problems. All she did was keep throwing pills at me. It's pretty irresponsible, to be honest.13 -
Thank you for Your honesty5
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Great work! And I love the bikini in your "after" picture. May I ask, how long did it take you to get this far and what are your workouts like? You have some great muscle tone showing.3
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Great job2
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That is awesome! Congratulations on all your hard work and success! You're an inspiration to so many trying to physically better themselves1
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wow u you look amazing inspiration to others i'm reading on here today to make the change day 2... day 1 weighed was 227 lb 5ft i can relate to what your story congratulations you've done a fantastic job on your weight loss.
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Awesome job! You look great and what a great way to talk with patients about losing weight for their health. My doctor is a runner as well so its a great jumping off point for many conversations with us about health.2
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"I was really mad at my PCP for never even mentioning how weight loss could help with my problems. All she did was keep throwing pills at me. It's pretty irresponsible, to be honest."
This is so true. I don't know what they teach in medical school anymore except that the doctors are to order a bunch of tests and throw drugs at you.
@jkhartsock you look great, by the way. What an inspiration!
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Great results!1
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Your voice is going to be so powerful in the medical community. PLEASE don't stop speaking out. Sometimes it takes a "death sentence" to motivate a person to change, but even then, like some alchoholics, some will refuse. Still, speak! All we can do is share our experience, strength and hope. Some will listen and be changed. Thank you for your courage.1
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"I was really mad at my PCP for never even mentioning how weight loss could help with my problems. All she did was keep throwing pills at me. It's pretty irresponsible, to be honest."
This is so true. I don't know what they teach in medical school anymore except that the doctors are to order a bunch of tests and throw drugs at you.
@jkhartsock you look great, by the way. What an inspiration!
I'm not sure if it's that, or the fact that they get sick of telling people to change their lives over and over again without any results. I'm an RN. After a while of talking to people about lifestyle modifications (smoking cessation, weight reduction, dietary changes, etc), you realize that it's not going to happen, and just treat the symptoms rather than the cause, because failure to do so can have far reaching ramifications.
I see an NP. He speaks very candidly about weight. Did I make changes? Not at first. I had a hip replacement last year (at 35). I am now motivated to get the weight off to try to get the hip to last longer.
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By the way, OP...GREAT JOB!1
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WOW. What an amazing difference! I, too, work in the medical field and for a long time I've fallen into the same way of life, "work first - myself second." It's hard to focus on yourself once in a while when everything you do is for the good of other people. Keep up the amazing work - such an inspiration!2
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Wow! Your story is inspirational! I think I will get back on track today!!!!!! Motivation is powerful!
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You look terrific! Great job!0
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"I was really mad at my PCP for never even mentioning how weight loss could help with my problems. All she did was keep throwing pills at me. It's pretty irresponsible, to be honest."
This is so true. I don't know what they teach in medical school anymore except that the doctors are to order a bunch of tests and throw drugs at you.
@jkhartsock you look great, by the way. What an inspiration!
I'm not sure if it's that, or the fact that they get sick of telling people to change their lives over and over again without any results. I'm an RN. After a while of talking to people about lifestyle modifications (smoking cessation, weight reduction, dietary changes, etc), you realize that it's not going to happen, and just treat the symptoms rather than the cause, because failure to do so can have far reaching ramifications.
I see an NP. He speaks very candidly about weight. Did I make changes? Not at first. I had a hip replacement last year (at 35). I am now motivated to get the weight off to try to get the hip to last longer.
I get that. But my doctor - who I had been seeing for 15 years when I put on weight NEVER mentioned how losing weight might be a good idea. I'm one of those people who didn't even really see the weight on myself until I was buying size 20s. They have a screen right in front of them with the stuff they've done. Heck, she has notes about me concerning things that aren't even health related. How hard would it be to say, "You know, according to the BMI chart, you are morbidly obese. Here are some of the complications created by being over weight. Have you done any thinking about weight loss? Many of your problems may be relieved by losing weight. In the meantime you'll have to be on these medications."
Nothing.
Not one word.
I don't like medical interventions and pills. I would have been on that like white on rice. Embarrassing me is a good thing! As a matter of fact that was what finally got through my denial - someone calling me fat. I guess after being on these forums I can see how some people would change doctors because the doctor was honest, but I'm not one of those.1 -
Oh. And my weight gain was only after I was put on several medications for migraines. I was so slowed down I didn't even want to get off the couch. Lots of these meds can be switched out, but no one offered to try. I was just resigned to being huge if I was going to continue to treat my migraines. To me No Migraines > Fat.0
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Yeah for Dayton! I live here too! What a great job. I've started my journey almost a month ago. So far I've lost 10 lbs.. I try to walk or bike 5 times a week. Sometimes its hard to get off the couch, but I try to keep my goal in mind. Keep up the good job!2
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Donna way to get started!!!0
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