2012 Top 4 Reasons To Visit A Chiropractor

It might be tough to beat last year’s “Top 4 Reasons To Visit A Chiropractor” but here is this year’s list:

#4 – You are a member of the subphylum Vertebrata.

#3 – Stress, irritation and/or pressure on nerves lowers your health potential.

#2 – You are “sick and tired of being sick and tired!”

#1 – Because Dr. Phil said so…

Here is a link to Dr. Mancini’s book:

The Power of Self-Healing: Unlock Your Natural Healing Potential in 21 Days!

It’s Here At Last

Okay, if you have read many of my previous posts, you may have reached the conclusion that I like Jillian Michaels’ workout DVDs. I like that most of the workouts can be done in 30-45 minutes which works better with my schedule. I like that I can workout at home and not in a crowded gym where I have to fight for space or wait on equipment. I hear some great stuff about P90X and Insanity (I have not tried them), but one thing that might reduce my compliance would be the time commitment. I recently heard about Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. A whole bunch of workout DVDs, workout schedules, meal plans, recipes, daily journal all in one package…and the workouts are only 30 minutes! Had to get it!

I ordered it online, and I have felt like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, checking the mailbox everyday for his Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Ring! Disappointment everyday…until today. Here it is folks:



All  bundled up in one well packaged box. I’m excited to check it all out. Although, I exercise regularly, I haven’t worked out following a prescheduled set of workouts since my wrestling days in college. I just pop in whatever DVD fits my time schedule and energy level. I’m trying to look at this as having a coach guide me through the process over 90 days. Another new wrinkle will be that my wife and I are starting this latest fitness expedition together (we usually workout separately). Don’t fear, I won’t be doing a blog daily on the process, but I’m sure I’ll have some updates along the way. Wish us luck!!!

Summer Blockbuster???

I am not a big fan of going to the movie theater, just ask my family! Honestly, I just don't like paying $8.50 for a matinee, just to go sit in a dark room in a comfortable seat, because 9 times out of 10...I fall asleep and I just forked out money to take a nap!

But, as I was looking through Twitter at posts about chiropractic this morning, I came across a movie trailer that sparked my attention. Now, most people realize that the chiropractic profession and the medical community have not always played nicely together. Frankly, the groups still don't always foster the best relationships. I don't have the time or room here to give you all the sordid details of the past, but if your interested just look up Wilk vs The AMA. Thankfully, producer Jeff Hayes has been inspired to do a documentary called Medical, Inc. Hopefully, the film will bring to light a major source behind so many falsehoods and misconceptions that the chiropractic community, as well as anybody else with an opinion that differed from the medical association, has had to fight for way too long.

Here's the movie trailer. Be on the lookout for the film in Summer 2012 according to the movie's website.

http://www.medicalincmovie.com/Medical_Inc.html

WHAT Was That Sound?!?!?!

After you read the title you might be thinking, “oh, it’s just another explanation of the strange noises that come out of my spine during and adjustment.” Well, stay with me because this is about a totally different unusual sound that you might hear in a chiropractic office! This short video will hopefully help answer your questions and ease your mind.

If you have questions about chiropractic and/or how we can help you get on the road to better health please feel free to call the office at (434) 845-9000 or just leave a comment below.

The “Adjustment” That Doesn’t Work For Me!

We have approximately 365 days in a year, and I do adjustments on the spines of people that come into our office about 250 of those days. After all those days, all those adjustments over all the years, there is one adjustment I still struggle with. What is that hurdle that appears 10 feet high to me???

The Spring Forward Time Change!

This time of year becomes even more difficult since I decided to become a morning exerciser about a year ago. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be back into a better routine, but today I had to squeeze in what I could during the short amount of time I had. I again decided to incorporate the BOSU® stability trainer. Nothing too exciting today. I did some push-ups, ab work and stretching using the BOSU®. Hopefully, I can get in a longer workout tomorrow.

If you feel like you are struggling to stay on track with your exercise, diet, whatever…you are not alone, and it doesn’t come easy for most of us! The rewards will be worth the sacrifice, so stay at it.

