There are people everywhere that commute to and from work on their bikes.  Whether it’s a few blocks, a few miles, or even 15-20 miles, it’s a great way to start and end the day.  It gives you time to gather your thoughts, take in some fresh air, and get some exercise.  Those of you that have been following Dr. Waggoner’s weight loss journey know that he’s been taking the opportunity to bike to work, during his lunch break, and then back home again.  On August 9th, he will be commuting home by bike once again.  “So, what’s the big deal?  Why make mention of something he’s done so many times before?”  I’m glad you asked!  By “home”, I am referring to the hometown he grew up in of Fremont, OH.  I will be joining Doc and his brother Dan (my father) early that morning as we begin our trek east.  We will begin the journey a the CCWC Shipshe office around 6:30 a.m. and start pedaling.  The photo above shows the proposed route we will be taking.  We may need to make a few adjustments along the way, but as we reach our destination of Fremont, OH, we will have biked roughly 145 miles in one day.  We are hoping for a good strong tailwind to nudge us along.

You can follow us on Facebook as we post photos and updates along the way.  You’ll be able to watch us go from eager/excited, to weary/dejected, to triumphant/accomplished all in a single day!  So, make sure to keep your Facebook page open and tuned into CCWC’s page.

Americans in general are poor postured people.  We slouch, slump, and cross our legs way to much!  So why is poor posture bad?

Poor posture causes the misalignment of your neck, mid back, and lower back.  Slouching causes your diaphragm to push against the stomach causing heart burn.  Poor posture also causes acid reflux, shortness of breath, mid back pain, anterior head translation (which can cause headaches), stiffness in your neck, and low back aches.  The list goes on and on!  See illustration #1

So what is good standing posture?

When standing, you should stand up straight, turn your palm out to set your shoulders in correct posture then return the hands to a natural position.

When sitting, the key that will put the rest of you in proper posture is to keep the forward curve in your lower back.  This will cause you to sit up straight and put the rest of you into alignment.

As with any change it will take time to create new habits of proper posture.

Good posture leads to better health,
CCWC Doctors

Millions of Americans will go about their day carrying a disease.  Many, if not most of them, won’t even know it!  And in this case, they are literally carrying a whole lot of this disease around with them.  I am referring to Obesity.  Believe it or not, the American Medical Association has formally decided to recognize obesity as a disease.  It took a huge jump from once being called a “major public health problem” to being labeled as a disease.  One in three Americans now has this “disease”.

However, I beg to differ with the AMA.  You cannot ignore the fact that Obesity is a major problem today, especially here in the good ole U S of A.  One in three is a staggering number!  The issue here doesn’t lie in the seriousness of the problem.  The issue is with the label.  Obesity is also known as the leading cause of preventable death worldwide.  Did you catch that very important word?  PREVENTABLE.  When I think of diseases, I think of things like Hepatitis, HIV, Cholera, Influenza, Malaria,  Tuberculosis, and Typhoid Fever.  A common thread among most diseases is they are contagious.  They can be spread through body fluids or mosquito bites.  Obesity is 100% preventable.  And guess what?  If you find yourself in the obese category (a BMI of 30 or greater), you can choose to do something about it.  There’s no need for drugs, vaccines, or rubber gloves.  What’s the magic solution?  Exercise more and eat less!  It isn’t rocket science.  Even though it isn’t complicated, that does not mean that it’s easy.  It is very doable. 

As you read this, you may be thinking, “Man, I’m glad I’m not obese.  I may be a tad overweight, but definitely not obese!”  Not to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s a good chance you’re wrong (at this point, you may also be thinking…”This guy is a real jerk!”.  Maybe, but like most things, you can’t expect to begin solving a problem unless you know you have one.  Getting the facts is more important than maintaining happy feelings).  Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about.  I am 5′ 10″ in height.  My current weight is 157 pounds.  That gives me a Body Mass Index of 22.5.  That puts me in the upper half of the normal range (18.5 – 24.9).  Instead of calling it “normal”, let’s say I’m in the range of where I should be.  Let’s face it, obesity has quickly become the norm, so normal isn’t exactly what we are going for here.  Most people that know me would say that I look thin.  I maintain I still have plenty of body fat that I could lose; and here’s my proof.  According to the BMI calculator, I could lose close to 30 pounds more and still be in that healthy weight range for a person of my height (weighing 129 with a BMI of 18.5).  Let’s head the other direction.  How much could I weigh before I am considered overweight?  173 pounds.  And at what point would I be considered obese?  209 pounds.  So…if you are 5′ 10″ and weigh 209 pounds or more…you are considered obese according to the BMI scale.  I have found that much of the problem is that being overweight/obese has become the norm.  So, if someone is on their way to losing weight by shedding the pounds, often they will hear comments like, “You are skinny!”,  “You need to start eating more”, and  “You look great the way you are.”  We live in a society in which people are more concerned for your feelings than for your health and safety.  You may be getting comments like that Continue Reading »

Staying Healthy isn’t just about exercise and eating right.  Here are a few suggestions to think about.

1.)  Get at least 6 hours of sleep!  Sleeping is a time when our bodies can heal and rejuvenate.  It is actually one of the most important processes that our bodies use to heal.

2.)  Brush and floss everyday!  Let’s face it; bad breath comes from bacteria in the mouth.  If we don’t “clean out” the bacteria, is is going to continue into our bodies and make us sick.

3.)  Eat nutritiously!  This means trying to eat as “cleanly” as you can.  Limit processed foods and drinks.  Your body will thank you.

