Pursuing Health

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Julie Foucher MD, MS is a four-time CrossFit Games athlete and family physician. Her passion lies in bridging the gap between fitness and medicine to empower individuals to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Every third Tuesday, she shares insightful content from a diverse lineup of guests, including medical experts and elite athletes.

Episodes

Tuesday Aug 25, 2020

Eric Roza: CrossFit’s new CEO on Health, Happiness, and Performance PH158

Tuesday Aug 25, 2020

“So, you have this term sheet, and the term sheet is non-binding, either party can walk away. The most important part of it is that you’re agreed on some basics for the transaction, and there’s what’s called a no-shop or exclusivity period. Usually lawyers write that, and that says that the seller can’t talk to anybody else. You can do a lot of work, spend a lot of time, spend a lot of money figuring out how this is going to happen. So, instead of talking to any lawyers, I just said I’m going to write this myself right from the heart. So, I wrote - I basically said, “Greg, please don’t shop this deal or try to negotiate it in anyway. I’m not commodity money. I’m a passionate [person] who wants to spend the rest of his life building on your legacy.” And, it was my first version of this notion of being the world’s leading platform for health, happiness, and performance.”
- Eric Roza

When CrossFit, Inc. announced that Eric Roza would be taking over as the new owner and CEO, the news was met with excitement and enthusiasm from the CrossFit community. As a longtime CrossFit athlete and affiliate owner, he has experienced first-hand the power of CrossFit to forge bonds and bring people together, as well as the challenges facing affiliate owners.

Eric brings much more than just a passion for CrossFit to the table. He has a wealth of experience as an entrepreneur, business owner, executive, and consultant.

Eric studied Economics at the University of Michigan, and completed his Masters of Business Administration at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. In 2007 he founded Datalogix and served as CEO until the company was acquired by Oracle in 2015. From there he led Oracle's Data Cloud. Most recently he's served as an executive in residence for a venture capital firm and taught entrepreneur leadership as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Eric is also an active board member for several organizations and supports charitable efforts focused on mental healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship. In his downtime, he enjoys working out with friends, skiing, mountain biking, running, singing, and playing guitar with his band, The House Cats.

I first met Eric about a month ago, and we immediately connected over his vision to make CrossFit “The world’s leading platform for health, happiness, and performance." I was excited to catch up with him to learn more about the behind-the-scenes process for taking over as CrossFit CEO, the key elements that have played a role in the transition, and his vision for the future of CrossFit.

In this episode we discuss:

Eric’s fitness background and how he found CrossFit
How CrossFit has impacted his mental health
Eric's dream of owning CrossFit, and how that dream materialized
How he assessed what needed to be done to transition CrossFit to new leadership
The importance of identifying and communicating with stakeholders
The inception and evolution of the CrossFit Community Summit
The biggest priorities for CrossFit at the moment
CrossFit's new mission to become, "The world's leading platform for health, happiness and performance."
Why CrossFit for health and CrossFit for performance are not separate entities
The notion of thinking “in the box” vs “out of the box:” expanding the idea of what a CrossFit box is, and bringing CrossFit to different audiences
Who will be driving the decision-making process of CrossFit moving forward
Three things Eric does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on his health
One thing he thinks could have a big impact on his health, but he has a hard time implementing
What a healthy life looks like to Eric

You can follow Eric on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 58 - Nicole Carroll On the Early Days and Preserving the Culture of CrossFit

Ep 118 - The State of CrossFit with Coach Greg Glassman

Ep 131 - Dave Castro on Changes in Life and the CrossFit Games

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating. I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below and on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every other Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

This post was originally published on August 24, 2020.

Tuesday Aug 18, 2020

Be Kind, Work Hard with Cole Sager PH157

Tuesday Aug 18, 2020

“When you think of the CrossFit community, you think of people who are going to the gym to challenge themselves, to be better than they were the day before, and that is such a cool part of the community, and it’s what I fell in love with.”
- Cole Sager

6-time CrossFit Games athlete Cole Sager wants to be known as the kindest person you'll ever meet, and in doing so, he hopes to motivate others to be the kindest, hardest-working version of themselves.

Growing up in a small town in Washington, Cole played sports throughout his youth and aspired to be an NFL player. In 2009 he joined the Washington University Huskies as an invited walk-on, and was one of only a handful of true freshmen to play. At the end of his freshman year, he was awarded the Scout Special Teams Player of The Year award, an honor that would change the trajectory of his life. The honor was awarded based on hard work, and receiving it ignited Cole's drive to always be the hardest worker on the field.