Image: vichie81 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

First Day With The BOSU®

I didn't want to do anything too crazy with using the BOSU® ball for the first time in a workout today, so I just added it to a few exercises in my circuit. I picked 6 exercises and did each one for 1 minute with a 20 second break between exercises. I repeated the circuit 3 times. I rested 1 minute between each circuit.

I of course started with a 5 minute warm-up doing some light cardio and dynamic stretching. Just in case you can't read my wonderful handwriting, here are the exercises I did in the circuit:

1. Jumping side steps on the BOSU® ball (don't know what else to call them).
2. Dumbbell cleans to a shoulder press.
3. Jump-squats holding weights.
4. Trunk twists holding a dumbbell at chest level.
5. Push-ups on the BOSU® ball.
6. Pike crunches on the BOSU® ball.

Following the circuit, I did 5 minutes of jumping rope. To wrap up the workout I did about 10 minutes of static stretching. Save the static stretching for the end of your workout because the muscles and other soft-tissues will be warm and more pliable.

All-in-all it was a pretty good workout and it took less than 45 minutes! I'm thinking I will have to invest in my own BOSU®.

As always, consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any exercise program. If you have links to examples of your favorite BOSU® exercises, feel free to comment below.

2 Critical Reasons To Do Something New!!!

If you have been keeping up with my posts lately, you have seen me demonstrate and talk about a variety of different exercises using low cost equipment at home. I feel that variety in exercise is critical for two main reasons:

1. Variety helps reduce the risk of overuse injuries. Let's face facts, if you do the same thing over and over again, stressing the same parts in the same way, something is likely going to wear out.
2. Variety prevents boredom. This is probably the most important of the two reasons. When boredom sets in, you aren't very likely to keep coming back to that activity on a daily basis. That's just too much repetitive stress on the brain. Before you know it, you won't be exercising at all!

Well, this time it is my turn to add something new to my workouts. Thanks to my friend and fellow blogger David (runningbecauseican.com), I get to try a BOSU® balance trainer. These aren't quite as inexpensive as some of the other products I have talked about, but David swears I will run out and buy my own, after I try his for a little bit.

We are talking about doing some videos with the BOSU® ball, but from what I can tell so far, I'm not sure if they will be labeled "Instructional" or "Comedy."

I'm definitely looking forward to giving this thing a try. If you have used this equipment please share your experience by commenting below. Or, if you have a favorite exercise you do on the BOSU® ball let me know.

Getting Chilly For A Cause!

It was a bit brisk this morning, but the Wimmer Chiropractic team was honored to be a part of a great event today. We often go out into the community for different business expos, health fairs, Pampered Employee events, etc. But, it is very rewarding to be involved with events that help local and global causes.

The Gifts for Gulu 2012 "Water for Life" 5K and Kids' Fun Runs was held this morning on the beautiful campus of Lynchburg College. The program provides clean water and other health programs for Gulu, Uganda. Canned foods were also collected today for local food-banks. We were there to provide assisted stretching and chair massages for the participants, volunteers and spectators.

I will admit, we were inside before the race started, but once the race began and the sun came out, we moved our table and chairs outside to catch the end of the 5K and provide our services while the kids were racing and awards were given.

Here is a short video of some of the day's great moments!

Chiropractor Uses Medicine...Ball, That Is!

We recently had a question through our Facebook page asking about basic exercises that can be done at home with a medicine ball. So, here are a few basics to get you started.



You can find medicine balls, relatively inexpensively at most sporting goods and/or department stores. If you prefer to shop online, here's a link:


As always, consult with your healthcare provider before beginning this or any other exercise program. If you have any questions feel free to call the office at (434) 845-9000 or just leave a comment below. I would love to hear ideas from other at-home exercisers on how to add variety to your fitness plans.

Family Fun Day!

Increasing your physical activity doesn't mean you have to spend more hours at the gym, long runs pounding the pavement or sweating it out in the basement (as you may have seen in my prior posts). Going out for a "Family Fun Day" is a great way to combine family time and getting active. This video is of our recent trip to the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.



As always, consult with your healthcare provider before beginning this or any other exercise program. If you have any questions or comments feel free to call the office at (434) 845-9000 or just leave a comment below. I would also love to hear what fun physical activities you like to do with your whole family.