One of my core memories as a teen in the 1990s was standing in front of a mirror at 14, promising I wouldn’t end up like all the out-of-shape adults around me, constantly trying—and failing—to lose weight.

I swore to myself then and there that I would be different. I would fight that battle and win.

Hell, I’d even find a way to make it easy.

LIFE ON “EASY MODE”?

Unfortunately…

No matter how much you know, or how hard you try, getting and staying healthy and fit in our modern western world is NOT easy.

In fact, it’s really, really hard. For many, it has been impossible.

• Exercising is hard.

• Figuring out what, when, and how to eat is hard.

• Getting enough sleep is hard.

• Staying hydrated is hard.

• Avoiding junk food is hard.

• Finding “the time” is hard.

• Dealing with stress, bad genes, injuries, and chronic pain is hard.

That’s just a partial list.

But most of all, solving the Appetite Problem is hard.

THE APPETITE PROBLEM

Why do so many of us gain weight so easily, but never seem to be able to lose it?

The answer is Appetite.

Hunger.

The physiologic drive to eat.

When we are in a calorie deficit, we get hungry. And when we get hungry, if food is available, we eat it!

Even when you try not to. Even when you don’t WANT to.

It’s a simple as that.

I call this the “Appetite Problem”.

Solve the appetite problem, and you’ll be able to lose weight.

Unfortunately, as much as we would like to believe it is, this isn’t about willpower. This is about biology. And biology is a very powerful opponent.

Start a diet on Monday? Yeah, you’ll be cleaning out the fridge by Friday.

Stand in front of a bowl of M&Ms long enough when you are hungry, and you will eventually eat one. And then maybe the whole bowl.

FOOD, FOOD, EVERYWHERE

Why is the appetite problem so intractable?

It’s how our bodies are designed!

Making sure every available calorie is consumed (in times of plenty) while resisting stored energy loss at all costs (in times of lack) was a brilliant biological adaptation for hunter-gatherers who spent their entire days physically laboring just for the chance of eating that night.

But now?

Well, let’s just say that human evolution never saw the Western Diet coming.

• Supersized portions.

• Added sugar and fat in everything.

• Drive-thru windows.

• The “Hot Now” sign at Krispy Kreme.

• Food everywhere, all the time.

No hunting or gathering required.

We eat, and eat, and eat…and the famine never comes.

It’s no wonder nearly 75% of Americans are overweight or obese.

A FAUSTIAN BARGAIN

Those who stay lean in the modern world often don’t solve the appetite problem either.

They just make a deal with the devil—sacrificing balance, social life, and sometimes even their health in a desperate bid to control their calorie intake.

This brings us back to my story.

I played varsity sports in high school, majored in Athletic Training in college, became a certified personal trainer, learned everything I could about nutrition, and joined a amateur bodybuilding social group.

And after spending much of my days in the gym, I spent my evenings and weekends training and competing to become a professional Ballroom and Latin dancer.

I measured, weighed, and meal-prepped every calorie I ate and made sure to always burn off any unplanned excesses on the treadmill (no matter how long it took—I once ran a full 26.2 miles after a particularly indulgent Thanksgiving dinner just to get back to even for the day).

I checked myself weekly to see how close I was to my self-imposed goal of exactly matching Michaelangelo’s David’s chest-to-waist-to-wrist ratio.

I looked good. And at 8-10% body fat, I looked the part of a finely tuned athlete who had it all figured out.

“Easy peasy.”

UNDER THE SURFACE

In reality, in hindsight, I was in a toxic, obsessive cycle of extreme dieting, binge eating, and compulsive exercise.

I was still furiously battling my own appetite, and my body was fighting back. HARD.

As time went along, my appetite got harder and harder to control.

I developed an eating disorder.

I started

I was losing the plot.

THE WHEELS FALL OFF

Fast forward to 2009.

I started medical school, remodeled a house, and got married—all in the same year.

What came next is what I believe is referred to as “real life.”

