Mick’s up with No Fear

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise.  We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road.  All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.”

Martin Luther 

 

Do you participate in Halloween?  When we first became parents, we did not think it wise to get our kidderz mixed up with a celebration that alluded to evil.  I must admit, however, that we have allowed them to be included in it over the years.  We certainly have taught them the history behind it, and the reasons why we choose to “keep it clean” and not gory, etc., and we chose not to give in to fear.  In addition, we decided it is best to be a light in the darkness, and so we use this opportunity to hand out information about our church and our faith.  When else do people come to your door, asking you to give them whatever you feel like sharing with them?  This is awesome!

 

Why fear evil in the world, when we can stand up for the Truth?  Why hide away in a darkened house in fear, hoping for no visitors on Halloween, and be mistaken for a grumpy old outcast… when you can express the joy you truly feel, and share the love of Christ with neighbors you might not otherwise meet!?  We at our house think it’s fun!

 

Yes, there is a spiritual battle going on, and we do not always see the warfare.  It’s good to be aware, but it’s even better to know and trust a God who can protect you in the midst of it.  Do not fear!  A wonderful reminder in scripture was shared at our church on Sunday, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV) 

 

Some historic elements to this time of year can be honored, like Vision Forum summarizes with remembering Reformation Day.  “It was 494 years ago that Martin Luther nailed his world-changing 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church.  These theses included rebukes to ungodly fear and superstition.  502 years ago, sometime near October 31, a baby named John Calvin was conceived who would dedicate his life to eradicating an ungodly fear of superstitious beliefs and proclaiming the gospel of grace.  His emphasis on reformation, revival, and the sufficiency of Scripture had such far-reaching implications for nations like the United States that he has been described by Christian and secular scholars alike as the true founding father of America.  The Reformers did something that was very scary to the world of their day.  They stood against all forms of dark superstitions which grip the minds and souls of men.  It was their emphasis on the fear of the Lord and the wisdom of Holy Scripture that was used by God to liberate untold numbers of men and women.  But to remember the Reformers instead of Halloween is very scary to the world.”

 
 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

Why Mick’s in Red Ribbons

I was informed (by a very handsome and tall friend of mine, to whom I just happen to be married) that this is Red Ribbon Week.  I had never heard of it before.  Maybe you have, but if you haven’t, or if you aren’t privy to the details, I’ll fill you in a little. 

Red Ribbon Week was started because friends wanted to honor the sacrifices of people like Kiki Camarena, who was murdered in 1985 when working undercover for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  It’s sad that it takes tragedies to wake us up, but it is always great to remind people of the dangers of drugs.

This also opens up a great opportunity to remind people of the dangers of all drugs, including alcohol, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter drugs.  They are all toxins to our bodies.

"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." ~ Voltaire

Last week's Mick’s in Pain focused on some of the dangers of ibuprofen.  We all know there are side effects with any medicine.  Of course there are.  They are toxins!  Our bodies were not created to need outside sources for healing, so why not strive to do all we can to keep from taking medication and filling our bodies with toxins?  Yes, there are some people who really need medication, and they are under crisis care… but if there’s any way to improve the situation, wouldn’t they want to… and if you’re not in crisis, don’t you want to try something else that's not a chemical?

Don't let  it take another tragedy to wake you up!

I like the Red Ribbon Week Pledge:  No use of illegal drugs, no illegal use of legal drugs!  Even better, I like the slogan:  “Let Your Light Shine:  Live alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug free!”  Can we also try to add to that “totally drug free!?”  It seems impossible, but it’s worth at least striving for:  100% ME drug-free!

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it;

I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
Jeremiah 33:6 (NIV)

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Mick’s up with the Psychology

I attended a Health Presentation last night, and I got some really great information!  I also experienced a light bulb turning on in my head.  Do you love moments like that as much as I do?  Who doesn’t?  Right?

I love writing this blog, because there is such great information to get out to people to empower them to make their own healthy choices for their family.  However, the light bulb for me is that I get so passionate about the subject, I forget that people already know what they’re supposed to be doing to be healthy.  It’s not shocking news that we need a good attitude, good nutrition, and exercise.  In other words, I can offer the information, but it’s up to you to take action.  No matter how passionately I offer this information, I can’t make it stick.  So, I’ll go a little easier on you from now on.

We all do things for one of two reasons:  Either we go toward pleasure or we go away from pain.  I view exercise as pleasurable, because I see the benefits associated with it, and go to it.  However, others view exercise as painful and “run away” from it.  Do you see exercise as pleasure or pain?  (Can I tell you how thankful I am that my husband’s chronic pain decreased enough that he could get past the idea that exercise equals “pain” and actually consider the benefits?  I love it when we take time to workout and improve our health together!)

