Summary
I have struggled with my weight since I went on my first diet at just six years old. In the early 2000s, I found temporary success using a supplement called Metabolife, but the FDA eventually banned it due to cases of sudden cardiovascular death linked to ephedra. Over the years—through the stress of my husband’s Marine Corps deployments and having children—I gained the weight back, eventually reaching 222 pounds and being classified as class two obese by 2014. Because the drugs I once relied on were no longer an option, I decided to reverse-engineer why they worked; I realized they simply gave me the energy to move more and lowered my appetite so I ate less.
I ultimately achieved an 80-pound weight loss completely naturally by using intermittent fasting. Fasting provided me with clear boundaries around food, which helped me identify my emotional eating habits and permanently change my relationship with eating. While I support whatever helps people overcome obesity, modern GLP-1 drugs are often too expensive, sometimes not covered by insurance, or cause negative side effects. I want to encourage others that losing weight drug-free is absolutely possible. It requires changing your mental self-talk, setting reasonable expectations, and giving yourself patience through what is inevitably a messy, non-linear process.
Unbroken book
First They Killed My Father book
Key Takeaways
Weight loss ultimately comes down to a calorie deficit: Whether achieved naturally or through medication, these drugs are not magic; losing weight simply requires eating less food to put your body into a deficit.
Intermittent fasting can build better habits: By creating clear eating windows, fasting helps uncover emotional eating patterns and provides the structure needed to learn portion control without relying on medication.
Weight loss medications are not the only solution: Drugs like GLP-1s can cost around $1,000 a month out of pocket and may have side effects, but dropping significant weight without them is entirely possible and documented by countless success stories.
The journey is a highly mental game: Changing your self-talk—such as rejecting the idea that you are a helpless victim to your cravings—and realizing you have deep inner willpower is crucial for long-term success.
Patience is required for the “messy” process: Natural weight loss is not a straight line down; you must forgive yourself for slip-ups while continuing the hard work of building self-discipline and self-awareness over time.
My Book
You don’t have to count calories, cut carbs, or do high-intensity workouts to drop those pounds. This book shows you a laid back way to practice intermittent fasting that makes weight loss (and maintenance!) enjoyable.