The Code: A Guide to Health and Human Performance

17. If You Can’t Go Barefoot, Go Vivobarefoot | Asher Clark

“The shoe isn't a magic shoe. All it's doing is replicating the barefoot condition. That's evolved into our mission today,” explains Asher Clark, Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer at Vivobarefoot. Asher always enjoyed a health-related culture and creating a functional footwear brand was a natural fit. With Vivobarefoot, Asher aims to reproduce the regenerative barefoot condition, aiding his customer’s physical health worldwide.
 
Wearing typical shoes can cause your feet to adapt to the shape of the shoes themselves. To counteract that and maintain your feet’s natural state, wearing shoes that biomechanically compliment the foot is critical. Although the shoe industry convinces people they need arch support and fancy cushioning, specific stressors actually strengthen the feet. With this in mind, Asher seeks to change the narrative around our footwear, improving the industry as a whole.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a fascinating conversation on Vivobarefoot. Learn more about Asher’s involvement with the company, the truth behind arch support, and how Asher uses his platform to promote natural health. 
 
Quotes
• “The shoe isn't a magic shoe. All it's doing is replicating the barefoot condition. That's evolved into our mission today.” [Asher] (5:06 - 5:19)
• “You don't need arch support. You don't need thick cushioning because you've got springs and energy return built-in. You don't need all that stuff.”  [Asher] (22:48 - 23:00)
• “You really got to walk before you can run. So depending on where you are on that journey, you got to build up without cushioning.” [Asher] (31:55 - 32:07)
• “There's no secret sauce. All we're trying to do is make as little footwear as possible to get you back to the perfect condition.” [Asher] (36:05 - 36:12)
• “We're on a mission to make the perfect footwear, perfect for feet and ultimately perfect for the planet.” [Asher] (39:04 - 39:13)
 
Links
 
Connect with Asher Clark:
Websites | https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/
https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/vivohealth
https://www.revivo.com/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/Vivobarefoo
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vivobarefoot/
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

16. Environment is Stronger than Will Power

“The more decisions you have to make, the harder it is to make healthy decisions over and over again,” explains host Dr. Andrew. Dr. Andrew understands the difficulty in creating consistent healthy routines. By breaking down easy ways to utilize our environment, Dr. Andrew helps bypass the guesswork that holds us back.
 
The key to overcoming willpower, is to focus on improving your circumstances. If you struggle to eat healthily, meal prep. If your days are unpredictable, work out in the morning. Avoid restaurants and parties that derail your progress. Ultimately, Dr. Andrew encourages the listeners to self-reflect and make tangible changes that allow them to achieve their goals.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for an impactful conversation about setting yourself up for success. Learn more about decision fatigue, how morning workouts relate to consistency, and the benefit of surrounding yourself with positive influences.
 
Quotes
• “If you're prepping your food in advance, so that you're taking more of the guesswork out of what your meals are going to be throughout the week, you are much more likely to stick to whatever your dietary plan is for that week.” (2:22 - 2:34)
• “The more decisions you have to make, the harder it is to make healthy decisions over and over again. If you can set your environment up so that those decisions aren't really there, you're going to be so much better off.” (3:47 - 4:00) 
• “We keep the consistency going by setting our environment up for achieving our goals.” (6:58 - 7:04) 
• “If you can set your environment up in a way that you're going to be able to do the things that you need to do easily, the better off you're going to be.” (9:13 - 9:22) 
• “Your willpower is like a muscle, and eventually, it's going to fatigue. And you want to be able to fall back on your environment when you need to.” (15:33 - 15:39) 
 
Links
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
https://www.inc.com/benjamin-p-hardy/why-willpower-is-less-important-to-success-than-you-think.html
 
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

15. Finding Your Secure Base, Understanding Psychotherapy | Lauren Goldberg

“I can use my own self-exploration to become a better tool for my clients,” explains Lauren Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, and SEP-in-Training. Lauren initially thought she wanted to be a nurse but quickly realized she wanted to assist people with their emotional health. Now, Lauren runs her private practice, where she helps adults improve their well-being through psychotherapy.
 
Lauren is constantly reflecting on her work with clients to enable her growth in the psychotherapy field. As a therapist, she recognizes that she needs to do self-work to guide others through their mental health journeys. By working through her own experiences with anxiety and attachment patterns, Lauren can apply her expanding knowledge of mental health to better the lives of her clients.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a demystifying conversation about psychotherapy.  Learn more about Lauren’s commitment to personal growth, the benefits of Somatic Experiencing Therapy, and her mission to destigmatize mental health treatments. 
 
