The Story Behind Voafit
My Story
by Ian Justl Ellis, MD
One of my core memories as a teen in the 1990s was standing in front of a mirror at 14, promising I wouldn’t end up like all the out-of-shape adults around me, constantly trying, and failing, to lose weight.
I swore to myself then and there that I would be different. I would fight that battle and win. Hell, I’d even find a way to make it easy.
Life on “Easy Mode”?
Unfortunately… no matter how much you know, or how hard you try, getting and staying healthy and fit in our modern western world is NOT easy. In fact, it’s really, really hard. For many, it has been impossible.
- Exercising is hard.
- Figuring out what, when, and how to eat is hard.
- Getting enough sleep is hard.
- Staying hydrated is hard.
- Avoiding junk food is hard.
- Finding “the time” is hard.
- Dealing with stress, bad genes, injuries, and chronic pain is hard.
That’s just a partial list. But most of all, solving the Appetite Problem is hard.
The Appetite Problem
Why do so many of us gain weight so easily, but never seem to be able to lose it?
The answer is Appetite. Hunger. The physiologic drive to eat.
When we are in a calorie deficit, we get hungry. And when we get hungry, if food is available, we eat it! Even when you try not to. Even when you don’t WANT to.
This isn’t about willpower. This is about biology. And biology is a very powerful opponent.
Food, Food, Everywhere
Making sure every available calorie is consumed while resisting stored energy loss at all costs was a brilliant biological adaptation for hunter-gatherers. But now? Human evolution never saw the Western Diet coming.
We eat, and eat, and eat…and the famine never comes. It’s no wonder nearly 75% of Americans are overweight or obese.
A Faustian Bargain
Those who stay lean in the modern world often don’t solve the appetite problem either. They just make a deal with the devil, sacrificing balance, social life, and sometimes even their health in a desperate bid to control their calorie intake.
I played varsity sports in high school, majored in Athletic Training in college, became a certified personal trainer, learned everything I could about nutrition, and joined an amateur bodybuilding social group. I measured, weighed, and meal-prepped every calorie.
I looked good. And at 8–10% body fat, I looked the part of a finely tuned athlete who had it all figured out.
In reality, in hindsight, I was in a toxic, obsessive cycle of extreme dieting, binge eating, and compulsive exercise. I developed an eating disorder. I was losing the plot.
The Wheels Fall Off
Fast forward to 2009. I started medical school, remodeled a house, and got married, all in the same year. What came next is what I believe is referred to as “real life.”
Stress. Non-stop responsibilities. No time. No energy. Endless clinical rotations, board exams, 24-hour hospital shifts. Unlimited junk food at the nurses’ station.
By the time I finished residency seven years later, I had become exactly what I spent my whole life trying to avoid. 60 pounds overweight. Snoring like a freight train. Carrying the mental burden of failure.
A New Hope: GLP-1 Medications
In January 2023, still struggling to maintain a healthy weight, I was introduced to semaglutide, a medication I knew nothing about at the time.
Later that evening, I made a ribeye sandwich, the kind of meal I usually eat two of, and try not to eat three. I took two bites and…I put it down.
I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t forcing myself. I wasn’t trying to be disciplined. I just didn’t want any more. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t fighting my appetite.
The Empire Strikes Back: Side Effects
At first, it seemed I had found the elusive magic bullet. But I soon realized that while GLP-1s had solved my appetite problem, they had created new ones.
- My appetite was so suppressed I was barely eating, sometimes only a few hundred calories a day.
- My muscle mass and strength plummeted.
- My GI side effects were constant and miserable.
Three and a half months later, I’d lost 25 pounds. It felt like success. Then I got a body composition scan.
16 pounds of lean mass. Only 9 pounds of fat. Nearly twice as much muscle lost as fat. I wasn’t stronger. I wasn’t fitter. My body fat percentage had barely changed. I was just smaller.
Defeat from the jaws of victory.
GLP-1 medications had solved my appetite problem. But there had to be a better way.
Return of the Jedi: The Right Way to Use GLP-1s
I purposefully regained the weight (and muscle mass) I had lost and started over.
But this time, I threw away the one-size-fits-none dosing playbook and applied science to my approach.
- Protein First: At least 1g per pound of lean body mass to prevent muscle loss.
- Whole Foods Only: High-nutrient-density plants and quality animal protein.
- Hydration & Electrolytes: To avoid dehydration and excessive fatigue.
- Strength Training: Heavy compound lifts to preserve lean mass.
- Strategic Cardio: Sprint intervals instead of excessive endurance training.
- Precision Dosing: Most importantly, I meticulously tracked my medication levels and took the minimum dose necessary to keep me in a relatively small 500-750 kcal deficit.
This time, I wasn’t just losing weight. I was losing the right kind of weight. My body composition completely inverted: almost 2 pounds of fat lost for every pound of lean mass.
I got to my goal weight without significant side effects and without obsessing over calories.
Body composition inverted
Steady, sustainable weight loss
Minimal side effects
No calorie obsession
Stronger than ever
Highest lean mass of my life
Same medication. Smarter approach. Radically different outcome.
The Birth of Voafit
While working in the ER, I saw countless patients suffering from poorly managed GLP-1 therapy. Overdosed. Under-supported. Frustrated.
I knew these medications could change lives, but only when used correctly. And I knew I had the knowledge and experience to make a real difference.
So, I created Voafit.
Our goal is to make the impossible possible for anyone willing to try, and both my own experience and that of the many patients who have successfully graduated from the Voafit program are evidence that you can do it too.
“Are you tired of fighting this battle alone? Let me help.”
Ian Justl Ellis, M.D. • Founder, Voafit
Ready to find YOUR MyLevel?
Concierge Care.
Precision Dosing.
Lasting Results.
Memberships from $129/mo • View plans
Book Free Consultation →