weight loss Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

Evolving Corporate Wellness Programs

June 20, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Corporate Wellness Programs are a popular benefit at many companies throughout the country. Used to attract and retain top employees, wellness programs also help to keep healthcare costs down and employee productivity up. During a recent conversation with a Corporate Wellness employee at a local company, the topic of weight loss came up. Employees are becoming resistant to enrolling in a public weight loss program at their company. It’s not that the employee doesn’t want to lose weight either. What it really comes down to is the public display of private information – their actual weight.

In reality, the truth can hurt, it can also be embarrassing. We know when we should lose weight. And how much. But do we really want the world, or in this case every coworker, to know this? So, in response to this shift from “Biggest Loser” is a culture of movement. In a society where people are sedentary most of the day, the trend is now towards moving the body, in addition to eating healthy. Besides, weight loss is only one component of healthy living. Plus, what you weigh does not necessarily mean you are unhealthy either. So, the focus is now shifting to movement.

Movement is a choice. And businesses all across the country are looking at ways to infuse movement throughout a work day from:

encouraging the use of stairs vs the elevator
taking a walk during lunch or a break
purchasing standing desks
creating a space for fun such as adding ping pong tables, a weight room, or walking trails
supporting a local 5k charity event
partnering with a local gym to offer discounted memberships
offering lunch and learns to educate and inform employees about maintaining good health

Losing weight and getting healthy has never been any easier, especially when the workplace promotes it, too. The shift from public weight loss programs and contests has actually made for even better wellness programs. But even if your company does not offer these wellness benefits, you can take matters into your own hands by choosing the path of movement when given an option.

Improving Senior Health Through Exercise

May 26, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Trends in obesity rates, especially in older adults, suggest a misconception that it’s too late to get healthy. In fact, more than a third of Americans over 65 are obese. There exists a falsehood that it is normal to lose good health as one ages. Perhaps it is due to the fear of falling or other injury, leading to a more sedentary lifestyle. Aches and pains associated with aging, also contribute to a decrease in activity. Unfortunately, this mindset only exasperates the increase in obesity. The truth is senior do benefit from exercise, no matter what their age.

New research is suggesting that overweight and obese senior citizens who want to lose weight should pursue aerobic exercise, strength training, and a healthy diet. A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine involved older, obese older adults who scored in the “frail” range on a standard test. This group of 141 individuals were broken into three groups. One group did only aerobic exercise such as walking on a treadmill. Another focused on strength training, and the other on doing both. Lastly, there was also a control group that only attended nutrition classes, but did not diet or exercise.

The study ran for six months, with each non-control group exercising three times per week. At the conclusion of the study, all non-control groups lost weight. In fact, the average weight loss was 19 pounds. The most significant finding, however, was the improvement in frailty scores. Follow up testing involved mobility tasks such as walking up stairs, standing up, and picking up a coin. All three non-control groups improved their scores. The most improved was the combination group of aerobic exercise and strength training at 21%. The other two non-control groups averaged a 14% improvement.

So, what’s the lesson learned here? That it is never too late to get healthy. Older individuals can do more to help themselves live independently as they age. Plus, do it safely, without risk of injury. Age does not matter when it comes to living a healthy life.

Surprise Junk Foods You Didn’t Know Were Junk Foods

April 27, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

You’re finally ready. Finally ready to change your eating habits, join a gym, all to lose weight and get healthy. You start by researching different diets online, looking at supplements, and various nutritional products. In the end, you determine you are going to stay away from junk food, anything highly processed, eat more fruit, vegetables, and lean protein like chicken. You’re thinking, how hard can this be? Staying away from junk food is easy. Or is it?

If we walk through a grocery store we can easily spot junk food – donuts, cakes, chips, pizza, ice cream, and candy. It seems to be everywhere. In fact, we may be unintentionally eating junk food, without even knowing it.

