2010 New Year’s Resolutions
2009 has come and gone and a new decade is underway. This year, like other years, many people have made New Year’s resolutions. A large percentage of resolutions involve improving health and most of those resolutions involve losing weight. Anyone who is a member of a health club can verify that the club is packed to the rafters with people during the first few weeks of January. And coffee shops stock fewer pastries, and restaurants sell more salads. But for most of the resolution crowd things are back to normal by the time February rolls around. So what can you do to follow through with your health goals, turning them from resolutions into your lifestyle?
Some keys to help follow through on these resolutions include writing down the goal, breaking it into smaller pieces, and finding a partner with a similar goal. With the goal written down, place it where you will see it so that you are regularly reminded of your goal. You can even place it so that you see it at your weak points, such as by the cabinet if you are trying to cut back on mid-day snacking. In addition to just the goal, write down why you want to achieve it. Or put a picture of the bathing suit you hope to wear this summer beside it. Remember this isn’t just about restricting yourself, or doing things that aren’t your favorite, but also about reaching something you want.
Some lofty goals seem out of reach. Seeing people doing a marathon, that might seem like the impossible when you have just done your first 5k. But if you look at a training plan, it is all small steps: just a couple miles farther a week, and then you are there. Treat your resolution the same way. Break it down into smaller goals that are more easily attainable. You want to focus on success each day, not how far you are from the big, overarching goal. That big goal will become just another step.
But what if you are tired, and want to stay in bed just this once? Another motivational tool is to find a friend who has a similar goal, and you can help keep each other accountable and on track. Plan to meet at the gym, or for a walk or run, and it will help you get out the door. Someone is waiting on you, and counting on you to help them. And in helping them, you’ll also help yourself. Don’t worry if your resolution buddy isn’t local enough to meet up with: having a planned phone call can work just as well as a meeting time.
Regular exercise is a common resolution
Once on a pathway to an exercise or weight loss resolution, the last thing you want is an injury to derail your progress and keep you from your goal. At Redlands Spine & Sport we specialize in the treatment of athletes and sports injuries. If you are starting an exercise program we encourage you to come in for an examination and treatment to make sure your body is aligned and moving and functioning properly to help prevent an injury.
Help those around you be successful with their resolutions as well! If you have any friends or family members that could benefit from our services please have them mention this article to receive 50% off of their initial examination. This offer is good until January 31, 2010.
u have seen us at our booth at a variety of locations around Redlands. In the past couple of months we have been involved with a number of local golf tournaments, health fairs, running races and triathlons. At many of these events Suzy provides massage care for the athletes as they finish a race or to loosen them up before a round of golf. If you know of any events that are looking for expo participants please let us know! We would appreciate the opportunity to provide our services and increase the awareness of our office in the Redlands area.
Every year I hold a toy drive at my office to collect toys that are then distributed to those less fortunate. In these tough economic times there is an even greater need for these type of donations. This year I am pleased to announce that our toy drive will support the 
ury? Plantar fasciitis is usually an overuse injury. With every step we make our foot pronates to absorb the impact of our weight hitting the ground. Each time the foot pronates it places stress on the plantar fascia. This fibrous band lacks flexibility and as such is prone to tear if an undue amount of stress is placed on it. Many people that suffer with plantar fasciitis actually overpronate which increases the amount of stress on the fascia. After the fascia is injured it repairs itself with scar tissue. Scar tissue is easily inflamed and is even less elastic than the fascia. As a result it is even more prone to rearing and a nasty cycle develops. Tightness in the calf muscles (both gastrocnemius and soleus) also contribute to this injury as they pull on the calcaneus, effectively causing the plantar fascia to be even tighter.
On August 28th Kylie and I traveled up to Penticton, BC to volunteer at Ironman Canada and register for next years race. We were also able to cheer on many of our friends who were competing this year. While Kylie worked in the transition area helping athletes with their bikes I had the opportunity to work in the Ironman Medical Tent. As you can imagine, there were more than a few athletes that required our attention after an event of this magnitude. Each athlete was quickly assessed after they crossed the finish line to determine whether they needed to head into the medical tent or if they could go to the food and massage area. I worked in the first area of the tent where we monitored each athlete, taking vitals, making sure they replenished their fluids and arranging for their dry cloths to be sent to the tent. Once they stabilized and could get up and around on their own we would release them. If they wouldn’t improve or started to deteriorate we would have them taken over to the other side of the tent where the medical staff could arrange IV’s, medications or transport to an area hospital if needed.
Ask anyone who has had a massage and they can tell you how wonderful it feels. Not only does massage therapy feel great but it has terrific therapeutic benefit, especially in conjunction with Chiropractic. In practice, I frequently treat people with either chronic or more acute injuries that have a great deal of associate muscle tension or tightness. By combining massage with chiropractic care the muscle tension is reduced and the adjustments not only hold better but less force is required to achieve the range of motion or alignment we are trying to achieve.