It’s all in how you perceive it. 

“Not until the pain of the same is greater than the pain of change will you embrace change.” (Dave Ramsey)

Surprisingly, 80% of us don’t think about our health until it’s gone.  I beg you:  Don’t be a statistic.  What exercise choice will you make today for your health?  Are you running toward exercise or running away from it?

Many thanks to Dr. Frank Lombardozzi for the inspiration!

“Since ancient times

no one has heard,

no ear has perceived,

no eye has seen

any God besides you,

who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”

Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

 

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Mick’s in the Sweets

2007: Before a Healthy Lifestyle

What kind of a romantic am I, forgetting Sweetest Day on the 15th?  I even bought a nice card for my hubby early… but did I remember to give it to him?  Nope!  I guess that clarifies that I am not much of a romantic.  It only makes sense, since Jay is the true all-out romantic of the two of us.  Sorry, Hon.  I will be giving you the card now!  Sweetest Day was a little delayed this year.

It is said, Sweetest Day was organized by candy manufacturers to promote the health benefits of eating candy and chocolate every day.  Ummmm…. Well….  Let’s see what we can find, but I’m a bit skeptical, since they include sugar, and I’ve already covered some of the reasons sugar is not a good thing.

I found some great information quickly at “What You Can Do With Nutrition To Prevent Breast Cancer” in which Kimberly Roberto states:  Cacao is a “raw form of chocolate… rich in Flavanols (powerful antioxidants) which are highly absorbable by the body.  Cacao has a phenomenal ORAC score of over 433,000.  CAUTION: Don’t get too excited and load up on chocolate bars.  This is not a free pass at the dessert counter either.  Most chocolate is loaded with other additions like milk products and sugar.  Stick with raw cacao powder – add it to smoothies, yogurt, or mix with avocado and stevia for a mousse-like dessert.”

You can learn about some “healthy” chocolate and then order it through Beyond Organic.

Here might be a good spot to quote a great doctor I know, “The overall quality of your health is determined by the quality of your habits.”

Tell me something.  What can you do to maximize your nutrition this week?  Do you have some bad habits to break, or maybe some good habits to start?  Give it some thought, and then have fun improving!

“You've captured my heart, dear friend.
You looked at me, and I fell in love.
One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!”

Song of Solomon 4:8 (The Message)

 

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Mick’s Kids with Chiropractic

It’s Tuesday!  It’s chiropractic appointment day! 

To my kidderz, it’s second-nature to head to the chiropractor’s office.  My husband and I made sure we all were under chiropractic care since long before they were born, to use my son’s words from this brief interview I'm sharing.  The grandparents still remember watching my daughter as a toddler scurry onto the adjustment table, lay face down, and say in a muffled voice, “I ready!”

We want to teach our children healthy habits to build a foundation for a good, long life.  So why not include chiropractic in the mix?

As a Christian family, we build our home on a strong foundation in Christ and our faith in the saving grace and love of our awesome Creator God. 

Continuing that theme of building on a strong foundation, “The Weekly Sticky” this week ties it all together:

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A house that's built on a strong foundation lasts.  The same goes for your health.  If you want a healthy body for life, you need to start with a solid foundation of health care that can support it for a long time.

Chiropractic's foundation is its Principle, which acknowledges we all posses an intelligent, vitalistic force within us that maintains our existence and keeps our bodies working in perfect order.  When this Power is allowed to express itself 100%, we have health.  When the Power is interfered with, we have Dis-Ease.  Eating properly is important, and so is exercise… but if the Power doesn't flow, your house will crumble.

Health built on a foundation of drug therapy is risky and cannot stand for long.  Health built on a foundation that works with the innate wisdom of the body, can weather any storm.  What foundation is your health standing on?

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“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice
is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose,
and the winds blew and beat against that house;
yet it did not fall,
because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine
and does not put them into practice
is like a foolish man
who built his house on sand.”
Matthew 7:24-26 (NIV)

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What’s a Good Read, Mick’s?

Driving in the car and running errands this morning was refreshing, as I listened to some great stuff on the radio.  It was a wonderful way to start the week.  Getting a good mindset on a Monday morning can mean nothing but a positive outlook for the rest of the week.

Setting goals, like we did in the meeting I attended this afternoon, can get the week off to an excellent start.  What do you plan to accomplish this week?  How about this month?  Take some time now to block out segments in your calendar to adequately get you on your way to success.

