It's that time of year again... 2016 brings with it the hope of a fresh start and plenty of new year resolutions. Why is it that so many people bring high hopes and will power to the table on the first of the year, only to far too often watch another resolution fall by the wayside by the time it's time to flip the calendar to February? There are probably as many reasons as there are people who make resolutions, but I'd like to look into one way to give your resolution a fighting chance this year.When it comes to the realm of health and well-being, regardless of the time of year, I feel that many sincere efforts to make positive shifts are not as long lasting as people would like because we often begin by taking away things that we enjoy or by "biting off more than we can chew." This can be tricky because willpower can only get you so far. Instead of taking something away, I think I great way to avoid this trap is to begin by adding one or two realistic things. Starting with just a few things is usually much more attainable than an entire lifestyle overhaul all at once. For example, by adding a 10 minute walk to your daily routine or adding one piece of fruit to whatever you typically eat for breakfast, you shift your physiology in a positive, healthy direction. Once these little changes become habits you may be pleasantly surprised by a natural desire to add more healthy things (think domino effect).

One of the easiest things I know of that people can incorporate to any existing routine is regular, wellness chiropractic care. Adjustments work to restore balance to the brain-body connection, which impacts everything your body does (digestion, immunity, healing, strength, coordination, creativity, etc.) Also, it is a very common thing for me to hear from clients that after they begin a chiropractic routine, that they feel inspired to make other positive healthy changes with regards to exercise, eating, etc. (think domino effect again).

Brent Vuyovich, DC

I want to borrow a little terminology from the computer science field to help explain the importance of a happy spine! I won't pretend to act like I know much about computers but I have heard the term"GIGO" or "Garbage In Garbage Out," which describes the idea that if a computer is programmed poorly or with bad input, it will produce less than desired output or results. This is a great analogy to explain what happens with our brain if it is receiving poor signals from the spine. Your spine is loaded with sense receptors that are constantly feeding valuable information up to your brain about your body. If your spine is stuck or misaligned the signals get mixed up and we have "garbage input" up to the brain. This negatively affects how your brain processes, integrates and controls your body leading to "garbage output." This is a pretty big deal since your brain runs the show.

By regularly taking care of your spine your brain works better! Speaking of computers, starting chiropractic care is like upgrading your nervous system from dial-up to high speed!

​Brent Vuyovich, DC