“Proper Motivation” Was the No. 1 Key to Success
Dr. Kevin Gendreau lost 125 pounds and he attributed his success to three major components. First is finding the proper motivation, second is a whole food diet without processed carbohydrates, and the final piece to the puzzle is intermittent fasting. He went on to further explain the first component: “If you can’t come up with a good enough reason to make a major life change like this, it’ll be impossible for you to commit,” Dr. Gendreau told TODAY.
Unfortunately, his motivation came with tragedy. In 2016, he was 30 years old and working as a primary care physician who weighed 300 pounds. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis, and fatty liver disease. Then the tragedy hit when his sister was diagnosed with cancer. As he watched his sister dying of cancer, he realized he had chosen to be obese and unhealthy, so he decided to change
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“My diet was full of bread, pasta and chips. For me, being obese was a choice. How could I literally eat myself to death while my poor sister was fighting for her life?” Dr. Gendreau told People.
Whole Food No Processed Carbohydrates Diet
When he first started in August 2016, he cut all processed carbohydrates and ate about 1,700 calories a day. He used a weight-loss app, MyFitnessPal, to help him track the calorie consumption and his progress. The first 40 pounds came off easily.
He shared with People a list of specific foods he ate including fruits, vegetables, nuts, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, non-fat Greek yogurt, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and non-caloric spices and seasoning. He does not eat anything not on this list.
When he reached 225 pounds, he hit a plateau. At that time, he felt much better but he was short of his goal. He had to make a decision to continue or not.
When his sister died in June of 2017, leaving behind her children, Henry, 3, and Sophia, 7, Dr. Gendreau became more motivated because he knew his niece and nephew would need him to be healthy.
Then he turned to intermittent fasting after reading and learning more about it from “The Obesity Code.”
Intermittent Fasting Helps Dr. Gendreau Achieved His Goal
During intermittent fasting, Dr. Gendreau eats from only 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Outside of that time he allows himself black tea, black coffee, and water. The 16-hour fasts helped him shed the last 60 pounds of his 125-pound weight loss, which took a total of 18 months. He said intermittent fasting works because it helps naturally decrease your daily calorie consumption while improving your insulin sensitivity.
“I am shocked it works. There is always a new diet but this is very medically sound, which is why I loved it,” he told TODAY. He added: “Ninety percent of my weight loss … is from diet.”
How Does Intermittent Fasting Work
Apart from Dr. Gendreau, many people have tried intermittent fasting including Hugh Jackman, who used it to help him get into shape for his movie “The Wolverine.”
Intermittent fasting is eating within a specific timed window, usually between 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. You eat for 8 hours and fast for 16 hours so it is also called the 16:8 diet. It has become increasingly popular over the past few years because some studies on mice and observational ones on humans suggest this diet method might translate to weight loss and, in some cases, improved metabolic health.
Dr. Gendreau even began recommending intermittent fasting to his patients because it has been life-changing for him. But he cautioned that intermittent fasting is safe for most people, but not everyone. People should definitely talk to their doctors before starting any diet plan.
He is now happier and healthier than ever. He has reversed all health conditions he previously experienced and is now a weight loss expert who regularly shares tips on what helped him succeed.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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