Mick's up With Stretches

Is your back stressed, during this Stress Awareness Month?

If you have a job, like I do, which involves sitting for most of the day... or even if your job includes standing for most of the day (like I used to)... then your back is probably screaming at you for help.  Our back muscles can tighten up and let us know that we need to do something about it.

Did you know?  As we take a good look at stress... that it is actually a cause of back pain, too!  Yes, our stress can actually settle in our backs and cause us physical pain.  So, one thing to do is: Try to decrease the stress in your life.  I know:  That's easier said than done.

Tangent alert!
Stress was originally created to be a good thing (you know, saving us from a life or death situation, by using the fight or flight instinct).  However, we tend to hold on to stress for the long haul, which wears down bodies to cause pain and illness.  What can you do today to start the process of relieving yourself of stress?

As I mention in my post on Muscles and Spine Health, chiropractic care can help you know if the pain is skeletal or muscular or both.  In that article, I talk about stretches that might alleviate back pain.  Since then, I have learned some more stretches that can also be helpful.

Remember, too, to work on your core muscles.  That means, strengthen all those muscles in the middle of your body, such as your abs, obliques, latissimus dorsi, etc.  You can find a variety of exercises to add to your workout routine to help build up that strength and balance.

  

Also, remember good posture!  I have to admit that I recently realized I've been a bit lax in pulling in my tummy, whether I'm standing, walking, running, or sitting.  Conscientiously tightening up those tummy muscles, during normal daily activities, surprisingly will improve your condition.

So, what are some of these stretches?

Well, as mentioned in the previously published post, which I have conveniently included for you below, hamstring stretches are a wonderful help for low back pain relief.  You can lay on the floor and stretch as directed in that article, and you can include stretches shown in the video link at the end of this post.  (With one leg straight up in the air, bend it at the knee, and then straighten again.  Repeat several times.)  

You can also stand on one leg, while resting the other leg straight out on a step or some sturdy object that is at a comfortable height for you.  Gently bend forward at the waist, toward your raised leg's knee.  Hold for several seconds, return your torso to an upright position, relax, and then repeat.

My favorite recent discovery is that the psoas also affects the low back.  

Can I interject something here?  Of course I can!  It's my blog!  Well, I just have to say that I am forever grateful for my former job with Curves. (Thank you, Dawn and Rosslyn!!)  I learned so much wonderful information!  Not only did I get to assist ladies with improving their lives through nutrition and exercise, but I also got to use science in it all (explaining to the members how they are using their muscles, like the psoas and obliques, etc.).  Yes, I admit it.  I love science!

OK. Thanks.  Now, back to stretches.

There are a couple of ways to stretch the psoas.  One way is to do a lunge.  That means you step forward with one foot (a really big step forward), and drop your back leg down toward the floor.  Be sure your front knee does not go past your toes (to avoid too much pressure on the knee, so as not to cause knee pain).  Keep that back leg straight, rather than letting that back knee drop all the way to the floor.  If your back knee stays off the floor, you'll get a better stretch.  Hold for several seconds, and then repeat.  

Another way to do this stretch is in a standing position.  While standing on one leg, place the other leg on a step or other sturdy object at a comfortable height, and as you bend that leg, lean in toward your knee.  I like to pair this stretch with the standing hamstring stretch I just mentioned in above.

So, now the ball is in your court.

It's up to you to find out if your back pain is from your skeleton or from your muscles.  Start by getting the bones checked out first.  They are the foundation of your body.  That foundation needs to be safe.  Then, you can start working on getting those muscles to do what they're supposed to do... oh, and start working on not being stressed out.

Stretching is an amazing thing!  Unfortunately, we don't do it enough.  Now's the time to do something about that!

_________________________________________________________

Post from
October 18, 2011

Mick’s in with Muscles and Spine Health

_________________________________________________________

"Chiropractic just makes you feel so much better.
When I walk out of the clinic, I feel like I'm about three inches taller and everything's in place.
And as long as I see the chiropractor, I feel like I'm one step ahead of the game."
Tom Brady3 Super Bowl Championship Rings MVP award winner Quarterback - New England Patriots

After doing some sort of exercise, like climbing a mountain, there might be some pains and other consequences to deal with.  You know what I mean.  We 40-something moms really know what I mean.

