Happy New Year, Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine community! As we stand on the threshold of a brand new year, it's the perfect time to reflect on the journey we've shared and to look ahead with anticipation and excitement. The past year has been filled with growth, resilience, and collective achievements, and we can't wait to see what 2024 has in store for each and every one of you.

Gratitude for a Vibrant Community

First and foremost, we want to express our deepest gratitude to all our members who have been a part of the Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine family. Your commitment to embracing a healthier lifestyle has not only inspired us but has also forged a community that radiates positivity, support, and a shared passion for well-being.

Reflecting on Achievements

As we bid farewell to 2023, take a moment to acknowledge your personal achievements and milestones. Whether it's making better food choices, adopting a consistent exercise routine, or focusing on mental well-being,...

At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine (TCLM), we're always striving to provide you with the latest and most comprehensive approaches to improving your health and well-being. That's why we're excited to invite you to our upcoming Nutrition Group Visit on November 29th at 3:00 PM, led by the renowned nutrition expert, Ruben, and co-led by the esteemed Mind-Body Medicine Practitioner, Geny Moreno!

In this blog post, we'll take you on a journey through what you can expect from this unique event and how it embodies our commitment to promoting holistic wellness and exploring the fascinating connection between mind and body in nutrition.

Why You Should Attend:

1. Expert Guidance from Ruben:
Ruben is a well-respected nutritionist with years of experience in helping individuals achieve their health and wellness goals. His expertise will be at the forefront of our Nutrition Group Visit, guiding you through practical advice to improve your diet, achieve balance, and enhance your metabolic...

In the fast-paced and often chaotic world we live in, finding moments of peace and tranquility can be a true challenge. Fortunately, there is a practice that has been celebrated for centuries for its profound healing benefits - meditation. More than just a trendy buzzword, meditation is a powerful tool that can bring harmony and balance to our body, mind, and emotions. In this blog post, we will explore the remarkable healing benefits that meditation offers, helping us cultivate well-being and inner peace.

1. Nurturing the Body:

While meditation is primarily known for its effects on the mind, its benefits extend to our physical well-being as well. Through the practice of meditation, we tap into the body's natural ability to heal itself, promoting a range of positive outcomes:

a. Stress Reduction: Stress takes a toll on our bodies, leading to various health issues. Regular meditation practice has been proven to reduce stress hormone levels, lower blood pressure, and decrease...

Have you ever found yourself mindlessly devouring a bag of chips or polishing off an entire tub of ice cream without really savoring or enjoying it? In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to fall into the trap of mindless eating, which often leads to poor food choices and unhealthy habits. But what if I told you that there's a simple yet powerful way to transform your relationship with food, improve your nutrition, and achieve your health goals? Mindful eating habits can transform the way you view nutrition as well as your relationship with food, and it all begins with the mind! 

The Power of Mindful Eating

Mindful eating is not about strict diets, calorie counting, or deprivation. It's a mindset that involves paying attention to the present moment, cultivating awareness around your food choices, and savoring each bite. By engaging your senses and tuning into your body's hunger and fullness cues, you can make conscious choices that nourish both your body and mind.

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Good afternoon, We wanted to make sure that you are aware of all of the new group visit opportunities we have available for you plug into! Mind-body sessions offer a chance to embrace empathy, support, and healing for you and your loved ones here at TCLM. We have both group and one-on-one sessions with Geny Moreno. 

This month and next month, Geny will be teaching virtual and in-person group visits to empower you with tools that develop emotional resiliency, self-awareness, mindfulness and inner healing. Our Mind-Body Medicine Group Visits offer a unique opportunity for you to engage in a nurturing and non-judgmental atmosphere, surrounded by like-minded individuals who are on a similar path towards wellness. These sessions aim to cultivate empathy, create a safe space for expression, and foster healing through various mind-body practices.

We have an exciting lineup of group visits scheduled for this month and the next, designed to cater to different interests and...

Yesterday, in our Kitchen Behavior Training session, we had such a great conversation around brain health and realistic lifestyle tools proven to impact brain and mental health. Lifestyle Chef, Franklin discussed useful cooking and meal planning tips to help us increase foods and (especially healthy fats) that love us back! He also shared tips used to reduce inflammatory fats that may be hidden in common foods we consume.

Ruben Lespron, Registered Dietitian, opened the floor for the group to share their idea of balance when it comes to healthy foods versus foods that may be deemed as “bad,” such as sugar. With our mind-body medicine practitioner, Geny Moreno, we dove deep into unpacking our relationship with food and belief systems we have constructed in our minds that impact our intake of quality foods!


We also discussed the powerful impacts of having positive community involvement and meaningful relationship connections. Geny discussed how quality friendships and...

We live in a society that has made a diet rich in sugars, added sugars, and processed foods the new norm. However, as with many other things, normal does not mean healthy. If you have ever struggled with cravings, you know just how hard it is to stop eating sugar and carbs once you start. Studies have revealed that sugar is highly addictive, for several reasons. It causes the hormones, leptin and ghrelin, which control hunger cues to become dysregulated, leading to more hunger for quick energy. It also feeds pathogenic bacteria in the gut, which send signals to the brain to encourage that they be fed more of their sustenance. Sugar also causes drastic shifts in neurotransmitters including dopamine, making it 8 times more addicting than cocaine. According to research, sugar also has similar impacts on the brain as opioid drugs. This is why many feel that they are a slave to sugar once it makes its way into their diet. So what are we to do if we are already at that point? 

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Movement is a major aspect of health, as it is a key player in maintaining metabolic function, blood sugar regulation, mental wellness, immune function, and more. An active lifestyle promotes healthy regulation of gene expression, meaning the genes that promote healing are turned on and genes that contribute to disease can be downregulated! One specific gene involved in longevity and lean muscle maintenance, MTOR, is expressed only through adequate high-quality protein consumption or exercise. With that being said, maintaining a consistent exercise regimen is so necessary for our overall wellness and longevity.

However, finding the right type of movement for you can be challenging. We encourage our patients to engage in activities that they truly enjoy versus pushing through sessions they dislike, as this builds resentment or may cause a yo-yo approach. We believe it is best to incorporate habits that are sustainable, and enjoyable and reap the health benefits you wish for!...