I have recently set for myself a goal of reading one nonfiction book every month - preferably on management, leadership, or lecturing - especially since a business acquaintance highly suggested it.  I plan to stick to it.  Being a mom, wife, and business lady, I run into challenges with the scheduled reading time.  I know you know how it is.  You probably have more challenges than I have.  I can almost guarantee it.  However, we owe it to ourselves, and those we are taking care of, to do our best to reach these self-improvement goals.  I’m going to do it!

"Nourish the mind like you would your body. The mind cannot survive on junk food." Jim Rohn

I’m going to start making a list of books and blocks of time.  I’ve already considered Dave Ramsey’s suggested reading list, as well as other good reads I hear about and write down.

A book mentioned on the radio this morning is “Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild.” I would not normally pick a book like this myself, if I just read the cover and brief introduction, but the reviews are good.  I might have to look into it.

Later on the radio, I was reminded of another book that has been suggested to me several times:  “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition.”  I guess it’ll have to get put on my list, too, especially after I enjoyed reading a similar book this summer:  “The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World.”

You might have some other goals in mind.  Write them down.  Visualize them.  Imagine the feeling of accomplishing the goals.  Use the formula I heard about today that is from an inexpensive e-book titled, “The God Formula.” 

Whatever you do, be sure to allow time in your schedule for you!

Mmmmmm… A nice cool evening is a great time to curl up with a good book!  What do you think?

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;

meditate on it day and night,

so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

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Mick’s in Pain

What do you do for pain?

All this mountain climbing and vacuuming is making me a bit sore.  How about you?

What do you do for minor aches and pains?  Do you take ibuprofen or aspirin, etc., or do you prefer the more natural way with blueberries, bromelain, etc.?

Even though there is research trying to link ibuprofen and Alzheimer’s in a good way, there is still danger.  “Ibuprofen may cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term.” (Drugs.com) … Plus…  “Long-term use of NSAIDs carries a risk of gastrointestinal problems.” (US News Health Buzz)

What are some of those GI problems?

“Internal bleeding may be caused as a side effect of medications (most often from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin) and alcohol.  These substances can cause inflammation and bleeding of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, the first part of the small intestine as it leaves the stomach.” (MedicineNet.com)

“According to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the use of low-dose aspirin increases the risk for GI bleeding, with the risk being increased further with accompanying use of cardiovascular disease-preventing therapies, such as clopidogrel and anticoagulants.  In patients who took proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), bleeding risk decreased.” (Science Daily via EurekAlert!)

“It is estimated that approximately 120,000 people are hospitalized each year with gastrointestinal bleeding due to NSAID use.  Conservative estimates are that 16,500 die as a result.” (Jeff Sargent on Natural Health Informer)

I used to take ibuprofen on a regular basis, but I am surprised and very glad to be able to say I haven’t taken any ibuprofen (nor cold meds) for a year!  It’s an amazing process:  change what you put into your body (such as sugar, grains/flour, bad oils, etc., which cause inflammation and toxicity), and eventually you can cut out some of the other things you used to feel like you had to put into your body (toxins, like pain relievers, allergy medicines, etc.).  Some people refer to the bad stuff as man-made foods and the good stuff as God foods.  I like that.  It’s a good reminder.

Which would you rather do… be uncomfortable for a little while, as you change your intake… or… risk your health for some temporary relief?  I think I know which one your family would choose for you.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,

do it all for the glory of God. “

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

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Mick’s in Some Vacuuming

I took time out today to prep the house for guests (my awesome parents-in-law).  So that got me curious to know how much of an interval training workout housework is, specifically vacuuming.

Any guesses?

“Exercise by any other name still counts.  Several household chores qualify as aerobic activity, including sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, washing windows or cleaning out the garage, according to the American Heart Association.  The National Institute on Aging adds that raking leaves, gardening or cutting the lawn with a push mower constitutes moderate aerobic activity, as well.” (Pam Murphy, “Easy Ways to Increase My Heart Rate”)

“What's moderate intensity?  Moderate activity includes things like brisk walking and biking as well as daily activities such as mowing the lawn or vacuuming that raise your heart rate for at least 10 minutes continuously.  You feel a little warm and are able to talk while you exercise.  If you try to sing it's difficult.  You are working at 65%-74% of your maximum heart rate during moderate activity.” (Fit After 50)


I find counting calories not important for fitness (neither intake nor burning), but for those of your who are calorie counters:
“In this instance, a bigger house is better!  A 150 pound person can burn around 239 calories an hour pushing the vacuum around.” (National Academy of Sports Medicine)