In reality, addressing certain things, like spinal health, before exercise is the best way to go.  Be sure you know what’s going on with your spine, before you get too serious about your exercise regimen.  “Depending on the extent of your [subluxations] and posture misalignment the doctor may have you abstain from certain high input activities that may adversely affect your spine.” (Nikitow Chiropractic Wellness Center )

Something I learned, and for which I am truly and forever grateful, is that not all back pain is due to subluxation.  I tend to have lots of lower back pain.  Yes, some of it is due to tailbone issues, and some is because of curvature in my spine, of which I am on a quest to correct.  However, some of it... in fact, a lot of it is also due to tightness in my muscles.

So you deal with low back pain?  If so, try stretching out your muscles.  Not only is it good for flexibility and reducing overall tension in the body, but targeting certain areas can have an incredible affect on your back pain.  Hamstrings tend to be the biggest culprit, when muscles are to blame for low back tension.

Try this exercise:
Lay on your back, with one leg straight up in the air, the back of it against the wall.  (You’ll need to do this in a doorway, so your other leg can be resting flat on the floor.)  Push with your leg against the wall, holding for 20 seconds or so, and then release.  Move your body closer to the wall, causing more tension in your leg.  Repeat the push and release.

If you have someone who can help you, it works much better.  Your assistant will push your leg toward you, causing the resistance.


“Tight hamstrings can restrict movement of the pelvis, which can cause a compensatory increase in rounding of the low back.  This increases the forces on the lumbar spine during forward bending, which can lead to injuries in the low back.  However, there are many causes of low back pain, with tight hamstrings being only one of many potential contributors to the problem.  Additional causative factors and potential treatments should be explored with a health care professional. ” (National Academy of Sports Medicine)

“The sensation of tightness in the hamstrings can be due to various reasons.  Typically it can be from poor postures, altered movement and walking patterns, or compensation due to other muscles being weak such as the gluteal muscles.  The hamstrings attach to the bottom of your pelvis.  With tightness, it can pull on the pelvis causing it to put more stress on the pelvis and back.  In these cases, education to mildly elongate or stretch the hamstrings may help.  Regardless, it is more important to retrain the proper strength and movement patterns of the legs and trunk so proper mechanics of the back can be restored.

“Sometimes tightness in the hamstrings can also be a protective mechanism from underlying nerve pathology in the sciatic nerve.  We have seen patients trying to stretch their hamstrings and instead develop sciatica as stretching irritated the nerve rather than stretch the muscle.  Further differential diagnosis of the hamstrings and their relationship to low back pain should be determined by a qualified health care practitioner.” (Brian Yee)

As the experts say, low back pain can be caused by a multitude of things.  The only way to know for sure the status of your spine health is by having a chiropractor view an x-ray of it.  What better time to go to your nearest corrective-care, principled chiropractor’s office to get an x-ray of your spine than during October:  Chiropractic Awareness Month?!

~

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!

Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm

so that I will be free from pain.”

And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

~

A recent video (early 2013) shows more ways to stretch hamstrings, as well as strengthen your core:
Dr. Lombardozzi at Kempsville Chiropractic

~

Mick’s up With the Skinny

Some readers might view this blog’s purpose as an advertisement for one of the “next best” diet fads.

That certainly is not the case.

I have not been one to jump on the nearest bandwagon.  Ask my hubby.  Just yesterday we had a brief discussion in which he assured me that he knows I keep far, far away from anything cliché.  (In other words, I don’t choose the “popular” route, and I despise fads.)

Many people in my circle of acquaintances approach me proudly to tell of a recipe they like to use that has “low fat” this and “nonfat” that.  I actually take offense to those statements.  True.  I shouldn’t.  However, it feels like an insult, because never do I mention those phrases in my information.  The reason is:  They usually have nothing to do with my main objective for sharing what I’ve learned, but instead those phrases give the impression that “diet” and “weight loss” are the tactics involved.

Basically all the health information I share boils down to this: Healthy cells and spines allow the body to function at 100%.
 
Do you want to be and remain cancer-free?  Are you hoping to make your children’s lives as disease-free as possible?  Does your family health history scare you?