As Cole neared graduation, his goals shifted from playing professional football to becoming a professional CrossFit athlete. Within months of his first CrossFit workout he qualified for Regionals, and just one year after that he established himself a serious contender when he placed first at the 2014 North West Regional and 17th in his rookie appearance at the CrossFit Games.

Eventually, Cole took a leap of faith, resigned from his job as a loan originator, and began training full-time in his home garage gym. With the support of his wife, Genasee, and his coach, Ben Bergeron, he has built a reputation as one of CrossFit's most consistent athletes. Career highlights so far include placing 5th at the 2016 CrossFit Games, 2nd at the 2019 Fittest in Cape Town sanctional, and 3rd at the 2019 Rogue Invitational, but according to Cole, one of his biggest achievements was winning the Spirit of the Games award in 2017, an honor that recognized all the hard work he puts into developing his character.

I was excited to catch up with Cole to learn more about what drives the intensity behind his training, the qualities he values in himself and others, and why he believes developing character leads to athletic excellence.

In this episode we discuss:

How Cole is approaching the 2020 CrossFit Games
How he stays focused on his goals in the face of doubt
Cole’s collegiate football career
Letting go of NFL aspirations and falling in love with CrossFit
Cole’s experience of getting to his first CrossFit Games
How he started working with Ben Bergeron as a coach
The qualities of a good coach
How Cole has developed as a person over the course of his CrossFit career
How he stays driven to train even on days he doesn’t feel like it
The importance of accepting help from others to hold yourself accountable
How Cole’s wife, Genasee, is a vital part of his team
A typical day for Cole and Genasee
Three things Cole does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on his health
One thing he thinks could have a big impact on his health, but he has a hard time implementing
What a healthy life looks like to Cole

You can follow Cole on his website and on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 54 - Neal Maddox: From Football to Forty

Ep 56 – Katrín Davíðsdóttir and Ben Bergeron on the Process of Creating a Champion

Ep 76 - Working Against Gravity with Adee Cazayoux

Ep 84 - Chasing Excellence with Ben Bergeron

This post was originally published on August 17, 2020.

Tuesday Aug 11, 2020

Adapting to Muscular Dystrophy with Dano Lotz PH156

Tuesday Aug 11, 2020

“When I was 12, I played my last season of parks and rec basketball in braces, and after that, everyone was basically like, 'Hey, no sports. Try to limit activity, we don't need you to get hurt because you could seriously injure yourself.' So, it basically turned into video games and reading. I think it was in the best interest to keep me safe, but in my mind I was like, 'So, I don't get to play with my friends unless I'm inside?'”
- Dano Lotz

Imagine being an active kid who loves playing baseball, basketball, soccer- basically anything outdoors. You notice you’re a little slower than your classmates, but you chalk it up to minor differences, and go on playing sports for the love of the game. Then, at age 12, you’re put in leg braces and told you need to stop being active in order to prevent injury. Suddenly your world shrinks to afternoons on the couch, reading and playing video games.

This was the case for Daniel ‘Dano’ Lotz, who was born with a genetic condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. CMT is a form of muscular dystrophy that affects sensory and motor nerves in the extremities, causing nerve degeneration and resulting in muscle weakness. In Dano’s case, his CMT affects his lower legs, including his calves and ankles.

Dano wasn’t about to let his condition hold him back. At 16 he started weight training with the football team at his high school, and he found a new passion. Working out helped him regain muscle mass and motor control, and it gave him the satisfaction of being part of a team. It also ignited a fire to one day become a trainer himself.

As Dano continued to improve and build strength, his mentality changed. Rather than letting his limitations hold him back, he became more and more active- but ended up breaking several pairs of braces, an expensive habit. He decided to stop wearing the braces and continued with his active lifestyle. After several years of working out at traditional gyms and practicing to become a personal trainer, some friends invited him to join them for his first CrossFit workout- Fight Gone Bad.

Dano finished the workout, collapsed to the floor, and fell in love. He would go on to get his Level 1, and then his Level 2 Certificate, and has had the opportunity to compete as an adaptive athlete and to coach at multiple affiliates across the United States. Dano’s tenacity and determination give him a unique perspective as a trainer. As he himself learned what movements he could do, and how to modify the movements he struggled with, he laid the groundwork to be able to empathize with others.