The weight loss industry is worth $60 billion dollars (2016), with a lot of repeat customers. And try as we might to eat as healthy as possible, junk food might still be sneaking into our daily diet. Here are the most common offenders that most people don’t realize are not as nutritious for us as we think:

Peanut Butter – While peanut butter is a good source of protein and low in carbohydrates, it can also contain sugar and salt. Check labels before adding it to your cart to be sure it contains only peanuts.
Yogurt – Many brands are loaded with sugar and artificial colors.
Soy Meat – Soy contains potentially disruptive endocrines that can cause bloating and skin irritation.
Veggie Chips – Similar to potato chips with high sodium and trans fats.
Whole Wheat Bread – Many varieties contain high fructose corn syrup.
Dried Fruit – Producers add sugar and preservatives to the dried fruit to make it more tasty.
Electrolyte Drinks – Most are loaded with artificial colors and sweeteners.
Gluten-free Snacks – Gluten-free does not equal losing weight.
Deli Meats – Stay away from the deli!
Egg Substitutes – This is not a whole food. It is man-made and filled with artificial everything.
Tri-Color Pasta – The vegetable portion is not enough to justify calling it healthy. Tri-color pasta is still loaded with carbohydrates.
Low-Fat Salad Dressing – Just because something is low-fat does not mean it is good for you. Many of these dressings contain sugar, preservatives, artificial colors and salt. It’s easier to make your own dressing from scratch.
Fruit Cocktail – Loads of syrup and sugar. Plus the BPA lining of the cans is dangerous to our health.
Margarine – Is nothing more than fake butter. Not a whole food.
Spinach Tortillas – Same as whole wheat bread and tri-color pasta. Virtually similar to regular tortillas from fiber to carbohydrates.
Couscous – Made from wheat, therefor a form of pasta.
Honey Roasted Nuts – Can you say “sugar coated candy”?
White Rice Sushi – White rice is not as nutritionally dense as the brown rice. Plus, many varieties of sushi contain creamy sauces or fried toppings, both which are not healthy.
Frozen Diet Meals – Check the ingredients. Most contain a lot of salt, sugar, and preservatives.
Granola Bars – Most contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup.

You can make better choices when it comes to losing weight when you know the truth.

Yes, You Can Lose Weight!

March 23, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

There are many weight loss shows on television today. It seems to be the latest trend in reality tv, watching others lose weight. Many of the participants are not just overweight, but obese, with highlight the big reveal at the end. A life has been transformed and their face is simply beaming with joy. One show in particular allows the participant to “gift” the same program they just completed to someone else. Someone who needs a transformation as well. While watching a recent episode of this show, I witnessed this “gifting.” The woman who transformed her life with weight loss, gave her best friend the opportunity to do the same. She wanted her best friend to feel as good as she does. What a priceless gift!

The sense of accomplishment among people who lose a tremendous amount of weight is astounding. How could it not be considering how much time and effort it took? It wasn’t a quick fix. There wasn’t a magic pill or product that made it happen. It all boiled down to one thing, and one thing only. The person. Simply wanting something doesn’t make it a reality. A student can say they want straight A’s, but put zero work into making it happen. This lack of hard work can have a domino effect if it continues. For example, consistent poor grades will not get you into the better colleges, not to mention a better job, too.

It’s like that old saying, “you reap what you sow.”

Losing weight can be looked at in the same way as poor grades. Simply wanting to lose weight doesn’t make it happen. Consistently doing nothing about being overweight or obese has a domino effect, too, on your health, your lifestyle, and your sense of self. We cannot expect to lose weight if we continue to plant poorly with bad food choices and a sedentary lifestyle.

Health Hazards with H Pylori

February 21, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Bacteria surrounds us both inside and out. To minimize our exposure to it we know we should wash our hands, cook food properly, rinse produce, and not share a drink. Yet, despite our best efforts, bacteria does find its ways into our bodies. Helicobacter pylori, or H pylori as it is commonly called, is a bacteria that resides in our stomach. This bacteria was discovered in 1982 by Australian scientists, Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, as they conducted research on patients who suffered from gastritis and ulcers. While bacteria was known to inhabit the stomach, it was believed that it came about from contaminated food. Not so.

H pylori is found in more than half of the world’s population; however, a vast majority never experience any symptoms or complications. However, how would you know if you were suffering from this type of bacterial infection? Below are several symptoms associated with an H pylori infection:

Bloating
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Frequent burping
Abdominal pain that becomes worse when your stomach is empty
Weight loss
An ache or burning in your abdomen

To determine if you have an infection, a simple stool test can provide the answers. Unfortunately, most medical doctors will prescribe antibiotics which destroy the delicate balance of the gut. They will also be given prescription acid reducers because of the heartburn. This, too, is a problem, as it creates an environment that allows the H pylori to thrive. At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW), after conducting the stool test, a course of natural/herbal supplements is recommended to help kill the bacteria.