“Different people burn calories at different rates, but the level of intensity and the duration of your chosen activity will determine how many calories you will burn.  Yes, it's true, even vacuuming burns some calories!  Generally speaking, the faster your heart rate, the greater the caloric burn.  So if you've got a huge house and work at a vigorous pace, you could even consider it a cardio workout.  Did you know that you can increase the rate at which you burn calories?  By simply adding a little lean muscle to your body by participating in a resistance training program, you can increase the number of calories your body burns on a daily basis.  A faster metabolism means less body fat.  You don't need to look like a bodybuilder to benefit from this either, even a little new muscle will help.  Your new and improved metabolism will help you burn more calories day and night, and applies to all activities, including vacuuming.  Happy house cleaning!” (Chris Gomes - NASM Elite Trainer)

Pay attention to proper vacuuming.  Don’t hurt yourself.  Instead, concentrate on your muscles for some added benefits:  “Practice engaging your core and using your hip and leg muscles as you vacuum.  You may be shown a partial lunge exercise to simulate the actions needed to complete this task safely.  Keep the vacuum directly in front of you at all times.  Avoid trying to reach around corners or objects.  This will force you to bend and twist your low back.  Don't twist or bend your trunk to get under objects or to reach into tight spots. Use the rules of safe lifting (described in Session Four) when lifting and transporting the vacuum.” (Back Care Boot Camp)

So, being a moderate activity, vacuuming is not getting the heart rate up to the target for interval (burst) training, which is what I needed… but it is a great workout, regardless!

Be safe, and have fun doing housework, knowing you’re getting a workout!

“She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.“

Proverbs 31:17 (NIV)

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Mick’s up Moms

This is dedicated to all the moms out there!

Being that this blog from a mom’s perspective has the goal to help families live healthier, and because it’s my mother-in-law’s birthday, today’s post is dedicated to moms.

I asked some friends of mine (who in the recent past have discovered a new lifestyle including running) for some words of wisdom, from a healthy mom’s perspective.  Enjoy!

Jenny writes:

♪♫ Happy birthday, Mom W!♫♪

“My experience with healthy family life really evolved out of my own up and down weight.  I did not start out teaching my girls healthy habits.  I admit they have eaten their share of frozen chicken nuggets and fries.  I was not much of a cook early in their lives.  As I learned more about how I needed to eat to feel better and maintain a healthy weight, I also learned how to cook.  This is not always greeted with enthusiasm by my kids, but they have learned to try new things and even grown very fond of many great healthy dishes.  Lets face it, cooking at home is so much better and cheaper.  Oh and letting my kids help in the kitchen has increased their awareness of what they eat and gotten them more excited about it. I also was very aware, as a mother of girls, that I needed to lead by example.  There are frightening statistics on teen and preteen girls and eating disorders.  So I wanted to lead by example.  I cook healthy, eat regular meals, and work out at least a few days a week.  I also discovered that a one month membership to the Y was cheaper than one evening out to dinner and a movie with my family.  As a family, we discovered the beautiful area in which we live and do some hiking.  I won't say we never eat out or enjoy a less than healthy treat but we do so in moderation.”

Stay tuned for Shannon's writing:
“[Shannon's awesomeness entered here!]”

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Some quick ideas for healthier nutrition for the family can be found in the resource I have used for the past year to get my family to our current improved state of health, which is the Maximized Living Nutrition Plan book by B. Lerner, BJ Hardick and K. Roberto.  It has similarities to the Paleo Diet or Raw Diet or Primal Diet… but it is less raw, much better, yummier, easier to follow, and more family-friendly.  Have fun exploring!

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A fellow blogger Carla Gardiner of CarlaJGardiner.com posted an article that fits well with today’s Mick’s up Life:  Why Do People Sabotage My Health Plan?  Enjoy… and become inspired! 

Attribution Statement: This article (Why Do People Sabotage My Health Plan?) was first published at CarlaJGardiner.com.  To receive your own FREE "Secret to Turning Back the Clock" video, go to CarlaJGardiner.com and claim your free video NOW!

Carla J Gardiner is an ex-banker turned entrepreneur who built an auto transport brokerage and dispatch center from the ground up. With half a days training and little else Carla learned the business inside and out the hard way…by doing it. Her passion and purpose lies with the people she works with daily; the client, dispatcher, broker and truck driver. Her frustration within the industry has birthed a new division of her company; a part-time business to to properly train, encourage and mentor others in turning back the clock and regaining youthful health.

