I survived my first Whole 30!

The 30 days are over! Find out what I learned below!

I’ve never actually done the Whole 30 program before. I had done other 21 day “cleanses” (Standard Process 21 Day Cleanse and the Lurong Challenge), but after doing the Whole 30, I realized none of those programs actually 100% eliminated added sugars. Sugar, or as the Whole 30 calls it, your Sugar Dragon, is one of my biggest problems. After reading labels again and being super diligent, I realized one of the reasons why I was addicted; it’s in EVERYTHING! Ketchup, bacon, bread, pasta sauce, sriracha, bbq sauce, almond milk, and more. No wonder I felt addicted to sugar. I was getting a dose of it with everything I ate and drank, causing me to want sugar throughout my entire day. I’m not saying I ate donuts for breakfast, my biggest issues was wanting something sweet after lunch and dinner, during stressful situations, when I felt lonely, when I wanted to feel good, etc. Sugar was my go to comfort and reward treat.

Another difference with the Whole 30 that gave me a light bulb moment was that you aren’t supposed to “recreate desserts”. No other program mentioned this, or I ignored it, but I would just make compliant desserts with gluten free flours and coconut sugar/maple syrup, because it was “compliant”. After reading the Whole 30 book, I realized that recreating compliant desserts wouldn’t actually break my dessert habit, and I’d eventually let those desserts back in after the program ended. Will I never have a dessert again? Fat chance! But, I will once again be more mindful about my choices.

• More energy—less mid-afternoon crashes

• Better sleep—waking more rested, and before my alarm

• Tiger blood—”Days 16-27: Tiger Blood. Goodbye cravings, hello Tiger Blood! This must be what everyone is talking about. You’ve hit the downhill slope of your Whole30 and life is beautiful. Your energy is through the roof, you’ve kicked the cravings, you’re experimenting with new, delicious food, and you’ve finally got the time to notice that your clothes fit better, your workouts are stronger, and you are generally more awesome.”—YEP!

• Clearer complexion-less redness and puffiness in my face

• No bloating—clothes fitting better in my waist

• Minimal cravings—still an issues with stressful times, but less strong than before and they typically only last 3-5 minutes, then the feeling has passed

• Saved $—eating veggies and fruits and clean meats is much cheaper than buying boxed/processed foods. No daily lattes from the coffee shops also saved $

• Reset unhealthy habits—Over the past 1.5 years, I slowly let EVERYTHING back into my diet (I was previously gluten and dairy free). I wanted to celebrate and indulge all the time and got really off track. My thyroid levels went haywire and hopefully at my next blood draw, things will have normalized. I feel like I’ve “tamed” my sugar dragon for now and am excited to keep eating clean again.

October is National Chiropractic Health Month

"During National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) 2017 this October, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is sharing back injury prevention and strengthening tips as well as information on the value of a conservative approach to back pain treatment with the theme “Back to Basics.” 

"Back pain remains one of the most prevalent and disabling conditions worldwide. It is one of the most common reasons that patients visit their doctors, and one of the most common conditions for which doctors prescribe pain medications. It is estimated that up to 80% of people will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. In addition, with the overuse and abuse of prescription opioid painkillers in the United States still a major public health issue, it’s essential for health care consumers to understand that spinal manipulation and other conservative treatments can treat common musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain effectively and safely. 

NCHM 2017 focuses on back health “basics” -- the importance of overall health and injury prevention as key strategies in maintaining spinal health throughout a lifetime -- and highlights the growing body of research supporting a conservative approach to back pain treatment. "

• Exercise, ergonomic workspaces and proper lifting are a few things that can help you avoid

  serious injury.

• Sleeping on your back puts excessive pressure on your spine. Choose a side position instead.

• When texting, bring your arms up in front of your eyes so that you don’t need to look down at

  the screen.

• When reaching for something above shoulder level, use a stool rather than straining your

  neck/pain to reach.

• When sitting, keep your knees higher than your hips with your head up/back straight. Don’t

  slouch.

• If an item is too heavy, push it instead of pulling it. Use your legs, not your back when doing so.

• When sitting at a computer, make sure your feet are firmly flat with your knees lower than your

  hips.

• Never pinch your phone between your ear & shoulder. Use a headset to reduce shoulder strain.

• Did you know that back pain is one of the leading reasons why people are prescribed opioids?

  Chiropractic spinal manipulation is widely recognized as one of the safest, non-drug therapies

  available for the treatment of back pain.

• A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) adds to a

  growing body of recent research supporting the use of spinal manipulative therapy, a treatment

  used by chiropractors, as a first line treatment for acute low back pain.

• Did you know injured workers with similar injuries are 28 times less likely to have spinal surgery if the first point of contact is a chiropractor, rather than a surgeon?

World Spine - October 16, 2017

• 50% of workers will experience back pain at least once per year, often due to lack of movementor incorrect posture.

• Back pain is the most common reason for a visit to the doctor’s office next to the common cold.

• 50% to 85% of those who experience neck pain report symptoms again within 1-5 years.

• Back pain is the most common reason for a visit to the doctor’s office next to the common cold.

• You can help to prevent neck and back pain by having good posture and keeping active. Make sure you Straighten Up and Move Today!