As an osteopath passionate about aiding individuals on their journey to recovery from various health issues and injuries, I have always been deeply committed to the idea that holistic wellness extends beyond just the physical aspects of our bodies. Drawing from my background in sports science and personal training, my approach to helping people attain better health has evolved into a multifaceted methodology encompassing physical and psychological dimensions; we can also call this lifestyle medicine coaching. 

Over the years, I’ve been shaping my practice using a wide range of techniques, including thorough physical assessments, comprehensive case histories, and targeted interventions to facilitate the healing process. However, I desired to delve even deeper into the realm of healthcare, which led me to explore the fascinating field of lifestyle medicine.

In pursuit of expanding my coaching capabilities to offer a more comprehensive approach to healing, I recently enrolled as a Hintsa Performance Coach. They are a high-performance coaching company based in Finland. The company started life by offering comprehensive support to Formula 1 racing drivers but has since taken this knowledge and learned how to provide it within other professional sports environments and to people in the workplace. Hintsa’s holistic philosophy resonated with me, as it centers around a metaphorical wheel with the core or purpose of one’s life at its epicenter. This essence represents the discovery of one’s life purpose—a process that involves introspection and self-inquiry, guided by thought-provoking questions such as:

1. Who are you at your core?
2. What do you want?
3. Are you in command of your life?

The journey to understanding one’s purpose paves the way for cultivating habits and practices that foster health across many areas of a person’s life. This wheel extends outward, representing key areas of focus that makeup lifestyle medicine:

1. **Nutrition**: Nourishing the body with balanced, wholesome foods.
2. **Biomechanics**: Ensuring optimal physical alignment and movement mechanics.
3. **Mental Energy**: Optimizing cognitive abilities and emotional well-being.
4. **Sleep and Recovery**: Prioritizing restorative sleep patterns for regeneration.
5. **Physical Activity**: Engaging in suitable exercises for overall fitness.
6. **General Health**: Taking proactive measures to safeguard well-being.

For example, using this approach, I lowered my LDL cholesterol by 58 points, from 136mg/dL (potentially unhealthy)  to 78mg/dL, optimized for my age and sex, and this took just three months.

There are many other small changes that I’ve made in my life after I applied the principles of high-performance coaching using the lifestyle medicine model to myself, and I summarize many of them in this video:

My journey as an osteopath has evolved into a holistic pursuit of well-being, encompassing the physical aspects and the intricate interplay between the mind, body, and purpose. The integration of lifestyle medicine principles, as exemplified by Hintsa’s philosophy, has changed my life. Still, through coaching my clients, I have enabled many of them to start these transformative journeys of self-discovery and healing themselves. Whether they come to me because of a recent health scare, high cholesterol is the most common reason, or they just want to get rid of chronic pain, I use this integrated approach of science-backed insights to help them reach their goals and ultimately add health span to their lifespan.

Find out if lifestyle medicine coaching is for you. Email me at ed@edpaget.com, and we can jump on a quick call to see how I can help you. 

I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Carol, an MD who is board certified in general pediatrics and obesity medicine but prefers private coaching for people with obesity.

We got into a great discussion about how to help parents and children lose weight and how to deal with the consequences of obesity.

One hugely concerning thing is the prevalence of obesity in our children. The CDC in the US notes that between 2017 and 2020, obesity prevalence was:

• 12.7% among 2- to 5-year-olds
• 20.7% among 6- to 11-year-olds
• 22.2% among 12- to 19-year-olds. 

And the rates are on the rise! 

Why is this?

Doctors agree that consuming more calories than the body needs and not getting enough physical activity is one of the main causes.

But factors such as genetics, family habits, and environmental influences can also contribute to the development of obesity in children. Personally, I feel that our modern way of life is so far removed from our physiology that most kids today haven’t got a chance. I have 2 kids and give them a choice between anything pre-packaged and sweetened and some real whole-food vegetables; I’m afraid to say they will take the sweet stuff every time. 

The sad part is that childhood obesity can have serious health implications, especially an increased risk of developing chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Obese children may also face psychological and social challenges, such as low self-esteem and bullying or shaming, as Dr Carol points out.

What can be done?

Prevention is key; this starts by helping parents with education and understanding. Yes, ironically, budget can be a factor as some of the calories dense, unhealthy food can be cheaper than other more healthy food, but this is not always the case.

One of my colleagues, Barb Sheldon, who was featured on episode 2 of the Your Lifestyle Is Your Medicine Podcast (https://edpaget.com/?cat=search_podcasts&s=barb)

Notes that not many people have the knife skills to prepare fresh food. She teaches knife skills to her clients so they can feel comfortable preparing vegetables. 

This type of education needs to be country-wide or even global. You see, the problem, at the moment, is mainly concentrated in developed countries, but as other countries with large populations develop, scientists have noticed an increase in obesity.

I see this where I currently am in Nicaragua. Kids and adults will prefer drinking Coca-Cola over water; for some, it’s their only drink!

If you and your family struggle with obesity, I suggest seeking someone like Dr Carol or myself who can give you a holistic approach to weight loss.

We address factors like sleep, stress, purpose, and community which, when combined with nutrition and physical activity, make Your Lifestyle into Your Medicine 

DM me. I’m always happy to chat!