Thanks to our new friends at Shape Magazine for getting thousands of people closer to gold medal health!

They have featured our very own Concept 2 Master Rowing Instructor and Bellevue Wellness Coordinator, Anna Cummins, with one of her rowing machine routines in the January 2012 Issue of Shape Magazine. Be sure to get your copy of Shape Magazine this month to help you keep your New Year’s resolution to have a happier, healthier body! Remember, if we keep our bodies moving, this helps our spine and nervous system to function at their best.

The Shape Workout Plan:
*Adjust Pace per your level of fitness. Pace listed is for a 145 pound female beginner.
3 min. Warm-up Row, SR 16-18, 2:30
3 min. Row, SR 20-22, 2:14
2 min. Row, SR 22-24, 2:12
1 min. Row, SR 24-26, 2:10
1 min. stand up and do continuous walking lunges, switching legs
4 min. Row, SR 22-24, 2:12
3 min. Row, SR 24-26, 2:10
1 min. Row, SR 26-28, 2:08
2 min. Easy Row, SR 16-18, 2:30

Why Shape Loves this Workout:
“Ready, Set, Row! Torch 200 Calories and firm up (all while sitting down!) with this quickie plan by Danielle McNally

Pass by the crowd waiting for an elliptical and make a beeline for a rowing machine. You’ll burn up to 50 percent more calories while strengthening nearly all the muscles from your shoulders to your calves. Never tried it? This routine from Anna Cummins, a master rowing instructor for Concept 2, will take you from rookie to pro in minutes. Simply set the damper (a device on the side of the flywheel that controls the drag) between 3 and 5, choose pace mode, and row (see form check in magazine for tips), aiming for the recommended speeds. After 9 minutes, stand up and stretch – or to increase the burn, do walking lunges – then sit back down for the second half of your session. You’ll leave with an awesome workout under your belt while everyone else is still on her warm-up. “

Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).

Read MoreJanuary 16, 2012 6:12 pm - Posted by admin


A New Years Resolution by Dan Cerrillo, Manager of Crossfit Bellevue

My New Years Resolutions were to wake up 1-hour earlier and go down to the crappy gym in my condo building and do 30-mins of old fashioned cardio. I am doing this because my strength is great, my lifts are fairly clean but my cardio is way down. I know this is because the last couple of months I have made excuses for not running and rowing 5ks and what not.

My second resolution was to try and let things slide off my back a little more. I take things very personally sometimes, when people give me compliments its very hard to take but its even harder when people give me witticism. I will sit up all night and think about what I said or what the criticism was. First I am angry, then I am apologetic, then I go over it for hours. I lose a lot of sleep each time I lose a client or a basketball game. I wonder what I could have done better and think of things to improve.

Finally, my last resolution was to turn off my phone completely on the weekends. For years I was addicted to my blackberry, if it went off at night I would read the e-mail. If a phone call came in I would run to answer it and so forth. This is the one resolution I have to keep because it affects my family. For nearly 6-years I actually slept with my blackberry on my chest because my job was to be on call 24/7. Breaking this habit is very hard for me but each day and minute I part with the phone it gets a little easier.

So you may ask, why is Dan bugging us with his resolutions? Who cares, right? Well I care, I care about my resolutions and I care about yours. Some of you have asked for my help, some of you have expressed your unhappiness with your exterior presentation. Keeping promises is hard, especially when the promise is to ourselves. I wrote a client this morning because he said he was discouraged because of the swim workout I gave him was so humbling.

When I wrote him back I said don’t be discouraged, be proud of the person staring back at you in the mirror. Ask this person each day to perform and he will, ask this person each day to work a little harder and he will. Tell this person to never quit and to never be satisfied with being ordinary. Promise this person that no matter what each week you will push him hard at a minimum of three times per week. If you do this I promise the person looking back at you in the mirror will be much happier, the person will be much stronger in both mind and body and this person will be a better person for trying.

Have a great New Year.


Dan Cerrillo
Certified CrossFit Level-2
Managing Member CrossFit Bellevue

Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).