• Stress. Non-stop responsibilities. No time. No energy.

• Endless clinical rotations, board exams, 24-hour hospital shifts.

• Unlimited junk food at the nurses’ station.

By the time I finished residency seven years later, I had become exactly what I spent my whole life trying to avoid.

• 60 pounds overweight

• Snoring like a freight train

• Carrying the mental burden of failure.

I couldn’t believe it. It had happened to me. But I wasn’t giving up.

CLAWING MY WAY BACK

After graduating from medical residency in 2016, I did what I had always done—I white-knuckled my way back.

• I built the ultimate home gym.

• I hired an elite personal trainer.

• I meal-prepped, tracked every macro, and brutalized myself in the gym.

And yes, I made it back to the bodybuilding stage.

I looked good.

But I was still inflicting damage on myself and others. And, just like before, it didn’t last.

I still hadn’t cracked the appetite problem.

A NEW HOPE: GLP-1 MEDICATIONS

In January 2023, still struggling to maintain a healthy weight, I was introduced to semaglutide—a medication I knew nothing about at the time.

A colleague suggested I try it. I picked up the prescription, took my first dose and went about my day.

Later that evening, I made a ribeye sandwich—the kind of meal I usually eat two of, and try not to eat three.

I took two bites and…I put it down.

I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t forcing myself. I wasn’t trying to be disciplined.

I just didn’t want any more.

For the first time in my life, I wasn’t fighting my appetite.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: SIDE EFFECTS & SUBPAR RESULTS

At first, it seemed I had indeed found the elusive magic bullet, and I ramped up my dosing quickly to the dose recommended by the treatment guidelines.

But I soon realized that while GLP-1s had solved my appetite problem, they had created new ones.

• My appetite was so suppressed I was barely eating—sometimes only a few hundred calories a day.

• My muscle mass and strength plummeted.

• My GI side effects were constant and miserable.

I lost weight—fast. But nearly half of it was hard-earned muscle.

GLP-1 medications had solved my appetite problem. But there had to be an even better way.

RETURN OF THE JEDI: THE RIGHT WAY TO USE GLP-1s

I purposefully regained the weight (and muscle mass) I had lost and started over.

But this time, I threw away the one-size-fits-none dosing playbook and applied science to my approach.

• Protein First: At least 1g per pound of lean body mass to prevent muscle loss.

• Whole Foods Only: High-nutrient-density plants and quality animal protein.

• Hydration & Electrolytes: To avoid dehydration and excessive fatigue.

• Strength Training: Heavy compound lifts to preserve lean mass.

• Strategic Cardio: Sprint intervals instead of excessive endurance training.

• Precision Dosing: Most importantly, I meticulously tracked my medication levels and took the minimum dose necessary to keep me in a relatively small 500-750 kcal deficit.

This time, I wasn’t just losing weight—I was losing the right kind of weight.

My results?

• ✅ Minimal muscle loss.

• ✅ Steady, sustainable weight loss.

• ✅ Ideal body fat percentage.

• ✅ Minimal GI side effects.

• ✅ Work-life balance.

Same medication. Smarter approach. Radically different outcome.

THE BIRTH OF VOAFIT

While working in the ER, I saw countless patients suffering from poorly managed GLP-1 therapy.

• Overdosed.

• Under-supported.

• Frustrated.

I knew these medications could change lives—but only when used correctly. And I knew I had the knowledge and experience to make a real difference for the many people out there just like me.

So, I created Voafit.

At Voafit, we combine precisely-dosed, physician-supervised GLP-1 therapy with:

• ✅ Expert lifestyle coaching

• ✅ Individualized nutrition & exercise plans

• ✅ On-demand M.D. support

• ✅ Positive accountability

• ✅ Compassionate guidance

Our goal is to make the impossible possible for anyone willing to try—and both my own experience and that of the many patients who have successfully graduated from the Voafit program are evidence that you can do it to. 

Are you tired of fighting this battle alone?

Let me help.

Schedule a consultation today.