Pursuing Health

Chris Kresser is a leading clinician and top educator in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health, and the New York Times-bestselling author of The Paleo Cure.  In 2015, Chris founded The Kresser Institute to provide the next generation of functional health practitioners and coaches with the skills and tools they need to turn the tide of chronic disease—and change the future of medicine. Through the Institute, he also created and launched the ADAPT Practitioner and Health Coach Training Programs to train health professionals around the world in his unique approach. He has appeared regularly in the media, including The Dr. Oz show and Fox & Friends, as well as top-rated health podcasts, such as The Broken Brain, The Doctor’s Farmacy and The Ultimate Health Podcast. Chris was one of the first people who introduced me to functional medicine, and I was excited to sit down with him to learn more about HPA axis dysfunction, especially as it pertains to high achievers and the CrossFit population.  We talked about how stress, both good and bad, can impact the body, strategies to implement for successful behavior change, and how HPA axis dysfunction differs from adrenal fatigue. *Chris’s bio adapted from his website. You can connect with Chris via Instagram @chriskresser Related Episodes: Ep 135 - Immune System Strength with Dr. Leonard Calabrese   Ep 139 - Stress: The Elephant in the Room with Dr. George Slavich If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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

Sharon Cabe was a young, vibrant, active wife and mother of two, so she was shocked when an exploratory colonoscopy resulted in finding a mass so large that her doctor immediately took her into surgery to remove the growth.     She underwent a year of chemotherapy, and all signs of the cancer disappeared.  However, it wasn’t too long before a routine follow-up scan revealed a node in her lung.  Her colon cancer had become metastatic.  In the 8 years that followed, Sharon underwent a multitude of treatments, including having a portion of her lung removed.   Eventually, just a few short weeks after finishing treatment, Sharon decided to try CrossFit.  She had read research indicating that high intensity interval training could reduce colon cancer growth, and her son had been urging her to try it for years.  She found an affiliate that felt like a good fit for her, and she took the plunge.   Since starting, Sharon has found that the workouts help her manage her anxiety surrounding scans, and the friends she’s made keep her excited about showing up.  Her breathing has improved, and her doctors are impressed with the function of her remaining lung tissue.   For the last three years, Sharon has had clean scans.  She credits her faith, her positive attitude, and her active lifestyle with helping her remain as healthy as possible.   You can connect with Sharon via Facebook   Related Episodes:   Ep 37 - Steph Hammerman on Overcoming Obstacles, Teaching CrossFit, and Crushing Cancer   Ep 149 - The Science of Spontaneous Health with Dr. Jeffrey Rediger If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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

Zack George finished the 2020 Open as the Fittest Man in the UK and 26th worldwide, but hearing this accomplishment, you would never guess how far he’s come. As a child, a steady diet of sweets and fast food led to him being extremely overweight and self conscious.  With the support of his family, he was slowly able to transform from a kid who hated exercise to one of the most athletic teens in his school. Fueled by the knowledge of how much better he felt living a healthy lifestyle, Zack has made it his mission to inspire others to do the same.  In addition to training for the 2021 CrossFit Games, he coaches others at his affiliate, CrossFit BFG, works with remote clients, and has just written a book based on his personal mantra: Start Where Others Stop. In this episode, we chat about how making small changes can lead to dramatic results, why it’s important to surround yourself with the right community, and why it’s never too late to set big goals and chase them down. You can connect with Zack via Instagram @zackgeorge and his website.   Related Episodes: Ep 69 - From Obese to Beast with John Glaude Ep 102 - Jason Khalipa and the AMRAP Mentality   If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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