Now, as a full-time trainer, Dano says, “The best thing is that I now get to teach and train others to become the best versions of themselves.”

I first heard Dano’s story several years ago- not too long after he started CrossFit. I was excited to catch up with him and hear how his story has grown and evolved, and how he's using his passion for fitness to inspire others.

In this episode we discuss:

CMT muscular dystrophy: what it is and what it has looked like in Dano's life
How Dano’s childhood and activity was impacted by his condition
Reflecting on how becoming active as a teenager improved his mood and motor function
How Dano became interested in personal training and exercise science
How Dano got into CrossFit
The changes he noticed in his health and physical abilities once he started CrossFit
How he decided to become a CrossFit coach and what that journey has looked like
How his experiences as an adaptive athlete help him as a coach
Making the most of his downtime from coaching during the COVID pandemic
Three things Dano does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on his health
One thing he knows would have a positive impact on his health, but he struggles to implement
What a healthy life looks like to Dano

You can follow Dano on Instagram and Twitter, and you can follow the Adapting to Life podcast on Instagram and YouTube.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 107 - Play the Hand You're Dealt: Choosing to Thrive with a Rare Genetic Condition and Congenital Heart Defect with Stephen Douglas

Ep 124 - Breaking Barriers with an Adaptive Athlete and Coach Kevin Ogar

This post was originally published on August 10, 2020.

Tuesday Aug 04, 2020

FACTS about Fertility with Dr. Marguerite Duane PH155

Tuesday Aug 04, 2020

“When women learn to chart these observable external signs or symptoms that help them understand what’s happening internally with their hormones, it is so empowering, and we really should be about empowering our patients with this information. I mean, that’s why we encourage our patients to track with they’re their eating, or patients with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar so that they can use that information to to make healthier choices to better improve their overall health and well-being. Fertility awareness based methods are such an incredibly effective tool to educate and empower women, and honestly, engage men back in the conversation of family planning.”
- Dr. Marguerite Duane

Dr. Marguerite Duane is a board-certified family physician and co-founder and Executive Director of FACTS, the Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science. She serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University, where she directs an introductory course on natural or fertility awareness based methods of family planning.

She is a practicing direct primary care physician and she has served on the board of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC).

After receiving a Bachelor of Science with Honors and a Master of Health Administration from Cornell University, she earned her medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed her family medicine residency at Lancaster General Hospital.

During her residency, she was surprised to hear her senior resident explain to a postpartum patient that there is a way women can learn to manage their fertility without any medical side effects, such as those that occur from hormonal birth control. She wondered how it was possible this topic hadn't been covered in her medical training.

This insight planted the seed that changed the trajectory of her career. Dr. Duane began to focus on learning more about these methods, for her own personal health as well as that of her patients. She went on to complete training in the Creighton Model of natural family planning and has since made it her passion to educate other healthcare providers and patients.

After recently completing the FACTS course for medical students and residents myself, I was excited to have the opportunity to chat more with Dr. Duane about the basics of the female cycle, the efficacy of natural family planning, and the science behind fertility awareness based methods.

*Dr. Duane's bio adapted from the FACTS website.

In this episode we discuss:

How Dr. Duane became interested in fertility awareness based methods
How FACTS came to be
The need to educate doctors about FABMs
The benefits of being in tune with your cycle
The efficacy of this method and the best way to get started
The basics of the female cycle, and what women can observe throughout their cycle
How following your cycle can give insights to your health
How FABMs can help explain underlying reasons for infertility
Where to look for a practitioner and how to get started
Factors to consider when choosing the right method for yourself
Preferred apps and what to look for when selecting an app to use
The value of using FABMs to help with underlying medical conditions
Dr. Duane's experience with Teen STAR and the benefits of learning these methods from an early age
Three things that Dr. Duane does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on her health
One thing she struggles to implement that could have a big impact on her health
What a healthy life looks like to Dr. Duane

You can follow the Fertility Awareness Collaborative to Teach the Science (FACTS) on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 83 - Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes with Julie Wiebe, PT

Ep 126b - Nicole Christensen on Coaching Pregnant Athletes

This post was originally published on August 3, 2020.

