All posts tagged: Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – August 21

August 21, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.

Something I’ve been seeing great value in? Over the past month or so I’ve tried to give just a little bit more of myself in different aspects of my life. I might tip more at a restaurant, take the time to leave a nice review for someone’s business, give a compliment more often, etc. What I have found interesting is how when we do things like this it always seems to come back to us in some way. As an example, with my patients I began to try and ask a few more questions, check a few different areas or spend a couple extra minutes with someone I thought might need it. I did not do this for any reason other than I cared but almost instantly our office began expanding. I strongly believe that whatever energy and effort you put out will in some way return to you.

Are you a multi-tasker? As someone with a very high energy level I am often asked if I am a big multi-tasker because people assume I must be doing a lot all at one. The answer is actually “no” however. My personal feeling and experience are that when we are doing many things at once, none get done to a high standard and things often fail to get completed. Therefore, I try to finish something before moving on to the next thing. This is my form of quality control and as a result I rarely find myself feeling frazzled or like I have too much on my plate. I don’t sit still well, and I have a ton to do each day but proceeding in this manner helps me get it all done relatively easily and without stress.

An interesting observation? While Mary and I were in the hospital last week we were told by several of the nurses that everyone loved helping us out because we were so nice. We were just being ourselves but I’m sure they deal with all sorts of interesting characters there. I found this interesting because in my office it’s the same. Most of the people who come here are very kind and friendly and it makes us all want to help them and accommodate them even more. In the instances where we get people that are unkind and rude, we still help them but honestly, we’d prefer to simply not have their business. Years ago, I worked as an annuity specialist for John Hancock and dealt with many people via phone each day. When people were nice, I instinctively wanted to get them a great outcome and when they were mean I honestly didn’t care how it turned out for them. I have always remembered this, and our recent hospital trip was a great reminder of how being nice is always the best place to start.

What is it like having a baby girl after 3 boys? I’ve been raising boys for 14 years so it’s very new and exciting to have a little lady in the house now. I feel like a part of me that wasn’t alive before has now been activated. I find myself being more patient with her than I’ve ever been with my other children as infants (even in the middle of the night!) and she loves when I hold her, so we get a lot of time together. In addition, it’s amazing to see my 3 sons loving on her and caring for her!

Some quotes I love?

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Nelson Mandela

“Engage in combat fully determined to die and you will be alive; wish to survive in the battle and you will surely meet death.” – Uesugi Kenshin, Samurai Commander “God of War”

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – August 14

August 14, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. This week Mary and I have been out of the office for the birth of our daughter and will be sharing a few lessons I thought were reinforced by some of my experiences this week.

Lesson 1 – Relax. Look around. Make a call. This is a quote from Navy SEAL Jocko Willink that I have found to be accurate.

While in the hospital, everything was proceeding well for about 5 hours before our baby’s heartbeat was no longer able to be monitored. After a few minutes, her heartbeat once again came back on the monitor, but it dropped from 130 beats per minute to 40 with no signs of it rising back up. Our doctor was called and was on her way into the hospital but wouldn’t be there for a little bit. I could feel all the tension in the room and see the worry on everyone’s faces (there were about 10 people now in the room because of the seriousness of the situation). The attending physician took control and made the decision to perform an emergency c-section. Within 2 minutes, Mary was wheeled out of the room and into the operating room. There was no discussion, no vote or consensus opinion, just decisive action.

I respected this because often in times of great stress I have seen people completely freeze up. They’ll look around and not know what to do next because of the gravity of a situation. In scenarios such as this there must always be someone willing to step up and do what is necessary. Usually that means taking a deep breath, assessing the current situation, and then deciding based on your experience and training. Thankfully, we had someone there that did exactly that.

