E168: Lifestyle Medicine & Small Habits for Big Health Changes with Dr. D’Wan Carpenter

Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast with Dr. Kerry Reller! This week, I am joined by Dr. D’Wan Carpenter, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with board certification in lifestyle medicine. In this episode, we explore how small, sustainable habits can lead to powerful, lasting health improvements. Dr. Carpenter shares insights from her work in rehab medicine, explaining why patients often return after events like stroke and how lifestyle factors—such as nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and social connection—play a critical role in prevention. We also discuss the importance of starting small, overcoming barriers, and building habits that truly fit into real life. Tune in to learn practical, realistic strategies to take control of your health and prevent chronic disease.00:00 Introduction00:29 Meet Dr. D’Wan Carpenter01:06 What is Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation?03:36 Why Patients Keep Coming Back After Rehab05:52 The Role of Lifestyle Medicine in Prevention07:51 The 6 (Plus 1) Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine11:03 Conditions That Improve Most with Lifestyle Changes13:33 Lifestyle Medicine and Chronic Pain16:44 Mental Health Benefits of Lifestyle Changes21:41 Why Small Changes Work Better27:56 Overcoming Barriers & Building Habits30:03 Final Takeaway: Start with One Small ThingCoonect with Dr. D'wanFacebook: @DrDwanCarpenterInstagram: @DrDwanCarpenterYoutube:  @DrDWanCarpenter Connect with Dr. RellerPodcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryrellermd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFamilyMedicineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearwaterfamilymedicine/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kerryrellermdClearwater Family Medicine and Allergy website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwa...Podcast: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou...Subscribe to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon music, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Pandora.