Tuesday Jul 21, 2020

Mat Fraser + Sammy Moniz: Sweethearts on a Mission PH153

Tuesday Jul 21, 2020

“If you're wrapping up your identity in the results… there’s a lot of things that go on that you have no control over that can sway the results big time. So, if you’re basing your identity off those results… it might go right, but… There’s only two options when you sign up for a competition, either you’re going to win or you’re going to lose. I try to base my identity off of the effort that I put in. I hope that if the results aren’t what I was looking for, I hope that I’m still able to hold my head high and be proud knowing that I did everything I could.”
- Mat Fraser

Four-time Fittest Man on Earth Mat Fraser is arguably the most dominant competitor the sport has ever seen and has stood on the podium at the CrossFit Games every year he has been in attendance. He earned silver in 2014 and 2015, and for the last four years he's earned gold, typically with a huge margin of victory.

Mat is the son of two Olympic athletes and growing up he was an Olympic hopeful himself, but the road to becoming the Fittest on Earth hasn't been without challenges. As a teenager he struggled with alcoholism and made the choice to become sober at 17. At 19 he suffered a fractured back, an injury which sidelined his Olympic weightlifting career, but would ultimately lead him to try CrossFit. Since graduating from the University of Vermont with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business, Mat has become a full-time athlete and trains in Cookeville, Tennessee alongside some of the best CrossFit athletes in the world.

Mat's fiancé, Sammy Moniz, holds an impressive resume in her own right. A former Reebok affiliate manager, she is now the brains behind Feeding the Frasers. What started as a Instagram account documenting her love of cooking has grown into a website, e-book and upcoming cookbo0k, all a testament to Sammy's desire to make the people in her life feel loved and cared for.

Mat and Sammy are a powerhouse couple who need virtually no introduction in the CrossFit space, and I was excited to catch up with them in their home in Tennessee. We shared lots of laughs as we talked about how they met, what inspires them to give their best in all their endeavors, their take on the recent changes in CrossFit, and where they see themselves in the next 5 to 1o years.

In this episode we discuss:

Mat & Sammy's day-to-day lives
Some of the experiences and challenges from their lives that they've learned from and have contributed to their successes today
The lessons Mat learned from breaking his back
How Sammy became interested in food and cooking
How Mat’s diet has changed since meeting Sammy, and the changes he’s noticed since improving his nutrition
How Mat’s parents' Olympic career impacted his mindset
Why Mat decided to pursue engineering in college
Sammy's college experience and how she ended up at Reebok
How Mat and Sammy started dating
Mat’s experience with alcoholism and sobriety
What it’s like for Sammy to watch Mat compete
Mat and Sammy's plans for the future
The story of the hype music in the tunnel at the CrossFit Games
How COVID has affected Mat’s training and their lives
Mat's first impression of Eric Rosa and what he hopes to see for the future of CrossFit
What motivates Sammy & Mat every day
Why it's important not to concern yourself with what other people think
What's next for Feeding the Fraser's
Three things Mat and Sammy do on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on their health
One thing they think could have a big impact on their health, but they have a hard time implementing
What a healthy life looks like to Mat and Sammy

You can follow Mat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You can follow Sammy on her personal Instagram, on the Feeding the Fraser's website and on Instagram and Facebook.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 57 - Annie Thorisdottir + Fred Aegidius on Team Work and Individual Performance

Ep 56 – Katrín Davíðsdóttir and Ben Bergeron on the Process of Creating a Champion

Ep 52a + 52b - Tia-Clair Toomey on Realizing her CrossFit and Olympic Dreams and Finding Confidence

This post was originally published on July 21, 2020.

Tuesday Jul 14, 2020

Overcoming Grief & Losing 65 Pounds PH152

Tuesday Jul 14, 2020

“We have life changing events, and at the time, they feel as if they are life-ending but they really mold us into somebody who we are meant to be.”
- Marti Giambruno

“My first memory of waking up in the recovery room was the consent beep of the monitor. A feeling of impending doom consumed me as my doctor leaned over the stretcher and said, ‘Everything went well. We got it all, and the biopsy came back benign. Marti, 80% of your problem is what you put in your mouth and the stress you carry.’”

Another 9 months would pass, and Marti’s weight would top out at 198 pounds before she was ready to act. It was one year after her husband, John, lost his battle with lung cancer, and on his birthday Marti had the first of many epiphanies. She was tired of the pain, fatigue, and the shame of being overweight, and unhealthy.

She wanted to change, but had no idea where to begin. She realized she just needed to make just one small step to start. So, she rose one morning, laced up her shoes and walked. Each day Marti added a few more steps. Within a couple of weeks, she was walking 1.5 miles around her lake. “I felt something I hadn't since before my husband was diagnosed: control.”

