How Lifestyle Medicine Transformed My Life and My Practice
What does it take to transform your health through everyday choices? How does someone start on a journey to integrate lifestyle medicine into their life and career? My journey into lifestyle medicine started with these very questions.
I'm Dr. Colin Zhu, a physician based in Southern California, and I've made it my mission to help others to thrive.
My journey began during my early medical training and has led me to become a board member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Along the way, I've witnessed inspiring patient success stories and developed a passion for integrating holistic health into mainstream medicine. Before diving into my story, let’s answer this first: What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle medicine tackles the root causes of chronic diseases through comprehensive lifestyle changes, such as improved dietary habits, regular physical activity, stress management, and the cessation of harmful habits. It targets conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and metabolic syndrome, which are often influenced by lifestyle factors. My affiliation with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine since 2013 underscores my commitment to championing this approach, providing healthcare professionals with essential tools for patient care.
What Inspired Me for Lifestyle Medicine and How Has It Evolved?
You might be wondering, what inspired me to dive into lifestyle medicine? My journey started with exploring various medical disciplines, including Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, and Eastern medicine. However, none of these resonated with me as deeply as Lifestyle Medicine. This field perfectly aligns with my personal practices and values. I believe that focusing on the foundations of health is crucial before advancing in medical technology or other health improvements.
I began my journey with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine as a medical resident and have been an active member for over a decade. My involvement has grown significantly over the years. I've become a public speaker at various conferences, conducted numerous demos and workshops, and connected with patients both in clinical settings and virtually. This evolution has now extended to dispensing lifestyle medicine through TheChefDoc, showing how my work continues to reach and impact more people.
Integrating Lifestyle Medicine into Practice
My impact goals are multifaceted. Currently, I co-direct The Yu Center in Orange County, California, where I apply my expertise both in-person and through telehealth. My virtual practice, TheChefDoc Lifestyle Medicine, also allows me to provide personalized coaching focused on sustainable lifestyle changes.
Through TheChefDoc, an online wellness and lifestyle education platform which I launched in 2017, I extend my influence beyond clinical settings. This platform offers resources and guidance on plant-based nutrition, emotional wellness, and overall health. Additionally, my book, "Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life," delves into achieving your best self by asking the necessary questions.
My passion for Lifestyle Medicine shines through my educational initiatives. My masterclass series, The THR5 Formula™, empowers individuals with education, practical tools, and inspiration to thrive. The series covers five pillars essential for health: Food As Medicine, Functional Fitness, Relationships, Community, and Emotional Resilience.
An Impactful Patient Success Story
A particularly impactful patient success story highlights why it is important to meet someone where they are at for sustainable behavior change. One of my past patients struggled significantly with diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, requiring more than 10 different medications. I provided personalized, insightful recommendations, focusing not just on general advice like "eat better and move more" but on specific, actionable changes.
Instead of just saying "Eat better," I guided him towards a whole-food, plant-based diet, which research shows can lower cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar control, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
For "move more," I didn't just suggest generic exercise; I recommended starting with daily walks, gradually increasing the intensity and duration based on his fitness level. Studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly improve cardiovascular health and insulin sensitivity.
The patient embraced these customized recommendations, gradually improving his dietary habits and increasing his physical activity to eventually walking over five miles a day. These changes led to a remarkable reduction in his diabetic score by three points and a weight loss of over 50 pounds. This success story exemplifies the profound impact of personalized lifestyle medicine interventions.
The Rewarding Part of Being a Lifestyle Medicine Physician
The journey in lifestyle medicine brings both challenges and immense rewards. One of the most challenging aspects is debunking the misinformation prevalent in media, culture, and even among fellow medical professionals about preventative medicine. Reeducating patients and their families is crucial in this process.
On the flip side, the most rewarding aspect is witnessing the transformation in patients' understanding of their health.
Every day, I hear from patients who finally grasp their conditions and the rationale behind our treatment approach. It's incredibly gratifying to know that I've helped bridge that gap in understanding. I'm often told by patients, at least once a week, that I've explained things in a way that truly resonates with them. They appreciate the dietary advice and the empowerment to take control of their health, often leading to a reduction in medication usage over time.
"Being a lifestyle medicine physician means guiding patients toward sustainable health choices, empowering them to take charge of their well-being, and seeing the joy in their eyes when they realize the potential for transformative change." - Dr. Colin Zhu
What’s Next?
As a board director of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, I'm excited to share that Lifestyle Medicine 2024 is taking place in Orlando, Florida, from October 27-30, 2024. This event is not to be missed, as I will be presenting an in-person pre-conference workshop titled "Harnessing the Power of Culinary Medicine Applications to Improve Health Equity and Education." You can get the full details here.
About the author:
Dr. Colin Zhu, Board-Certified in Family Practice and Lifestyle Medicine, is a plant-based chef and health coach trained at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts and Institute for Integrative Nutrition. He launched www.thechefdoc.app, an online wellness platform in 2017, authored "Thrive Medicine," and hosts the Thrive Bites podcast. Dr. Zhu enjoys salsa dancing, scuba diving & globetrotting. He resides and works in Southern California and lives with his cat Naruto.
