Staying healthy isn’t always easy. With the ongoing stressors of life, work, family, sport and finances, it is easy to let something that is so important slip. We are sure that if you had to think of one person with Cancer, Heart Disease or Diabetes, you would be able to come up with several names.

As the saying goes, ‘there is no point being the richest man in the graveyard’. It is now estimated that over 90% of the health challenges people experience daily, could be prevented or reversed by a change in lifestyle.

To fail to plan is a plan to fail! How many of you find yourself taking better care of your car, your hair, your home, your work tools or someone else, better than you take care of yourself?

In a study recently done on Australians, performed by the drug company Pfizer, 70% of Australians suffer from a health condition, including high cholesterol, depression, heart disease, chronic pain and diabetes. It also found that around 66% of Australians choose prescriptive medicines to treat the symptoms of these conditions, instead of making lifestyle changes or seeking natural health alternatives, such as Chiropractic care, exercise or a change in nutrition.

Our life expectancy is increasing, however our quality of life is decreasing. So, people might be living longer, but spending the last of their years in a nursing home, or on numerous medications, with no quality of life – this is not living!

So, the question is, what is your plan to take yourself into your 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and beyond with more energy, vitality, health and zest for life as each year passes? Have you even thought about it? If you haven’t, then you must!

To Fail To Plan, Is A Plan To Fail

When it comes to planning, people spend more time planning a holiday than planning how they are going to take care of their body each day so they can enjoy their holiday. Now of course, we believe in balance and if you do the right thing 80% of the time, then you can afford to ‘zag’ as we like to call it. But, many people ‘zag’ 80% of the time and only stop to think about their health when something goes wrong.

Get Inspired!

We just had the privilege of celebrating our pop’s 90th birthday last weekend. He is one of the most energetic, passionate and full of life people you will ever meet. We are told often, how lucky we are to still have our grandparents alive. This is sad, but true. So many friends around us don’t have grandparents or great grandparents to share with their own children.

That being said, what is the picture you see when you think of yourself when you are 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100? Is it someone living life and getting out there and doing it? Or is it a picture of someone in a nursing home, unhealthy, waiting to die? You have the choice of how it will turn out. Remember, good health doesn’t happen by chance, we create it, we plan it, we do it everyday!

Here is an example of Bill & Mary, an 83-year-old high jumper and a 90-year-old triathlete - both of them doing what it takes and living life.

They will bring tears to your eyes and show you what is truly possible, if you want it to be!

If being healthy at 100 is something that inspires you, then start planning for it today, don’t gamble with your life, take care of yourself today and your body will allow you to enjoy life to the fullest in the years to come!

We hope you are as inspired as we are and that your choose life, choose health, choose to plan for a long and healthy life!

Most mornings I take a walk down to the beach and this morning was no different. It’s the time that I use to wake myself up and slowly move into my day. It’s generally pretty peaceful. But this morning was a little different. This morning I was accosted by what most parents would be familiar with at this time of the year … Crazy kids on scooters and push bikes screaming, clearly loving that another day with no school has started!

While I’m not a parent, I do have a business. And seeing those kids running at me as their grandmother chased them down the road made me think that there’s probably a lot of similarities between business owners and parents.

There are just some times when I feel like I’m continually chasing. When life becomes a little overwhelming due to the number of great ideas in my head, or because I have said I could meet with more people than I can physically handle. And I know that everyone’s stress buttons are different.

Here’s the thing. Just by taking a breath and stepping back for 10 minutes, I’ve realised that it is possible to get in control. As such, after a lot of my own tail-chasing, I have come up with four key principles to overcoming being overwhelmed in life or business.

1. Projection: Have a plan for the day, next few months or few years so that you know which direction you really want to go – and then write it down. In business this may be your forecast; and in life it may be a family holiday, some savings, or just to sit down each day for dinner with your family.
2. Priorities: Take five minutes to dump everything from your head onto a piece of paper, grab your Projection from Step 1 and work out which of those activities bring you closer to achieving that today. Be prepared to not get EVERYTHING done.
3. Premium: Ensure that you see yourself with as much value as everyone who relies on you. If you’re over-demanded in business, learn to delegate or raise your prices. And if you’re stressed out at home, be prepared to say NO to someone, or something, in order to do what you really want at least once a day.
4. Personal Responsibility: Be prepared to take responsibility for your life’s outcomes. If you’re feeling stressed out because you’ve committed to one too many things right now, make a change. How can you give to others if you are not first giving to yourself?