Next, Marti made adjustments to her diet. She added new forms of exercise. Before she knew it, she had lost 65 pounds and was sleeping and feeling better than she had in years. Says Marti, “I felt like I was winning. Imagine feeling like a success while mourning the loss of your husband.”

In January 2015, Marti found the courage to walk into CrossFit Hyperperformance and was warmly greeted. She couldn’t wait to return the next day, and she became a regular member for six months, until she needed to move to return to the workforce.

“The next year was profoundly revealing. My position as a cardiovascular technologist in Interventional Cardiac Medicine demanded far too much of my time, and there weren't enough hours in the day to make it to the gym. I gained weight, was tired, and achy. My family needed me.” Realizing she needed to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually, Marti stepped back from her new position and sought to resume her new-found healthier lifestyle.

She joined CrossFit Palm Beach, where her coaches share the idea of fitness being a process of the mind, body and spirit. “The paradigm shift directing me to whole health has taken hold. At 56, I have more energy, and strength, focus, courage, faith, and desire, which enables me to live young, beautiful and strong in mind, body, and spirit.”

Marti is now making the shift to Integrative Medicine to focus on lifestyle changes that improve patient outcomes. She hopes to reach out to those in situations similar to hers to share the message that health, wellness, and fitness must co-exist to produce the changes needed to “Heal Thy Self.”

Says Marti, “The day John proposed to me, he declared his faith, which empowered me 3 years ago, and still does today. ‘Marti,’ he said, ‘I have faith and peace knowing that if either one of us passes, the survivor will not only pick up the pieces and move forward but become stronger because of it.’” To this day, Marti strives to uphold his vision and share her gratitude with those who've provided the means for her to get where she is, and where she is going.

In this episode we discuss:

Her background and the evolution of her health
What prompted Marti to start making changes to improve her health and how she got started
How CrossFit and exercise helped Marti through her grieving process
Recognizing the importance of balancing her caring for own health with a stressful job
Her advice to others who are unhappy with their health and want to make a change
Three things Marti does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on her health
One thing she thinks could have a big impact on her health, but she has a hard time implementing
What a healthy life looks like to Marti

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 48 - Jen Widerstrom: Health, Habits, and Why You Are Enough

Ep 84 - Chasing Excellence with Ben Bergeron

This post was originally published on July 9, 2020.

Monday Jul 06, 2020

Mentally Tough: Kristin Holte, Second Fittest Woman on Earth PH151

Monday Jul 06, 2020

“I can say with probably 99% [certainty], I would never be at the Games if it weren’t for my mental coach. I think I would be good but I would’ve gotten fourth place instead of third place at the 2014 Regionals, and who knows what would’ve happened after that, but I think that was the edge that I had in my training. I was not better physically than any of the other girls there, I just performed when I had to and when the pressure was at its highest. And I think that’s what kept me in the game for all these years, too. I perform at Regionals every single year. If you looked on paper, my stats are not super good compared to a lot of the other athletes, but I am able to PR. I’ve PR’d my snatch in every single Regional since I started. I am able to perform when it really, really matters. And that’s the difference, that’s where the mental training comes in.”
- Kristin Holte

Over the last 8 years, Kristin Holte has been quietly climbing her way to the top of the CrossFit Games leaderboard.

A native of Oslo, Norway, Kristin grew up in an active household and competed in a variety of sports, including gymnastics, track and field, soccer, triathlons and cross country skiing. The work capacity and discipline she developed in her youth would help lay the groundwork for her success as a CrossFit Games athlete, where she is known to excel at endurance events and gymnastics movements.

Kristin has competed at last 6 CrossFit Games, never placing outside the top 20. After spending two years in 7th place, Kristin knew she wanted to go from good to great. She doubled down, surrounded herself with a team of coaches, and addressed as many nuances in her training, nutrition, and recovery as possible. The attention to detail paid off with a second place podium finish at the 2019 CrossFit Games in Madison. Her third place finish in the 2020 CrossFit Games Open earned her an invitation to this year's Games, and Kristin is excited to return to the Ranch to continue to put her training to the test.

Since qualifying for her first Regional, Kristin has also put a tremendous amount of focus into training her mind and credits her competitive edge to her mental game. With the help of a mental coach, she has improved her confidence and her ability to perform at her best under pressure by using a variety of exercises including an intensive training camps, visualization, mantras, and more.