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“A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life…. 
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
‘Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.’
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:10-12, 26-31 (NIV)

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Mick’s in with Muscles and Spine Health

"Chiropractic just makes you feel so much better.
When I walk out of the clinic, I feel like I'm about three inches taller and everything's in place.
And as long as I see the chiropractor, I feel like I'm one step ahead of the game."
Tom Brady
3 Super Bowl Championship Rings MVP award winner Quarterback - New England Patriots

After doing some sort of exercise, like climbing a mountain, there might be some pains and other consequences to deal with.  You know what I mean.  We 40-something moms really know what I mean.

In reality, addressing certain things, like spinal health, before exercise is the best way to go.  Be sure you know what’s going on with your spine, before you get too serious about your exercise regimen.  “Depending on the extent of your [subluxations] and posture misalignment the doctor may have you abstain from certain high input activities that may adversely affect your spine.” (Nikitow Chiropractic Wellness Center )

Something I learned, and for which I am truly and forever grateful, is that not all back pain is due to subluxation.  I tend to have lots of lower back pain.  Yes, some of it is due to curvature in my spine, of which I am on a quest to correct.  However, some of it is also due to tightness in my muscles.

So you deal with low back pain?  If so, try stretching out your muscles.  Not only is it good for flexibility and reducing overall tension in the body, but targeting certain areas can have an incredible affect on your back pain.  Hamstrings tend to be the biggest culprit, when muscles are to blame for low back tension.

Try this exercise: 
Lay on your back, with one leg straight up in the air, the back of it against the wall.  (You’ll need to do this in a doorway, so your other leg can be resting flat on the floor.)  Push with your leg against the wall, holding for 20 seconds or so, and then release.  Move your body closer to the wall, causing more tension in your leg.  Repeat the push and release.

If you have someone who can help you, it works much better.  Your assistant will push your leg toward you, causing the resistance.


“Tight hamstrings can restrict movement of the pelvis, which can cause a compensatory increase in rounding of the low back.  This increases the forces on the lumbar spine during forward bending, which can lead to injuries in the low back.  However, there are many causes of low back pain, with tight hamstrings being only one of many potential contributors to the problem.  Additional causative factors and potential treatments should be explored with a health care professional. ” (National Academy of Sports Medicine)

“The sensation of tightness in the hamstrings can be due to various reasons.  Typically it can be from poor postures, altered movement and walking patterns, or compensation due to other muscles being weak such as the gluteal muscles.  The hamstrings attach to the bottom of your pelvis.  With tightness, it can pull on the pelvis causing it to put more stress on the pelvis and back.  In these cases, education to mildly elongate or stretch the hamstrings may help.  Regardless, it is more important to retrain the proper strength and movement patterns of the legs and trunk so proper mechanics of the back can be restored.

“Sometimes tightness in the hamstrings can also be a protective mechanism from underlying nerve pathology in the sciatic nerve.  We have seen patients trying to stretch their hamstrings and instead develop sciatica as stretching irritated the nerve rather than stretch the muscle.  Further differential diagnosis of the hamstrings and their relationship to low back pain should be determined by a qualified health care practitioner.” (Brian Yee)

As the experts say, low back pain can be caused by a multitude of things.  The only way to know for sure the status of your spine health is by having a chiropractor view an x-ray of it.  What better time to go to your nearest corrective-care, principled chiropractor’s office to get an x-ray of your spine than during October:  Chiropractic Awareness Month?!

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October is National Chiropractic Health Month: Educational Foundation Launched to Advance Chiropractic Awareness

CARMICHAEL, Calif., Oct 06, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Foundation for Chiropractic Education (FCE), a not-for-profit 501 (C)(3) organization established to further educate the public regarding chiropractic care, is pleased to debut its charitable foundation during National Chiropractic Health Month, a nationwide chiropractic awareness campaign each October initiated by the American Chiropractic Association.

"The Foundation for Chiropractic Education has developed a comprehensive website to provide the public with an educational database of resources and documents relative to chiropractic care," says Kent S. Greenawalt, founder, FCE. "As more people begin to show their support of chiropractic by contributing to the FCE, our campaign initiatives will accelerate -- increasing the development of educational materials including evidence-based studies and public service announcements."

The detailed pages on the FCE website allow visitors to learn quick and effective informational tips to advance their knowledge of chiropractic. From introductory information to in-depth studies validating the clinical and financial efficacy of care, the FCE offers an all-encompassing resource center for anyone interested in learning more about chiropractic or considering a consultation.

"Investing in the FCE's mission to educate the public about one of healthcare's best kept secrets -- chiropractic care -- is not only a way to contribute directly to the growth of the profession, but also to advance overall wellness," shares Greenawalt.

