The Three Pillars of Athletic Lifestyle Medicine w/ Jerzy Gregorek | Holistic Pharmacy Podcast

I had an absolute blast sitting down with today’s unique guest, chatting on everything from seeking refuge, to exercise, to cancer, to cabbage (stick around to the end to get his amazing raw vegan cabbage recipe, you & your gut will thank me later).

Jerzy Gregorek is a four-time World Weightlifting Champion, poet, and co-author of The Happy Body. He helps people reverse aging, regain strength, and restore flexibility through a program that blends mindful exercise, micro progression, and emotional eating intelligence. Jerzy’s mission is to show that it’s never too late to live a quality life, build vitality, peace of mind, and longevity.

Jerzy’s journey has been anything but ordinary. After falling into darkness as a teenager, he became an alcoholic from age 15 to 18. Escaping that path shaped his understanding of resilience and personal responsibility. From there, he rebuilt his life - becoming a political exile in the USA, then a world champion weightlifter, and later a mentor, poet, and PhD student. His philosophy - “Hard Choices, Easy Life; Easy Choices, Hard Life” - comes from lived experience and years of guiding people through transformation.

What sets Jerzy apart is his ability to integrate physical training, creative expression, and psychological insight into a holistic approach to health and resilience. He emphasizes that emotional intelligence is a crucial element in overcoming life’s adversities, and that it can be practiced, cultivated, and mastered. 

His three books, titled The Happy Body: Mastering Food, Exercise, and Rest Choices, are designed to help people embrace this path of strength, wisdom, and balance. The poetry book The Happy Body: Food For Your Soul helps with emotional eating. The Happy Body Virtues: Daily Practices for the Modern Stoic helps with emotional eating and self-regulation, while I Got This: The Art of Getting Grit helps with integrating the stories that contribute to building the skill of living a good life.

Jerzy has been featured on The Tim Ferriss Show, delivered a Google Talk, and spoken on numerous wellness and longevity podcasts. His work has helped thousands around the globe adopt a sustainable path to strength and wellbeing. Currently, Jerzy is pursuing a PhD in Humanistic Psychology at Saybrook University, focusing on creativity, innovation, and leadership. 

Connect with Jerzy via:
Email: jerzygregorek@gmail.com 
Website: https://thehappybody.com/ 
X: https://x.com/thehappybody?lang=en 
YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/thehappybody 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerzy-gregorek-ab87475/