A Few Things I Use, Read & Trust
Staying active and feeling well isn't about having all the latest gear or following every wellness trend. For me, it comes back to the basics: moving regularly, supporting strength and recovery, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and finding things that make it easier — and more enjoyable — to keep moving.
Here are a few of the things I personally use, enjoy, read, and turn to for trusted information:
My Everyday Favorites
For Strength & Movement
Resistance Bands: Simple, portable, and incredibly versatile. Resistance bands are an easy way to incorporate strength work whether I’m at home, traveling, or looking to add something different to a workout.
Jump Rope Sometimes the simplest equipment is the best. A jump rope is an easy way to get moving, challenge coordination, and add cardiovascular activity without needing much space or equipment.
Balance Pad: Balance becomes increasingly important as we age, and it’s something worth intentionally working on. A balance pad is a simple tool for challenging stability, coordination, and muscular control.
Supportive Sneakers: The right footwear matters, especially when you spend a lot of time moving. I look for shoes that provide the support and comfort I need for whatever activity I’m doing.
For Recovery & Everyday Health
Foam Roller: One of my go-to tools for recovery and mobility. It’s simple, accessible, and easy to incorporate before or after activity.
Electrolytes: Hydration matters, particularly when I’m exercising or spending time outdoors. Electrolytes can be a helpful part of staying adequately hydrated when activity and heat increase fluid losses.
A Large Water Bottle: Nothing fancy. Just a practical reminder to drink water throughout the day. Sometimes, making a healthy habit easier is half the battle.
A Comfortable Mattress: Sleep is essential for recovery and overall health, so this is one area where comfort really matters to me. We spend a significant portion of our lives sleeping, and good sleep supports everything from recovery to performance and well-being.
For Supporting Health Over Time
Calcium + Vitamin D: Bone health is something I think about both personally and professionally. Calcium and vitamin D play important roles in maintaining healthy bones.
Creatine: Strength and maintaining muscle become increasingly important as we age, which makes creatine an interesting and useful addition for many active adults.
Omega-3s: Another staple in my personal supplement routine and part of how I think about supporting overall health alongside nutrition, exercise, and other healthy habits.
For Life in Southern California
Sun Protection: Being active outdoors also means being thoughtful about sun exposure. Sun protection is an everyday essential for me.
Hats: I play tennis in Southern California, so a good hat gets plenty of use. It’s an easy way to add another layer of sun protection while I'm outside doing something I love.
What's On My Bookshelf
I love books that challenge the way we think about health, performance, resilience, leadership, aging, and life more broadly. Some have influenced how I think as a physician, while others have stayed with me personally.
Outlive — Peter Attia, MD: A thoughtful exploration of longevity and what we can do now to support health and function later in life.
Good for a Girl — Lauren Fleshman: An important perspective on women in sports and what female athletes need to thrive.
Grit — Angela Duckworth: A fascinating look at perseverance, passion, and why talent alone doesn't determine success.
Being Mortal — Atul Gawande, MD: One of my favorites, and really, I enjoy anything by Atul Gawande. His writing brings humanity to some of medicine's most complicated conversations.
Unbreakable: A Woman’s Guide to Aging with Power — Vonda Wright, MD: A book that speaks directly to something I care deeply about: helping women approach aging from a position of strength.
The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan — Jocelyn Wittenstein, MD: A practical resource focused on protecting bone and joint health and understanding conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis.
The Whole-Brain Child — Daniel J. Siegel, MD & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD: A different kind of health book, but one that offers fascinating insight into children's emotional and intellectual development.
Becoming — Michelle Obama: A personal story about identity, purpose, family, and finding your own path.
Rafa: My Story — Rafael Nadal with John Carlin: As a tennis player and sports medicine physician, I appreciate stories that offer a glimpse into the mindset, discipline, and resilience behind elite performance.
Trusted Resources
With so much health information available online, knowing where that information comes from matters. These are a few of the resources I turn to for credible information and perspectives on orthopedics, bone health, women’s health, and healthy aging.
OrthoInfo: From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, this is a helpful patient-friendly resource for reliable information about orthopedic injuries, conditions, treatments, and recovery.
OrthoInfo Podcast: An accessible way to learn more about common orthopedic conditions and topics from experts in the field.
The Bone Whisperers: A resource focused on bone health and the conversations surrounding osteoporosis, prevention, and maintaining strong bones throughout life.
The ’Pause Life: A resource centered on helping women better understand and navigate perimenopause and menopause.
Brands I Love
FIGS - When you spend your career in medicine, what you wear to work matters. FIGS has created medical apparel that brings together function, comfort, and style, and it’s a brand I’d be excited to collaborate with.
