Team Beachbody Guest

I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I love to read, travel, and
help others. I'm 34 years old and in my 3rd year of medical school at Johns
Hopkins. I'm interested in preventive medicine and health disparities,
especially among ethnic minorities and families with low-income.
I have struggled with my weight since puberty. I have never liked the way I
look and pretty much hide from

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I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I love to read, travel, and
help others. I'm 34 years old and in my 3rd year of medical school at Johns
Hopkins. I'm interested in preventive medicine and health disparities,
especially among ethnic minorities and families with low-income.
I have struggled with my weight since puberty. I have never liked the way I
look and pretty much hide from everyone as much as possible. I actually lost
50 lbs over the course of a year in 2002 while I was in the Peace Corps in
Africa. I was helped tremendously by the fact that the closest ice cream was
six hours away by car and I was forced to bike daily in order to do my job.
One thing I definitely noticed when I lost the weight was how much better I
felt. I had more energy, was stronger, liked being around people and wasn't
depressed all the time. When I came back to the US, I had every intention of
eating well and exercising regularly. I had tasted "healthy" and I wanted to
stay that way.
Unfortunately, I was unprepared for the emotional and physical demands of
medical school. I have gained all the weight back plus an extra 20 lbs. My
depression is at the worst it has ever been. I have absolutely no stamina, no
energy, and can't even study anymore. I've lost a year of school and will not
be graduating with my class this May.
I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I can't continue like this any longer.
The way I see it, I have two options: I can give in to the pain and give up or I
can fight to get my life back.
I'm choosing to fight.

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