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Before she decided to embark on her weight loss journey, Dr. Christine Manukyan recalled how comfortable she was with being uncomfortable. In high school she weighed over 200 lbs, convincing herself she was just ‘big-boned’ so as not to face the reality of her situation. Struggling with self-esteem issues, she started her first fad diet young, but nothing would stick and she always found herself back to square one. It wasn’t until a doctor told her she would suffer a heart attack by age 40, that 35-year-old Dr. Christine decided to take a step back and make sustainable changes so she could actually enjoy her life.
After years of unsuccessful yo-yo dieting, Manukyan decided to make healthy and maintainable changes which she knew would be easier to stick to long term. “I started cellular cleansing, intermittent fasting and eating 5 small meals a day (two of which were meal replacement shakes from Isagenix.) I focused on getting a good night sleep and making sure I was staying hydrated with 120 oz of water a day.” Intermittent fasting has become wildly popular for weight loss over the last several years, limiting the time frame in which you eat instead of the quantities.
Instead of eliminating her favorite foods, Dr. Christine made small adjustments to her meals which aided in cutting back on calories and supporting weight loss. “I cut down on all soda and artificial sweeteners--I used to put seven Splendas in my Venti Starbucks coffee every morning! And I learned to cook; no more frozen food for dinner, I was committed to making home cooked meals and meal prepping.”
As she made these food changes and the weight slowly came off, Dr. Christine revealed that one of the biggest things that changed for her was her mindset. She explained that the years of yo-yo dieting were in large part due to her wanting to achieve quick results rather than actually working on her health. In order for it to stick, she had to open up her mind and be able to ask for help, accepting herself through all stages of her transformation. “As you are losing weight, you are gaining a new identity, and you have to be okay with loving your new identity.”
While she once struggled with obesity and unsustainable diets, Dr. Christine now proudly reveals that she is a marathon runner and bodybuilding athlete who hopes that her story will empower those who were once in her shoes to make a change of their own. She takes pride in her passion for holistic wellness, and notes that her biggest advice to those looking to lose weight is, “Start transforming your mindset about yourself before you start working on your physical appearance.”
