The Health Feast

What if the way you’ve been told to get fit… is exactly what’s holding you back?If you’re over 40 and still not where you want to be with your fitness or health, it might not be about willpower. It might be the method.This week on The Health Feast, I’m joined by Maxime Sigouin — founder of FitVegan Coaching — to unpack why so many traditional fitness plans fail us… and what actually works instead.Maxime has helped hundreds of people in their 40s, 50s, and beyond reclaim their health, reverse chronic conditions, and build sustainable strength — without chasing aesthetics or burning out.In this episode, we get into:Why most fitness advice sets people up to failHow to rebuild trust in your body after years of dieting or injuryWhat mindset and habits actually sustain long-term changeWhy slowing down — even unplugging — can be a power moveMaxime also shares what he believes is the single most important investment you can make in your health after 40: strength training. Not just for looks — but for confidence, function, and long-term vitality.Since we recorded, Maxime announced the release of his new book, Forever Fit — which is available for preorder now here.If you’ve ever felt like the quick fixes aren’t working anymore… this episode offers something deeper.Live well and RAK ON, – Dr. Rak 👊🏽About Maxime SigouinMaxime Sigouin is the founder of FitVegan Coaching, a fitness and lifestyle program for men and women over 40 who want to get leaner, stronger, and healthier without extreme diets or burnout. A former bodybuilder turned holistic coach, Maxime helps people shift from chasing short-term results to building a long-term lifestyle — rooted in clarity, simplicity, and self-respect.He’s also the author of the upcoming book Forever Fit, available now for preorder.⸻🔗 Links + Resources• 📘 Forever Fit – Preorder the Book• 💪 FitVegan Coaching• 📸 Instagram: @maximesigouin_• 🎙 Maxime’s Podcast=============================Disclaimer: The Health Feast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. As with any changes affecting your health, we recommend and encourage you to consult your medical doctor or other qualified healthcare professionals before making lifestyle changes. The opinions expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of our employers.

What if the reason you can’t stop thinking about food… has nothing to do with willpower? For so many of us, food isn’t just fuel — it’s noise. It’s the constant hum in the back of the mind: What should I eat? What shouldn’t I eat? Why did I eat that? Why can’t I stop thinking about food? It’s exhausting. And it’s far more common than most people realize. In this week’s episode, Po and I sit down for a raw, honest conversation about food noise — why it happens, how stress and strong emotions make it louder, why our modern food environment works against us, and what it actually takes to quiet the mental chatter around eating. We talk about cravings, comfort, GLP-1 medications, rumination, and the emotional patterns so many of us carry: the guilt, the judgment, the feeling that we “should” be doing better. And we explore the deeper truth — that food noise isn’t a personal failure. It’s a signal. And when we learn how to listen to it with curiosity rather than criticism, everything begins to shift. In this episode, we explore: What “food noise” really is — and why it’s so overwhelming How stress, emotions, and our environment shape cravings Why GLP-1 medications quiet food noise (and why that matters) How food noise steals your bandwidth and self-trust Why restriction often makes food noise louder Practical ways to create space, awareness, and calm around food How mindfulness, fasting, and silence can retrain your brain This conversation is vulnerable, honest, and filled with the kinds of insights Po and I have learned firsthand — for me, as a clinician, and for both of us, as humans navigating our own relationships with food. If you’ve ever felt like food takes up too much mental space… if you’ve blamed yourself for your cravings… or if you’re looking for a more compassionate, sustainable way to relate to eating — this episode is absolutely for you. Live well and RAK ON, – Dr. Rak 👊🏽 👊🏽 Want more? More strength. More flavor. More awareness. More community. If that’s you, you can join the RAK ON Tribe and get access to: All Strong for Life classes All Live Mindful Meals with Dr. Rak cook-alongs Monthly Breathwork with Yang Coming soon: Monthly Q&A with Dr. Rak. Get your health questions answered. Event replays, recipes, meditations A supportive, plant-forward community A private space that makes health feel like a feast, not a fight 🍽️ Membership is $11/month or $99/year 🎁 First month free with code RAKON 👉 Learn more and join the RAK ON Tribe