Lesson 2 – Stay water. Staying water means being able to go with the flow and follow a new path when you can no longer follow the expected one. For this pregnancy, Mary really wanted badly to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after a previous c-section). She went into labor and that goal was progressing well before it suddenly no longer was. I was proud of her because after she came out of anesthesia, I was expecting her to be deeply saddened by how things had turned out. Instead, she told me “Our baby is safe and that’s all that matters. I wanted to try and I’m so thankful I was able to.” There is a saying that “no plan survives first contact with the enemy” which means that often how we want something to go often will not happen. If it doesn’t, be proud that you tried, remain flexible and follow the next best route.

Lesson 3 – Stay Calm. Being trained medically, when things started to go sideways, I was able to understand all the terminology being used around me and knew how serious things were. I understood they thought they were losing the baby and Mary knew it as well. It entered both mine and Mary’s thoughts that our daughter could die. After it was all over, several of the doctors and nurses complimented Mary and I on how calm we remained and said that it helped them greatly in those circumstances. Likewise, it helped us that all the medical personnel were able to remain calm and focused. When things start breaking down around you, the single worst thing you can do is panic because it clouds judgment, slows reaction time, and keeps you from staying present. You get no extra points for panic so try to remain calm.

Lesson 4 – Assumptions can often be wrong. While Mary was getting an epidural, she mentioned to the anesthesiologist that I was a chiropractor. He made a comment to me that I must get people in my office regularly that people in his field couldn’t help or something to that effect. He said it in such a manner that it seemed like he thought I would not like or respect his profession because of what field I was in (and certainly as a chiropractor this can be the case of certain medical doctors towards people in my profession). He was a nice guy and I told him that wasn’t the case and that just like him, I help as many people as I can but none of us can help everyone ultimately. I was very respectful of what he was able to do for my wife and certainly very appreciative. Before long he was describing an issue/ailment that he was having to me so that I could give him my diagnosis which I did. He then told me he’d love to come see me in my office to get it fixed. The point here is that often when we are unsure of someone or something, we assume the worst of them and proceed based on that. Often though, if we go past those assumptions and are willing to respectfully communicate with someone there can be common ground and something to build upon.

Some quotes I love?

“A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.” —Carl Sandburg

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Zig Ziglar

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – August 7

August 7, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. Hopefully, you find value in them.

Something I’ve been thinking about? As you all know, Mary and I are expecting a daughter any day now (we may even have her by the time you read this). What I’ve been thinking about is how there is no greater example of a miracle than a baby. Two cells from separate people come together and eventually form a fully functioning human being. The mother and father don’t need to even understand how it works but those 2 cells become 4, then 16 and before you know it there are organs, bones, hair, and everything else that we need. It’s something that happens all the time, and we tend to take it for granted but when you really take the time to think about it, it is truly a miracle.

Something I heard recently that resonated with me? I was listening to a podcast this week and the guest mentioned that if you wait to be motivated, you will end up getting nothing done. I thought this was accurate and important. Motivation is a wonderful thing and can be very useful. However, it usually fades quickly at which point all that will remain is your level of commitment, dedication, and reasons of “why”. If we only focus on what we’re excited to do, we will unfortunately rarely progress toward our goals. I remember last year the day before I ran the Leadville 100 there was an athlete meeting and the race director said “motivation is great but it will only get you to the first aid station (13 miles away), after that you’re going to need to rely on grit and determination.” That was true of that race and the sentiment is certainly true in life.

A health fact I think is important? Recently, I was reading about “metabolic health.” Being metabolically healthy means that someone has ideal levels of blood sugar, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and waist circumference WITHOUT using medications. According to the CDC, only 12% of Americans are metabolically healthy. Each of the factors outlined above can be helped through better habits or worsened through poor habits so it’s completely under our control how we rate on this scale.

You’re a coach, do you give participation trophies? I got this question twice this week and as a highly competitive person and a football coach I certainly have some thoughts on it. In my experience, anything that is simply handed to a kid (or adult) has no value. For example, when I compete in my ultra-marathons, I receive a medal for finishing that I value but if I got it just for showing up to race, I wouldn’t. Therefore, when I coach, I take a similar approach.