This October, the FCE strongly encourages others to join efforts in the month-long chiropractic campaign by exploring the FCE website and making a contribution in honor of the organization and the chiropractic profession. Visit, www.Foundation4ChiroEducation.com to show your support and submit a donation today!

About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress aims to inform and educate the general public about the many benefits associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.yes2chiropractic.com or call 866-901-F4CP (3427).

SOURCE: The Foundation for Chiropractic Education
     
        For the Foundation for Chiropractic Education
        Lauren Kennedy, 201-641-1911 (14)
        lkennedy@cpronline.com
     

Copyright Business Wire 2011

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Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!

Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm

so that I will be free from pain.”

And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

~

A recent video (early 2013) shows more ways to stretch hamstrings, as well as strengthen your core:
Dr. Lombardozzi at Kempsville Chiropractic

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A Mick’s up of Mountains

Do you ever hear a song that takes you back to another time and place?  I have a song like that.  Toby Mac’s "Burn for You" helped me hike a mountain, and I remember that experience every time I hear the song.

It was a climb that took me 2000 feet higher than the starting level of 6530 feet of elevation I was already not used to.  The place was Colorado Springs, and the mountain was the  Manitou Springs Incline.  Amazing!  It was quite a workout, going that high in the span of 3/4 of a mile, in less than an hour, and in air thinner than my lungs are used to.  We hiked the Standard Loop, jogging back down the mountain in rocky terrain.  What a rush!

That kind of sounds like life, doesn’t it?  We might find ourselves in unfamiliar circumstances, climbing and working hard to reach the summit, but it seems like forever while it’s happening.  We don’t know what to expect when we get there.  What does God have in store for us?  Why are we going through this trial?  We are huffing and puffing.  We are stopping part way up, trying to get the cramps out of our muscles, trying to keep from whining about the pain.  We might have someone there by our side, cheering us on, motivating us to keep moving, because it’s worth it when you reach the top.  They know, because they’ve been there.

Sometimes knowing someone is there along side of us helps.  We'll take all the help we can get.  We want to have secure footing on the heights, don't we?  Maybe you've heard of a book with a similar story:  Hinds Feet on High Places  Don't let things distract you.  Don't let discouragement drag you down and cause you to bail out.  Keep with it.  You'll feel great when you finish!

When you finally take those last grueling steps at the top, you turn and see a beautiful sunrise.  Think about it.  Would you have seen such a spectacular sight, if you hadn’t gone through what you just did?  You’re seeing the sunrise sooner than you would have if you stayed at the bottom of the mountain.  What a treat, and what a relief!

Now that you reached the top, don’t collapse and lay there doing nothing more.  It’s time to use that momentum to go on to the next stage of the journey.  God just might be using that experience to send you on to someone else going through something similar.  It could be that you’ll be cheering and coaching a brother or sister in their journey.

Whatever the mountain you’re climbing today, hear me and others around you saying, “Keep climbing!  It’s worth it!  You can do it!”

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)

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The fun after the climb

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Mick’s Sum-up for the Week

Toxins come from everywhere, basically.  When we’re not careful about what we’re choosing, then it seems almost hopeless.  We get bombarded from all directions.

I want you to understand, for your sake and the sake of your family, that you do have a choice!  You can strive to do all you can to keep the common cold, chronic illnesses, heart disease, and cancer out of your family… with success.

If it’s difficult to imagine how these actions now can affect future health as seriously as that, then maybe this will speak to you a bit more loudly.  Getting toxins out of your body can help you get rid of pounds and body fat that is holding on so tightly!

Your body knows toxins are bad for your organs, and so it tries to protect your organs with body fat.  Weird, huh?  So, in a sense, body fat is a good thing.  Well... sort of.  It’s a good thing, because it’s acting as protection for survival.  It’s a bad thing, because it means you have toxins in your body.  Hmmmm…  yuck!

One thing I can say about it, though, is that my husband and I found out it’s true… and the right detox works!  It’s an amazing transformation!  Once your body can get rid of toxins, it feels free to let go of the body fat, and you feel healthier, because you are healthier… and as a bonus, you trim down!  Wow!

If you don’t believe me, you might believe the article Detox to Loose Weight by Walter Crinnion in The Vitamin Shoppe’s magazine “Amazing Wellness.”  The detox I mentioned as a recommended choice is Daily Detox.  However, this article lays out a detox system for you to put together yourself at home, too.

So, what’s the summary of the week?

Remember to read the ingredients list on everything!  Watch out for those toxins!  Don’t be fooled!