While the headings seem a little business-focused, I challenge you to apply the thinking behind the bullet points to your life and see what happens. And if you want to immerse yourself in this thinking for a day – come join us on July 14 for our Get on Purpose Seminar.

Let me know your results!

We use many tools in our business to help people get where they want to be – to help them reach their own measure of success.  Actually, we have a whole sack of them, because what works for you doesn’t always work for someone else.  Regardless of this, at some point along a person’s coaching journey there is the question:  Is this right?  Is that the right answer?  Am I on the right track?

A mentor would probably answer:  Did you follow the instruction?  Are you getting results?  Test and measure it.

A friend might say: Of course, you’re doing great!

A spouse may add:  I love you regardless of whether it’s right or wrong.

But, did any of those answers actually help you feel any more secure in your direction or decision?

The truth is that there are hundreds-of-thousands of ways to grow and build your business.  And there are that amount of people again out there offering solutions on how to do this.  The fact of the matter is, none of them is offering a way that is more right than the next way.  They are simply offering solutions to help you decide what is Right for You.

How you do business is all about how every element of your business makes you feel.  It’s all about finding methods that align with your personal values and personality.  It’s about finding something that puts you on that path you are aiming for while helping you retain happiness.  What are the techniques that allow you to act with integrity while producing outstanding results?

So, rather than looking outside for an understanding of whether you’re on the right track, how about being your own coach for a second.  Ask yourself what we would ask you:  AM I on the right track?  How do I feel about my decision?  Am I getting the results that I desire?  Then, sit and wait for the answer.  You’ll know it.  You will always know it.

RECENTLY my partner celebrated his official divorce from a 17-year military career.  It was a big deal in our house, and not just because I no longer get to see him in uniform (though that is a big deal in my books!), nor because he now has to find something other than khaki colour to wear everyday.

It’s been a big deal, because now he has full reign on all his life decisions.  Mmm, yes, big deal.

You see, he has lived his entire adult life under someone else’s rules, regulations, command and obligations.  He was told what things were important to him; what sort of qualities make him a ‘good’ man; where he would live next; and what sort of relationships are agreeable within the walls of his community.  Sounds vaguely like being a teenager again, right?  The military was clearly wearing the pants in his house.

Don’t get me wrong, this life provided him with great opportunity, purpose and direction.  But, here’s the deal, at some point someone else’s rules, regulations and command – let’s call them Values – stopped fitting for him.  It’s at this point he had to work out what does best fit for him. He had to design and wear his own pants.

The Catholics created the 10 Commandments to guide believers through life, to help them choose the best direction for their actions.  Just as the military created their core values for my partner to serve under, to help him choose in a life or death situation.  To aid him in knowing what is the right path for all his actions.

Who has affected your chosen path?  Who’s rules (or expectations) are you operating under?  And more to the point, are they getting you the results that you so desire?

Values represent what we stand for.  They tell us which way is True North.  They make decisions easy.  Dare to design and wear your own pants.

“When you live according to your highest values you become inspired and awaken genius. When you live according to your lower values you require continuous outside motivation and you sedate your genius.” – Dr John DeMartini

Nope, it’s not a 10 Commandment, but as we approach Mother’s Day it might be a good time to request that it be added.

Too often in my role as a coach do I hear someone say they are ‘just a ‘. The word ‘just’ automatically plays down that person’s significance. The word ‘just’ suggests that what they are doing is holding them back from their real hopes and dreams, because they are ‘just a ….’. Given today’s topic, let’s go with ‘just a mother’.

What this person fails to recognise is the significance of being a mother. As Dr John DeMartini suggests, they fail to recognise the value they bring to the world by raising children to be educated, confident and aware of the world around them. They fail to recognise they could be raising a family of world leaders.

