Hello, I’m Dr Sandip Mathur. I’m a gastroenterologist in Abilene, Texas.

As a doctor I’m often asked about weight loss. Many patients want to lose weight but just can’t. Some of them have tried and failed, others don’t know where to start. Let’s begin with the end in sight: how much do you want to lose? Be realistic. You have to lose weight and keep it off. You have to change.

Change means pain. So the first step is to ask yourself if you’re ready for pain. Are you willing to accept some pain? How much pain? For how long?

Because you are going to have to change something pretty fundamental. You can’t lose weight by doing the same things or by making slight adjustments only.

Are you ready for the pain of change? If you are serious, then prepare yourself for battle. It will be difficult, but the results are worth it. You have to prepare yourself and give up things that you love. You will have to sacrifice, and then stick with the new lifestyle. Are you willing to accept the pain of change/

If you are, then this advice will really help you. You should benefit in the short term and long term. You will feel much better and enjoy your waking and sleeping hours much more. There are so many medical benefits, and you probably know that.

What if you don’t have the will power to go ahead? You should consider taking medications like Ozempic and others, and consider surgery, like gastric sleeve surgery.

Remember, there are limitations of these options as well, and you may have other consequences. I will talk about that later.

So are you ready to lose weight? I’ll go over the basic steps in my next blog

Remember, these are general medical guidelines. You must consult your own health professional as well.