Pursuing Health

One of the most common questions we receive is about how to get started with functional medicine. Whether you are a health care practitioner looking to learn more about functional medicine and how to incorporate it into your practice, or a patient looking for an aligned health care practitioner, we hope to answer a lot of these questions in this episode of Pursuing Health Pearls.

Dr. Leonard Calabrese, is a rheumatologist, immunologist, and doctor of osteopathic medicine. He is the head of Cleveland Clinic's Section of Clinical Immunology and manages the Clinical Immunology Clinic. After graduating from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Dr. Calabrese completed his internal medical training at Cleveland Clinic, followed by a fellowship in rheumatic and immunologic disease. Over the course of his career, Dr. Calabrese has authored more than 300 publications and become an internationally recognized HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C researcher. He is also passionate about utilizing lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep and stress management to reduce inflammation, control disease, and bolster immunologic function. Based on growing scientific evidence that environment and behavior play a large role in immune function and gene expression, Dr. Calabrese is leading the charge in educating physicians and empowering patients so that they can feel confident in using wellness behaviors to help strengthen their immune function and improve their overall health and happiness. Dr. Calabrese and I recently sat down to chat about the basics of the immune system and what practices we can implement in our day-to-day lives to reduce inflammation and lower our risk of chronic disease.

Given that the coronavirus seems to be a major topic of conversation these days, we thought it would make for the perfect topic for our first edition of Pursuing Health Pearls. These are short, ideally 10-15 minute podcast episodes (although this one was a bit longer!) meant to offer succinct, high-yield info on common health concerns. You can listen to the episode in audio format, or you can read a more detailed write-up in the blog post below. In this article, well first shed some light on what coronavirus is, how it is transmitted, who is at highest risk, how we can decrease our risk, and what to do if you think you are infected. Then well talk some numbers about the scope of the outbreak and try to put it into context with other major public health concerns. Its important to note that our understanding of the coronavirus is evolving day by day. The information in this blog post and accompanying podcast are accurate as of this writing but will likely change with time. The information presented here has been gathered primarily from the CDC and WHO, and we recommend you use these as well as your state or local health department for the most up-to-date information as the outbreak continues to evolve.

Daniel Urcuyo is a board certified family physician and has completed his training with the Institute for Functional Medicine. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Microbiology and completed his medical school and residency training at the Cleveland Clinic. Dani is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, co-founder of the TRAIN with Julie Foucher program, and a former CrossFit Games team competitor. Dani also happens to be my husband, the person that introduced me to CrossFit, and my business partner! We first met in college (over an episode of Greys Anatomy!), and as we progressed through our medical training, we both shared a frustration with the inability of the conventional medical system to address root causes of disease. After witnessing the power of lifestyle to improve overall health via our time in the CrossFit affiliate, we knew we wanted to practice a different kind of medicine: one that harnesses the power of lifestyle and is rooted in communities. In this episode, Im excited to give you a peek behind the curtain to learn more about Dani as we talk about how we met, answer listener questions, and make a big announcement about the improvements coming to Pursuing Health and our vision for the future!

Dr. Amy West is a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialist, also known as a physiatrist. This little-known specialty treats a wide variety of medical conditions affecting the nervous and skeletal systems by focusing treatment on addressing root causes and restoring function. Dr. West is a graduate of Harvard Medical School, and she completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. During her time in medical school, she also earned her Masters of Education with an emphasis on video technology and medical education. As a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer and active participant in the CrossFit Health movement, Dr. West sees many parallels between the medicine she practices in the clinic and the CrossFit methodology she sees practiced in affiliates. I was excited to chat with Dr. West at the Winter Classic to learn more about how physiatry can be used to bridge the gap from acute sickness to wellness, and to hear how she explains her pro-CrossFit viewpoint to critics in medicine.

As Director of the CrossFit Games and Co-Director of Training for CrossFit Inc, Dave Castro has witnessed the growth and evolution of CrossFit from a grassroots fitness movement to a worldwide professional sport. Dave served as a Navy SEAL from 1998-2010 and first caught wind of CrossFit in 2005 when he started following CrossFit.com to support his training. By 2006 he had begun training at the original CrossFit HQ affiliate in Santa Cruz, CA and was soon helping out at Level 1 seminars. The following year, he hosted the first ever CrossFit Games competition at his familys Ranch in Aromas, CA. Since that time, the CrossFit Games has grown exponentially into a professional sport under Daves direction. He has been there every step of the way, devising tests that select for the fittest man and woman on earth and programming events at all 13 editions of the Games. In his second visit to the podcast, Dave and I sat down at CrossFit HQ following an MDL1 Seminar. Our last show was in May of 2016, so we had a lot to catch up on! We talked about the positive changes hes witnessed as CrossFit transitions its focus to CrossFit Health, his reflections on the 2019 CrossFit Games, and why hes okay with not being everyones friend.