Quotes
• “As therapists, our personal work is very congruent with our work with clients. So, I use my own self-exploration to become a better tool for my clients” (10:53 - 11:20)
• “​​If I don't have an understanding of what's going on in my body with my nervous system, it is much harder for me to sit with a client and be able to attune to them and understand what's going on.” (13:16 - 13:29)
• “What I don't do is tell people what they should do. I don't give advice. It's a very open-ended dialogue. I do a lot of educating, particularly about the nervous system. But I think for any good therapist, you're doing a lot of educating about why one is now doing things the way that they're doing based on their history.” (26:51 - 27:18)
• “The things that are your greatest assets can also be your biggest challenges.” (36:10 - 36:15)
• “​​When you're not in a crisis is the best time to go to therapy because you can explore some deeper things.” (44:15 - 44:23)
• “If you've tried therapy before and it did not feel like a good fit, please try again. It truly is like dating. You have to figure out who's a good fit for you.” (49:51 - 50:02)
 
Links
 
Connect with Lauren Goldberg:
Website: https://securebasementalhealth.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lnharrington/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauren.goldberg.3958
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

14. The Code to Goal Setting

“Having real numbers and real deadlines for your goals is more effective for helping you stay on track,” explains host Andrew. Oftentimes we set unrealistic goals for ourselves and then struggle when obstacles come our way. To combat self-sabotage, Andrew breaks down easy ways to stay on track and ensure that we set ourselves up for success.
 
Whether your goal is weight loss, weight gain, or anything else, setting up realistic goals for yourself is crucial. It may be nice to dream big, but if you don’t start small with achievable deadlines along the way, you may be setting yourself up for failure. But if you take your ultimate goal and work backward, you can find measurable ways of tracking your progress that will get you on the right track.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a helpful conversation about setting goals. Learn more about the acronym behind S.M.A.R.T. goals, why you need a “why” behind your objective, and how to create reasonable deadlines.
 
Quotes
• “Having real numbers and real deadlines for your goals is more effective for helping you stay on track.” (4:30 - 4:38)
• “Don't forget about any obstacles and hurdles that come along the way. And I'm not telling you to sandbag your goals, not do challenging things, and not dream big. But doing small bite-sized chunks is much more effective than trying to take over the world overnight.” (6:24 - 6:42)
• “In the next 90 days, what are you going to accomplish that's going to set you on the trajectory to reach that ultimate goal?” (9:59 - 10:08)
• “If we're shooting for some goal, and we're one or two degrees off over a long period of time, that's going to drastically impact how likely we are to achieve that goal.” (12:29 - 12:40)
• “We're about results. We're about progress. We're about taking little steps of improvement every day, every week, and every month to push you in the direction of your goals.” (13:29 - 13:39)
 
Links:
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
https://www.oberlo.com/blog/smart-goal-examples
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

13. Youth Running Development | Simon Escorcia

“There's a need and an interest for youth running programs,” says Simon Escorcia, Running Coach. At age 27, Simon jumped right into running the Denver Marathon, despite never running one before and having shin pain. Although he may have done too much at once, this experience motivated Simon to keep running, eventually leading him to start a youth running club: The Colorado Coyotes.
 
Simon has noticed that it’s not the school’s top runners who train year-round who get injured. The kids who get hurt are the ones who stop running during the winter months or take other cross-country hiatuses. Through youth running clubs, runners can take on more challenging physical workloads that better prepare them for high school and beyond. Although Simon recognizes that natural ability can earn you a spot on the team, it truly takes consistency to excel.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a stimulating conversation on youth running clubs. Learn more about what motivated Simon to start the Colorado Coyotes, how organized sports support developmental growth, and why teenage athletes are better now than ever.
 
Quotes
• “There's a need and an interest for youth running programs.” (12:21 - 12:25)
• “One of our objectives is to prepare kids who want to run high school cross country. We want to get them there to compete for a varsity spot their freshman year so that they can handle the workloads, and it's not a big shock to them.” (12:54 - 13:10)
• “If you have the natural ability, you can still excel at running, but whether or not it puts you in an optimal position, that's up for debate.” (16:48 - 16:57)
• “The information is out there. If you want to be a better coach, you just have to go out there and consume it because most people are very open.” (30:15 - 30:22)
• “Colorado produces an insane amount of cross country talent. We have a great endurance community here. So, for Colorado not being a popular state, we produce a lot of talent.” (43:06 - 43:22)
 
Links
Connect with Simon Escorcia:
Website | https://coloradocoyotes.com/
Simon Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/senorescorcia
Colorado Coyotes Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/coloradocoyotes
Colorado Coyotes Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/coloradocoyotesxc/
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

12. The Code to Strength Training

“Strength training should be part of everybody's routine,” says host Dr. Andrew Fix. Outside of sleep and diet, strength training is one of the most productive activities you can do for your body. Although it can be challenging to know where to get started, Dr. Andrew breaks down the little things you can do to incorporate strength training into your everyday routine.
 
