My Story:

Throughout college, medical school, and residency, food became more than nourishment. It was my reward for studying, my comfort during stressful times, and often a way to cope with the demands of training. With each stage came new challenges and, unfortunately, new patterns that affected my health.

Everything shifted when I became a mother. When my daughter was about four months old and started reaching for food on my plate, I realized I wanted to model healthy habits for her and give her the best possible start in life. I found myself carefully choosing what she would be exposed to, and in that moment, I recognized that I wasn’t extending the same care and compassion to myself. What began as an effort to be a positive role model for my child evolved into a much deeper journey of self-reflection, self-love, and personal growth. The process was not always comfortable or easy, but it taught me that meaningful and lasting change rarely is.

— Dr. Tahrin Siddiqua