In addition to an infection, studies are correlating H pylori with an increased chance of developing ulcers, gastritis, and even cancer. A recent study also found a connection with the heart condition atrial fibrillation, or AF. This disorder affects over 2 million Americans and causes the chambers of the heart to flutter or quiver rather than beat. Blood then pools in the chamber, increasing the potential for clots to develop. If the clot finds itself lodged in a brain artery, a stroke can occur. In this particular study, individuals were 20 times more likely to show levels of H pylori.

Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

October 14, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

You know there’s a problem when a new syndrome is created because of the society you live in. In other words, a particular lifestyle makes a person more prone to developing a life threatening disease. One such syndrome with this association is metabolic syndrome which is found right here in the U.S.

Living in the Western world offers tremendous advantages from individual freedoms in speech, religion, and race, to opportunities in education, work, and healthcare. However, with these freedoms also comes choices in how we live our life. Modern day conveniences offer countless benefits in terms of time, effort, and cost, but the trade-off can be at the expense of our health. So, what exactly is metabolic syndrome?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines metabolic syndrome as, “a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.” These risk factors can be traits, conditions or habits that increase your chance for developing these diseases. The Western diet and a sedentary lifestyle play a significant role in the development of metabolic syndrome, which requires three risk factors to be diagnosed with it. These risk factors include:

Excess fat in the stomach area.
High levels of triglycerides which is essentially fat in your blood.
Low levels of the good cholesterol (HDL).
High blood pressure.
High blood sugar, especially while fasting.

The good news is that metabolic syndrome is preventable with a commitment to a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. Working with a team of healthcare professionals can help treat this condition effectively, too. Treatment begins with education to fully understand the implications of this disease, then a structured plan to achieve weight loss through diet and exercise. Many times the assistance of a rehabilitation specialist is needed as well. Other steps include re-balancing the gut bacteria by eating probiotics and supplementation.

Commit to Your Health

September 22, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Bringing a child to the grocery store is challenging. A battle typically ensues that is a balancing act between food that promotes good health and food that does not. When we grow up things are no different. We battle ourselves over how much we should indulge ourselves and how well we should eat. As an adult the difference is there is no one telling us ‘no.’ We are left to make decisions for ourselves; countless ones, each and every day.

We can face making too many bad choices over a long period of time. Things like too much fast food, not enough water or exercise, eating processed foods, and skimping on sleep. At some point in our life we second guess our bad choices. We want to change, but change can be difficult and it take time to see results.

However, change can happen if we are committed to ourselves. After awhile, poor lifestyle choices ultimately have a domino effect on our bodies from weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It can even then lead to conditions like chronic pain in places like our back, neck, and legs.

A healthier life means surrounding yourself with others that have the same wellness goals as you. That doesn’t necessarily mean joining a health club (although those are fantastic places to find those people) but rather doing simple things like:

walking with a friend.
heading to the local farmer’s market and talking to the farmers about their produce.
packing a lunch for you and a co-worker instead of going out to eat.

It’s amazing how surrounding yourself with the right people in the right environment can inspire you. At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) we work hard to create an environment of wellness. We work hard to be a positive influence in people’s lives through weight loss, alleviating pain, strength training and healing gut issues. We are committed to your health, but are you committed too?

Attitude Affects Treatment Success

June 16, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

You’ll hear coaches, teachers, and parents tell kids that their attitude will determine how successful they are in any endeavor. That self-defeating thoughts will undermine their efforts to do well. The same can be said with our health. Our attitude about weight loss, chronic pain, or stress levels can significantly impact how successful we are.

Most who initially seek chiropractic care are looking to resolve their pain. And while pain can be extremely motivating, the success of treatment is contingent on the patient’s attitude going in. Why? Well for the same reason as the examples listed in the paragraph above. If the patient is only interested in pain relief, then what are the chances that they will take steps to ensure it does not return? A patient’s attitude about their health and wellness is the cornerstone of healthy aging. Still two patients with the same injury and pain level can have different outcomes. For example, one can feel better after a week and the other need to pursue a surgery option.