4.)  Get some exercise!  At least 30 minutes of exercise a day is great for the health of your body.  Even going for a walk or cleaning the house counts.  So, get moving!

5.)  Get regular chiropractic treatments!  The importance of Chiropractic and health is nothing new.  The nervous system controls every function that our bodies undergo.  Keeping your spine in alignment and your nervous system “clear” will help keep you in good health.

Start creating good habits!  Your health matters!

– Dr. Garber

On a daily basis, the chiropractic physicians and staff at CCWC are asked by patients about what nutrients they should be taking for optimal health and other conditions.  It’s an important part of the wellness culture we strive to create in our community.  However, not all nutrients are created equal.  The fact is that the FDA does not regulate the vitamin/nutrition industry.  This makes it even more critical that patients get their nutrients from a reputable source.  Sadly, most nutrient companies have become multi-level marketing schemes whoseh main focus is on profit and not the patient.  Recently, a major company had to recall their products due to metal shavings found in their pills.  Without FDA regulation there is nothing to stop people from doing this or having people make products out of their basements.  Another popular place to purchase nutrition is also at large stores such as Walmart.  A colleague of mine put it best, “Do you really think they care about putting the best product out there for people or selling it at the lowest price for the most profit?”  The most important thing a vitamin needs Continue Reading »

Welcome to spring and the season of allergies!! Within the past month I have had numerous patients in the office with stubborn sinus issues and sore/raspy throats.

There are numerous natural remedies for these conditions and symptoms but one I have found to be particularly beneficial recently is the combination of cinnamon and raw honey.

For colds/sinus issues take one tablespoon of lukewarm honey with one quarter spoon of cinnamon powder daily for three days. This procedure has also been shown to help if a cough accompanies a cold.

For a sore/raspy throat, take one tablespoon honey and sip it until it is finished. Repeat this procedure every three hours until the throat is without symptoms.

Try these natural remedies along with a chiropractic adjustment to help boost the immune system and beat the stubborn allergy season.

Dr. Megan

If you recall, back in early April we announced that we’d be starting a cycling club here at Community Chiropractic.  Our purpose is to promote healthy living through exercise, and provide an opportunity for cycling enthusiasts, hobbyists, and newcomers alike to get out and ride together.  Dr. Waggoner and I have been biking all around the Shipshewana, Middlebury, Bristol, and Lagrange areas, and there is a lot of beauty to take in here in Northern Indiana.  The structure of the rides will be somewhat dependent upon who shows up.  Eventually, we may get up to 2 or 3 rides per week, depending on the level of interest.

We are happy to announce that the wait is over, and we’ll be having our first Community Chiropractic Cycling Club (CCCC) ride out of Shipshewana this Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m.  Please make sure to bring a helmet, and a water bottle so you can stay hydrated.  We’ll meet right here at the Community Chiropractic office in Shipshe.  The address 660A South Van Buren St.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call 260-894-1739 to speak with me (Aaron).  We’ll look forward to seeing you Saturday morning!  Have a great week!

– Aaron Waggoner, Director of Fitness

Want to sponsor a family adopting an orphan, and/or sponsor a child?  Not sure how to make it happen on a budget?  How about biking to work?

Most of our readers know by now that I have been on a journey this year to lose weight (41 pounds down, about 50 to go).  Part of that journey is creating a habit and lifestyle of being active.  As part of that, I have been biking to and from work a couple of days a week.  I was commuting by bike to my offices this week, and was thinking about how much gas money I was saving by riding.  I will save at least $50 dollars in my gas allowance a month!  Now, I could use that money to bump up my cable package, or buy myself something nice.  But why not change lives with it instead?

Gulad

$19 a month will go to a boy at Lifesong schools.

$20 a month is going to Village To Village International designated to the Fry family.  They are adopting two orphans from Ethiopia.

$10 leftover I will take my wife out for coffee, and enjoy spending time with her.

Fry Family

What can you give up to gain!?  Sounds strange but I’m giving up driving to work 3 days a week to gain health, gain the privilege to help others, and gain some extra date time with my wife.

Last month we came to you with fantastic news that Dr. Waggoner had reached 35 pounds of weight loss!  I can attest to his hard work ethic at losing the weight, because I workout with him 4-5 times a week, and he is not only exercising on the days we aren’t together, he’s doing extra exercise on days we are.  That’s commitment!

However, all was not sunny in the month of April.  That’s true in more ways than one.  While we were still getting snow here in Indiana, Dr. Waggoner spent a week in Mexico with his family enjoying some sun.  Unfortunately, he came back 5 pounds heavier than when he left.  This is a good reminder.  Often, breaking from our daily routine, especially when creating new habits of healthier living can be a huge detriment to our goals.  Vacation is not a bad thing, but all of that extra time can either be filled with activity (calories burned) or consumption (calories gained).  It takes 3,500 calories to gain one pound.  That means that Doc Continue Reading »

Plantar Fascitis is one of the most common foot disorders that we see in our office.  The Plantar Fascia is a ligament that connects our heel to our toes.  This ligament helps hold up our arches in our feet, and when it becomes irritated we get this syndrome.  The most common complaint of plantar fasciitis is pain, which is most prevalent in the mornings or after getting up from sitting.  People who are on their feet a lot during the day and runners are the most commonly affected.  A proactive approach to this problem can keep the patient from costly surgery or shots.  The doctor evaluates the issues, and a treatment plan is set fourth.  Some common treatments are sub-aqueous ultrasound, icing, cross friction massage, and stretching of the soleus/hamstrings.  A home treatment I give most Continue Reading »