“I have changed so much as a person over these past 5 and a half years, I almost don’t recognize myself.  I feel as if I have lived my life as two very different people, but yet I am very much the same person that I have always been.” In this week’s episode of Pursuing Health, Haley Morrone shares the story of her tumultuous childhood during which she experienced sexual abuse, depression, and drug and alcohol abuse.  As she grew up and became a young mother, she found herself facing even more challenges, including smoking, binge eating, obesity, and back pain. Haley knew she wanted to be healthier, but struggled to overcome the obstacles in her path. Luckily, Haley’s friends and family didn’t give up on her, and Haley didn’t give up on herself.  She decided to educate herself as much as possible so that she could learn how to create long-term healthy habits.  She went back to school for Bachelors in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and then joined a CrossFit affiliate while her husband was on an Army deployment. Once the health and fitness ball was rolling, Haley became unstoppable.  She became a certified 500-hour Yoga teacher, got her CrossFit Level 1, opened an affiliate with her husband, completed her Precision Nutrition Level 1 and more. In this inspiring conversation, Haley and I talk about how she’s always working to grow to her fullest potential, why surrounding yourself with a good community is so important, and how getting outside her comfort zone has led her down a path of wanting to share her story to help and motivate others. You can connect with Haley via Instagram @haley_racine. Related Episodes: Ep 179 - Half His Size: Physical Therapist Alan Fredendall on Losing 200 Pounds and Introducing Patients to CrossFit Ep 165 - Thriving on the Unexpected: Cory Schmidgall If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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

47-year old Darryl Chajon didn’t start CrossFit until later in life, but once he did, he was hooked.  After several years of regular training, he even set his sights on becoming a competitor.  He started ramping up the volume and intensity of his sessions, dialed in his nutrition, and worked hard to get in better shape than ever.   Then, in March of 2020, just as he was preparing for a competition, he came down with extreme fatigue, a cough, and a fever: classic symptoms of COVID-19.  His symptoms progressed from mild to life-threatening.  He was admitted to the hospital and spent six days alone in the ICU on a ventilator and underwent dialysis when his kidneys began to fail.  When he was discharged, taking even just a short walk would leave him exhausted.   Despite experiencing such severe symptoms, Darryl was able to get back to his regular training within 3 months of leaving the hospital and now, nearly a year after he first became ill, he’s fitter than ever.  He credits his fitness level prior to becoming sick with saving his life and expediting his recovery, living proof of the CrossFit Sickness-Wellness-Fitness continuum.   You can connect with Darryl via Instagram @darrylchajon   Related Episodes: Ep 164 - Boosting Immunity and Reducing COVID Risk with Dr. Aseem Malhotra   Ep 135 - Immune System Strength with Dr. Leonard Calabrese If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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

Dr. David Johnson is a brain and spinal neurosurgeon who has had a pioneering role in the establishment of multidisciplinary spinal practices and holistic care for neurosurgical patients in Brisbane, Australia.  He is also the co-owner of CrossFit Neuro, the first clinical CrossFit affiliate.     By combining his passion for CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, neurosurgery, and science, Dr. Johnson works to deliver the fundamental message that learning to move proficiently is key to preventing movement dysfunction which can lead to chronic back pain symptoms.   Many of Dr. Johnson’s patients go on to become members of his affiliate as a part of their recovery process to rehabilitate and to avoid future spine surgery.   I first had the opportunity to hear about Dr. Johnson’s work when he presented at the 2018 CrossFit Health Conference, and I was excited to catch up with him to learn how his practice has changed and evolved over the years.  In this episode, we talk about the importance of addressing the root cause of pain rather than just treating the symptoms, and why sleep, nutrition, and stress management also plays an important part in managing and preventing back pain.   You can connect with Dr. Johnson via Instagram @crossfitneuro   Related Episodes: Ep 104 - Physical Therapist and CrossFit Games Athlete Amanda Barnhart   Ep 132 - Healing Through Functional Movement with Dr. Amy West If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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

Robb Wolf is a former research biochemist and 2X New York Times/Wall Street Journal Best-selling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired To Eat. He and co-author Diana Rodgers recently released their book, Sacred Cow, which explains why well-raised meat is good for us and good for the planet.    Robb is a longtime CrossFit enthusiast, and he is the co-founder of the 1st and 4th CrossFit affiliates in the world.   Robb has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world via his podcast, books and seminars. He’s known for his direct approach and ability to distill and synthesize information to make the complicated topics easier to understand.   In this episode, Robb joins myself and Dr. Matt Dawson and Dr. Mike Mallin of Wild Health to discuss a broad range of topics, including the online censorship of health communities, why beef can have a place in a healthy diet, and the importance of regenerative agriculture for the health of our planet.   *Robb’s bio adapted from his website   You can connect with Rob at sacredcow.info and join.thehealthyrebellion.com   Related Episodes: Ep 93 - Debunking Nutrition Myths with Gary Taubes   Ep 123 - Zoë Harcombe on Dissecting Nutrition Research and Dietary Guidelines If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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.