Kristi OConnell, formerly Kristi Eramo, has been passionate about fitness her entire life. A former collegiate swimmer and endurance athlete, she made her first appearance at a CrossFit Regionals competition in 2014, and by 2016 she placed first at the highly competitive Central East Regional. Following three CrossFit Games appearances as an individual between 2016 and 2018, Kristi placed 26th in the world in the 2019 CrossFit Open, qualifying for a spot at the 2019 CrossFit Games as an individual. Instead, she made the surprising choice to decline her invitation as part of an effort to be more present with her friends, family and her community at CrossFit Polaris. As fate would have it, an unexpected invitation to join Team Invictus X, had Kristi competing at the 2019 CrossFit Games after all, but this time as part of a team who prioritized FUN. The experience helped re-ignite Kristis passion for training, and also helped her to evolve her approach. These days, Kristi enjoys working out daily alongside her husband and her friend, Dan Bailey. Her training volume is much lower, and her focus is primarily on running her affiliate and making time to disconnect and be present with the ones she loves. I had the chance to catch up with Kristi and we chatted about the importance of connecting your training to your inner why, how her mindset and approach has shifted over the years, and what shes doing to make sure she continues to find joy in fitness.

When it comes to fitness and disease prevention, regular exercise is just one piece of the puzzle. Quality nutrition lays the foundation for better health, and yet its a component that is often overlooked by both fitness professionals and their clients. Nicole Aucoin is a Registered Dietician and the founder of Healthy Steps Nutrition, a consulting program run at hundreds of gyms and nutrition practices worldwide. In addition to empowering her own clients to make lifestyle changes through diet and exercise, she works to help gym owners share the importance of nutrition with their own members. Nicole is also the author of Nourish: Grow Your Nutrition Business From The Ground Up. Nicole is actively involved with CrossFit as a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, co-owner of CrossFit HSN, member of the CrossFit Certification Board, regular contributor to the CrossFit Journal, and active supporter of the CrossFit Health movement. I had the chance to sit down with Nicole at the 2019 CrossFit Games. We chatted about the challenges of practicing dietetics in a clinical setting, why affiliate owners should prioritize consistent nutrition messaging as part of their program, and the methods Nicole uses with her own clients to facilitate accountability and long-term lifestyle changes.

Jeffrey Geller, MD, practices family medicine and integrative medicine and has been a pioneer in group medical visits. He is widely recognized as an innovator in the delivery of health care by creating and using an empowerment model for shared medical appointments. Dr. Geller began his work with groups in 1996 during his residency when he noticed that loneliness played a large role in his patients well-being. He has since completed research studies showing a relationship between loneliness and increased hospital visits, as well as identifying a link between loneliness, depression, and chronic illness. Dr. Geller has a particular passion for delivering care to underserved communities. By sharing his experiences and training others to deliver health care in a group setting, he hopes to provide efficient care in a financially sustainable way that eliminates barriers to health and provides services otherwise unavailable to many patients. I recently sat down with Dr. Geller to learn more about how loneliness plays a role in our health, how hes implemented group visits in his own practice, and the lessons hes learned along the way.

Five years ago, our family first gathered around the living room on Christmas, put on our favorite holiday movies, and took turns rowing until we reached a marathon 42,195 meters. Over the years, what started as a small way to stay active and spend time together during the holidays has grown into a worldwide fundraising event. Last year, we had teams from across the globe competing in support of a charity run by Danis family, Educar es Avanzar. This year, were choosing to raise money for Barbells for Boobs an incredible organization that works hard to improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer has hit our family in a big way over the past couple of years, with my Aunt Nancy currently in remission and Danis mom, Barbara, just recently diagnosed and beginning her treatment. We know personally how difficult it can be to navigate this process, and want to give back to an organization that is working hard to make it easier for so many. As a part of this initiative, I was excited to speak with Zionna Hanson, the founder of Barbells for Boobs. Zionnas life has also been greatly impacted by breast cancer: in 2009, her best friend was diagnosed at the age of 26. Zionna rallied the CrossFit community to support her friend, and from that small event, Barbells for Boobs was born. Over the past 10 years Zionna has guided Barbells for Boobs as it has grown into a global movement. What started as a nonprofit with a focus on funding mammograms has evolved into an organization dedicated to providing community and resources after diagnosis through fitness. Zionna and I caught up to chat about the challenges breast cancer patients face, what donors should look for in a nonprofit theyre choosing to support, and the importance of being open to opportunities for evolution, change and growth.

Nicole Christensen started CrossFit Roots out of her one-car garage in 2008. Since that time, she and her husband Eric have grown Roots into a 10,000 square foot facility with an accomplished team of full-time coaches and staff. She got her coaching start as a swim coach in the Northern Virginia Swim League. 10 years later when she found CrossFit, she knew that it combined her passion for coaching with her belief in a lifelong pursuit of fitness and health. In 2009 she was hired to the CrossFit Seminar Staff, and for more than ten years Nicole has traveled around the world to teach and coach the CrossFit Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate Courses. Nicole has an extensive competitive background and competed in five CrossFit Games Regionals, placing in the top ten four times. She is a well-known resource for women interested in continuing CrossFit throughout their pregnancies, drawing on her own personal experiences of training and competing while pregnant alongside her experiences coaching Roots athletes through own their pregnancies. Nicole and I had the opportunity to chat at the 2019 CrossFit Games, and our conversation ran the gamut. In part a, we talk about her background, how her education as city planner influences the processes and systems that have helped grow CrossFit Roots into a thriving affiliate, and why she loves the community aspect of CrossFit. In part b, we do a deep dive on best practices for training while pregnant, to how she maintains her fire and love for CrossFit after 11 years in the business.