Warning: 
It seems ironic that the ingredients in some products of companies supporting cancer awareness are actually toxic ingredients, as is addressed in the articles Susan G. Komen for the Cure Isn’t Curing Anything by Amy of the blog “Just West of Crunchy” and Pinkwashing: What’s Wrong with “Think Pink” and Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Susan Melgren in “Natural Home & Garden.”

Some more articles to help you watch for toxins:
Oral Report by Lisa Turner
Save Your Skin by Sherrie Strausfogel
Better With Age – A Tip for Every Day of the Month by Lisa Turner
Toxicity Data by Maximized Living
'Natural' breakfast cereals loaded with pesticides and GMOs by Mike Adams, Health Ranger
 
 

“Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.
The fearful heart will know and understand,
and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
No longer will the fool be called noble
nor the scoundrel be highly respected.”

Isaiah 32:3-5 (NIV)

 

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It’s a Mick's of Toxins

With all this talk of toxins, you may be wondering, “Where do we find toxins and why are they everywhere?”

It’s crazy.  I never used to worry about this stuff.  I thought only "extremists" got hung up on avoiding everything “normal.”  I had no desire to be part of that life.

Then I started thinking beyond myself.

It finally hit me.  Why do I want to be selfish and not change my lifestyle to make a healthier family?  Why do I want to curse my children and my husband with unhealthy living, just so I don’t have to go out of my comfort zone?

I love my family more than that!

So, I took a deep breath, and dove in.

I really dove in!  I chose to stop buying anything now considered “junk food” by the new definition.  All recipes were altered to follow guidelines I was given, and really yummy new recipes jumped to the top of the list of favorites.  The kitchen got emptied of its toxic items:  food and hardware.  Ingredient lists were read on EVERYTHING, and the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room were filled with new healthy choices.

Shopping and cooking took a bit longer in those first days (and months).  OK, more than a bit… but it had become a decision as serious as life or death.  Do I want to make things easier on me, at the risk of filling my  husband with toxins, killing him slowly, and possibly leading him into a life of torture with such illnesses as Alzheimer’s Disease?  Do I want to teach my children to live in such a way that would increase their risks of suffering from heart disease or cancer?

Simply, the answer to all of that is, “NO!”

I still don’t consider us extremists or nutcases.  We simply look at ingredients of all things we purchase, and do our best to minimize the toxins we allow into our home and our bodies.
What kinds of things do we look for, and what can we normal, ordinary, every-day families do about it? 

The Toxic Top 10 is a great reference, for example:

• Cleaning/Personal Care Products:  When considering ingredients, if you can’t eat it, don’t use it.
  
• Pesticides and Herbicides:  Follow the list of Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen
  
• Meats/Protein:  There are so many hormones and antibiotics injected into our food sources these days, and there are many harmful effects.  We look for grass-fed beef, raw-milk products, free-range poultry and eggs, and we avoid pork.  A great source is:  Beyond Organic
  
• Preservatives/Additives/Rancid Fats/etc.
  • Neurotoxins/Excitotoxins: We do not consume any product with any artificial/chemical sweetener, such as sucralose/splenda, aspartame, saccharin, ace-k, neotame, nor with MSG (see next bullet).
    
  • MSG: There are many products with this in it. Many of you already know the effects MSG can have on a body, because you’re already suffering from such things as headaches. Other MSG-containing ingredients to look out for are yeast extract, torula yeast, autolyzed or hydrolyzed vegetable proteins.  Mike Adams has a book to help you look for the things to avoid in the grocery store. Pick up a copy of Grocery Warning System to fill your grocery cart with healing foods, and stop being one of the 95% of Americans who fill their carts with ingredients known to cause cancer!
    
  • Sugar:  We stay away from buying foods with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and we go so far as to stay away from even natural ones (to keep inflammation down as much as possible), such as evaporated cane juice, rice syrup, barley malt, honey, and agave nectar (although we sometimes splurge with allowing agave-sweetened foods or honey).  We can choose alternatives for our Sweeteners.
    
  • Rancid Fats/Oils:  Mark’s Daily Apple touches on what to avoid.
  
  
• Pots and Pans:  We threw out our Teflon and other unsafe non-stick kitchen items.
  
• Environment/Biotoxins/Molds:  Check around your house, and keep it as safe as possible.  Fight off toxins with a detox for your body, like the one my family uses:  Daily Detox
  
• Medicines:  Stay away!  Find alternatives, when possible!  Incorporate 5 simple steps to healthy living, to reduce inflammation and toxicity, and to get your brain’s messages throughout your entire body, and to have healthy cells that can function properly.  Then your body can begin to heal, and  you can eventually get off your meds.  (My husband and I did!  Yay!)

