We recently connected with Rupal Mathur and have shared our conversation below.

Rupal, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

I’ve known since elementary school that I wanted to be a doctor to help people. I was pre-med at Rice University, graduated from Baylor College of Medicine with Honors, and completed my residency at Harvard Medical School focusing on primary care. Upon graduation from residency in 2015, I took a job as a primary care physician at a busy practice in the Texas Medical Center. While there, I was able to help a lot of people, but I felt like I was practicing “sick” care instead of health care.

Then in 2016, I got a very unexpected medical test result from my own physician. My blood sugar was in the prediabetes range. I was shocked. I was a vegetarian. Isn’t plant-based eating supposed to keep one healthy? Not if it includes Fritos, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, and Oreos, apparently. I did a lot of independent reading and learning about nutrition and weight loss. I took a deep look at my diet and changed it completely. Three months later, my blood sugar dropped to the normal range, and I had lost 15 lbs. At the same time, I started counseling my patients on how to change their diets to improve their health. But I quickly realized that the system I was operating in did not allow time for preventative medicine. I felt like my job was to put band-aids on wounds instead of treating the cause of the injuries.

Therefore, in 2017 I opened my own medical practice called Lifelong Weight Loss, and I devoted my career to purely preventative medicine. Specifically, my mission was to help individuals to lose weight, since excess weight is the root cause of so many chronic medical conditions.

As with all small businesses, the first two years were a struggle. I had zero presence on the internet and a very limited budget for marketing. But because I was doing something I loved, I was able to continue moving forward, and the practice began to grow through word-of-mouth. My biggest piece of advice for those thinking about going out on their own is that if they have a true passion for what they are doing, to be patient and trust that they will be successful.

Through my practice, I have been able to help countless patients have a better understanding of their nutritional needs to help them lose weight and reverse or prevent chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. My patients, in turn, with their bravery, kindness, and determination, have helped me to truly practice health care.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician, and I practice weight loss medicine. I focus on dietary counseling to help individuals choose the right foods for their bodies to lose weight. I also prescribe FDA-approved medications that target the metabolic dysfunctions that result in weight gain. My practice is very different from a traditional doctor’s office. I need to know my patients extremely well to understand what nutrition and weight loss plan will work best for their lifestyle and body type. Therefore, the initial consultation is 80 minutes long, and follow up appointments are at least every month, and sometimes sooner if needed. Obesity is a complex medical condition, and therefore I provide individualized treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all plan. There is also no weight-shaming nor accusations about overeating at my practice. My staff and I care about our patients and want them to succeed, and that is what I am most proud of.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Yes, although my answer was no for a long time. When I was a primary care physician providing more “sick” care than healthcare, I was burned out and did not feel fulfilled in my career. I wished I had chosen a different profession. Now that I am focused only on weight loss medicine and helping people prevent or treat chronic medical conditions through diet and lifestyle, I am truly happy. I am so thankful to have found a part of medicine I am passionate about and that keeps me motivated everyday.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Bedside manner. It is really important for people to feel that they are being heard, and that you show compassion for their struggles. This is the part of my job I enjoy the most – connecting with my patients. It is also the most important part of building a thriving practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: lifelongweightloss.com
• Instagram: @lifelongweightloss
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/LWLHouston