I don’t think the catwalk is where you’ll find the answers you need for true health.

You are beautiful just the way God made you!  Your family and friends want to celebrate life with you for a long, long time.  That alone should be enough of a reason to work at being 100% healthy.  Isn’t it?!

Jonny Diaz sings a song that says it well: “More Beautiful You.”  Enjoy the video link below.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

~

Mick’s up with Your Travel

Since we just finished a great week of travel over the holiday, soaking up lots of love from family, I’m thinking you might be traveling, too.  We love visiting parents, brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles… but it sure can be a pain in the neck!


I don’t mean it as a cliché.  I mean it literally!

If Jay and I don’t take our regular pillows with us when we travel, then we have pains in our necks each morning and throughout the days.  Why is that?  Do you have the same problem?  What do you use for sleeping?  What is recommended for proper sleeping?

First, the why:  “Sleeping on a pillow that does not properly support your neck or causes it to tilt forward can gradually decrease the angle of the cervical curve and cause pain, stiffness, headaches, and misalignment of the vertebrae over time.” (Dr. Suzy)  There it is!  We need to support the natural curve in our necks.  “A normal, healthy neck has a small lordosis, which means it curves.” (Anne Asher)

Next, the what:  I have always wondered what is healthiest for sleeping, and so I was very excited to be told at my previous chiropractor’s office of a neck support to use while sleeping.  So far, that is the best thing I have found.  Nothing worked as well before I used this cervical pillow, and I have not yet come across anything since.

You might use a type of pillow suggested by your doctor.  I am not going to say it is good or bad.  If you are trying to improve your cervical curve, then that is a great place to be!

Finally, the how:  As much as people don’t want to hear it, there are some sleep positions that are just not at all good for the spine.  If you truly, honestly want to be the healthiest you can be, then you need to consider your spine, and in this case, how you sleep.  Lying on your back and using spinal supports is the best thing you can do for yourself, when it comes to sleeping.  It takes time to get used to it, if you are not a back sleeper… but it sure is worth it!  (I heard a great tip from a chiropractor recently.  She suggested that a stomach sleeper wear an oversized shirt for pajamas, and stuff a pillow under the shirt at the chest/belly area.  This should hinder a stomach sleeper from rolling onto their belly while sleeping.)

Keep your chin up!

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

~

Mick’s up and to the Point

This is short and sweet and to the point:

When was the last time you had a check-up for your nervous system?

“The goal of Chiropractic is to ignite Life within you so you can regain your health, fulfill your purpose and bring more joy to those around you.  Staying 'lit up' with regular Chiropractic care is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and those you love the most.” (The Weekly Sticky – “Chiropractic Fires Up Your LIFE!”)

And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the LORD is witness between you and me forever.”

1 Samuel 20:23 (NIV)

~

Have You Gotten a Mick’s up of Chiropractic

You might have gathered by now that I am very thankful for chiropractic care.  I never used to know why chiropractic is so good for me, but I just knew I felt better and was healthier when I received regular care. 

I am so thankful my parents became friends with a chiropractor so many years back, which first introduced us to this form of healthcare.

I’m thankful I found a wonderful office through the yellow pages and got back into regular chiropractic care, when I was pregnant with our first child, after I discovered chiropractic is excellent for pregnant ladies.  I was no longer in pain, regained comfortable sleep during those crucial months, improved my attitude, and later had a healthy baby because of chiropractic.

It is amazing to me the gifts God has given chiropractors:  the skill to be able to feel each bone in the spine and know it by name; the precision for moving the proper bone in the necessary manner; the understanding of where each nerve leads and what it helps, as well as what is hurt when it is not able to function properly; the compassion to care for each patient and their needs; even the knowledge of all other bones in the skeletal system, so as to aid in supplying answers for bewildered patients.

If you have not yet discovered the world of chiropractic, I urge you to do yourself a favor and look into it.

Listen to what Dr. Patrick Gentempo, owner of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, says: “Now that this whole wellness revolution has come into this world, chiropractic is expanding and growing because we've had such great training….  Chiropractic is proactive,” meaning we take the approach of, “Let's not wait for you to get sick and then do something.  Let's keep you healthy.”