Some extra links for more research:
The Stinky Facts About Smelling Good
Propylene Glycol
Fluoride Alert
Natural News:  Chemicals
Natural News:  Organic Foods
Natural News:  Ingredients
Natural News:  Products to Watch
Grocery Warning System
Dr. Russell Blaylock:  Excitotoxins
SLS
Journal of the American College of Toxicology:  SLS
Other Chemicals to Avoid

“Give the people these instructions,

so that no one may be open to blame.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives,

and especially for their own household,

has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

1 Timothy 5:7-9 (NIV)

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FMS in the Mick’s?

I need to be totally honest with you.  I do not truly know what it is like to have brain fog.  I cannot say I fully understand.  However, I have had to deal with it second-hand.  It is difficult enough to watch someone trying to function in life while in a fog.  I can’t imagine the stress of being in that fog.  I am sorry that those of you with brain fog have to deal with it.  Please realize, though, that I am writing this blog to try to help you know you don’t have to live with it.  There is a way out of the fog!

Today’s topic is related to brain fog.  One of the symptoms of FMS is brain fog.
I’ve seen hope glimmering in my husband’s eyes, as he sees the fog lifting… and as he feels his quality of life improving dramatically, after dealing with FMS for years.  Yes, he’s a guy and he was diagnosed with FMS, even though the statistics say it’s a 7:1 ratio of women to men with FMS. (CDC)

What is FMS?
FMS = Fibromyalgia Syndrome = difficult to diagnose = frustrating for those with it, because of comments like, “It’s all in your head.”

How is FMS diagnosed?
“To receive a diagnosis of FM, the patient must meet the following diagnostic criteria:

• Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months
• Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied”

Progress has been made by Dr. Bruce Gillis to give hope to FMS sufferers that doctors can determine that their symptoms are not just in their heads.  He has developed a blood test that is 95% accurate in detecting fibromyalgia.  It looks at cytokines in the blood.  What do cytokines do?  “The simple answer is that cytokines are small protein molecules released by nerve and immune cells that send signals to other cells in the body to do things like alter cell functions and increase/decrease the regulate of genes.  In the case of fibromyalgia, these messengers cause the central nervous system to create the widespread body pain characteristic of fibromyalgia as well as other physiological, hormonal and behavioral changes.”  These cytokines are related to inflammation in the body.

Toxicity and inflammation are two major factors involved in the pain of FMS.  Once they are decreased, there is a definite decrease in symptoms.  My husband is living proof.

Not only is decreasing toxins and inflammation a great start to combating FMS, but so are improving nutrition and focusing on spinal care.  After all, didn’t God give you a system in the body that will heal itself, if the stuff that isn’t supposed to be there will just get out of the way and let it do its job?!

The Fibromyalgia Fact Sheet even lists chiropractic as one of the alternatives to help improve an FMS victim’s quality of life, since “increasing attention is being devoted to the central nervous system as the underlying mechanism of FMS.”  Take note: ”Increasing rest, pacing activities, reducing stress, practicing relaxation and improving nutrition can help minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.” (National Fibromyalgia Association)

Again, we’re back to focusing on 5 simple items to change your quality of life:  attitude, spine/nerve system health, nutrition, exercise, and toxins.

Maybe this week, as we're spotlighting toxicity, we need to look at what we’re putting in our bodies, and make sure it’s not toxic.  If we’ve had a history of taking medications, having vaccinations, living with mercury fillings in our teeth, cleaning with chemicals, eating unhealthy fats and sugars, and living in toxic environments, then we should figure out a way to rid our bodies of the toxins we’re continually taking in and the toxins already stored there.  Find a detox something like Daily Detox and allow your body to function like it’s supposed to!

FMS is serious business, and it needs to be addressed.  I’ve witnessed the depression that accompanies FMS, and I can believe the suicide rates are higher among FMS sufferers. (CDC)  Please, please, please do not give up hope!

Yes, granted, there are medications out there.  Doctors don’t know what else to do, so they help to mask some of the symptoms with pain medications and others.  However, after a while, the body can adapt and then the symptoms will increase again, even with the medications.  Plus, the medications are increasing the toxicity of the body.

So, why not try something else?  What can it hurt?  If you need more information, go back through this Mick’s up Life, and read up on the 5 things I’ve emphasized for living as a healthy family.  Think about it:  You’ve tried everything else.  Why not this?  Then you can give all the glory to the God who made you in such a way that your body can heal itself!  Just think of it!  Amazing!

“But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.

I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving. “

Psalm 69:29-30 (NIV)

 

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