Read MoreJanuary 9, 2012 12:12 pm - Posted by admin

By Anna Cummins, 2008 Olympic Champion

Once an Olympic champion, I could now barely get out of bed and go for a walk, let alone get to the Pocock Rowing Center or Crossfit Bellevue. I knew something crazy was happening inside my body. For the first time in my life, I felt like the anti-athlete. As an athlete my whole life and an elite rower for ten years, any form of working out always made me feel like a million bucks, maybe not during, but for sure after each workout. In my first trimester with my first baby, the thought of any form of exercise was like thinking about rowing an Olympic final with no prior training. I did not want to go there. Not only did I avoid getting a rush from a little workout, I also wasn’t very hungry. Hmmm, who is this new person in my body and where did I go?

Pregnancy is a time to learn a lot about your body and that of what it takes to create a new body in the form of a little baby. Every woman has a different journey and the most important thing I have learned so far is to listen to what my body is telling me about the race ahead. In my first trimester, the message my body kept sending me was to take it down a notch or ten. As US Olympic coxswain Mary Whipple would say when we were out for a swing row in the eight, “let’s let the boat glide out and cruise at two beats down on this one.”

That said, my best workouts were walks around the neighborhood, getting to Crossfit once a week, and doing a slow swing row. When rowing, I could make it about 20 minutes at the slowest pace ever (for me:). Let’s say I was impressed at rowing 2:12. (Pre-pregnancy, I’d feel great at 2:02). In my first trimester, 3 out of 4 mornings, I hit my snooze button to just keep sleeping and I never felt rested! I felt so out of it that the only thing I could rally around was to simply show up and move.

We all know that exercise makes for healthier babies and for healthier moms. As much as I’d like to sleep in every day and not take that walk or trip to the Box, I knew I needed to try. I take the time to get adjusted by my chiropractor (that’s Dr. Bob Cummins) each week because I know it’s good for me and the health of our baby. Why don’t I get my body up and moving with the exercise I also know is awesome for my health? Hence, the only thing that will be different in my second trimester compared to the first is to have an exercise plan and to try to be disciplined.

It’s never too late to change a race plan, so don’t worry, my “plan” is now in full effect for the second trimester. January 1st and a New Years’ resolution couldn’t have come at a better time. However, my focus on exercise while pregnant is not competitive, it’s health. I still remember to listen to my body, take rest, scale the weights down, and cut out a round or two if my body is telling me.

Hang in there all you Pregger-Rowers, Crossfitters and anyone trying to make a change! Know you have a fellow pregnant friend who is just as unmotivated as you are. Keep trying to get your body moving and keep listening!

First Trimester recommended Rowing W.O.D.

Warm-up: Spinal hygiene exercises or Joint articulations,10 air squats, 10 side lunges, 10 push-ups, 1000m easy row
Advanced: 2 rounds of 1000 row, 20 squats, 750 row, 15 squats, 500 row, 10 squats rest 2min. between rounds.
Intermediate: 1000 row, 20 squats, 750 row, 15 squats, 500 row, 10 squats
Beginner: 750 row, 15 squats, 500 row, 10 squats, 250 row, 5 squats
Post row: Easy row 500m, Stretch: Hamstrings, Hip Flexors, Quads, Calves.

Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).

Read MoreJanuary 2, 2012 3:54 pm - Posted by admin

When a child is suffering from sinus infections, headaches, and neck pain, American culture tells us to turn to over the counter drugs or surgery to treat our precious children. What if there was a natural solution to help our children suffering from such symptoms?

Dr. Curtis Fedorchuk, DC and Austin Cohen, B.S. D.C. published a Case Study of one such child in the Journal of Pediatric, (Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic ~ Volume 2009 ~ Issue 2 ~ Pages 1-8). This case study chronicles the resolution of chronic Otis Media, neck pain, headaches and sinus infection in an 8-year old girl who had struggled with these symptoms for three years. Before seeing a Doctor of Chiropractic, the child had previous treatment that included 2 tympanectomy surgeries bilaterally, several rounds of antibiotics, and sinus surgery. Despite these treatments, the child’s symptoms persisted.

When the parents of the girl introduced her to chiropractic, an X-ray of her neck showed a large misalignment, a severe segmental kyphosis from C2-C4. Following these exam findings, the chiropractic care for the girl focused on an increase in cervical curvature and a reduction of vertebral subluxation to better align her neck. After 29 visits focused on mirror image adjustments, exercises and traction to the neck, the girl reported a decrease in her headaches, sinus and ear pain. There was also a significant improvement to her neck alignment shown in a follow-up X-ray.