Dr. Andrew understands that many people feel that regular exercise is impossible to make time for and too tricky for them to do. However, there are many easy ways to build strength that are highly effective. You can make fitness a big part of your life without ever stepping foot in the gym by simply squatting to pick something up or lunging on your way to the car. Whether your goals or to lose weight, gain weight, or just feel better, if you make time to be consistent, you will accomplish your goals.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a comprehensive guide to building strength. Learn more about the vital components of strength training, proper gym etiquette, and how you can create a fitness plan that replicates the demands of your daily life.
 
Quotes
• “I spend a lot of time talking to people who don't exercise. And it's simply just because they don't think they know what to do.” (1:07 - 1:17)
• “Whether your goals are weight loss, weight gain, to look better, feel better, or just to be stronger, strength training should be part of everybody's routine.” (1:41 - 1:53)
• “​​The code to strength training is just in your fitness routine. You need to replicate the demands of the activities that you do in daily life.” (6:38 - 6:47)
• “There's nothing stupid about strength training, but we can make it very simple to make it very easy to accomplish and be consistent with it. And consistency is what's going to lead to the results.” (9:44 - 9:54)
Links
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

11. Solving Our Health Puzzles | Trivida Functional Medicine

“We as humans are these great, wonderful, giant puzzles and we're just trying to put all the puzzle pieces together,” says Meghann Feldman, CEO, and Founder of Trivida Functional Medicine, co-founded with her husband and fellow guest Corey Feldman. Both Meghann and Corey have bonded over their desire to help people dismissed by the medical community. Through their work, Meghann and Corey improve their clients' health by getting to the root of the problem and putting the pieces together to find tangible solutions.
 
It’s common for many to suffer from chronic fatigue, gut issues, hormone imbalances, and other auto-immune issues. Still, many doctors focus on masking symptoms rather than stopping them. Meghann and Corey want to assure listeners that problem solvers are out there and they want to rid patients of any ailments holding them back. Through understanding their clients' backgrounds and creating lifestyle plans, Meghann and Corey empower their clients to take control of their lives.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a reassuring conversation on solving our chronic health issues. Learn more about Meghann and Corey’s inspiration behind Trivida Functional Medicine, the benefits of a medical discovery call, and how there is always hope to lead healthier lives.
 
Quotes
• “Women's health is such an underserved market. And so many women are just dismissed in our traditional medical community.” (2:46 - 2:54) Meghann]
• “Functional medicine restores communication in the body through hormones, gut health, and all these other things.” (11:44 - 11:50) Corey]
• “Traditional medicine, doctors, PAs, nurse practitioners, and nurses don't have any ill will. They want to help people, but they're stuck in a system that has handcuffed them. They only have so far they can go.” (15:53 - 16:15) Meghann] 
• “It's my job to figure this person out as a whole, and you can't do that in seven minutes. And you can't do that in a day or two. It takes time.” (26:03 - 26:12) Corey]
• “It's about putting the puzzle pieces together. We as humans are these great, wonderful, giant puzzles, and we're just trying to put all the puzzle pieces together.” (26:25 - 26:35) Meghann]
• “All I ask is that you move your body, whether it's dance, yoga, Pilates, hiking, walking, whatever it is, just move your body and don't be stagnant.” (36:29 - 36:38) Corey]
 
Links
Website | https://trividafunctionalmedicine.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/trividahealth/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/TrividaHealth
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

10. The Code to Physical Therapy

Many people are confused about what physical therapy actually entails. Passionate about his practice, Dr. Andrew wants to clear up misconceptions by discussing the true definition of physical therapy and what you should expect from your provider. 
 
When people think of “physical therapy,” they may assume that it means massages, hands-on techniques, or exercises. However, Dr. Andrew explains that true physical therapy is when you, alongside your provider, form a feasible plan that can help you achieve your goals. Ultimately, Dr. Andrew wants his listeners to know that physical therapy is a process meant to help you better manage your body and improve your quality of life.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a revealing conversation on the code to physical therapy. Learn more about what physical therapy is not, how to define proper physical therapy care, and why Dr. Andrew focuses on improving his clients’ peak performance in addition to pain management.
 
