Are you trying to lose weight, but find yourself cheating a little more often than you would like?  Are you skipping workouts for what you consider a more pressing matter at that time?  Do you want to stop smoking, but find yourself stopping and starting?  Do you want to get up earlier in the morning, but end up hitting the snooze button more often than not?

If this is the case, don’t be discouraged!  Even the apostle Paul was tormented with this in the Bible: “I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15, NIV)

The solution most likely lies in your past.  All of us have succeeded at something in our life.  For example, if you have managed to lose 20lbs last year as per your New Year’s resolution, what strategies were in place at that time which allowed you to follow through with your commitment? (I.e. Meal planning a week in advance, not keeping junk food in the house, having an accountability partner, etc.)

Whatever you determine, carry those same strategies or a close variation to your new goal and I am certain that you will be successful!

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Kanata Chiropractor.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

I have been challenged the last couple of years with this question.  Am I really excited about life?  Do I have a zest for life?  Do I ooze joy?  I don't know – and I'm not the one who can answer that for me.  Only others can see if I am a passion filled person.  So my question then really is do others see a passion in me?

I don't mean a hyped up frenzy or an emotional high – I mean a genuine and contagious joy.

So my purpose is to choose to be joyful.  This may seem like an odd thing to choose, but this is where the solutions lies.

I remember hearing a speaker say: "In a marriage when the early days of infatuation fades there comes a time where we must choose to remain in love."  He went on to explain: "The couple that can fully commit to this level of thinking and loving will make it."  He also went on to give some very practical examples of how the "fire" can still be kindled in a relationship so the passion still remains.  He was a strong supporter of an enjoyable marriage, not an endurance marriage.

I totally agree that life (and relationships) is to be enjoyed, not endured.  So I'm not talking about gritting your teeth and being joyful.  I'm talking about making a conscious decision to be joyful and passionate about life.  So how do you do it?

1. Get on purpose and get things right.  Stop doing the things that are hurting you – smoking, poor eating habits, missing your chiropractic adjustments.  These things are killing you.  The crazy thing is you know that and you still keep doing it.

2. Ask God for strength and commitment every day.  This is what makes or breaks it for me.  Ask my team if they know when I start my day out by talking with God.  They know when I'm just trying to do it on my own strength – it comes off fake and flat.

3. Separate yourself from boarder bullies.  These are the negative people in the world.  When you try to be more, do more, improve yourself and your life, they're trying to put you back in your box.  They say things like you can't, you'll never do it, that's crazy, etc.  Avoid them.  They are joy robbers and passion stealers.

This is how to begin the transformation from a life of existence to a life of excellence.

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Kanata Chiropractor.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

When your nervous system detects a stressor, it initiates a stress response, also known as “fight or flight”.  Hormones (epinephrine and cortisol) are released from your adrenal glands and as a result, certain body functions increase such as your heart rate, blood pressure, etc., and some decrease such as your digestion, sex drive, immunity, etc. 

Here are some other interesting facts: those same hormones which stimulate your body while you are stressed also stimulate the area in the brain that processes emotions, affect your ability to focus, increase the sensitivity in the nerves responsible for feeling pain, and increase your cravings for fats and sugars.  Have you ever felt more anxious when you were exposed to a similar stressor that you have experienced in the past?  Could this be mistaken for attention deficit disorder (ADD)?  Could you be feeling more pain than you are supposed to because you are under chronic stress?  Do you find yourself craving more sweets than usual?

Here’s the thing; you can actually control this, and stop it!  Obviously, if you remove the physical or chemical stress, the stress response will stop.  As for emotional stress, I won’t go into all the endocrinology involved here, but your brain can stop the stress response if you change what you focus on; meaning, if you start focusing on positive thoughts (i.e. your faith in God that He will provide) instead of the negative thoughts, you can alter your own hormonal chemistry, thus reversing the process.  Now this does not happen overnight, but it does happen; here’s why: The thoughts that you have on a regular basis are going to sensitize the resulting nerve pathways, in order to make them more efficient.  This is called neuroplasticity.  If you have had the tendency in the past to dwell on negative thoughts, you are going to be a lot more likely to feel anxious when a negative situation arises, because you have trained your body over time to sensitize those nerve pathways, and release the stress hormones associated with those thoughts.  By starting to re-train yourself to focus on more positive thoughts, with time, you will re-educate your body to re-sensitize the proper nerve pathways, thus creating a more appropriate hormonal response the next time you encounter an emotional stress.

This is very important to understand because what is the most common approach to these symptoms?  High blood pressure = diuretics, erectile dysfunction = PDE5 inhibitors, anxiety/depression = antidepressants, ADD = psychostimulants, pain = pain killers/anti-inflammatories.  All can have serious side effects, but more importantly, none of these drugs address the CAUSE; they only address the symptom.

Therefore, may you reflect this week in order to determine if your thoughts, or some other physical or chemical stress, might be contributing to some of your symptoms, and may you take the appropriate steps in order to remove them if necessary.  Now that’s true stress management! 

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Kanata Chiropractor.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

“My life has changed 100% + for the better since I started chiropractic care with Dr. McLaughlin and team members at Hazeldean Family Chiropractic. I had been having problems with sciatica pain, as well as some numbenss in my hands and fingers.