By shifting your perceptions and honouring the significance of being a mother, you increase your perceived self worth, sense of fulfilment and inspiration.

So, regardless of your ‘just …’ title, take some time today to recognise what it is that you bring to those people around you everyday. Take some time to think about the flow-on affects of that thing you ‘just’ do everyday. Then, make a conscious effort to HONOUR your own significance.

Well, the short answer is of course, you.  But new research out yesterday suggests that maybe our friends are responsible for the few extra kilos we might be carrying around.  And not because they have physically put it on us, but if they’re overweight, just being in their presence for extended periods can encourage us to let our own food intake increase.

But here’s the thing, this sort of thinking is not new.  Motivational speaker and educator of personal development Jim Rohn said many years ago: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”  Which to me suggests: Those five people with whom you spend the most time affect everything about you – weight and wealth included.

The concept works on two levels of consciousness – conscious and subconscious – suggesting that we attract what it is that we believe ourselves to be worthy of.

And this is what Robert Kiyosaki echoes in his book Rich Dad, Poor Dad (published in 2001).  He had two dads – his poor dad, stuck in the middle-class with limiting viewpoints on money; and his rich dad, one of the wealthiest men in Hawaii who was smart about getting money to work for him. By consciously choosing to interface with his rich dad to learn from him, Kiyosaki acquired many thinkings and mindsets of how to become rich, which eventually led him to become successful in life.

So, are your friends to blame for your bulge … and your empty pockets for that matter?  Maybe.

The great thing is you have choice.  If you hang out with a group of successful, positive-minded people who believe in taking responsibility for their lives, you will move to do the same. If you hang out with a bunch of pessimists who think the world is out to get them and that there is nothing worthwhile, you will start descending into the negative whirlpool at some point, even if you are initially a positive individual.

It’s all your choice.

In today’s modern fast-paced society, health tends to be one of those things that people don’t necessarily value… until that is, it is no longer there!

Even if people say they do value health, they may talk a good game, but follow their actions and that will give you the real story.

The challenge somewhat lies in the way people gauge their health.  What I find as I read through the hundreds of entrance forms each month that people fill out as they enter our wellness center is that the vast majority judge how well they are by how they feel.  And I can’t blame them; after all we all want to feel great.  What many don’t realise though is that only less than 10% of our nervous system perceives pain.  How we feel is a by product of how we are functioning, yet most of us focus only on the tip of the iceberg – how we feel (the 10%) and not on what lies beneath – how we are functioning which makes up 90% of the story.

The consequence of this is that despite the amazing advances in medical technology and drug therapy we are the sickest generation to have lived.  Over the past decades each year our average age of death increased for both males and females, until a few years ago that was.  Now our life expectancy is decreasing.  What this tells me is that the advances in medical intervention wasn’t actually extending our lives, but rather prolonging our death.  Those final years on the planet, the people’s quality of life was probably not what they considered thriving, but just surviving.

A classic scenario is the person who feels fine, their GP gives them clean bill of health and the next day they drop dead of a heart attack.  This is the first symptom that there was even a problem for 40% of people who get a heart attack – they are at their own funeral.  Upon autopsy it is revealed that they had a ‘clogged’ artery.  It is commonly know that we seldom feel a clogged artery.

So it doesn’t make a lot of sense to follow this Pain-Problem Paradigm – in other words wait until there is pain to know there is a problem, then do something about it (or even worse mask the body’s attempt to let you know there is a problem by taking a ‘pain-killer’).  Some just ignore the problem all together using what I call ‘Hope Management’.  That is, just hope it goes away.

The way of the future is the Power-Problem Paradigm.  It is well known by reputable health care professionals that the brain via the nervous system supplies the power to all the cells, tissues, organs and other systems of the body.

If there is an interruption in this power supply, it can be a direct or indirect cause of virtually any health challenge in the body.  The nervous systems role is to control and co ordinate all body functions, keeping them working in harmony.  It makes our heart beat 100, 000 times per day without us even having to think about it.  Our nervous system directs the immune system to relate us to our environment through its defenses and the nervous system helps us deal with life’s stresses.  That’s why we get the feeling like ‘something or someone is getting on my nerves’ when the stress we can comfortably handle is above our threshold.

