What the mind suppresses the body expresses.

Have you ever gone through a painful or traumatic experience and felt it physically in your body? Maybe you thought it was just a coincidence that your muscles started to ache, your stomach felt a bit off, or fatigue suddenly increased around the time of the event.. For some, the emotional impacts may have a delayed physical manifestation. Though it may seem coincidental, studies have proven that there are indeed physical impacts of trauma and emotions may be stored in the body, which may manifest in a variety of ways.

Here at TCLM, we do not separate emotional states of being from the body. Rather, we view emotions as real experiences that impact the body, just as much or even more than physical triggers to our physiology. Emotions have been described as "energy in motion." Energy that has no space or opportunity to be moved is energy that becomes trapped and stagnant. When this pattern perpetuates, just like physical triggers we...

Born and raised in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, I began my journey into medicine in a non-traditional pathway. I attended the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) studying Spanish and Portuguese. After college, I moved to Argentina to work and explore the language and culture. After a time, I decided it was time to settle down and chose a career in medicine, attending the Medical College of Georgia and then a residency in Family Medicine at St. Anthony’s in Colorado. While in residency I studied Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona. I then worked as a primary care physician for several years in Boulder, Colorado, while studying with the Institute of Functional Medicine and integrating these principles into my practice.

Over time, it became clear that mainstream medicine was not conducive to my practicing medicine the way my patients deserved. So in 2022, I decided to leave my old practice and my family and I decided to embark on an adventure to Costa Rica....

Here at Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine (TCLM), we are dedicated to taking a comprehensive approach to treating chronic health issues. We combine traditional medical treatments with lifestyle interventions, such as diet changes, physical activity, mind-body medicine tools, and more in order to get to the root of health issues.

To ensure we are providing our patients with the best care possible, we partner with leading health experts in the fied specializing in preventive health measures and more. At TCLM, we work closely with the top biological/holistic dentists, chiropractors, ENT's, cardiologists, sleep specialists, health coaches, and other experts to create individualized treatment plans for each patient who steps into our clinic.

For many patients, health education programs serve as an essential beginning point in their journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Through courses here at TCLM University, patients are able to learn in-depth background information...

We are only a couple of weeks into the New Year, but I would bet that many people have already quit on their goals or resolutions for this new chapter. We have been there... A new season begins, the realization of the post holiday weight gain sets in, and perfectionism often takes over. Setting high expectations when walking into a new year is common practice, especially for most of us here in the U.S., a very fast-paced, achievement-glorifying environment that often glorifies external success or looks. In the midst of all of the noise and competitiveness, it can be challenging to determine what you truly want, why you are seeking your goals, and thus how to make steps toward the life you want in a realistic, fulfilling, and doable manner.

This is where health coaching can make all the difference! A health coach can help create realistic goals, identify obstacles to weight loss and metabolic health, and help you establish a plan with strategies to overcome mental barriers....

#WALK30, The wellness movement you need to be a part of! We love the #WALK30 Launch, led by Fit Houston for several reasons. As a clinic, we absolutely support the mission of decreasing chronic illnesses that have become so prevalent in the U.S., including diabetes, obesity, cancer, and hypertension. And what better way to do so than bringing community together by participating in a free and healthy activity!

This wellness campaign has blown up social media and grabbed the attention of clinics all around Houston to take part in this impactful movement . A coalition of leaders from the American Leadership Forum, Dialogue Houston, University of St Thomas, and University of Houston Downtown have partnered to launch a unified mission. This collective effort is passionate about this initiative to improving the health of our community in Houston through daily physical activity.

We love that the focal point of this wellness movement is physical activity, as movement has a...

Why do we recommend health coaching for all of our patients? Most of us know what we need to do in order to improve our health, such as exercise, eating healthy foods, prioritizing sleep, and managing stress. There is so much research, resources, and loads of free information at our fingertips, yet metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic illnesses continue to be on the rise.

Our society's mental health as a whole seems to be struggling more than ever, especially after the pandemic. Because there are so many resources and educational content is endless, we do not believe that the chronic physical illness and mental health crisis is due to a lack of knowledge, but an inability to know how to put the tools in action and remain on the course.

Though most of us know what we should be doing, it's quite another thing to have the support and guidance to make it happen. Behavior change takes a tremendous amount of effort...

 What do our Transformations Programs offer?:

Community-driven programs designed by doctors and coaches who passionately guide members toward health and resiliency through education, compassionate guidance, empathy, and ongoing accountability within a safe and supportive virtual space. Our coaches and practitioners value trust with the support of members' external providers, health care team, family, etc. Coaches involved in the programs will be in close communication with members' established provider teams. This allows progress to be tracked and maintains accountability, as well as in-depth, personal support for each member.

The goal of the Intensive Transformations Programs is to not only heal physically but undergo character transformation through group sessions, like-minded member support, and personalized one-on-one care. Sessions are based on material that is backed by science, evidence-based functional nutrition, and mind-body medicine tools that encourage...

As the New Year approaches, we expect to see many of our community members wanting to reach big goals, set new intentions, and embrace positive changes. Unfortunately, many will attempt to make too drastic of changes too soon, which we know can lead to burnout, frustration when such goals are not reached, and even contradict the path toward health and wellness.

Though we could warn against the next fad diet, extreme weight loss trend, or intense exercise regimen, we thought we would rather like to inform you of positive life enhancements that you may enjoy stepping into this year. We do not wish to condone those who want to make drastic changes to their diet or lifestyle, but we do encourage checking in with the mindset and motivation around the desire to make these changes. Sometimes drastic changes in lifestyle habits can be quite detrimental. For example, if you have never weight lifted a day in your life, following a competitor's workout regimen right off the cuff may not...

In Dr. Ruan's Brain Train Group visits, participants are able to share each others' health experiences, discover valuable healing tools, receive background information regarding root causes of brain and mental health issues, and discover resources to guide them along their health journey toward improved brain function.

In the Brain Train Group Visits, Dr. Ruan brings specific medical insight into the brain and neurological conditions, while sharing a roadmap to health and wellness. However, the central aspect that sets group visits apart from one-on-one provider visits is the community aspect. In a safe, judgment-free group space, members have the opportunity to share in each other's challenges, develop mental and physical resilience, and empower one another to apply healing principles to their life. Dr. Ruan also shares his personal experiences and tools he has used in his own brain health journey, after experiencing multiple concussions and discovering an underlying sleep...

This year, take your health into your own hands through individualized care plans delivered by conventional, integrative, and functional medicine-trained practitioners at TCLM.

How do our provider services differ from any other clinic?

Our providers here at TCLM know that every patient is unique. Rather than treating each of our patients the same, we operate by tailoring treatment plans specific to each patient’s history, goals, specific barriers to their well-being, and the overall picture of their current health status.

When assessing a patient’s needs, we practice integrative, individualized care, meaning we do not neglect the important role of addressing both the physical and mental aspects of healing, allowing care to be holistically driven. Our providers take great care to address the whole package of healing and wellness, as we know that the mind is so connected to the body and vice versa.

Providers here do not solely rely on traditional lab work to...