Kristin and I first competed alongside each other at the 2014 CrossFit Games, where as a rookie she took an event win in Triple 3. I was excited to catch up with her to learn more about her mental training game, how she continues to improve as a competitor year after year, and why she believes that when it comes to training volume and intensity, sometimes less is more.

In this episode we discuss:

How Kristin’s training and day-to-day life has been impacted by coronavirus
Her thoughts on the CrossFit Games being hosted at the Ranch, and how she’s preparing for the Rogue Invitational
What it was like growing up in Norway
How Kristin found CrossFit
The importance of using a mental coach for her training
Exercises Kristin does with her coach to improve her mental game
Overcoming a lung injury and realizing the impact of her mental training
Her experience making the podium at the Games
Her mindset after placing second at the 2019 CrossFit Games
Where Kristin is at in her recovery process from a wrist surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The factors that have played into her ability to improve every year
The key people on Kristin’s team
Why she uses a nutritionist even though she’s a nutritionist herself
How she’s preserving her longevity in the sport
Her proudest CrossFit accomplishments
What Kristin enjoys when she’s not training
Her outlook for her career and future
Three things Kristin does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on her health
One thing she thinks could have a big impact on her health, but she has a hard time implementing
What a healthy life looks like to Kristin

You can follow Kristin on Instagram and Facebook.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 08 - Chris Hinshaw on Regaining Functionality and Endurance Coaching and Programming for the CrossFit Community

Ep 79 - Sam Briggs on Going Back to Basics and Training for Longevity

Ep 101 - Building a Champion Mindset with Dr. Joe Janesz

Ep 91 - Mind Over Matter: Improving Performance in Athletics and Beyond with Sports Psychiatrist Dr. MaryEllen Eller

This post was originally published on June 27, 2020.

Monday Jun 22, 2020

The Science of Spontaneous Healing with Dr. Jeffrey Rediger PH149

Monday Jun 22, 2020

“I think spontaneous healing is a lot more common than we realize. I’ve asked a room of doctors before, 'How many of you have seen a case of unexplained recovery that you didn’t think was possible and it happened?' Well, lots of doctors raise their hands. And I asked how many had reported it. No one had reported it. And I was loathe to report things myself, because, first of all, how are you going to get it published if you do all that work, and if you do get it published how are your colleagues going to view it?” - Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv

Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv, has spent over 15 years studying spontaneous healing and pioneering the use of scientific tools to investigate recoveries from incurable illnesses.

He is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, is the Medical Director of McLean SE Adult Psychiatry and Community Affairs at McLean Hospital, and is the Chief of Behavioral Medicine at Good Samaritan Medical Center. Dr. Rediger is a a licensed physician and board-certified psychiatrist, and he also holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Dr. Rediger’s research has taken him from America’s top hospitals to healing centers around the world―and along the way he’s uncovered insights into why some people beat the odds.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Rediger, and I was excited to learn more about how he became involved in studying a somewhat controversial field. We talked how he objectively collects data, the factors the play into spontaneous healing, and the lessons he's learned from his patients that have impacted his own life.

*Dr. Rediger's bio adapted from his website.

In this episode we discuss:

How Dr. Rediger became interested in studying spontaneous healing
The three criteria he uses to objectively collect data
The factors that play into spontaneous healing and help to build a strong immune system
Themes Dr. Rediger has identified in nutrition as it relates to spontaneous healing
The importance of building the parasympathetic response and stimulating the vagus nerve
How our identity contributes to healing
Dr. Rediger’s childhood and how his time in seminary shaped his path in medicine
The implications of quantum physics on our mind, body, and medicine
What Dr. Rediger has learned from his patients that has impacted his own life
Why stories of healing can inspire others in their own healing
The Four Pillars of Healing
Three things Dr. Rediger does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on his health
One thing he struggles to implement that could have a big impact on his health
What a healthy life looks like to Dr. Rediger

You can follow Dr. Rediger on his website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 97 - Challenging Conventional Cancer Care with Dr. Thomas Seyfried

Ep 116 - How Healing Works with Dr. Wayne Jonas

Ep 135 - Immune System Strength with Dr. Leonard Calabrese

This post was originally published on June 2, 2020.

