Patients

“After the holidays I am going to lose weight/ start going to the gym/ never eat carbs again!”

Sound familiar? Gym membership statistics show that the highest number of new memberships are purchased in January of every year. Sadly those same statistics show that 80% of the new members drop off within the first five months. It’s not the lack of good intentions that makes people quit, but rather that all the energy that was saved up for the “big change” fizzles out – until next year.

So what can you do if you want to lose weight, start going to the gym or never eat carbs again, and stick with it?

You know what you want to do! Why wait? Start TODAY!

It doesn’t matter that it’s Tuesday, that you have a trip coming up, or that the holidays are just around the corner. So you’re going to fall off the wagon. It happens! But it’s no big deal, and definitely not a reason to beat yourself up and quit. Falling off is quite normal. I bet that you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t. So fall off, dust yourself off, and get back on!

Plus: It helps to plan ahead and choose what is worth falling off for. Start now, and you only have to keep it up for two weeks before you can plan to cheat at a holiday dinner – and practice doing it completely guilt-free, because you know that you’ll go back to your plan afterward. You can do that! It will also take pressure off starting again in the new year, as you’re not doing anything new and different. No figuring out how to do it. No falling for some high-pressure sales pitch aimed at “resolution seekers”. Just getting back on the wagon and taking care of yourself.

 

That’s easier said than done, right? We can tense muscles, and we can relax them, most of them on command. But some of them, when left unattended for just a second, seem determined to just hold on. Why?? In my experience there are three main reasons: Habits, stress and fascial restrictions. Over the next three posts, we’ll look at each one.

Part one: Habits. Most of us have habits that cause tension, usually related to posture and repetitive movements. And as you probably know, changing a habit by sheer force of will is incredibly difficult. The reason for this is that a habit solves a problem. It is currently, or at one point was, the best thing to do to cope with a situation. The key to overcoming a “bad” habit then lies in recognizing the problem and helping your body find a better solution!

Here is an example: No matter how hard you try, you always end up slouching when sitting at your desk. Why? Because that is the position of least effort in your current environment. One major factor that makes sitting tall hard is that most of our chairs are too short. By simply raising your chair (and desk) you can make it easier on yourself to sit with better posture.

The next time you notice tension, take a moment to look at your position, at the way you are performing your task and at the equipment you are using. See if there is anything you can tweak, such as the angle of a keyboard, the size of a grip, the stiffness of a pedal or the position and flow of the things you are handling. Ask a friend or co-worker to observe you, or hire a professional such as a trainer to help you find a better way.

Thank you for reading! I hope this little series gives you some ideas and tools to address tension in your own body! Of course, if you would like more information, or if you would like help with any of the three challenges, please do get in touch here!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Claudia

First of all a heartfelt THANK YOU! for your support and understanding during the last few difficult months! Your words of encouragement have meant the world to me.

I have some exciting news to share with you today: I have found a new home for my practice with the lovely folks at Attunement Wellness at 5820 SW Kelly Avenue, just two blocks south of the Watertower (and four blocks south of the old office).

 

• The office phone number for scheduling and any questions you may have is 503-206-0300.
  

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• My hours are Tuesdays 8:30am – 6pm, Thursdays 1:30pm – 6:30pm and Fridays 8:30am – 1pm.
  

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• Online scheduling just got easier! No more patient portal required, you can do it right from the clinic website, and it works for iPhones, too!
  

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• Attunement Wellness shares parking with our neighbors. Please give yourself a little extra time to find parking should the spots on the property be taken when you arrive. Unfortunately there is no designated disabled parking available.

Don’t forget to check out the office website and browse through the profiles and specialties of my new office mates!

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Yours in Health,

 

 

 

Dr. Claudia Holderegger McCormack