What I believe resonates more than any trophy, especially with kids is individual recognition for an accomplishment. When I coach, I have 3 WWE replica belts that I give out each week and that the kids get to keep until the next game. I may give them out for MVP’s, for a good play, for consistency, for improvement or for any number of reasons but they are given for a legitimate accomplishment. Not everyone gets a belt each week so when they do, they are thrilled. Throughout the season I will always find a reason to award each kid a belt at least once. At the end of the season, I also give out awards I create which recognize the boys for something unique about their play and I compare them to a specific NFL player as well. Though I am given participation medals to give the boys I never use them for that purpose. Instead, when I hand my players an award, they know I am not patronizing them, that they have earned it and that they should be proud.

Some quotes I love?

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” – Jim Rohn

“Once you carry your own water you will learn the value of every ounce.”

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – July 31

July 31, 2020 Matt Kenney Blog

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. Hopefully, you find value in them.

Something multiple patients have told me this week? I’ve had 4 separate patients tell me that they and their families were screamed for not wearing masks while outdoors this week. They were simply not wearing masks because they were outdoors and nowhere near within 6 feet of anyone which is what is specified within the mandate. All four were really upset that someone would curse them and their children out when they weren’t even in violation of any rules. We are in tough times right now, but I believe that crisis reveals character. The type of person that is willing to say hateful things in front of children was broken far before COVID ever came about. For the rest of us, we want to be the type of people that set an example of how to act and behave properly under any circumstances.

A natural remedy I recommend? Many people regularly suffer from heartburn, reflux, or GERD. There are different causes of each but something I’ve had my patients use with great success over the years is apple cider vinegar. Using apple cider vinegar helps balance the pH levels which leads to benefits in these symptoms in most cases (at least in my experience). Here are the ways I usually have my patients try this remedy:

Option 1: 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar with ¼ Teaspoon Baking Soda – Mix in a glass of water and drink up to 3 times daily

Option 2: 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar with 1 Teaspoon Honey. Mix in a glass of water and drink up to 3 times daily

Option 3: Take apple cider vinegar capsules or drink it straight like a shot.

What did you think of those doctors talking about Hydroxychloroquine? For those that don’t know, a group of medical doctors earlier this week held a press conference and talked about their actual experiences in treating COVID patients with hydroxychloroquine since the pandemic started.

As a chiropractor, I cannot prescribe any medication and I do not take any myself, so I really have no dog in the fight. However, I always trust “boots on the ground” – the people in the field with first-hand experience. I found those medical doctors to be credible and I trusted what they said because it was based on actual clinical experiences they’ve been having and it matched much of what I’d read in studies done outside of our country. I also found it curious that the social media platforms were removing clips of their press conference as “misinformation” since it was based on what they’d done and seen in the hospitals/offices and not theoretical.

How do you handle patients you don’t agree with? The other day I had a patient in my office that was talking very loudly and giving me their take on seemingly all our current events. After they left, a patient that was waiting in the lobby that knows me well (and knew I didn’t agree with what they were saying) asked me why I didn’t argue with them. My answer was that it would be a waste of my energy and wasn’t relevant to me helping them. I am always happy to share my opinions when asked or if I think my experience can help a person get better. I take my job of helping people seriously and I make that my priority above anything else. I never feel it’s my place to use my “platform” to

Some quotes I love?

“Cowards never start, the weak never finish, winners never quit.” – Team Never Quit

“I can. I will. End of story.” – Ray “Cash” Care

“I’m tired boss. Mostly, I’m tired of people being ugly to each other.” – John Coffey, The Green Mile

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – July 24

July 24, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. Hopefully, you find value in them.

A recent interaction I found important? Recently I spoke to someone I’ve known my entire life. Honestly, I don’t enjoy speaking to them, but I am always upbeat and courteous though I rarely get that in return. During our conversation, I was asked a question which I answered rationally and was immediately barked at for my response. Normally at this point I try to calmly defend myself or talk in a way that defuses the situation. In other words, I kind of lay back for the sake of not offending anyone. This time however, I just came out strong. I stated that it was my opinion and that I didn’t even care to explain why because I didn’t care if they agreed or not.