Seemingly healthy and in his late thirties, Robert Oh was shocked when routine blood work showed that he was prediabetic.     He was at a healthy weight, did CrossFit 3-4 times per week, ate mostly healthy foods, and worked as a military family physician.  He had no family history and no risk factors, and he had no intentions of starting the metformin recommended by his colleagues.   The more he researched, the more Dr. Oh began to believe that a statin medication he had been taking for 10 years contributed to his insulin resistance.   Instead of adding another pill to his daily routine, Dr. Oh decided to drop the statin and experiment with his nutrition.  He ultimately adopted a Paleo/low carb diet and saw dramatic improvements in the way he felt, his waist circumference, and his blood markers.   Not only did this approach help Dr. Oh reverse his prediabetes, the changes inspired him to pursue a fellowship in Sports Medicine so that he could help others like himself- in the military and unknowingly having insulin resistance- heal through lifestyle medicine as well. You can connect with Rob via Twitter @RobertOhMD   Related Episodes: Ep 16 - Pete Katz and Dr. Isaacson on Using CrossFit and Paleo to Overcome Chronic Disease Ep 93 - Debunking Nutrition Myths with Gary Taubes   If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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

Alec Smith is a 3-time CrossFit Games competitor who is perhaps best known for his incredible expertise at gymnastics, and for being one of the first openly gay male athletes in the sport.   He started in gymnastics at age 2, and excelled at the sport through middle school when a car accident forced him to retire.  After recovering and dabbling in several other sports, he eventually began training CrossFit alongside his older brother, Ben Smith.   In 2013 Alec qualified for his first Regionals, and by 2017 he was competing at the Games as an individual.  In 2019 Alec joined Team CrossFit Krypton and went on to win first at Wodapalooza and second at the CrossFit Games.   Currently Alec is gearing up for the 2021 season by training alongside Brooke Wells in Nashville, TN.   I was excited to catch up with him to learn more about his experience winning team silver at the Games, to hear what his plans are for 2021, and to learn more about how he found the courage to get outside his comfort zone and share his true self with the world.   You can connect with Alec via Instagram @alecsmith8   Related Episodes: Ep 49 - Ben Smith on Why He Trains and the Evolution of The CrossFit Games Ep 170 - Brooke Wells on What it Takes to be a Top CrossFit Athlete If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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 week’s story features Katie Spilka who shares her story of being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called scleroderma at age 16 and how CrossFit and a positive outlook have helped her put her symptoms into remission.   Katie was an everyday teenager when she first experienced unusual symptoms, including numbness in her fingers.  Because of her family’s medical history, Katie’s mom advocated for her to see a rheumatologist, and conversations with the doctor revealed that symptoms Katie had thought were normal were actually signs of scleroderma.   After 5 years of treatment involving some heavy hitting medications, Katie worked with her doctor to begin weaning off some of her prescriptions.  Says Katie, “At this time I was 20 years old and scared yet relieved that I would be able to feel “normal” again. I knew I needed to do more for myself to keep myself well.”   She made the leap to join a CrossFit affiliate and the workouts and community were instrumental in helping her re-build strength she had lost to her disease, as well as providing an incentive to improve her nutrition.   As an adult, Katie, inspired by her rheumatologist, has gone on to become a nurse so that she can help care for others.  She continues to experience remission from her symptoms and says, “I have now been weaned off all my medications that I was taking for my scleroderma and trying to take it one day at a time taking the best care of myself that I can!”   You can connect with Katie via Instagram @kspilkz   Related Episodes:   Ep 99 - Dr. Axel Pflueger on Fighting Chronic Disease with Fitness Ep 169- Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis with Jasmine Joy   If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every 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