Case studies like this show both subjective and objective improvement from Clinical Biomechanics of Posture (CBP) chiropractic care. Dr. Cummins is Advanced Certified in CBP and hopes to bring more people to better health through this natural, drug and surgury free way to better alignment and function. If you know an adult or a child who suffer from such symptoms and would like to see if chiropractic could help, find a chiropractor in your area. Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).

More information on this case study can be found here.

Read MoreDecember 28, 2011 9:36 am - Posted by admin

Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).
Read MoreDecember 27, 2011 5:41 pm - Posted by Bob
5 Things You Can do Right Now to be Happy in the next 30 minutes….  

We don’t have to wait for Jan. 1st to make a positive impact in our lives.  We want to help you and your health and happiness get a good start right now.  Here’s 5 ideas to get you going in the right direction:   
  
1. Get your body going!  By raising your activity level you naturally pump up your energy. If you’re on the phone, stand up and pace. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk.
  
2. Reach out.  Right now, send an e-mail to a friend you haven’t connected with in a while.  Research shows that having close bonds with other people is one key way to keep happy.  And, when you act friendly, others feel more friendly towards you too.    
3. Cross it Off.  You know you have 100 things to do on your to-do list.  Take one action item that can be done quickly so that it doesn’t nag at you anymore.  Schedule that appointment you need for your hair.  Send that email you have put off.  You know you will have a rush of those feel good emotions as soon as that silly item is checked off.    
  
4. Learn a new Fact.  Awe, the power of the internet.  Google (or Bing… must be computer correct here in Microsoft territory) a topic you would like to learn about.  Spend a few minutes getting the facts or order a book on the topic.  And boom, you now have a cool fact to share with friends and family that truly interests you and makes you…. HAPPY!   
5.  Fake it.  Awe yes, just fake it till you make it.  If you want to be happy right now, put a smile on your face and repeat after me: I am so grateful for the life in my body, the beat in my heart, the food on my table, and the roof over my head.  I am also grateful for  1. ______, 2. ______, and 3. _________ (pick anything! you fill in the blanks here).  Take three deep breaths and remember… keep smiling.   
Feel happier?  We hope so.  If not, pick another action item and try again.  Come on, you know you have another 5 minutes to spare.  

Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).

Read MoreDecember 7, 2011 7:05 pm - Posted by Bob

Healthy Holiday Cooking Tips                                                                         
Know your serving sizes.
Just because everything looks good, doesn’t mean you have to eat a ton of everything.  Look at each dinner as a whole and plan your serving choices accordingly.  If you are in charge of bringing one of the dishes to a gathering, keep in mind how much food you truly need to make.  If your cake should feed 10 people, no need to make a cake and a pie.  Use your extra time to add in beautiful embellishments instead and get a few extra complements!  
Look for nutritional opportunities.
Many foods we eat during the holidays are not all that bad!  Look for colorful and natural foods to help prevent disease and fuel your cells. For example, one baked sweet potato contains nearly 500 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A and almost 50 percent of your vitamin C. “There’s an added benefit to obtaining these vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals from a variety of foods, since they work synergistically to create positive health effects,” says Melissa Ohlson, R.D., a spokesperson for the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.
Take strategic shortcuts if you have a larger group.
Remember to enjoy the holidays and if you need to feed a large group, find a way to see some time.  You can try one of two things: cheat and start with a store bought base like jazzing up a store-bought pound cake with a drizzle of homemade cranberry sauce.  Or, you can just go simple.  Remember how fabulous food tastes and stick to the basics:  try to steam some pre-cut veggies and add a simple holiday glaze like honey and fresh dill.
Keep your willpower strong.
In a study conducted at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, researchers found that dining in a group causes the average person to eat 44 percent more calories than he or she normally would eating alone. Mindful eating is key to maintaining your equilibrium. Make a conscious effort to balance your plate with plenty of fruits and veggies, and a healthy portion — about three to four ounces — of protein.
Don’t stress.
Myth holds that people put on five to seven pounds during the holidays. However, the average weight gain during the six-week span from Thanksgiving to New Year’s is just under one pound, according to a yearlong study of nearly 200 people published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Even though enjoying delicious holiday dishes might not increase your waistline by as much as you’d expect, calorie consciousness is still important. Take a second to look at every bite before you eat it. This psychological connection to your food will help you keep a mental checklist of how much you’re consuming.
Be thankful.
No matter how you celebrate, welcome guests and gather for a brief toast, blessing, or prayer before dining together.  Remember the reason for the Season!  
Enjoy these tips and join Dr. Bob Cummins and chiropractic office manager Anna Cummins Dec. 13th from 7-8pm for an in-house workshop to take these tips to the next level. Joining us will be a special presentation by Janet Vinson of Bordelon Insurance to share about what health insurance plan is right for you!  Head into the new year with less stress regarding your waistline and less stress around your pocket book.  You will be ready to succeed.
Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).
Read MoreNovember 30, 2011 3:53 pm - Posted by Bob

