Achieving and sustaining weight loss poses challenges even for medical professionals, as exemplified by Betsy Grunch, MD, a board-certified neurosurgeon based near Atlanta. Dr. Grunch, in a recent interview with Business Insider, shared her enduring struggle with weight loss, attributing it to a lack of nutritional education during her medical training. Despite her busy schedule as a neurosurgeon and a mother of two, she successfully shed 80 pounds by taking control of her diet.
Before her weight loss journey, Dr. Grunch, like many Americans, relied on fast food due to time constraints. Additionally, she unwittingly consumed excessive calories through sugary drinks, including multiple sodas and sweet coffee beverages daily. Realizing the cumulative impact of her dietary habits, Dr. Grunch decided to make a change.
Over the years, she experimented with various fad diets but found lasting success when she adopted a high-protein, lower-carb diet in 2018. Combined with intermittent fasting, wherein she eats within a six- to eight-hour window and fasts the rest of the time, this approach allowed her to lose 50 pounds and maintain her weight loss. She starts her day with coffee containing heavy cream and MCT oil, has a substantial high-protein lunch around noon or 1 p.m., and opts for a lighter dinner.
Intermittent fasting, according to Johns Hopkins, extends the period of calorie burning after the last meal, promoting fat burning. While research on the weight loss benefits of this practice is mixed, Dr. Grunch attests to the positive impact on her well-being, helping her feel fuller, maintain muscle, recover from workouts, and avoid processed foods and gluten.
Beyond dietary changes, Dr. Grunch emphasizes the psychological component of weight loss, stressing the importance of setting goals and fostering a positive relationship with one’s body. Additionally, she sought assistance from medications like Mounjaro, similar to Ozempic, a diabetes drug prescribed off-label for weight loss due to its impact on the hunger hormone GLP-1. Dr. Grunch’s transformative journey underscores the multifaceted nature of successful weight loss, combining dietary adjustments, intermittent fasting, psychological resilience, and medical support.