Think about how the power supply works in our house.  If there is too much ‘stress’ on the system, rather than causing the whole house to burn down, there is a fuse box that regulates the power.  It makes more sense to ‘blow’ a fuse than to lose the whole house.  Our bodies work much the same.  If we are experiencing too much stress in our system through physical (car accidents, slips/falls, sporting injuries, poor posture, birth process), chemical (toxins, food additives, medications) or emotional (work, finances, relationships, road rage) the vertebrae in our spine are like a fuse that can ‘flip’ and help our nervous system deal with the stress in the short term.  If the stress is great enough or it remains for a sustained period of time, the spine will now adopt this misalignment as ‘normal’.  In other words the misaligned vertebrae causes the poor posture.

Here is the interesting thing – remember we spoke about power.  We learnt that the power that keeps you healthy, energetic and functioning well courses through the nervous system.  So the impact that the misaligned spine has on your health can be significant.  “But surely I would know if I have a misalignment in my spine causing poor health” you might say!  Well if you judge by how you feel and there is no pain or symptoms you may be led to believe you are fine.  Yet now you know that the way we feel is only 10% of the picture.

The fact is most people have not had the power that runs there body checked to ensure it is proving 100% nerve supply to gain 100% function.  The principles of healing at Body Brilliant Chiropractic and of Wellness Chiropractors all over the world are twofold – firstly check to see the alignment of the spine and accurately gauge if there is pressure on your power supply.  Secondly, identify, reduce or ideally eliminate the stressors in your life so that they don’t continue to reduce your power supply.

People who follow this Power-Problem Paradigm get to the cause of their problems quickly, safely and effectively that allows them to experience their peak health and life potential.  It is a vast difference to the Pain-Problem Paradigm whereby people use drugs and surgery to temporarily mask the pain, and often lead to further ‘side effects’.

I am a big believer in ‘horses for courses’.  Drugs and surgery used at the right time in crisis care are ultimately life-saving.  The challenge is that the crisis in 95% of cases would not have been necessary if some time had been invested into their health while they still had it.  But not every person is prepared to take the time or responsibility to follow the Power-Problem Paradigm.  It is not a case of just showing up and saying “here I am doc – fix me!”  The meaning of the word doctor is ‘to teach’, not write prescriptions.

In addition to the services we provide in our centre, we believe in educating and empowering people.  Which is why every week at our half hour to health workshop series, patients and health conscious people of the Gold Coast learn what they can and should be doing to move well, eat well, think well and stay well adjusted to prevent becoming another health statistic. If you are looking for answers and want to make a change today, contact our team or book in for an upcoming workshop and kick hope management to the curb!

Have you ever revisited a loved place of your childhood?  Ever got yourself so excited with your stories that you were just bursting out of the seams to land in that airport, cross that town’s border, or dine in that establishment again in order to re-live old times?  And finally, you land in that destination only to discover that everything has changed and you’re not sure you actually like it anymore?

I sure have.  And for the past few years, that place for me was the Gold Coast.  Having taken a few years away overseas, followed up by a few more living in the southern regions of Australia, I recently moved back to the place of my youth – the Gold Coast.  And at first, my thoughts were just like that:  “Boy, how things have changed.”

There is much more construction, loads more traffic, there’s a well-despised new water provider, more people, suburbs on the other side of the Pacific Highway; and people have started wearing shoes and collared shirts!   We even have two national football teams that didn’t exist when I last lived here.

Until about six months ago, I could not stomach the thought of returning here – that was until I made a decision to have a look at what these changes could actually bring to my life.  What are the benefits of this change?  Yes, I am on the cusp of Gen Y and Gen X, so of course life is about ‘What’s in it for me?’.  But, it is my life, so why not find out how I could make this great city work on my behalf?

When I looked closely at the elements of the GC that had changed, I was able to notice that these changes had actually brought many more of my favourite things:  Better access to great restaurants, national sporting events on my doorstep, easier transportation to an international airport, and a more diverse group of citizens very dedicated to a balanced lifestyle.