Monday Jun 15, 2020

Fighting Back Against Fibromyalgia PH148

Monday Jun 15, 2020

“‘Olivia, you're healthy.’ I held it in in the moment, but when I left the [doctor’s] office that day I cried. I had never had a doctor tell me I was healthy.”
- Olivia Vollmar

Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in July 2016, Olivia Vollmar started CrossFit four months later, despite her doctor’s reservations. “He loved that I was moving, but he thought it was too much. He has friends that are avid CrossFitters and just couldn't see how someone with fibro could manage to do it. Like any good patient, I completely ignored him and continued on in what I was doing.” Olivia decided she would continue with CrossFit for three months, and if the negatives outweighed the positives, she would stop.

One month passed, and Olivia found herself feeling better than ever. Within two months, she was sleeping more regularly, feeling less fatigued, and her joint pain had decreased. She no longer needed to see a psychiatrist from her anxiety and depression. “CrossFit saved your life,” her therapist told her. Within three months, she was completely symptom free, and living a normal life.

Along with her new exercise routine, Olivia made dietary changes, following the general advice to eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. When she returned to her doctor 10 months after her initial fibromyalgia diagnosis and just six months after starting CrossFit, he barely recognized her. She had lost 100 pounds!

Olivia discussed her rheumatologist’s treatment plan with her doctor, and he ran through a series of questions checking on her pain, sleep, mental health and quality of life. Olivia was stunned when, for the first time in her life, he pronounced her healthy.

“When I was first diagnosed I had so many doctors tell me there was no hope in this disease. I would always suffer and always feel awful. I would never be free from medication and I would never live a normal life. One of my doctors told me to not pursue a career in medicine because it wouldn't be possible.”

“Now, I'm completely normal and doing exactly what I want to do. I can confidently say that it [CrossFit] has saved my life. Not only in the physical sense, but also in the emotional sense. Before joining my box, I had suicidal thoughts and was completely ready to end my life. Now I've found health, healing and purpose.”

Olivia's road to maintaining her health has not been without bumps and detours. As she continued her new lifestyle, Olivia felt pressure to please others and anxiety that she might let her coaches down. She realized that her eating had become disordered, and instead of approaching her workouts as an opportunity to be better than she was the day before, she was constantly comparing herself and competing against others at her affiliate. Her "healthy" lifestyle began to take negative toll on her health.

Recognizing that she needed balance, Olivia shifted her focus to make sure she's eating with less restriction and with a greater focus on consuming plenty of nutritious food. She has also recently left her affiliate and started working out solo with guidance from a powerlifting coach. These days, she's finding happiness and confidence in celebrating her own accomplishments without seeking the approval of others.

As she graduates from college this spring, Olivia has big goals on the horizon: she's pursuing her Master's Degree in Nutrition and is excited to use her education and her experiences to help others as she continues her own health journey with a focus on the long-term. Says Olivia, "I am nearly 100% symptom free. I have found freedom from a disease through diet and exercise.”

Olivia shared her story with me many years ago and I was so inspired to hear how she's overcome so many challenges by focusing on what is within her control to change. I was excited to catch up with her recently and hear how her journey has evolved, how she found the courage to get started in the first place, and the advice she gives to help others get started on their own health journey.

In this episode we discuss:

Olivia's childhood and how the passing of her mother impacted her health and her weight
How her father’s health condition and her fibromyalgia diagnosis prompted her to being changing her diet and lifestyle
Starting CrossFit with her roommate and how she overcame the intimidation of attending her first class
Her struggle with suicidal thoughts
How Olivia’s relationship with food changed when she started CrossFit
What led Olivia to leave her local affiliate
How she’s working to find balance in her nutrition and her fitness
What’s she’s most proud of from her journey
Advice she would give to others who are struggling with health and are scared to get started
How to help others who you recognize are struggling
What’s next for Olivia
Three things Olivia does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on her health
One thing she thinks could have a big impact on her health, but she has a hard time implementing
What a healthy life looks like to Olivia

You can follow Olivia on Instagram and Twitter.

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 45 - Dan Baily on Moving West, Training for 2017, and Danny Broflex

Ep 69 - From "Obese to Beast" with John Glaude

Ep 19 - Michelle Mitchell on her Experience with Exercise and CrossFit for Fibromyalgia Syndrome

This post was originally published on June 15, 2020.