Quotes
• “Physical therapy is not the modalities used in the office or the treatment plan. Physical therapy is not dry needling. Physical therapy is not massage or hands-on techniques, adjustments, or exercise. That's not what physical therapy is.” (1:57 - 2:19)
• “What should happen in physical therapy or rehab is you should learn how to manage your body in the future.” (5:56 - 6:02)
• “The goal for us is not to get out of pain, but to improve our function, but you're going to be in less pain as a side-effect of that.” (7:03 - 7:12)
• “Physical therapy is the process. You are the person that has a plan to help you. You're the hero of the story.” (8:52 - 9:03)
• “If you're going to physical therapy, make sure you have a plan. Figure that out with a provider. It's just as much your responsibility as it is theirs. You need to know where you're going to get there.” (10:14 - 10:25)
 
Links
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

9. Harnessing the Power of Your Brain | Sarah Murphy

“I kind of fell into the world of Neurofeedback and immersed myself and just fell deeply in love with the changes that we can get in the brain through an electrical level,” says Sarah Murphy, a Neurofeedback Specialist. Five years ago, Sarah discovered the Neurofeedback world and found her passion. First starting her career in the addiction and recovery space, Sarah found her niche advancing people’s peak performance from helping clients manage their stress to dealing with sleep disorders.
 
Through the evidence-based neurofeedback approach, Resilience Code Sarah helps high-level professionals and athletes maximize their work and athletic performances. Through retraining the mind to combat various mental illnesses and anxieties, anyone can move past the hang-ups hindering their success. Although we live in a society that encourages us to spread ourselves thin, Sarah understands the importance of reaching out to your community and asking for the help you need to meet your potential.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a fascinating conversation on harnessing the brain’s power. Learn more about how Sarah fell into the Neurofeedback world, how Neurofeedback maximizes performance and why you should always ask for help when you need it.
 
Quotes
• “I kind of fell into the world of Neurofeedback and immersed myself and just fell deeply in love with the changes that we can get in the brain through an electrical level.” (01:23 - 1:33)
• “When the brain is constantly being hyper wound because it's not caught up on sleep, it goes into this fight or flight aspect. That's when we see some of the mental illnesses we see today: rumination, overthinking, depression, and PTSD.” (10:55 - 11:10)
• “Our goal here at Resilience Code is to cater to that peak performance mindset to support, clarify, improve client's ability to fall asleep, and get effective sleep.” (19:28 - 19:40) 
• “There's the victim mentality, and there's not. If you want to build a skyscraper, you have every opportunity to do that. If you want to rebuild a five-story building, you have every opportunity to do that. If you don't want to rebuild, you also have the opportunity. Neurofeedback allows people to see the skyscraper and reach for it.” (34:20 - 34:37) 
• “I would say within the scope of Neurofeedback, I see a lot of people trying to do it on their own. In my opinion, our society caters to people suffocating themselves by trying to be it all to themselves. We were put on this earth to be a community. So, opening your arms and allowing people to see what's going on for you and allowing them to allow yourself to be vulnerable, but also allowing to yourself to ask for help.” (36:26 - 36:29)
 
Links
 
Connect with Sarah Murphy
https://www.braincodecenters.com/
https://www.instagram.com/neuroninjasarah/
https://www.instagram.com/resiliencecode/
https://www.instagram.com/braincodecenters/
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

8. The Code to Travel

“The more you can focus on your sleep beforehand, the better off you will be on your trip, ” explains host Dr. Andrew. Travel is a big part of our lives, whether for work or pleasure. Although it may be challenging to focus on your health and fitness when you’re on the go, Dr. Andrew gives valuable tips that demonstrate how taking care of yourself is possible, no matter where you are.
 
When traveling, Dr. Andrew understands that making less-than-healthy decisions can be tempting. Although it may seem fine to order a drink on a plane or buy a doughnut at a gas station, what we put in our bodies on travel days can have adverse effects such as dehydration and energy dips. However, there are better choices we can make, such as drinking water or doing airport yoga, that will maximize your health and leave you feeling better throughout your trip.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a helpful conversation on optimizing your health around your travel schedule. Learn more about the ways to prevent jet lag, the importance of hydrating on a plane, and how a fitness routine is possible whether you’re at the airport or on the road.
 
Quotes
• “The more you can focus on your sleep beforehand, the better off you will be on your trip, and the more productive your trip will be. Whether it’s a vacation or a business trip, your body will feel better.” (3:30 - 3:42)
• “Make sure you're hydrating with adequate water intake and getting electrolytes with that water. Something that has a good ratio of sodium, potassium, and magnesium when you're traveling can be very helpful in helping your body feel hydrated. Especially if you're traveling for anything to do with athletics or exercise.” (9:23 - 9:46)
• “We know stress is one thing that negatively impacts our health. And if we can manage it appropriately, we’re going to be better off in the long run.” (18:32 - 18:40)
• “You don't have to worry about what everyone else is doing. You just have to worry about what you need, what will make you feel better, and what will set you up for success because it's your traveling. It's your life.” (21:02 - 21:13)
• “Control the controllable. Do what you need to do to make yourself feel better.” (21:53 - 21:57) 
 
Links
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm