VEGAN = A BETTER ME

My life is an ongoing process of “being me” and learning more and more about what “being me” is like on a daily basis. I love having a blog because as I grow and learn, I have an avenue to share some of those lessons with you and over the past couple months I have learned a lot. The following is just one of the many lessons as of late.

At the beginning of Yoga Teacher Training I made a commitment to be vegetarian for 3 months. In the middle of Teacher Training we did a 21 day cleanse that cut out all animal products as well as a few other things, which in essence is when I went completely vegan. After 21 days on that cleanse I felt so great that I continued for another 30 days or so and ever since then have chosen not to return to any animal products, not even eggs or cheese…and at that point I came to an amazing realization in my life…I FEEL AMAZING DAY IN AND DAY OUT!!

Prior to the initial commitment to become vegetarian, I was dealing with feelings of starvation 3-4 times a day, beginning early in the morning and would wake me up out of my sleep. I changed my diet and I no longer have that anymore. Some other amazingly wonderful things that I have noticed…
1. As already mentioned…I do not have to deal with feelings low blood sugar and starvation.
2. I do not have to sleep as much…I used to require 9-10 hours of sleep and sometimes a nap to feel good…now I am feeling great with 6-7 hours per night.
3. I have not been congested at all. I feel clear and free every day.
4. I have massively high amounts of energy.
5. I wake up and jump right out of bed.
6. I have huge amounts of energy when I workout.
7. I have been migraine free for 5 months now.
8. My mind is clear and my mood is good.
9. I have less wrinkles on my skin and less cellulite.
10. There is true, deep, profound peace in my being.

Being a health care provider, people ask me all the time about my diet. I had a very good, clean omnivore diet prior to making that initial commitment without any intentions of changing what I was doing. I was actually really nervous about switching over to a vegetarian diet thinking that I wouldn’t get enough substance to keep my blood sugar levels up. That couldn’t be further from the truth for me. For the above reasons, and so many more…I will be sticking to what I am doing. There is a bit of controversy about a vegan diet and that it is lacking some key amino acids necessary to build a strong, healthy body. I have taken that into consideration and supplement accordingly.

Our bodies are roughly 80% water and are happier if we consume things that match that percentage which means lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. I am by no means promoting a vegan diet for everyone and I believe we need to continue to explore to determine what is right ourselves individually. I do, however, encourage a “plant based” diet which will include loads of fresh, live fruits and vegetables and organic and local whenever possible. When we put raw and alive food, an apple for example, into our bodies…we are actually consuming that apple’s life energy. Wouldn’t you want to add more life whenever possible?

We get one chance…one life…one opportunity to experience all that we can in this body. I am choosing to help my body be the best, feel the best and promote health from the inside. Are there areas in your diet that could maybe use a little renovation? a little alteration? There is no time like the present.

DANCING….

So I attended a really cool event last night. My best friend is an amazing person, and amazing at what she does. Recently she set up the major sponsor’s display for the “Dancing With The Stars” Tour that is happening right now. The Tour has 38 dates all over the country in a 2 month time period. Anyways because she set up the display, she was given a few tickets to the Detroit event which happened last night. Yesterday was a busy day with snowboarding in the morning, kayak practice in the afternoon but what is one more event when I had been running all day anyways. So I made my way down to Joe Louis Arena for a 7:30pm show last night. By intermission I was completely awe struck and inspired at the same time. The dancers did an amazing job of putting on this show. Whoever created and directed the show really knows how to work the crowd. These dancers are such incredible athletes. They all put out so much energy that evening and to think they are doing 38 shows in about 60 days and all of them at that level of energy is totally amazing. I asked my friend if after she saw some of the rehearsals, if she went back to her hotel room to see what moves she could come up with on her own (because that is exactly what I would have done). She said no, however I do not completely believe her as it is human nature to just WANT TO DANCE!

EVERYONE….MEET CHOCO!!!!

Everyone…meet Choco!!!!  So I have decided to get a dog. This is Choco and he is a 2 year old chocolate lab that I cannot wait to get. Choco lives in Colorado Springs right now with a family that loves him however they are so busy with life they do not get enough time to be with Choco and he needs attention. My intention is to bring Choco into the Cafe of LIFE with me on a daily basis to be part of our LIFE parties that happen everyday. I am glad he is already 2 as he will fit into my life better than a puppy at this point. Choco will love some of the places that I hike and will get me back in my running sneakers. HE will have the lake to explore at my mom’s house and 200 acres of orchard to explore at my dad’s house and a cousin named Walter to play with. He will arrive in Detroit by plane around December 1st. You will meet him very soon!

ELECTION DAY 2008 – FINALLY!!!!

It’s election day 2008-finally!!!  
I do not get caught up in it all as I stay away from watching TV on a regular basis. I only watch one show per week as a ritual with my parents. And through this election season, I am very happy my life doesn’t revolve around the TV. We are completely bombarded by so many ideas through the media it becomes difficult to decipher between what are your own thoughts and those that were planted there by the media and advertising and campaigning. HOWEVER, in saying all that, it is important to vote and make the difference that you can. It may seem small, however you never know how far reaching voting today will effect your life and others. So get out there and make it happen. ROCK THE VOTE!!! (I love that phrase)
“You never know how far reaching something you think, say or do today will effect the lives of millions tomorrow.” -BJ Palmer  
Celebrate Election Day 2008!!

