For those of you who follow our blog, you may remember at the beginning of 2013 Dr. Waggoner set a goal to lose 90 pounds of unwanted weight.  After years of similar new year’s resolutions that ended after a few months only to gain the weight back, this was the year he was going to do it the right way; with healthy eating, proper portions, and exercise.  He had tried the fad diets, and learned from his experiences that although they did at times allow him to lose weight, it wasn’t the means to long term health.  You can only achieve that through a lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise.  Consistency in both of these areas will bring with it consistent results!  If anyone else is selling you something else, they don’t have your best interest in mind.

So, now that 2013 has come and gone, how did Doc do?  I had hoped to show you a time-lapse video of his weight loss using weekly photos we had taken.  Unfortunately, we stopped taking that half-way through the year, so that didn’t work out.  I would say that 2013 was both a success and a failure for Dr. Continue Reading »

Sometime in early July, Doc brought up the idea of riding our bikes from Shipshewana, IN to Fremont, OH; the town we both grew up in.  At first, I thought he was a little crazy and there was no way we’d actually do it.  However, there are those who dream big and never follow through with those dreams, and then there are your Terrance Waggoners of the world.  So, after looking at our calendars, we decided on a date; August 9th.

The start! 6:40 a.m.

As the theme song from Nacho Libre rang out from my phone (my alarm ring tone), I rolled out of bed and glanced at the clock.  5:20 am.  My parents had spent the night as well, and I wasn’t surprised at all that my father (Doc’s brother) was already awake and getting things around.  It can get a little confusing trying to figure out what to pack and where to put it when all you have are three pockets on the back of your shirt, a

vehicle that will be stopping to check on you several hours down the road, and then a separate vehicle bringing you back.  So, I threw a few Clif Bars in my Jersey, a zip lock bag in case it rained (for keeping my phone dry), and a few rubber bands.  You never know when you might need them.  I meant to put a fresh change of bike clothes in my mom’s van so I could change if the day wound up getting hotter than expected.  Unfortunately, I forgot and it ended up at my office instead.  With the bikes loaded and our minds wondering what we may have forgotten (you know the feeling), we took off for Community Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Shipshewana, IN; the official start of our journey.  Doc was already there getting his water bottles filled, tires pumped up, and Continue Reading »

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.

It’s been a couple of months since we updated you on Doc’s weight loss journey.  The last time we wrote about it, he was at 243.  Life has its ups and downs, highs and lows, peaks and valleys…you get the picture.  Just like anything that’s difficult, it’s easy to say you are going to do something, but entirely another accomplishing it.  I’ll admit that I’ve been a little discouraged this year in regards to the majority of my weight loss clients.  The majority of them have started out strong, and then quickly fizzled to the point of quitting; no longer showing up for their weigh-ins and consultations.  There are many reasons (usually excuses) that people give as to why they’ve had a hard week or month, and how they are going to do better the next month.  Ultimately, I think it comes down to two major facts.  First, people begin to realize that there isn’t a magic pill you can take that allows you to one day wake up 100 lbs. lighter, and in the best physical shape of your life.  The second, is that it does take hard work!  And the more weight you lose, the harder you have to work to continue to lose it.  Like most things in life…there aren’t great rewards unless you put in the hard work.  If you find yourself having difficulty sticking with it, don’t lose heart.  Don’t give up!  Push through, and I promise the rewards will be great!

That’s why I am proud of Dr. Waggoner.  He has had some of the same struggles and set-backs that other people go through.  However, he hasn’t gotten discouraged to the point of quitting!  That’s why as of today, he is now down 50 pounds since January 1st (see photo of 50 lb. bag of wheat, and imagine carrying that extra weight around).  That’s a huge accomplishment!  He has mentioned that he remembers getting winded putting his socks and shoes on in the morning.  The very fact that he does it now without even thinking about it is a testament to his accomplishments.  The bad news is that he is behind schedule of where he needs to be still.  Doc still has 40 pounds to lose and only 5 and a half months to do it!  He hasn’t forgotten what’s at stake (both his health and having to wear maize and blue at the BIG GAME).  We have some big things coming up in August that should help.  We’ll have more news on this later, but we are planning a bike ride from Shipshewana to Doc’s hometown of Fremont, OH.  That’s over 140 miles of biking, and we plan to do it all in a single day!  That ought to shed a few pounds 🙂

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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

As the director of fitness here at CCWC, I spend a portion of my time working with clients that are setting weight loss goals or just trying to get in better shape.  If you read the previous blog entry, Dr. Waggoner is one of those clients that is making great progress towards achieving his goals.  What’s great about losing weight the proper way (exercise coupled with eating right) is that through the exercise, you find that your body is capable of so much more than you thought possible.

Doc is much more fit now; able to ride his bike faster and longer than he was just a month ago!  In order that I too would get a workout when out exercising with Dr. Waggoner, I rode what’s called an Elliptigo.  If you don’t know what that is, imagine the love child between a bike and an elliptical machine you’d find in any gym.  It gives you many of the benefits of running without the impact.  It does however take quite a bit more effort to go say 15 mph than it does on a bike (about 30%); not to mention the fact that the upright posture maintained while riding is the furthest thing from aerodynamic.  Therefore, it was a great way for Doc and I to push each other while both getting a great workout.

My father asked me if I wanted to do the Calvin’s Challenge with him this year on the Elliptigo along with him.  It’s an annual race every year in Springfield, OH and includes four separate competitions.  They are best known for their 12 hour challenge, in which you ride as many miles as you can in 12 hour’s time.  I think I’d rather be shot in the foot than ride 12 hours straight, but thought 6 hours would be doable.  Doctor Waggoner was unable to attend, because his son was getting married the next day, and he had a rehearsal to attend.  So, representing Community Chiropractic & Wellness Center, I signed up for the Challenge!  The week and a half leading up to the ride, I got about 200 miles in as preparation for the endurance I would need to reach my goal of 80 miles within six hours.  Honestly, my true goal was just making sure my 64 year old father wasn’t going to beat me.  How hard could that be?  I also asked a good friend of mine, Mike Marshall, if he’d be interested in taking on the Challenge, and he signed up as well.  He opted to stick with his trusty bicycle rather than trying the Elliptigo (I still haven’t managed to get him to even give it a test ride). 

We showed up at the school where the event start/finish was, and there were cyclists everywhere; and every kind of cyclist you can think of (or maybe haven’t thought of).  I’m pretty used to getting funny looks riding around on the Elliptigo, but check out some of the other classifications of bikes that were represented.  There are two stages to this event.  First, there is the 50.5 mile loop.  Once that is Continue Reading »

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 »

Can you believe it!?  Dr. Waggoner has already lost 35 pounds in only three months’ time!  In case you have forgotten, he started the year at 285, and now he is officially at 249 (ok, so 36 pounds, but we didn’t have a 36 pound weight sitting around).  It’s important to note that there are many ways in which you can lose weight (diet pills, shakes, fasting, etc…), but Doc is doing it the right way; eating right and exercising.

I mean come on!  Look how happy he is with his weight loss!  Keep it up Doc!  You are doing great!  Only 54 more pounds to go (and 9 months to do it).