As we enter into the more stressful holiday season, it’s good to contemplate what that stress is doing to us and what we can do to handle it in a healthier way.  Dr. Gentempo continues on to say, “Everybody knows that lifestyle stress adversely affects your health.  How stress is processed and managed is through the nervous system.  What's between stress and illness?  The Central Nervous System.  You live your life through your nervous system.  What chiropractors do is evaluate your nervous system, see how stress is affecting that, and if it’s causing disturbance in how your nervous system functions, we want to release those disturbances so your body can heal and regulate.”

Is chiropractic a lifetime commitment?  Dr. Gentempo explains, “Chiropractic doesn't treat conditions...  It gives lifestyle support to help better address whatever your challenges might be.”  This question is like asking, “Once you go to the gym, do you have to keep going back?  Once you eat healthy, do you have to keep eating healthy?”  As the doctor says, “If you want a healthy lifestyle, chiropractic is a critical component.”

Many thanks to Conway Family Chiropractic for encouraging me to use their video in my blog.  This is a great summary of what chiropractic is and why we need it.  Enjoy!

Remember, don’t stress this holiday.  Read the Proverb below.  If you find yourself stressing, be sure to see your local chiropractor!

 

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

 

~

Mick’s in a Reboot

Do you need a reboot?

There are days like that, aren’t there?

A great video by Educhiro helps you visualize just how the nervous system is like a network of signals in a computer.

If our bodies are similar to a computer, then doesn’t that only make sense that we need a reboot once in a while, just like a computer does?

Your brain is sending messages to the rest of your body, so you can function.  If you need to reboot that system, then that means there is a stress interfering with the messages and function.

Your spine is protecting your spinal cord, which is helping deliver the messages.  If stress has caused the spine to put pressure on any of the nerves, then there is an interference.  An interference means there is a decrease in function of the part of the body those stressed nerves are going to.

A chiropractor will help you reboot, in this situation.  A specific, gentle movement of the spine by the doctor will take the pressure off the nerves, and your system will have a reboot. 

Now, doesn’t that feel so much better?  You have clear data passageways.  The messages from the brain now have a proper path to travel, so your body can do its work more easily. 

You’re ready for a fresh start!

Don’t forget to clear out the interference between you and the Source of life, too!

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

~

Mick’s in with Muscles and Spine Health

"Chiropractic just makes you feel so much better.
When I walk out of the clinic, I feel like I'm about three inches taller and everything's in place.
And as long as I see the chiropractor, I feel like I'm one step ahead of the game."
Tom Brady
3 Super Bowl Championship Rings MVP award winner Quarterback - New England Patriots

After doing some sort of exercise, like climbing a mountain, there might be some pains and other consequences to deal with.  You know what I mean.  We 40-something moms really know what I mean.

In reality, addressing certain things, like spinal health, before exercise is the best way to go.  Be sure you know what’s going on with your spine, before you get too serious about your exercise regimen.  “Depending on the extent of your [subluxations] and posture misalignment the doctor may have you abstain from certain high input activities that may adversely affect your spine.” (Nikitow Chiropractic Wellness Center )

Something I learned, and for which I am truly and forever grateful, is that not all back pain is due to subluxation.  I tend to have lots of lower back pain.  Yes, some of it is due to curvature in my spine, of which I am on a quest to correct.  However, some of it is also due to tightness in my muscles.

So you deal with low back pain?  If so, try stretching out your muscles.  Not only is it good for flexibility and reducing overall tension in the body, but targeting certain areas can have an incredible affect on your back pain.  Hamstrings tend to be the biggest culprit, when muscles are to blame for low back tension.

Try this exercise: 
Lay on your back, with one leg straight up in the air, the back of it against the wall.  (You’ll need to do this in a doorway, so your other leg can be resting flat on the floor.)  Push with your leg against the wall, holding for 20 seconds or so, and then release.  Move your body closer to the wall, causing more tension in your leg.  Repeat the push and release.

If you have someone who can help you, it works much better.  Your assistant will push your leg toward you, causing the resistance.


