My Weight Loss Journey

My name is Crystal Broussard and I am a family medicine physician and specialist in medical weight management. For those of you who know me personally, you know I have had my own weight loss journey, and struggling to maintain a healthy weight has been a personal battle for me. Obesity is a strong part of my family history. All four of my grandparents were obese and diabetic and are all deceased. My parents are both diabetic and my mom has been 150 pounds heavier than she is currently. After having my first child nine years ago, I found myself 100 pounds heavier than I am today. My pregnancy had complications including high blood pressure and I ended up on bed rest. We ended up having an emergent C-section due to these complications, and my daughter was in the NICU for a few days with breathing and sugar issues. I had amazing doctors on our team, and thankfully my daughter arrived safely and we left the hospital healthy. But I left the hospital knowing I would have to make a change for myself and for my family. I needed to break the cycle of obesity and diabetes for my own children. I changed my diet with healthier choices following a low glycemic approach. I now keep my home my “safe zone” with only healthy foods in the refrigerator and pantry. I incorporated exercise regularly, not just to lose weight but as part of a healthier lifestyle. Armed with all of my new tools, my second pregnancy was completely different. Instead of gaining 70 pounds like I did with my first pregnancy, during the second pregnancy I ate whole, low glycemic index foods and exercised every day. I delivered my son at full term after a healthy pregnancy with only a 26 pound weight gain. My children are now 5 and 8 and are active and healthy. They read food labels in the grocery store, don’t expect dessert to follow meals at home, and know that mom exercises regularly to be strong and healthy. Keeping my babies healthy and preventing diabetes and obesity in their future motivates me every day to be a role model for them.

As I changed my own lifestyle, I started teaching my family medicine patients how to do the same. The results were amazing – I started getting my patients off their blood pressure and diabetes medication with weight loss instead of continuing to add band aids to the medical problems caused by weight gain. It was incredibly fulfilling and I was fortunate to find my personal and professional calling and passion in educating others to change their lifestyle and take control of their health through weight loss.

I continue to learn about wellness and weight management every day and my patients are a constant source of new knowledge and inspiration. My purpose for this blog is to pass on the lessons my patients are teaching me – from a doctor on the frontlines of fighting the Obesity Epidemic we are facing in our country.

And in case you don’t believe me:

Before

After