Rolling with the punches

If you've read some of my other posts, it is obvious that I am an avid athlete and fitness supporter. Many times, something that occurs in sports or fitness relates perfectly to normal life. That is why so many sports cliches exist and are used for everyday purposes. "Go the distance" or "finish the race" are two used for non-sporting circumstances. My purpose today is to relate goal setting/adjusting from a sports perspective to our everyday lives.
This past weekend, the Breezy Point Triathlon was cancelled due to weather. Many people had trained for this event, as it was a major goal for some to complete a triathlon for the first time. There were some that wanted to set a personal best time. The cancellation was probably a major letdown for all of these folks. There is probably a lot of "what do I do now?" going on. For veteran racers, this has probably happened before where an injury, weather, or life in general has prevented them from doing their goal race. One thing I have learned is that you have to look forward and "roll with the punches." Unless a major injury or health problem has occured/developed, there are many other opportunities to test or prove oneself. Look for another event that is coming soon, as your fitness/health will not deteriorate as long as you maintain it. Secondly, the race/goal event is only part of the experience. The training and fitness/health development is the important part, improving your health and learning your own limits. Focusing on these factors will allow you to move forward positively. We must learn from our past, but not dwell on it. Life is always going to "throw you a curveball" along the way, so learn how to move past these times.
Many patients I work with have had major "curveballs" thrown at them. These negative experiences(job loss, divorce, etc...) tear these folks up both emotionally and physically as the stress mounts. I do my best, as a chiropractor/health care provider, to make them physically comfortable as they are dealing with these life events. I am not a counselor, but I would hope that these people would take time to try to look forward, so they can distance themselves from these negative events. If they continue being caught up in the negative swirl, they will not be able to get healthy, and this is a problem. I try to focus my patients on positive outcomes, helping them find a possible outlet to focus their energies. As I said before, fitness is one of my favorites as great health gains can be achieved through improved fitness. At the same time, exercise is a great stress modulator/mediator.
So try not to let these negative events keep you down, "get back in the game" and find something else positive to focus yourself on.

Protect your ears and feet this summer!

Why does a chiropractor concern himself with ears and feet? Well, I'll tell you.
First, ears are something I see the back of all day as patients lie down on my adjusting table. The ears are one of those areas that people neglect, and I often catch lesions developing early. Many of my patients have had to get early pre-cancerous spots removed and the ears are a frequent removal sight. The ears are hard to see in the mirror because they are on the side of the head, sometimes elsewhere depending on the shape of your dome. Ears stick out even when a hat is worn. Sun hits the ears all the time and due to this, many people will develop skin lesions on the ears over time. Protect yourself all the time, but especially this summer, with a little sunscreen on the ears. Avoid future problems with a little prevention. While you're at it, apply some on your nose and cheekbones if not your whole face. These are areas that are always exposed to harmful rays.
Second, feet are frequent victims of summer abuse as people take off their regular shoes and either don some sandals or go barefoot. I do not have a problem with this, but I do have some suggestions. The feet are typically weak due to a winter of being stuck in supportive shoes. Based on this weakness, spend the first couple of warmer weekends strengthening the feet. Instead of endless hours spent barefoot or in sandals, alternate between supportive footwear and less supportive versions or nothing at all. Lately, sandal manufacturers have stepped up their support technology, so if you can find a nice pair that have some arch support, spend the extra money on those and protect your feet. Going barefoot will strengthen your feet, but start off in shorter spurts so that your feet adapt to not having support versus going a whole weekend without shoes and injuring yourself.
As a chiropractor, I adjust feet and ankles all the time due to biomechanical problems people develop due to injuries, bad shoes, etc... The feet and ankles support the entire body so if they are out of whack, the rest of you will not move normally and problems will occur. So, support your feet and protect them so that the rest of your body will be supported properly and you'll have a great summer.