And in addition to the changes I could love, I started more easily seeing the original stuff that I loved:  the very swim-able beaches (Peru’s capital Lima has one of the most amazing coastlines that can not be swum in because of excessive pollution), the character of the old-time locals, my Mum, Montezuma’s at Burleigh and of course. the weather. 

I’m not sure if you’ve ever realised, but change is not something you can avoid – and like the weather, it’s just something we can not control.  That being the case, surely I’m not the only one who has noticed we often do our best to pretend its not happening.   And when we resist change, life can become hard, rather than easy.

You see, by not embracing the new version of the place that fostered my younger years, I was actually living in the past.  And by living in the past, I was missing the awesome things that were going on in the present.

While I still love to wear no shoes, enjoy walking the beach in my togs alone, and am happy to arrive at a friend’s place in my salt-ridden beach dress (MEN READ:  boardies), I love the fact that I can also eat out in some of Queensland’s best restaurants, consume wine farmed from vines in our state, get on a train to Brisbane, and interact with intelligent and savvy business people.

So, by making a decision to explore the benefits of change, I have again embraced a place that is offering me much satisfaction.  I have learnt that making life easier can be as simple as making a decision to think that way. 

What is the change that you’ve most been resisting?  Perhaps it’s time to take another perspective … ?

Welcome to the first of a two part series on chronic injuries/disease. This year at Adjust we really want to partner with you with your health and wellbeing.

We really believe that 2011 can be a significant year and now can be a great starting point to assess your health and fitness goals. So in 2011 be proactive about your health and start to take action today to lose weight, get stronger and relieve yourself of that pain that you have had for over two months now.

Did you know that people often just accept that chronic disease and pain is just a natural part of ageing? This is far from the truth. With a proper assessment and regular exercises (i.e. even twice a week Pilates or Yoga could help prevent some aches and pains in your lower back) you can prevent numerous problems. I guess the biggest question is WHY are you putting it off. Stop now and think about yourself in 10 years. Where do you want to be?

Right!! Stop thinking and start doing something about it and get yourself into some regular exercise.

I was reading an article last week that was really alarming. It stated that GP’s are now seeing on average 25% more people with chronic disease like diabetes, obesity and arthritis (Figure 1).

What does this tell you about our lifestyle?

We are eating more unhealthy foods, doing less exercise and ageing faster. Is this how you want to live your life? I really hope not because I want to see you healthy and get the most out of your life.
      
So what can you do about this today?

Go and get yourself checkout. As physiotherapists we are able to identify your body mass index, flexibility and if there are any potential injuries waiting to happen. So go and get an assessment by a qualified physiotherapist. If you are interested in this offer call our Coomera or Springwood clinic.  I really hope to see you soon!

Pain in the neck is one of the most common complaints I have seen as a physiotherapist, throughout my 12 year career to date. Neck pain can be caused by stress or muscle strain but can often be prevented by using good posture, getting regular exercise, and avoiding long periods in positions that stress the neck, such as prolonged computer work. So I have put some suggestions together on ways to help avoid neck if you experience it at different times of the day.

If neck pain is worse at the end of the day, evaluate your posture and body mechanics:

• Avoid slouching or a head-forward posture.
• If you work at a computer, adjust the monitor so the top of the screen is at eye level.
• If you use the telephone a lot, consider using a headset or speaker phone.
• Adjust your car seat to a more upright position that supports your head and lower back.
• Use proper lifting techniques. Lifting with your knees, not your back, can also help prevent neck pain.

If neck pain is worse in the morning, check your pillow and sleeping posture:

• Use a pillow that keeps your neck straight, neither too high nor too flat.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach with your neck twisted or bent.
• If you read in bed, prop the book up so you are not using your arms to hold it up and bending your neck forward.
• If you are not sure if you have good pillow see the physiotherapists at Adjust as we sell pillows that are adjustable.

If stress is contributing to your neck pain, practice muscle relaxation exercises. Consider getting a massage.

Strengthen and protect your neck by doing neck exercises once a day. You can also help prevent neck pain by staying at a healthy body weight.