Diet or Diabetes by Smit

Diet or Diabetes by Smit - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

May 2nd, 2020 [Spring Freshman Year]

I step down from my mattress and slouch-walk to my phone. After dismissing my alarm, I realized the light in my room wasn’t the morning sun. It was 2:45 PM, and I had slept for 13 hours like a couch potato.
As I step into the bathroom to take a much-needed shower, I recall the affairs of yesterday. First, I sat in eerie silence in my doctor’s office. Then, when Dr. Patel walked into the room, he sighed and said, “Let’s talk kiddo.” He explained that I weighed 185 pounds at 5' 7'' last year, but I'd gained an additional 30 pounds and only one inch of height this year. Then came the big blow. “You’re on track to be pre-diabetic, Smit,” remarked Dr. Patel.
As I snap into the present moment and take my clothes off for the shower, I try to come to terms with where I went wrong; I detest finding out because I hate blaming myself. It started when I chose to game for 6-8 hours, eat 4000 plus calories, and refuse to make up for the sedentary life I’d made for myself. I felt ashamed. After putting on my clothes, I concluded that feeling futile helps no one. I bolted to my work desk and ripped out a piece of paper. I began scribbling the days of the week and created a timeline; my game plan was ready. I would jog 1 mile daily, cut back by 1200 calories, and limit myself to an hour of Xbox. With this blueprint, I planned to burn 79,300 calories or 22.7 pounds by the end of summer.

August 25th, 2020 [End of Summer Freshman Year]

I flunked miserably. Let me elaborate. I did not lose 22.7 pounds but gained 10 pounds. As a result, I weighed 225 pounds and grew only one inch in height. I fell victim to the “I deserve it” mentality. The first two days, I went on my 1-mile run, cut back on my calories, and spent less than an hour on Xbox. Unfortunately, I decided to reward myself. I took a two-day break, assuming I could ease back in. But, as many failed dieters know, I didn’t return to the routine. After two days of rest, I gave up. I fell into the comfort of food; this was the first time I stepped out of my comfort zone, and I was no fan. Instead, I continued living the lifestyle that had gotten me there.
One conversation with my father was all it took to change my life; he implored me to lose weight and eat healthier because he didn’t want his son to die before him, a phrase that punctured my heart.
Due to COVID, my sophomore year was online. Therefore, there were endless opportunities to add additional weight. Not this time, however.
My inspiration, Warren Buffet, believes that investing in oneself is the best financial decision a person can make. I stayed true to Mr. Buffett’s words and started tutoring to earn money to invest in gym equipment. Every morning my body would be sore because yesterday’s workout was tougher than the day before. However, I would still have three workouts in a day. A 30-minute HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workout in the morning, an hour of weight training in the afternoon, and calisthenics in the evening filled my day's schedule. Every day, I would eat 20 fewer calories than before until I reached 2500 calories. After three relentless months, I lost 45 pounds and was no longer pre-diabetic.
Throughout high school, I faced many challenges. However, this experience was a gift. My weight loss journey taught me how to be disciplined, diligent, and patient. Whether it’s when I become an investment banker, a husband, or a father, this experience will help me strive in my career and personal life.
Rushing progress so often leads to failure. There was a time when I expected significant change in two days of effort; I was merely a fool. Life lesson: there’s no easy way out; I must choose between dieting and diabetes.