What if the biggest barrier to healing… is the belief that you’re broken?So many of us are doing everything right — eating better, moving more, trying to fix our health — but deep down, we’re carrying a quiet belief that we’re not enough. That our body is the problem. That healing has to come through restriction, guilt, or perfection.But what if real change begins not with feeling shame — but love?In this week’s episode, we sit down with Ocean Robbins, CEO of the Food Revolution Network, for a deep, honest conversation about what it means to root health in compassion — not shame.Ocean is the son of John Robbins, who famously walked away from the Baskin-Robbins empire to write Diet for a New America. Ocean has forged his own path — helping millions transform their relationship with food and health to experience what truly matters to us in life.In this episode we explore:Why so many people feel like they’re failing at healthHow Ocean’s upbringing shaped his values and missionThe tension between grief, perfectionism, and purposeWhat it means to choose love — again and againThis conversation was one of our most soulful and resonant yet — and I’m so glad to have Po back for it. You’re definitely in for a treat. So whether you’ve felt stuck, not enough, and are looking for a gentler path forward — this episode is for you.Until next time…Live well and RAK ON, – Dr. Rak 👊🏽===================About Ocean RobbinsOcean Robbins is the CEO of Food Revolution Network, a global movement dedicated to healthy, ethical, and sustainable food for all. He’s the son of John Robbins, who famously walked away from the Baskin-Robbins empire to author Diet for a New America. Ocean has carried forward that legacy while forging his own powerful path — helping millions reclaim their relationship with food and root their health journey in compassion, not shame.He’s also the author of the best-selling book 31-Day Food Revolution, and a deeply thoughtful leader in the food justice space, blending science, systems thinking, and soul. 🔗 Links + Resources🌎 Website: foodrevolution.org 📕 Book: 31-Day Food Revolution 📸 Instagram (Org): @foodrevolutionnetwork 🧠 More from Ocean: Blog + Resources 💬 Got thoughts, questions, or topic ideas? DM me, Dr. Rak, on Instagram @thehealthfeast or @rakyourlife Disclaimer: The Health Feast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. As with any changes affecting your health, we recommend and encourage you to consult your medical doctor or other qualified healthcare professionals before making lifestyle changes. The opinions expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of our employers.

Why do we start strong… and still end up stuck? (Watch on YouTube) To answer that, my guest today, Kwame Terra, did something no one else ever has. He walked over 2 million steps in 30 days — 66,000 steps a day. That’s more than a marathon’s distance daily, with no rest days. At the end of it, Kwame ended up setting a new world record. But this isn’t a story about crushing a record. It’s a conversation about what it takes to follow through — when no one’s watching, when you hit a wall, and when your old self is begging you to quit. In this episode, we unpack: Why motivation rarely lasts — and what to rely on instead The hardest part of walking 66K steps a day (it’s not what you think) How pain, rhythm, and emotional triggers show up in the body What Kwame learned about trusting himself again through movement Why “finishing something” can be more healing than we realize More than any record, this challenge was about reclaiming a sense of identity, integrity, and forward momentum — through walking. More from Kwame Terra: 👉 bEHR Health — a culturally grounded health platform for Black communities 📸 Instagram: @kwameterra 👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment with your biggest “aha” moment — and don’t forget to subscribe. Until next time… Live well and RAK ON, -Dr. Rak 👊🏽 💬 Got thoughts, questions, or topic ideas? DM me on Instagram @thehealthfeast or @rakyourlife, or leave a comment here on Substack. 🍽️ A Plant-Based Thanksgiving Cook-Along That Feels Like a Feast (Not a Sacrifice) This Sunday, November 9 What if your holiday meal could nourish your health and your soul? That’s the spirit of Mindful Meals, our monthly live cook-along with Dr. Rak. This month, we’re bringing a plant-based twist to Thanksgiving — with comforting, flavor-packed recipes that celebrate gratitude, community, and real nourishment. 🗓 Next session: Sunday, 11/09/25 at 4:30pm ET / 1:30pm PT 💻 Live on Zoom 🥘 WFPB recipes with no oil, no refined sugar — just real food 💵 $10 drop-in. Free for first-timers with code: MINDFUL 👉 Register here We’ll cook together: a savory mushroom-tofu holiday loaf smoky chipotle-orange cranberry sauce creamy pumpkin pie Plus bonus recipes for sprouted bread stuffing and maple-glazed Brussels sprouts. If you’ve been curious about plant-based holiday cooking — or just want to feel good about what you’re serving this year — this is a great place to start. And you certainly don’t have to cook along. In fact, many people join just for the entertainment value :) Come for the food, stay for the good vibes. 👊🏽 Get Strong at Home and Join the Tribe! What if getting strong didn’t have to feel like punishment? That’s what we’re hosting Strong for Life — our virtual strength session designed for real-life function, balance, and confidence. Led by Coach Alexander Barrera, who brings equal parts physical therapy know-how, humor, and heart — so you’ll get stronger and have a blast doing it. 🗓 Next session: Sunday, 11/16/25 at 1pm ET / 10am PT 💻 Live on Zoom 💪 Beginner-friendly, no equipment needed (just a chair and space) 💵 $5 drop-in — free for first-timers with code: STRONG 👉 Register here 👊🏽 Want more? More strength. More support. More community.   If that’s you, you can join the RAK ON Tribe and get access to: All Strong for Life classes All Live Mindful Meals with Dr. Rak cook-alongs Monthly Breathwork with Yang Coming soon: Monthly Q&A with Dr. Rak. Get your health questions answered. Event replays, recipes, meditations A supportive, plant-forward community A private space that makes health feel like a feast, not a fight 🍽️ Membership is $11/month or $99/year 🎁 First month free with code RAKON 👉 Join the RAK ON Tribe Guest Bio Kwame Terra is a public health strategist, digital health entrepreneur, and founder of bEHR Health, a culturally grounded health platform designed to improve outcomes in Black communities through personalized insights, real-time support, and community-based care. With a background spanning global health, digital therapeutics, and racial equity, Kwame has advised startups, government agencies, and health systems on how to center equity and behavioral science in population health design. He’s been featured by organizations like Fast Company, Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for his work at the intersection of innovation and inclusion. In 2024, Kwame became the first person to complete the FeSteps Challenge, walking over 2 million steps in 30 consecutive days — a world-record feat rooted not in performance, but in healing, discipline, and finishing what he started. Timestamps 0:00 — Dr. Rak’s intro 0:02 — From App Idea to Walking Movement 0:06 — The First Brutal Days: Pain, Fuel & Headaches 0:09 — What Actually Got Him Through: Mindset & Mentors 0:13 — Inspiration, Not Just Steps 0:16 — Movement as a Tool for Health Equity 0:19 — How Kwame’s Health Philosophy Was Formed 0:23 — Plant-Based Awakening & Early Influences 0:28 — Creating a Culture Shift Around Food 0:32 — Designing bEHR Health: More Than an App 0:37 — Building Trust, Tech & Community 0:43 — What’s Next for bEHR Health 0:50 — Reimagining Health Equity 0:56 — Final Reflections & The Desire to Live 1:00 — Where to Find Kwame & How to Join Disclaimer: The Health Feast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. As with any changes affecting your health, we recommend and encourage you to consult your medical doctor or other qualified healthcare professionals before making lifestyle changes. The opinions expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of our employers.