Monday Jun 08, 2020

Cancer, Racism, and Speaking Up with Deb Cordner Carson PH147

Monday Jun 08, 2020

“The thing about it, she said, ‘Why are they destroying our city?’ And I said, ‘What if you were trying to get mommy and daddy’s attention and we weren’t paying attention to you? What would you do?’ She was like, ‘Well, I would talk louder.’ I’m like, ‘What if we still didn’t listen to you?’ She was like, ‘I would scream!’ And I was like, ‘What if we STILL didn’t listen?’ She was like, ‘I would be really sad. I would start crying.’ And I was like, ‘I know! And what if we STILL didn’t listen? What if it went on all day long and we just didn’t listen to you?' She was like, ‘I would be so upset. I would… I don’t know.’ And I was like, ‘Would you throw a fit? A tantrum?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, I probably would. I’d probably throw my toys at you.’ And I was like ‘That’s kind of what happened, and then we would notice you because you would be making a mess, and we’d say ‘Sydney, Sydney, what’s wrong?’ And we would stand with you and try to calm you down and listen to you.’ So I said, ‘That’s kind of what happened with black people around the city.’ Definitely the first night. And people I think have realized what was going on, finally, and what black lives matters means and they were like, ‘Alright. You’re right. We stand with you.’”
- Deborah Cordner Carson

The CrossFit community may best recognize and remember Deborah Cordner Carson as the gutsy athlete who gave an inspirational performance at the 2012 CrossFit Games, overcoming a fear of open water swimming in the triathlon event and going on to win the 2012 Spirit of the Games award. Deb could also be distinguished by the compression sleeve she wears on her left leg, and by the color of her skin. Deb is one of the few black competitors in the sport of CrossFit.

Growing up, Deborah was inspired by great athletes in her family. Her father came to America from Trinidad and Tobago on a track and field scholarship and her grandfather was the heavy weight lifting champion of the British Empire. As a young girl she competed in gymnastics, and as a teenager she excelled in track and field, eventually earning a full scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa as a 400-meter sprinter.

When Deb developed lymphedema, a condition where fluid is retained in certain parts of the body and can cause dangerous swelling, she was forced to retire from her track and field career, but in time, she discovered ways to manage her condition- including that recognizable compression sleeve- while still being active. She took up CrossFit and quickly rose to elite status in the sport, placing as high as 5th in the 2013 CrossFit Open and 13th at the 2012 CrossFit Games.

Since retiring, Deborah continues to do CrossFit for health, but she has also struggled with the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages, and most recently, a diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease, a type of pregnancy-related cancer.

Throughout her life, Deborah has been aware that the color of her skin means she's had to work harder for opportunities than others. As a mother to two mixed-race little girls and a resident of the Minneapolis area, she also has a unique perspective on the recent events that have highlighted the ongoing systemic racism in our society.

I am grateful to Deb for taking a moment to share her perspective amidst all the other challenges she is currently taking on. These conversations can be uncomfortable, but they're also important as we all strive to stand together and learn from each other. In this episode, we chat about her experiences as a minority CrossFit Games athlete, the mentality she's using to fight her cancer diagnosis, the lessons she strives to teach her daughters, and how we should all speak up to overcome injustice and racial bias.

In this episode we discuss:

Deborah’s struggles with multiple miscarriages
How she is coping with the diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease, a type of pregnancy-related cancer
How Deborah’s experience competing in CrossFit helps her focus on the task at hand when it comes to tackling challenges
Her initial reactions to hearing about George Floyd’s death and the outrage in Minneapolis
Explaining the looting and rioting to her daughter
Deborah’s personal experiences with systemic racism and unconscious racism
How Deborah needed to be the best of the best to have the same opportunities as her white classmates
Deborah’s thoughts on why there’s a disconnect in people understanding the additional challenges a black person has to overcome
The lack of sponsorship opportunities available for a black CrossFit athlete
Her disappointment with CrossFit HQ’s silence
What it’s like to be a black athlete in the predominantly white sport of CrossFit
Ways that Deb approaches the topic of racism with her children
The importance of speaking up and making an effort to understand other cultures
Three things Deborah does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on her health
One thing she thinks could have a big impact on her health, but she has a hard time implementing
What a healthy life looks like to Deborah

You can follow Deborah on Instagram

Links:

Related episodes:

Ep 10 - Jenny LaBaw on Running 500 Miles for Epilepsy Research and Education

Ep 15 - Lewis Howes on Chasing Greatness

Ep 70 - USA Track & Field Heptathlete Tiffeny Parker on Beating the Odds

Ep 137 - Rich & Hillary Froning on Putting Family First

This post was originally published on June 8, 2020.