Weight loss is a challenging endeavor, even for medical professionals, as illustrated by the experience of Betsy Grunch, MD, a board-certified neurosurgeon located near Atlanta. Dr. Grunch recently shared her ongoing battle with weight loss in an interview with Business Insider, attributing her struggle to a lack of nutritional education during her medical training. Despite her demanding schedule as a neurosurgeon and a mother of two, she managed to shed 80 pounds by taking charge of her diet.
Before embarking on her weight loss journey, Dr. Grunch, like many Americans, often resorted to fast food due to time constraints. Additionally, she unknowingly consumed excessive calories from sugary drinks, including multiple sodas and sweet coffee beverages daily. Recognizing the cumulative impact of her dietary habits, Dr. Grunch made a decision to enact change.
Over the years, she experimented with various fad diets but found lasting success when she embraced a high-protein, lower-carb diet in 2018. Coupled with intermittent fasting, where she confines her eating window to six to eight hours and fasts for the remainder of the day, this approach enabled her to shed 50 pounds and sustain her weight loss. Her daily routine typically involves starting her day with coffee containing heavy cream and MCT oil, enjoying a substantial high-protein lunch around noon or 1 p.m., and opting for a lighter dinner.
Intermittent fasting, as outlined by Johns Hopkins, extends the duration of calorie burning after the last meal, facilitating fat burning. While scientific research on the weight loss benefits of this practice yields mixed results, Dr. Grunch attests to its positive impact on her overall well-being, aiding in satiety, muscle maintenance, post-workout recovery, and avoidance of processed foods and gluten.
In addition to dietary modifications, Dr. Grunch underscores the psychological aspect of weight loss, emphasizing the significance of goal setting and cultivating a positive body image. Moreover, she sought assistance from medications like Mounjaro, akin to Ozempic, a diabetes drug prescribed off-label for weight loss due to its influence on the hunger hormone GLP-1. Dr. Grunch’s transformative journey underscores the multifaceted nature of successful weight loss, blending dietary adjustments, intermittent fasting, psychological resilience, and medical intervention.