“Tight hamstrings can restrict movement of the pelvis, which can cause a compensatory increase in rounding of the low back.  This increases the forces on the lumbar spine during forward bending, which can lead to injuries in the low back.  However, there are many causes of low back pain, with tight hamstrings being only one of many potential contributors to the problem.  Additional causative factors and potential treatments should be explored with a health care professional. ” (National Academy of Sports Medicine)

“The sensation of tightness in the hamstrings can be due to various reasons.  Typically it can be from poor postures, altered movement and walking patterns, or compensation due to other muscles being weak such as the gluteal muscles.  The hamstrings attach to the bottom of your pelvis.  With tightness, it can pull on the pelvis causing it to put more stress on the pelvis and back.  In these cases, education to mildly elongate or stretch the hamstrings may help.  Regardless, it is more important to retrain the proper strength and movement patterns of the legs and trunk so proper mechanics of the back can be restored.

“Sometimes tightness in the hamstrings can also be a protective mechanism from underlying nerve pathology in the sciatic nerve.  We have seen patients trying to stretch their hamstrings and instead develop sciatica as stretching irritated the nerve rather than stretch the muscle.  Further differential diagnosis of the hamstrings and their relationship to low back pain should be determined by a qualified health care practitioner.” (Brian Yee)

As the experts say, low back pain can be caused by a multitude of things.  The only way to know for sure the status of your spine health is by having a chiropractor view an x-ray of it.  What better time to go to your nearest corrective-care, principled chiropractor’s office to get an x-ray of your spine than during October:  Chiropractic Awareness Month?!

__________________________________________________________________________

October is National Chiropractic Health Month: Educational Foundation Launched to Advance Chiropractic Awareness

CARMICHAEL, Calif., Oct 06, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Foundation for Chiropractic Education (FCE), a not-for-profit 501 (C)(3) organization established to further educate the public regarding chiropractic care, is pleased to debut its charitable foundation during National Chiropractic Health Month, a nationwide chiropractic awareness campaign each October initiated by the American Chiropractic Association.

"The Foundation for Chiropractic Education has developed a comprehensive website to provide the public with an educational database of resources and documents relative to chiropractic care," says Kent S. Greenawalt, founder, FCE. "As more people begin to show their support of chiropractic by contributing to the FCE, our campaign initiatives will accelerate -- increasing the development of educational materials including evidence-based studies and public service announcements."

The detailed pages on the FCE website allow visitors to learn quick and effective informational tips to advance their knowledge of chiropractic. From introductory information to in-depth studies validating the clinical and financial efficacy of care, the FCE offers an all-encompassing resource center for anyone interested in learning more about chiropractic or considering a consultation.

"Investing in the FCE's mission to educate the public about one of healthcare's best kept secrets -- chiropractic care -- is not only a way to contribute directly to the growth of the profession, but also to advance overall wellness," shares Greenawalt.

This October, the FCE strongly encourages others to join efforts in the month-long chiropractic campaign by exploring the FCE website and making a contribution in honor of the organization and the chiropractic profession. Visit, www.Foundation4ChiroEducation.com to show your support and submit a donation today!

About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress aims to inform and educate the general public about the many benefits associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.yes2chiropractic.com or call 866-901-F4CP (3427).

SOURCE: The Foundation for Chiropractic Education
     
        For the Foundation for Chiropractic Education
        Lauren Kennedy, 201-641-1911 (14)
        lkennedy@cpronline.com
     

Copyright Business Wire 2011

__________________________________________________________________________

~

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!

Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm

so that I will be free from pain.”

And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

~

A recent video (early 2013) shows more ways to stretch hamstrings, as well as strengthen your core:
Dr. Lombardozzi at Kempsville Chiropractic

~

FMS in the Mick’s?

I need to be totally honest with you.  I do not truly know what it is like to have brain fog.  I cannot say I fully understand.  However, I have had to deal with it second-hand.  It is difficult enough to watch someone trying to function in life while in a fog.  I can’t imagine the stress of being in that fog.  I am sorry that those of you with brain fog have to deal with it.  Please realize, though, that I am writing this blog to try to help you know you don’t have to live with it.  There is a way out of the fog!

