By JONATHON HOWARD
DOCTORS of Tewantin GP Doctor Chandran Ramaswamy has been forced to take some of his own medicine after he faced the reality of being overweight.
“I was always fit and healthy when I was younger, but during the past five years I started to get into the cakes and really just let myself go,” he said.
“Before I knew it, I was drastically overweight, my mood had changed and I’ve got far less energy.”
Dr Ramaswamy advises his patients on a daily basis to “watch your weight and do regular exercise”, but it was when he started to take his own advice that his weight and general outlook started to improve.
“When I started to notice my waist increasing and general fitness decreasing, I realised I needed to take my own advice and make a positive change,” he said.
The change came when Dr Ramaswamy received a phone call from a Noosa friend, who every year runs a marathon.
“My friend, who is from Switzerland but lives in Noosa, makes it an annual event to run in the Berlin Marathon,” he said.
“Every year he asks me to join him, and when he insisted that I run this year, I thought here’s my chance to make the change I’ve been wanting.”
That was almost 12 month ago, and Dr Ramaswamy has until 28 September when he takes part in the mamoth 42.2km run.
“I’ve managed to drop 9.5 kilos and I completed my first 30km run the other day,” he said.
Dr Ramaswamy was also fund-raising for Sunshine Hospice ’Katie Rose’.
He said he recently had a patient receiving support at Katie Rose and was inspired by the staff dedication and love shown towards all the Katie Rose patients.
“Our community should be so thankful, we have such a wonderful facility for our patients,” he said.
Donations and support for Dr Ramaswamy’s marathon run can be made to Westpac account: Sunshine Coast Community Hospice Ltd – BSB: 034 198 Account Number: 399023.
Residents can also make a donation at Doctors of Tewantin on 22 Doonella Street.