New Patient Workshop

Monday’s 6:45pm – 7:30pm

All new patients are encouraged to attend this weekly event as they begin care as patients who do, get better faster and stay better longer!  With a brief overview of how chiropractic works, home health tips and exercises, this is a foundational piece for all who are striving for gold medal health. Call the office to RSVP for you and your friends: 425-590-9158.

Read MoreNovember 29, 2011 7:41 am - Posted by admin

 
Turn “Being Stuck” into “Striking Gold” when you attend the Think Well Workshop Tuesday, November 15th, 7-8pm.  You will learn:

·      What broad based studies on happiness and life satisfaction reveal
·      The battle waged between our core values, beliefs and assumptions and our desired outcome
·      Strategies and tools needed to turn “being stuck” into “striking gold”

People who live with a belief they can achieve, do.  Those who don’t, don’t. 
We now have empirical evidence to confirm what has been suspected by Psychologists all along: OUR ATTITUDE is the MOST IMPORTANT INFLUENCE WE HAVE.

Special guest: Theresa McKenna, CEO of Empowerment Strategies Coaching and Consulting

RSVP for you and a friend at our front desk or by calling 425.590.9158 or by email info@cumminschiropractic.com

Next month:
Specialty Workshop: The Right Insurance for YOU!  Hosted by Janet Vinson of Bordelon Insurance, our favorite independent health insurance agent who literally makes health insurance fun.
Eat Well Workshop: Healthy Holiday Eating with Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Cummins, December 15th, 7-8pm
 
Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).
Read MoreNovember 14, 2011 5:43 pm - Posted by Bob

It’s time to serve our community and pack the pantry with good nutritious food for those who are in need.  Givers gain here at Cummins Chiropractic and we’ve got options:
  • YOUR TIME: Food Drive kicks off Nov. 12th with our service packing food at the Kent Distribution Center.  9am-noon. Work along side us and then enjoy a free chiro visit after!  Refreshments and FREE chiro following for all volunteers back at Cummins Chiropractic.  Invite your co-workers and your kids (3rd grade and older). 
  • YOUR DONATIONS: Bring in 5 pounds of food at your next visit Nov. 14-24th and we’ll donate a new patient exam for your friend or family member completely free of charge. This is the perfect time to share the bounty!    

VOLUNTEER DETAILS:
We will meet at Cummins Chiropractic at 8:30am on Saturday, November 12 and carpool down to Northwest Harvest located at 22220 W. Valley Hwy., Kent, WA 98032.  If you want to meet us there, great!  Just be sure to register with our office first so we are all on the same team.  Call or email: 425-590-9158 or info@cumminschiropractic.com  

All volunteers are welcome.  Kids need to be in 3rd grade or older.  In 2010, our best volunteer was one of our 3rd graders and she was then inspired to host a food drive for her class!  It’s a great time for community and fellowship. 

Meet back at Cummins Chiropractic and Wellness for free chiropractic and hot cider (this will taste great if you are packing frozen beans!).   All volunteers who are current patients, enjoy a complimentary adjustment.  All volunteers who would like to check in on their spines will receive a complimentary coupon good for a new patient exam and scan of their nervous system health to be scheduled during normal patient hours in the following 2 weeks.  We’ll find a time that works well for your schedule and get you checked out! 

DONATION DETAILS:

Any non-perishable food or monetary donations will benefit the hungry.  Strive for the lowest refined carbohydrates (sugar, corn-syrup, white flour, etc.) and note that the food bank buys rice and beans in bulk,  so you are encouraged to donate other items like oatmeal, nuts, whole grain pastas, tomato products, canned vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, chili, and baby formula.

Don’t forget to let us know you’re on board (425) 590-9158.

Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Cummins, whose office is located at 4122 Factoria Blvd. SE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA (telephone 425-590-9158).

Read MoreNovember 1, 2011 6:49 pm - Posted by Bob

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