Today’s topic is related to brain fog.  One of the symptoms of FMS is brain fog.
I’ve seen hope glimmering in my husband’s eyes, as he sees the fog lifting… and as he feels his quality of life improving dramatically, after dealing with FMS for years.  Yes, he’s a guy and he was diagnosed with FMS, even though the statistics say it’s a 7:1 ratio of women to men with FMS. (CDC)

What is FMS?
FMS = Fibromyalgia Syndrome = difficult to diagnose = frustrating for those with it, because of comments like, “It’s all in your head.”

How is FMS diagnosed?
“To receive a diagnosis of FM, the patient must meet the following diagnostic criteria:

• Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months
• Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied”

Progress has been made by Dr. Bruce Gillis to give hope to FMS sufferers that doctors can determine that their symptoms are not just in their heads.  He has developed a blood test that is 95% accurate in detecting fibromyalgia.  It looks at cytokines in the blood.  What do cytokines do?  “The simple answer is that cytokines are small protein molecules released by nerve and immune cells that send signals to other cells in the body to do things like alter cell functions and increase/decrease the regulate of genes.  In the case of fibromyalgia, these messengers cause the central nervous system to create the widespread body pain characteristic of fibromyalgia as well as other physiological, hormonal and behavioral changes.”  These cytokines are related to inflammation in the body.

Toxicity and inflammation are two major factors involved in the pain of FMS.  Once they are decreased, there is a definite decrease in symptoms.  My husband is living proof.

Not only is decreasing toxins and inflammation a great start to combating FMS, but so are improving nutrition and focusing on spinal care.  After all, didn’t God give you a system in the body that will heal itself, if the stuff that isn’t supposed to be there will just get out of the way and let it do its job?!

The Fibromyalgia Fact Sheet even lists chiropractic as one of the alternatives to help improve an FMS victim’s quality of life, since “increasing attention is being devoted to the central nervous system as the underlying mechanism of FMS.”  Take note: ”Increasing rest, pacing activities, reducing stress, practicing relaxation and improving nutrition can help minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.” (National Fibromyalgia Association)

Again, we’re back to focusing on 5 simple items to change your quality of life:  attitude, spine/nerve system health, nutrition, exercise, and toxins.

Maybe this week, as we're spotlighting toxicity, we need to look at what we’re putting in our bodies, and make sure it’s not toxic.  If we’ve had a history of taking medications, having vaccinations, living with mercury fillings in our teeth, cleaning with chemicals, eating unhealthy fats and sugars, and living in toxic environments, then we should figure out a way to rid our bodies of the toxins we’re continually taking in and the toxins already stored there.  Find a detox something like Daily Detox and allow your body to function like it’s supposed to!

FMS is serious business, and it needs to be addressed.  I’ve witnessed the depression that accompanies FMS, and I can believe the suicide rates are higher among FMS sufferers. (CDC)  Please, please, please do not give up hope!

Yes, granted, there are medications out there.  Doctors don’t know what else to do, so they help to mask some of the symptoms with pain medications and others.  However, after a while, the body can adapt and then the symptoms will increase again, even with the medications.  Plus, the medications are increasing the toxicity of the body.

So, why not try something else?  What can it hurt?  If you need more information, go back through this Mick’s up Life, and read up on the 5 things I’ve emphasized for living as a healthy family.  Think about it:  You’ve tried everything else.  Why not this?  Then you can give all the glory to the God who made you in such a way that your body can heal itself!  Just think of it!  Amazing!

“But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.

I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving. “

Psalm 69:29-30 (NIV)

 

~

Mick’s in a Fog

Have you felt like you’re not as sharp as you used to be?  Do you feel fatigued?  Are you wondering why you’re in slow-motion, while the world is moving faster than ever?

You might be dealing with Brain Fog. 

Some of the symptoms of Brain Fog are (Brain Fog is Real and is a Common Symptom - by Lisa Cruz): 

• Lack of focus
  
• Forgetfulness
  
• Loss of mental acuity
  
• Decreased mental stamina
  
• Decrease in creativity
  
• Confusion
  
• Lack of spatial awareness
  
• Absentmindedness or spaciness
  
• Decreased attention span
  
• Decreased short term memory
  
• Difficulty finding words

What can cause it?

