Drink more water?

This topic should be more frequently discussed in my office, as most people are underhydrated. When I do recommend drinking more water, most folks say they already do drink enough; however the water is often in a mixed form such as tea, lemonade, etc... The desired effects aren't as readily received when water is mixed. Pure, un-carbonated, un-compromised water is the best. There are many water treatment systems that claim to be the best, backed up by numerous studies which contradict each other. I rely on spring water or tap water(some think tap is "gross"). My wife and I exercise more than the average person so we consume much more water, than the daily norms, to make up for the amount we lose through sweating. It is recommended that the average person, daily, drink a number of fluid ounces equal to the number which is half of his/her body weight number in pounds. For example, if John Smith weighs 200 pounds, he should drink 100 fluid ounces of water a day. If Jill Smith weighs 140, she should drink 70 fl oz.
There are many potential, positive effects of adequate hydration:
1) Decreased appetite is a huge positive considering we live in an age where obesity is at an all time high. Dehydration creates a false sense of hunger, so increasing hydration or drinking more water will suppress the appetite.
2) Decreased inflammation is another huge positive due to the harmful effects of inflammation throughout the body. Many diseases and problems throughout the body are due largely to inflammation. Drinking more water raises the body's pH, making the body more alkaline, thereby reducing inflammation.
3) Decreased headaches for those who suffer them is another great by-product of staying properly hydrated. Headaches are often due to or triggered by dehydration.
4) Athletic performance is greatly enhanced by proper hydration. Mental acuity and muscle responsiveness are directly related to hydration. How many times have you seen a professional or high level athlete carted off the field due to cramping and dehydration? Frequently.

There are numerous other positive effects of staying properly hydrated, but for now, the main point here is to encourage everyone to drink more water and stay hydrated. You'll be amazed at the wonderful changes your body will provide when properly hydrated.
DRINK MORE WATER!

Who adjusts me?

I get this question a lot and I have two answers... Drs. Joe and Pete, depending on where I am and what day of the week it happens to be.  I get adjustments weekly.  Practicing what I preach is something I take seriously.  Adjusting patients all week is physically demanding as well as emotionally, due to the personal connection that develops between doctor and patient.  I have several NFL size patients, 300 plus pounds, that require me to be in tip top shape for their adjustments.  I also exercise pretty intensely, training for triathlon, and then I help take care of my home.  All of this leaves my body in need of some fine tuning.  Were it not for adjustments that I receive, I would be headed down a path to self-destruction.
Weekly adjustments keep me tuned for optimal health, my nervous system firing on all cylinders ( I love car analogies!)  They also keep me prepared to meet the next challenge, as I am more confident knowing my body is balanced and strong.  I honestly can not imagine not getting adjusted, I was a frequently injured mess before Chiropractic became an integral part of my life.  Thank God that at age 23, I followed a path to seek out chiropractic care and then receive it, study it and make it my profession.
I love seeing the joy in people when they are free of the needless ill effects of being subluxated (vertebral misalignment causing nerve interference, muscular imbalance, etc...).  Folks' true personalities emerge when the fog of symptoms lifts and they can enjoy being alive and more well.  I too share that joy when I get adjusted and feel like a million bucks!

You're probably not lifting properly

I frequently get a snicker when I go to pick out my dumbbells these days. I'm reaching for the smaller end of the weight range, compared to what I used to grab. But I am still using the same form that I used when I first learned proper lifting technique. When I arrived at UNC, we were signed up to meet with the strength trainer who worked with all the varsity athletes. He told us to forget what we had learned previously because it was probably wrong. He taught us slow, steady movements with emphasis on breathing and posture. Form trumped max pounds lifted. Strength was not necessarily measured in how much you can bench press, but in how much you can bench press with proper form. Many a stud was put to shame when forced to lift properly. It is very easy to compensate when lifting improperly, because untargeted muscles are recruited to help out, thereby increasing the amount lifted. Additionally, and I witness this at the local fitness centers, improper lifting techniques such as swinging weight aids in lifting more pounds. Improper form creates unnatural imbalances throughout the musculoskeletal system(bad posture for example), increases risk of injury, and does not train the nervous system. The nervous system is ultimately responsible for firing the muscles, so this system must be properly trained to achieve optimal results.

This training of the nervous system is where "slow and steady" lifting comes into play. The goal is not to tear the muscle down, the goal is to get as many neuromuscular units recruited to achieve the lift. Have you seen the Olympics when the really small weightlifters lift ridiculous weights? Neuromuscular recruitment is optimized in these athletes. A smaller muscled person can lift more or as much as a larger muscled person if that smaller muscled person has greater neuromuscular recruitment. This "slow and steady" lifting is better and safer, which is why any person including the elderly can do it. The key is to start light and get your form right. A good, well-schooled trainer can help with this. If your trainer keeps emphasizing going heavier, and doesn't emphasize good form, Run!