Fit Rx

How I lost 90 pounds in under a year in residency

Hours on my feet as a neurosurgeon and the aches and pains from extra weight forced me to make major lifestyle changes.

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Editor’s note: This is an opinion piece; the views expressed are the author’s own and do not represent the views of The DO or the AOA.

A small bead of sweat trickled down my back as I stood over the patient on the operating table. We were in the fifth hour of surgery now and the heaviness of the lead suit and the squeeze of the smock around my waist converged like an angry tourniquet. I knew I was too heavy to stand much longer, too out-of-shape to withstand the inordinate number of hours on my feet.

It was my fourth year of residency and I was perpetually uncomfortable. My feet hurt. My back ached. My knees buckled under my weight, which was 270 pounds. I started to live in a prism of body shame. I had to wear the largest lead apron the hospital had. I arrived early, claimed it and tucked it away, not wanting anyone to see me searching for it. No one knew, I thought.

Jason Milton, DO, PHARM.D, MBA

But I knew. I also knew that something had to change.

I decided I would.

Starting a new life

I was a neurosurgery resident. It had taken tremendous discipline and hard work to get me there. But I struggled to apply that level of focus and resolve to my personal life.

I thought about how dedicated I was to my career. Was I willing to sacrifice everything, including my health, in the name of medicine?

No, I was not.

Turns out, I’m not invincible after all or above the need for self-care. So after countless Oreos, fast-food festivals, and late-night snack sessions, I decided to see a primary care physician.

One of the first questions she asked me was, ‘What do you think is going on?’

Hmmm. I was puzzled. Did she need glasses?

‘What do you mean?’ I replied. ‘I’m fat.’

The physician very sensitively discussed a pastel version of weight loss, undoubtedly making an effort to insulate me from insult or injury. But I didn’t need coddling, I needed to be accountable.

That next day, on Dec. 30, 2017, I started a new life.

I exercised every day. I cut out fast food. I cut out sweets and anything that was tempting. I ate only fruits and veggies and lean meat. I started tracking my calories every day. And I ran like crazy. Quite slowly at first, admittedly. In the beginning, I’d work out on the elliptical for 20 minutes and feel like I was going to die.

But I did not stop.

Shred and burn

I noticed results quickly. The number on the scale started dropping. I felt good. I was no longer exhausted throughout the day. I started to have energy and stamina again.

At 270 pounds, my goal was to lose 70 pounds in a year.  I ultimately lost 90 pounds, more quickly than I ever imagined I would. So far, I’ve maintained the weight loss.

I still track my calories every day. I’ve trained myself to do things in moderation. Now, when I see sweets, I automatically convert the snack into the number of hours it will take to work it off. It’s simply not worth it to me.

I’ve always been a person of routine, a person who follows systems and methods. In medical school, I arrived early. In residency, I arrive to work early. I go through things at work with precision and consistency and discipline. Now I apply those skills to my personal life.

Recently, during a four-hour-plus surgery, my attending who’d been with me through my larger days asked if I needed him to take over. But I was in the zone. I have so much energy these days, I hadn’t even realized we’d gotten to the four-hour mark.

‘No, I’ve got it.’ I replied, realizing I could stand for another hour or more. Easily.

My smock is no longer tight. My lead apron is no longer the largest. My hands and my mind have more dexterity than ever before.

I no longer feel like a prisoner inside my body. I feel great.

For further reading:

The fit life made easy, thanks to apps for every schedule and skill level

Intermittent fasting: Can we fast our way to better health?

3 comments

  1. Nikitasha Aggarwal

    Thank you sharing! Your dedication is inspirational! May you continue to maintain this focus. I commit to making changes in my life too.

  2. J Harley Galusha DO

    Impressive !!!
    I have had similar experience. As an ophthalmology resident I continued my chronic eating ,studies AND NO EXERCISE ! when I went into practice on my own in 1960 I was 35 lbs more than now! Starting I was not busy and went to the “Y” after making rounds and later at 5 AM ! This continued 3 days a week along with 20-30 major surgeries and peaked 50 yrs later with two marathons!

  3. Dani Rox

    I applaud your ability to take control of your health and for not giving up on yourself! I must warn you though, from experience, there is a very fine line between maintaining a healthy lifestyle and orthorexia. Healthy living is a lifestyle but don’t let it control your life.

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