Dr. Lawrence Wilson defines Brain Fog as “feelings of mental confusion or lack of mental clarity.” (BRAIN FOG by Lawrence Wilson, MD)  He goes on to say nutrition and lifestyle are the beginning of the solution to the problem of Brain Fog, which has many causes.

Toxicity is one of the main causes.  We are bombarded by toxins every day, everywhere we turn.  Heavy metal toxicity not only causes Brain Fog, but it can also produce other chronic conditions such as Autism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Multiple Sclerosis, and a host of other serious disorders.

What can you do about it?

Getting regular chiropractic care to keep the signal passages clear from the brain to the rest of the body… getting exercise to increase oxygen… getting the right nutrients in your body… and getting away from toxins as much as possible… if all working together, will help to clear up brain fog.  (Again, it’s the simple lifestyle of incorporating the idea of 5 Essentials for healthy living.)

The way my family has decided to deal with toxins in the body is with a product called Daily Detox.  I am not advertising.  I don’t get any kick-backs by telling you about it.  There are other products out there, and maybe there are even some very similar to it, but I’m just letting you know what I found out about this one.  It’s not a periodic cleanse.  It’s not a fad.  It’s not a fast.  The product has recently changed a little bit, with the inclusion of a new manufacturer, however the idea of it is that it includes a vitamin B complex and a glutathione enhancer (the most powerful antioxidant naturally produced in the body) to give your body’s natural detoxing system a boost (using such ingredients as milk thistle).   With this detox system, the toxins are drawn from the cells… and as a side note, proper nutrition allows for healthy cell walls to have a more efficient process of getting bad things out and good things in.  So it’s a cleanse at the cellular level.  It also has activated carbon, which acts as a magnet, drawing toxins to it.  Then, since the body cannot process it, the carbon and the toxins are totally eliminated from the body.
When toxins are eliminated, your body can start to heal, and your thinking can become clearer.

Depending on the toxicity and acidity levels of the body, the healing process will happen at different rates for different people.  It’s a process, so be patient.  If you’re really serious about healing, be sure to improve everything together:  attitude, nutrition, exercise, spine/nerve system care, while working on decreasing toxicity.

I’ve seen it happen!  I’ve witnessed Brain Fog clear up!  It is possible!  My husband can testify to it!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  The fog can lift!

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,
set your hope on the grace to be brought to you
when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”
1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

~

Mick's up on the Sniffles

This seems to be sniffles week, so we'll finish it off strong!

You know how it goes.  Kidderz are the ones blamed for getting the sniffles and fevers and bringing them home (or from the teachers' point of view:  to school) for us adults to end up sick, too.  As the old saying goes, "Misery loves company!" 

It seems we're doomed.  It's just part of the process.  It has to happen… but isn't there a better way?

In my research, I found an awesome site:  International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA, Inc).  This site is all about helping your kidderz be at their 100%.  Remember from Mick's Signals: Central Nervous System at 100% = Immune System at 100% = Kidderz at 100%.

When is it best to start kidderz under chiropractic care?  You'll find the answer at the above ICPA link.  If you want to read more, check out the article on Chiropractic: The Answer for a Healthy Pregnancy and Healthy Baby!

"If a woman is pregnant her needs are increased, because the nervous system of a woman directs the creation of the fetus and the embryo to begin with. When a woman receives adjustments during her pregnancy, there is also better delivery, less back pain, healthier children, and less chance of a miscarriage" - Sir Jay Holder, M.D., D.C., Ph.D., of Miami, Florida

Are your kidderz beyond that stage already?  Well, have no fear!  Get them started today!  It's never too late for chiropractic to have a positive impact on a life.

Kids Having Fun
at the Chiropractor's Office

Look for a principled, corrective-care chiropractor near you, and get your family on your way to combatting those sniffles!

In the meantime:
Remember to load up on that Vitamin D3 over the weekend, and then we'll touch on it some more next week, as we get into the family's nutrition!  Have a restful, healthy, fun, family-oriented weekend!


"Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD."  Psalm 102:18 (NIV)

~

Mick's Maxed

Max this.  Max that.  What is all this Maximized Living stuff?  What do I know about it?  I have experienced it and seen with my own eyes the  amazing  transformations that have resulted!