After my initial assessment, we discussed a game plan, and what type of schedule would help me achieve this, and I have never looked back. I enjoy a very active lifestyle, and I don’t need pain medication. The other bonus thing that happened is that I don’t experience acid reflux anymore! So no more meds, and no more avoiding certain foods.

I am currently in my third year of adjustments, and if you have not visited this clinic yet, take the time to do so. You will not be disappointed!”

Imagine if every person out there with sciatica, numbness, or acid reflux read this post. Imagine if they took the step to call our office and have a spinal examination. Imagine how their life could change, just like Jane’s, for the better. Imagine how that would mean our community and world just got a little bit healthier! Share this post and let’s see what happens!

Dr. Erin McLaughlin is a Chiropractor in Kanata, Ontario. She is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the KanataKourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011. Dr. Erin McLaughlin is a sought-after speaker on Chiropractic and Wellness and regularly engages in community events to promote healthy living. You can like her practice’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Hazeldean.Family.Chiropractic.Clinic

Dark Chocolate Coconut Banana Cookies

Makes 36 bite size cookies

Ingredients

• 3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, olive oil or butter
• 2 cups quick cooking rolled oats- use gluten free Lara’s ots
• 2/3 cup ground almonds
• 1/3 cup shredded coconut
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 6 – 7 ounces or dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl combine the bananas, vanilla extract, butter/ oil. Set aside.
• In another bowl stir together the oats, ground almonds, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
• Fold in the chocolate chunks/chips.
• Drop dollops of the dough, each about 2 teaspoons in size, an inch apart, onto a pre greased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 12 – 14 minutes

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Kanata Chiropractor.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

The website www.labelwatch.com can help you.

It is a great website that allows you to search for your most popular foods, review their labels, and they will provide an explanation on the ingredients and whether or not it is safe to consume.

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Kanata Chiropractor.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

Coconut Fudge

1 cup coconut butter (oil)
¼ cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
½ tsp salt (or less)
½ cup shredded coconut

Melt coconut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. Mix all ingredients together until smoothly blended. Place in a medium-sized Tupperware container lined with wax paper. Pat mixture to a flat, consistent layer. Refrigerate until firm, then cut into squares and serve.

*My tip: Store the fudge in the fridge or even freezer (if you have any left!) It melts faster than traditional fudge due to the coconut oil.

Dr. Erin McLaughlin is a Chiropractor in Kanata, Ontario.  She is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

Unfortunately, the effects of gravity, poor posture, the weight of the head, and past trauma will cause neck and skull misplacement, leading to “Forward Head Syndrome”.  In other words, your chin is out in front of your shoulders and chest.  This leads to pathological tension on the spinal cord and brain stem.

According to the Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California, Dr. Rene Cailliet, M.D.:

1. Incorrect head positioning leads to improper spinal function.
2. The head in forward posture can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine.
3. Forward head posture results in loss of vital lung capacity.  In fact, lung capacity is depleted by as much as 30 percent.  Loss of lung capacity leads to heart and blood vascular problems.
4. The entire gastrointestinal system is affected, particularly the large intestine.  Loss of good bowel peristaltic function and evacuation is a common condition that comes with forward head posture and loss of spinal lordotic curves (the “C” shape that your neck is supposed to have).
5. Forward head posture causes an increase in discomfort and pain.  Freedom of motion in the first four cervical vertebrae is a major source of stimulation that causes production of endorphins. Otherwise, many non-painful sensations would be experienced as pain.
6. Forward head posture causes loss of healthy spine-body motion.  The entire body becomes rigid as the range of motion lessens.  Soon, one becomes hunched.

The most important thing to understand is that taking pain killers or having surgery for the resulting effects will not resolve forward head posture.  The only way it can be corrected is by adjusting the involved cervical vertebrae, correcting any imbalances in posture, and rehabilitating the musculature.

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Chiropractor in Kanata, Ontario.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

·      Watch my diet and AVOID THE FOLLOWING

o  Caffeine

o  Citrus juices

o  Carbonated drinks

o  Chocolate

o  Hot/spicy foods

o  Alcohol

o  Tomatoes

o  Foods high in fat

·      Eat small meals more often and don’t eat too quickly

·      Don’t eat just before going to bed/don’t lie down just after eating

·      Avoid strenuous activities such as lifting, especially just after eating

·      Avoid wearing tight clothing around your waist

·      Reduce excess weight, if necessary

·      Do not smoke cigarettes

·      Raise the head of your bed at least 6 inches, to keep acid from remaining in your esophagus   overnight

·      Try to avoid stress

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Chiropractor in Kanata, Ontario.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.

From Dr. CJ Mertz

1. MAYBE IT WILL GO AWAY.

2. IT COMES AND GOES.

3. IT’S NOT THAT BAD!

4. IT ONLY HURTS WHEN I …….

5. I KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS, IT’S ………….

6. I WAS TOLD I’VE GOT TO LIVE WITH IT, SO I DO.

7. MY DOCTOR COULDN’T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

8. I’VE BEEN THIS WAY FOR YEARS, WHY CHANGE IT NOW?

9. I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!

10. IT’S BECAUSE OF MY AGE.

Dr. Pierre Paradis is a Chiropractor in Kanata, Ontario.  He is a Certified Maximized Living Mentor and is the co-owner of Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, which has won the Kanata Kourier-Standard Reader’s Choice award for 2009, 2010, 2011, as well as the Ottawa West Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 2011.