Nicole Christensen started CrossFit Roots out of her one-car garage in 2008. Since that time, she and her husband Eric have grown Roots into a 10,000 square foot facility with an accomplished team of full-time coaches and staff. She got her coaching start as a swim coach in the Northern Virginia Swim League. 10 years later when she found CrossFit, she knew that it combined her passion for coaching with her belief in a lifelong pursuit of fitness and health. In 2009 she was hired to the CrossFit Seminar Staff, and for more than ten years Nicole has traveled around the world to teach and coach the CrossFit Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate Courses. Nicole has an extensive competitive background and competed in five CrossFit Games Regionals, placing in the top ten four times. She is a well-known resource for women interested in continuing CrossFit throughout their pregnancies, drawing on her own personal experiences of training and competing while pregnant alongside her experiences coaching Roots athletes through own their pregnancies. Nicole and I had the opportunity to chat at the 2019 CrossFit Games, and our conversation ran the gamut, from how her education as city planner influences the processes and systems that have helped grow CrossFit Roots into a thriving affiliate, to best practices for training while pregnant, to how she maintains her fire and love for CrossFit after 11 years in the business.

When it comes to helping seniors and other unlikely exercisers become active and functionally fit for a lifetime of health, Dustin Jones and Michele Mootz are leading the charge. As a home health physical therapist, Dustin Jones works to keep older adults resilient and independent at home. He is also the founder of Geros Health and the Geros Health podcast, where he connects thousands of clinicians to share information and education about caring for older adults. Michele Mootz is a true CrossFit original, getting her start in Santa Cruz back in 2004. An experienced physical therapist, she fell in love with CrossFit methodologies and ultimately left her formal work as a physical therapist to become a full-time coach. Michelle has worked on the CrossFit Seminar Staff member for 10 years, currently serving as a Flowmaster. Most recently she has taken over the CrossFit Heath program at CrossFit HQ where she works with older adults as well as those struggling with obesity and chronic disease in an effort to help them regain their health and independence. Michele, Dustin and I met up at a recent CFMDL1 seminar to share a discussion on how we can bridge the gap from the hospital to the affiliate. In this episode, we discuss the considerations that go along with working with these special populations, how affiliate owners can get start their own senior and special populations programs, and how healthcare providers can get involved with their local affiliates.

In the blink of an eye, Kevin Ogars life dramatically changed while weightlifting during a fitness competition. An erratic bounce of a barbell clipped him in the back, injuring his spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. At just 28, Kevin went from being an active CrossFit coach and aspiring Games competitor to being paraplegic and learning how to navigate life from a wheelchair. In the aftermath of the accident, Kevin was surrounded by love and support from the CrossFit community, and his passion for CrossFit helped him navigate through some dark times as he focused on getting back in the gym and to the community he loves. In the years since the accident, Kevin has not only become a prolific adaptive athlete, he has also dedicated himself to helping others use CrossFit for fitness and recovery. He travels the world teaching CrossFit Level 1 seminars and Adaptive Training Academy courses, runs his own affiliate, CrossFit Watchtower, volunteers with Craig Hospital to run a therapeutic recreation program, and is on the board of directors for The Reveille Project, a non-profit that provides tools to aid veterans as they adapt back to civilian life. I had the opportunity to catch up with Kevin at the 2019 CrossFit Games, and we chatted about his recovery process, how he adjusts his mindset when hes having a down day, and his passion for helping others push beyond their limits to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Zoë Harcombe, Ph.D., is a researcher, author, blogger, and speaker in the fields of nutrition and health. Her particular area of expertise is public health dietary guidelines, especially dietary fat, nutrition and obesity. She has a BA in Economics and an MA in Mathematics from Cambridge University, and she earned her PhD in Public Health Nutrition from the University of the West of Scotland. Zoë is well known for her thorough examination of nutrition research studies and journal articles, and she advocates for the public to be educated in evidence-based dietary advice. After many years as a vegetarian, Zoë herself now follows a low carb, high fat diet and believes that eating real food, including animal protein, is the key to long term health. I had the opportunity to sit down with Zoë at the 2019 CrossFit Health Conference where she was presenting on the corruption plaguing current nutrition advice. We covered a wide range of topics including what prompted her to leave a successful human resources career to pursue her Ph.D. in public health nutrition, and how, as she completed her thesis, she learned that much of current public health dietary advice is not evidence-based. We also talked about what she believes research shows to be the best diet, why there is so much misinformation regarding nutrition out there, and what listeners can do to influence change in the current dietary guidelines.