CELEBRATE CHILDREN

I have the honor of serving a lot of children in my practice. The innocense they have in viewing the world is priceless.
They come free of guilt, free of inhibitions, and they allow themselves to really be happy. I love that part about kids and especially when they learn to talk and want to discuss things in their world. Have you ever had a conversation with a child and really listened to their view of situations? It just makes me laugh, not at them, but at how far off center we get as adults.
You see, the stress that we create in our lives, is just that, CREATED. The Cafe of LIFE Book Club is reading an excellent book that helps to put it all into perspective. Along the way it is assisting us in getting to what is creating stress and suffering and whether or not it is even true. It really boils down to the fact that most of what is happening is our made-up view and opinion of the situation and not reality.
Children do not have a whole lot of opinions about things. Well maybe they do, but it usually only goes as far as what they do and do not want to eat. The rest of the world is approached from such an innocent place…and that place is fill with wonder and joy. Let’s learn from the children.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHIROPRACTIC!!!

Happy Birthday Chiropractic!!

Chiropractic’s famous first adjustment is recognized each year with an annual observance commemorating September 18th, 1895 as Chiropractic Founder’s Day. On this day, 113 years ago, Dr. Daniel David Palmer administered the first specific chiropractic adjustment on Harvey Lillard in Davenport, Iowa. Dr. D.D. Palmer delivered this historic first chiropractic adjustment with the specific intent of realigning a malpositioned vertebra on the patient, restoring its normal position, and Harvey Lillard, who had lost most of his hearing 17 years earlier, noted his hearing swiftly returned under Dr. Palmer’s care. From that point DD Palmer shifted his clinical practice to his new method of replacing spinal bones that were out of position, and experienced positive clinical results in patients with a wide variety of health concerns. His practice grew and the profession of chiropractic was launched.
Happy Birthday Chiropractic!!

That Rain!!!!

The Rain lately!!!
Wow! That was amazing! I am not sure how much rain we got over the weekend but it was an incredible amount for just one weekend. In the mid-west we get rain, however it usually goes as fast as it comes. I do not remember a time when it just poured without letting up like that. I check and adjust many people that work at an insurance agency and they were bombarded with claims from flooded basements and water damage. Rain is such a good thing. We needed it as we have been in a bit of a droubt through the summer. It is better if EVERYTHING IS IN MODERATION!!! And this MODERATION principle applies to most aspects of life. I cannot think of anything that is good in excess (although sometimes I could justify chocolate). I talk to practice members about getting enough water in everyday however even water can be harmful in excess. Excessive exercising is even unhealthy. So for all that the rain helped, it did enough damage because of the amount. The key to life is MODERATION.
The rain!

PEDIATRIC CHIROPRACTOR

I have the great honor of being a pediatric chiropractor and working with so many children every week in my practice. I want to take a moment to congratulate the parents that bring their children in for a regular check of the spine.
Why would I congratulate them? The choices that we make each day and especially for the little ones, have profound effects on the rest of our and their lives. Growing up with a healthy spine and nerve system allows their little bodies to have normal and regular development. If the spine and nerve system is compromised, the communication and development is compromised as well.
So many parents and beginning to realize that the health of their child largely depends on the health of the child’s spine and nerve system. The body is a miracle and no pill, antibiotic, elixir, or anecdote is going to create health.
Health comes from within, it always has and always will.  I love being a pediatric chiropractor.

A New Member

To add a new member to the team here at the Cafe of LIFE is a process, a wonderful process though.

Rachel, my current assistant, will be heading back to school which means that she will need a day off per week forChiropractor Fenton Michigan - Cafe of LIFE - A New Member classes. This requires that we bring someone new in. I usually do a group interview which is my plan this time as well and there are 7 people scheduled to come in this evening.

The group interview process is a fun and interesting way to accomplish this task. It is nerve racking for the people involved in the process but in the end one usually outshines the rest and we are well on our way to hiring. I then allow for private interviews following the initial group interviews but my mind is usually made up by that time.

I’m looking forward to a new member!

 

MONDAY

Sometimes I am prepared for Monday mornings, and sometimes I am not. This morning it took a little convincing in order for me to get up and get started but for some reason as soon as I step foot into the Cafe of LIFE, things change for me. It is wonderful to go to a job that I love. My youngest brother was home over the weekend and I was able to spend some good quality time with him. He is an amazing person with so much to offer this world, I thoroughly enjoy his company. We covered many topics during our 1.5 hour lunch but one of the most interesting is his learning how stress manifests in his body. He recently moved to Chicago and took a new job, all of this just 6 months after getting married. He was telling me that his attitude about everything lately has been in the pits and it has manifested in severe low back pain. Fortunately he had an enlightening conversation with one of our uncles earlier this week that made him realize how powerful the mind is. My uncle reminded him that joy in life really boils down to perception. Regardless of what is happening, if you can find the “glass half full” side of life, one will be way better off. After that particular enlightening conversation, his back eased up and he returned to feeling good (and then he came in and got his spine checked and adjusted here at the Cafe which was the icing on the cake). Our mind is powerful beyond your knowing, use it constructively!