Imagine being sick and in pain for 15+ years, being told it's all in your head... but you know it's all too real.  Getting out of bed is one of the hardest things to do, not to mention having to focus on work to keep your job and support your family.  Oh… family… you feel as though you can barely function, so how can you possibly be a dad to your kids?  It's a struggle.  Trying everything you can think of only gives minor temporary relief.  You feel like a 95-year-old in a 45-year-old body.  

or…

Imagine as a child you're being told your body is not perfect and there is no definitive solution.  You're told all the bad things that might happen to you, and you're basically told there is no hope.

Now…

Imagine there is hope!  Someone is obedient to God's direction, and they share with you some amazing yet simple information.  You grab on, and it changes your life!

In October of 2010, I first heard about Maximized Living after noticing the Family Chiropractic sign moved to a different section of our local plaza, which led to stopping in out of curiosity and a need for a nearby chiropractor.  (At the time, the drive to and from the chiropractor's office hurt my back worse than anything, and so I really wanted to have an office within walking distance.  Yay!  God gave us one!)

At age 9, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, as well as some other spine issues.  Following the recommendations, my parents got me in to see specialists, who simply “monitored” the situation and prescribed exercises to try to train my muscles to straighten my spine (or at least not let it get worse), with the threat of a brace or even surgery if I did not keep up with my exercises.  My parents were also told to sign me up for karate, swimming, or gymnastics to strengthen my back.  Gymnastics was already my preferred hobby, so I continued in that.  (I have now learned that gymnastics might have actually caused more damage to my spine!)

Through the years, I dealt with headaches, back pain, knee pain, foot pain, and eventually saw several different chiropractors over a span of 20 years, even being told by one chiropractor that I would most likely have severe issues from carrying a baby to childbirth, possibly even leading to paralysis.

Finding Dr. Eric was a God-send for my family and me.  He provides the most up-to-date corrective techniques, and the 5 Essentials of Maximized Living that he talks about are just that: 5 Essential items to live life to the max!

My  BIG “Why” to get me revved up with the mindset to succeed with my new healthy lifestyle is to teach my children (by words and actions) how to take care of the temple God gave them, so they can live long, healthy lives to bring glory to His name.  I do not want them suffering from sickness or disease, or dying from heart disease or cancer at any time in their lives, whether young or old.

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple..." 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)

My personal “Why” is to be fit (and have a flat tummy), no matter my age or maternal status.  In other words, I don’t want to look like a 40+ year-old mom with two young children. 

The result:

After jumping in to the 5 Essentials with both feet in November 2010 with the entire family, I lost 20 pounds… and this was after thinking I was doomed… just because I had 2 kids… to stay the same weight … am more fit than I’ve ever been… can actually see a 6-pack of abs!  Woohoo!… wear the smallest size I’ve ever worn, fight off colds faster than usual, and am overall healthier and more energetic than at any time in my past.  Plus, my family is healthier. Not only can my kidderz kick high fevers in one day and hardly be sick from month to month, but my husband has an amazing testimony as well, getting off pain meds, allergy meds, cold meds, sleep meds, and being a healthier and more energetic husband than the one I married 15 years ago!  Who is this guy?!  I like him!

Not only do we have the mindset to do what it takes to be the healthiest we can be, but we also are seeing correction in our spines because of Dr. Eric’s care.  The nutrition of the Advanced Plan is simply our lifestyle now, and we maximize our oxygen and lean muscle through the MaxT3 workouts.  Plus, living as toxin-free as possible (with our food, soap, shampoo, deodorant, detergent, etc.) and staying off meds and on  Daily Detox is a must!

I am thankful that God introduced me to chiropractic care long ago, especially so that my children would have the blessing of having chiropractic adjustments since first coming home from the hospital as newborns, which has made it a lifestyle to them.  They “get it!”  They understand that healing comes from the inside out.

Remember:
God made you perfect! There are no mistakes.  If you are dealing with issues of pain and/or dis-ease, it is simply due to interference.  Live the 5 Essentials to get the interferences out and live life to the max!

Have you taken the survey here on Mick's up Life?  It's up there, in the left margin.  Go ahead... we're all curious to know!