“I’ve done everything right… so why do I still hurt?” If that question feels familiar, this episode is for you. We’re joined by Dr. Sassy Weinstein, an osteopathic physician, sports medicine expert, and board-certified lifestyle medicine doc who has helped thousands of patients finally heal — not by doing more, but by seeing the body as a whole system. In this conversation, we unpack:  •Why pain often isn’t coming from where it hurts  •The #1 mistake smart, proactive people make when trying to feel better  •How stress, sleep, movement patterns, and shoes (!!) could be part of the problem  •Real stories of patients who tried everything… until they didn’t have to This isn’t about more restriction or another wellness rule. It’s about reclaiming your body’s wisdom and getting back to what matters — with joy, clarity, and sustainable relief. ⸻ ✨ Dr. Sassy Weinstein’s Work: 👉 CORE Sports and Lifestyle Medicine https://coresportsmedicine.com/ 📸 Instagram: @drsassyweinstein   ⸻ Timestamps 00:13 – Intro: Still hurting after doing everything “right”? 02:00 – Why the pain isn’t where the problem is 06:09 – The missing links: stress, sleep, and strength 10:49 – PT, trainers, and who to trust 14:52 – Personalized healing plans that work 21:13 – Community as medicine: the role of connection 26:14 – Tools that help: PRP, shockwave, and smart movement 32:46 – Why Dr. Sassy started her own practice 49:23 – From chore to joy: reframing movement ⸻ 👋🏼 Hosted by Dr. Rakesh “Rak” Jotwani (like rock), a lifestyle medicine physician and founder of RAK Your Life, alongside his friend Po, a former corrections officer who has lost close to 200lbs on his health journey.  This podcast is for people living full lives who feel overwhelmed by restrictive wellness advice — and want health to feel joyful and abundant like a feast. ⸻ 👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment with your biggest “aha” moment — and don’t forget to subscribe. 🔔 New episodes weekly. Live well and RAK ON. ⸻ 👊🏽 Get Strong at Home and Join the Tribe! What if getting strong didn’t have to feel like punishment? That’s what we’re doing in Strong for Life — our virtual strength session designed for real-life function, balance, and confidence. We had an amazing group last week of 10 people last week — and we’re doing it again this Sunday. 🗓 Next session: Sunday at 1pm ET / 10am PT 💻 Live on Zoom 💪 Beginner-friendly, no equipment needed (just a chair and space) 💵 $5 drop-in — free for first-timers with code: STRONG 👉 Register here: https://calendly.com/drrak/strength-foundations-build-strength-balance Want more? More strength. More support. More community. If that’s you too? You can become a member and get access to: - All Strong for Life classes - Live Mindful Meals cook-alongs and breathwork sessions - Replays, recipes, and meditations - A supportive, plant-forward community - A private space that makes health feel like a feast, not a fight 🍽️ Membership is just $11/month or $99/year.  🎁 First month free with code RAKON 👉 Join the RAK ON Tribe