Since the beginning of February, I started going to a chiropractor. What I didn't realize is that I will step into a whole new thinking about health, fitness and food (sort of). In the past few months, I have learned a lot about what my own body could do, and just a vast knowledge of human anatomy, functions, and how food effects the body.
I Got a Backbone
For a while, I wanted to find and go to a chiropractor because of my lower back problems. Every time I exercise or go for a jog, my body will bounce and cause pain and strain to my lower joints, muscles, everything. I have this dream to run a marathon but in order to do that, I need to get my lower back checked out. Regular physical therapy and back stretches were not doing its justice.
I had this routine: jog/exercise. Stretch my back. Then go home, ice my lower back. Ibuprofen somewhere along the way. Then a nice hot shower for a long time. Then a heat pad. Stretch my back. Then maybe a Icy Hot sticky thing or Icy Hot balm (Ben-gay is the other thing I may use). Sleep.
Sounds painful, right? It got so annoying, I finally went to see the chiropractor.
At first, I thought, "He will just take some x-rays and tell me what's wrong... Probably will discover I have scoliosis." Well, what I learned over the next few weeks was an eye opener. Our spine, with the right curvatures, can heal and regulate the human body. My neck was bent the wrong way, my back, although initially I thought it was scoliosis, my Dr. confirmed it wasn't.... To fuel the spinal cord, you have to eat the right kind of foods. The explanation of how it all works made some sense and fueled my scientific curiosity. So I began my "human experiment" and started the 40 visit process of getting my back adjusted.
Food for Thought
Food is another major component to repairing and fueling the spinal cord. As taught by my chiropractor and other experts from his office, the right kind of food can help in the aid of re-aligning and putting my spine back into the correct curvatures but also overall help your body operate correctly and possibly lose weight.
It's basically holistic living, consuming organic foods, grass fed beef and free range chickens. Also as part of this holistic eating, no grains (wheat, rye, barley, rice, corn - all no no's). You can almost look at this like a paleo diet. Oh, and no pork (article linked on one explanation). This host of changed to your diet aids in the fueling of the spine and eventually, one can come off of medication (if you are on any).
Taking a more basic, baby-step approach (and not to go completely all out), I thought it would be easiest to eliminate wheat products and corn, sugar, all sodas/carbonated drinks, and some dairy as well.
The wheat was easy. I always knew I had some reactions to gluten, a wheat protein that is kind of like glue. So, I never ate a whole lot of wheat to begin with. The sugar was also easy. My dad had diabetes since he was in his 30's, so growing up, I never had too much sugar. Eliminating diet drinks was probably the hardest. I tend to drink all day long because ... I don't know. Maybe something active to do besides my desk work. So, figuring that out was a challenge. What do I drink? Ha, water! And coffee. And tea.
In substituting the sugar/sweetener I once consumed, I thought I tried organic maple syrup to my hot British tea. That was surprisingly good. I still added half & half because that is just how the Brits & Hong Kongers drink it. I haven't ventured using honey in anything yet.
The other hard thing was using dairy. I am actually lactose intolerant and for the longest time, I have used lactose free milk in my coffee. But in one food workshop, they only offered unsweetened almond milk. It taste amazing in coffee! So, I end up buying almond milk for at least 2 months.
I think altering the rest of my diet was easiest. What else did/do I eat? Well, I am not really an "American food" eater. I stay away from McDonald's if I can and most other fast food restaurants. Although I do crave Bojangle's or eat fried chicken tenders. My taste is very Asian, so I still ate rice and rice noodles. And potatoes (um, potatoes are Irish, but I ate them). I eat mostly Asian vegetables and less meat. I also eat an avocado every morning with an egg sometimes, and nuts in between.
I do not like protein shakes and I do not like to drink my food. So, I never was on board with that.
At the end of nearly a 2 month experiment on foods, I had a donut. Yes, a nice, big, sugary donut. Oh boy... My stomach didn't like it... My back started hurting again. My "plumbing" was just operating more... I never thought my body would react so adversely to these processed products. I admit, I still occasionally eat wheat but only small amounts. I've pretty much stayed away from sugar except for an occasional chocolate. It was very simple, basic steps I took, but it helped in making myself feel better.
Going the Distance
Exercising is actually also a big part of spinal health, as the thought is that weight lost would take off pressure around the spine, organs and joints.
I actually do love exercising and just being active. I try to do different things so I won't get bored with just one thing. Like, recently, I took a gym class called "Insanity" which is a combination of cross fit and aerobics. The other weekend, I climbed a wall, which fueled my interest to climb. (I did it once 8 years ago.) As far as intensity level, I don't tend to go all out but I do keep moving and keep my heart rate up. And I do regularly try to job at least once a week. As most of my friends say, "You run faster than the guy on the couch." I also tried to swim at the local gym as I used to be a competitive swimmer in High School.
As part of the spine correction/adjustment, I bought the homecare kit, which includes a lot of different components to stretch the spinal and neck, and exercise certain muscles to strengthen those areas. I think for a good 6 weeks, I followed exactly everything but kind of slacked off the past several weeks. I still feel fine. Part of the kit, comes with an exercise video called T3. Now, if you have the activity level as I have above, you might think T3 will be too easy. It was too easy for me. I sat and watched the first few sessions. It was stuff I did when I had a trainer, but my trainer kicked my booty.
My personal thoughts: I have tried to exercise for years to lose weight. The only thing that I found that actually helped was jogging. When I played soccer back in high school, I lost 5-7 pounds during the season. When I jogged last year before my back was hurting really bad, I lost 5 pounds over the course of 6 months. I have tried functional training, and going back into swimming, and weight lifting, and taking random classes at the gym.
Yep, jogging. Of all things. Now, you know why I want my back all better?
Smell the Roses
Like some people who live in the South, I have allergies to flowers in the spring. Specifically azaleas and dog wood pollen. I also have allergies to watermelon and most other melons as well.
When I noticed the flowers blooming starting earlier this month, I had no initial reaction. My eyes were swollen for a few days but afterwards, it disappeared. If I stay outside long enough, though, I do sneeze a lot. But I'm not miserable like I used to be. It was great! I think I will accredited to the amazing body that have reacted to the spinal adjustments.
Another thing that struck me was colds. I had at least 1 cold over the last few months, more in February, I think. I got over the cold in 2 days and with no cold medicines. I usually suffer for at least a week with cold medicine. I was very amazed by this.
And a spectacle of things... I felt my eye sight has gotten a wee better too. I have new glasses but I had to switch back to my old glasses... I really can't see through my new glasses. And I could barely see out of my contacts!
Some last thoughts...
Some folks going into this program are overweight or obese and are on a cocktail of medications. Me, I came in only overweight and taking no medications. Having an Asian diet already going into the program, with only lower back pain, I think I am one of the few who went in with not a lot of problems. Trying the program for the first 30 days (spinal correction, diet, exercise), I didn't see a big difference in my weight. Even my Dr. said, the advance plan diet only works on 80% of the people who tried it. I think in some ways, I was already on it.
I have my own thoughts on weight or body image. My mom and grandmother were both large women, and given that I am already active and eating alright and not on medications, I haven't let my weight or shape bother me now. Yes, like all women, I could lose 20 pound but if it's meant to be, I'll lose it somehow. My body shape hasn't stopped me from enjoying life. I am where I am not because of my body shape but because of my attitude in life.
Anyways, this human experiment has taught me that I have an amazing body that God has created. It is a temple and although we may not mean to cause it harm, our body goes through a lot during the course of a lifetime. As long as we are on earth, God asked us to take care of our bodies but it is a temple and a tool to carry out God's work in the community.