There have been studies as to why there is a difference in how patients respond to chiropractic treatment. These studies have found that there are three key factors involved in success:

Improving the flexibility of the spine.
Increasing the movement of the smaller muscles around the spine.
Increasing the water content of the spinal discs.

The goal of chiropractic care is all three with every patient, but the range of flexibility, movement and water content varies from person to person. Depending on the person’s lifestyle one person can be further behind another when presenting the same injury and pain. The bottom line is giving your body the solid foundation it needs to thrive. Not doing so only prolongs healing. It also can mean the return of pain if steps are not taken to improve one’s lifestyle, including weight, stress, sleep, etc. Understanding that pain-relief can be quick, but temporary, if treatment is looked at with the wrong attitude.

Lifestyle Excuses

May 24, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Remember as a kid thinking about using the excuse “the dog ate my homework” when you forgot to do it? While you may have been one of those kids who absolutely loved homework and studying, I would venture to guess that the thought at least crossed your mind more than once throughout your school days. In fact, you probably even thought about pretending to be sick just to get out of a test. It seems this mentality continues as we age. Excuses we make to get out of exercising, to rationalize being lazy or overweight. Why do we allow this mentality of excuses to permeate our culture? Why do we choose one lifestyle over another?

Many times, unless we are faced with a life-threatening illness, we do not change our ways. But why should it take a situation like that to create a lifestyle change? Why can we not take control of our lives and live healthy? Is contentment more preferable than wellness? Is it because we cannot see the havoc our poor choices are having on our body that we seem to think we are okay? It is easy to say that if given an ultimatum we will choose the option that helps us. But if it’s not an ultimatum we tend to gravitate towards what we want, what makes us feel good, what is easiest.

If you look around yourself throughout the day, chances are you will see people who look incredibly healthy and those who have made excuses and don’t look healthy. Which would you rather be? Choosing a lifestyle of health and wellness means no more excuses. It means not waiting for that ultimatum, or life-threatening illness, to force you to change your ways. It means taking control of your life. Yes, looking good and feeling good requires discipline. It requires awareness and better choices. But you are also rewarded with countless benefits:

better sleep
more energy
improved moods
weight loss
lower stress
increased muscle mass

The next time you feel the need to make an excuse to remain sedentary, eat unhealthy, or make other poor choices, stop yourself. Ask yourself this question, “Do I want to tempt fate and wait for that ultimatum to make a change, or do I want to take that first step today because I value myself and my quality of life?”

Wellness Is An Inside Job

April 1, 2016 By Pam Rezai

Remember the scene in the movie “The Wizard of Oz” when Glenda the Good Witch tells Dorothy that she always had the power to go home? That the power never was in the ruby slippers that she was wearing throughout the movie. That was a powerful statement made by Glenda, and it truly shocked Dorothy when she heard those words. All along Dorothy thought the answer was somewhere to be found within the land of Oz, not as simple as something she had all along.

How many times have we done something similar to Dorothy when it comes to how we treat our health and wellness? We buy into the latest trends, buy the books, the products, the memberships. We search for answers to our healthcare challenge outside of ourselves whether it’s to lose weight or simply get in better shape. The reality is that all along the answer really resided within us. We didn’t need all that “extra stuff” to get where we needed to go. Sometimes the answer is in plain sight, and because it is so obvious we can’t see it.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a choice. The first step is acknowledging that we alone have the power to transform our lives for the better. It begins with a commitment to ourselves to make decisions each and every day that align with a healthy lifestyle. We might need a little help along the way too, just like Dorothy with the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. It may have been quite some time since we’ve exercised, so we don’t even know where to begin. We may not really know how to prepare healthy meals. That’s okay. Finding a place that focuses on wellness care versus disease care is a good starting point. Think of it like those ruby slippers. You need to actually put your feet into those slippers first. Just like you need to take that first step towards your wellness goals. No one has the power but you. No one.

Evolving Corporate Wellness Programs

Improving Senior Health Through Exercise

Surprise Junk Foods You Didn’t Know Were Junk Foods

Yes, You Can Lose Weight!

Health Hazards with H Pylori

Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

Commit to Your Health

Attitude Affects Treatment Success

Lifestyle Excuses

Wellness Is An Inside Job

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Dr. Greg Washam, Chiropractor

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