This was a good reminder to me that we are not indebted to take crap from anyone just because they are close to us. To get respect you must give respect and if you’re not receiving that, then it’s alright to avoid that person or circumstance. I decided instantly during that conversation that I was done paying mental rent to that person – I’m my own man and if they don’t like or appreciate who I am or what I believe then that’s not my problem.

A recent source of inspiration? There is a man in my neighborhood that is probably in his late 50’s/early 60’s that I see all the time pushing a boy in a wheelchair (I assume it’s his son or grandson) who is severely handicapped. The boy always looks very content and the father as well as he pushes him. I’ve seen them out in all sorts of weather, and I’ve seen them along roads well past my neighborhood. It inspires me that I see them so often because it tells me how important it is to each of them to be out there together. I don’t know exactly what can or cannot be communicated between them verbally, but I can tell there is a deep, loving connection between them that appeals to me especially as a father. When I see them, I always wave to them and am reminded that sometimes within the simplest acts, we see the most beauty.

Any advice for handling a tough day? I’ve gotten this question a bunch of times this week. In our current climate people are very stressed and on edge so having tough days is not uncommon. Personally, I handle this through routine. If I have a tough day today, I will simply get up tomorrow and follow my normal routine – exercise, good nutrition, enjoying time with family, etc. If I have a great day today, then I will wake up and still do the same thing. Sticking with a solid routine keeps you from ever dwelling on anything for too long or getting into a rut.

A book I love? A book I read years ago that has stuck with me is” The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business” by Charles Duhigg. This book is an entertaining yet scientific dive into what drives our habits, how they are formed and how we can make them work either for or against us. I’ve used a lot of what I learned in this book and I think you’d find it extremely beneficial as well.

Some quotes I love?

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” – John Wooden

“Well you may not know this, but there’s things that gnaw at a man worse than dying.” – Charley Waite, Open Range

“Doubters and critics are like crickets, they make a lot of noise when you can’t see them but when you stand in front of them…they’re quiet as a church mouse. Follow your desires, ignore the crickets.” – D. McBurnett

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – July 17

July 17, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. Hopefully, you find value in them.

Something I saw recently that I loved? My wife and I dropped our youngest off at my in-laws last week and as we drove away, we noticed a little stand at the end of the road being run by a young girl and her mom. I always love supporting kids out selling anything so we pulled up. This little girl was selling macaroons in a little package of 4 that she had made herself with a ribbon tying it together. It looked extremely professional and her mom told us she did it all herself. The little girl then explained to us that she was saving up to buy a kitten. As someone that loves business and loves when people really hustle in business, this was awesome to see. Not only was this little girl out working hard to achieve her goal of buying something she wanted but she went above and beyond and made a far better than average product to do so. Getting something you want is cool, getting something you want that you worked for is amazing!

A recent experience that served as a good reminder for me? Last Friday morning I was out in my side yard flipping my 450 lb. tire as I do every week. As I was doing so, I noticed that there was a boy about 10 or 11 years old across the street that had just moved in earlier in the week watching me do my workout. One of my strongest beliefs is that it is my job to set an example for those around me and that especially applies to children. For this reason, I always try to always give an effort I can be proud of whether people are there to see it or not. I feel that sometimes the greatest impression we make may be on eyes that we don’t know are seeing us. There is a quote I love from Joe DiMaggio about this exact thing – “I played my best every day. You never know when someone may be seeing you play for the first time.”

What kind of nutrition plan do you follow? There are many nutrition plans to choose from but in general what works best for me is eating healthy foods every few hours. I never count calories, I just eat healthy foods like proteins, veggies, fruits, nuts, etc. every few hours or when I’m hungry. Each meal generally consists of protein, fat, and carbohydrates though I don’t follow any specific percentages on those. Eating frequently keeps my energy levels high for my active lifestyle. I start my day with a shake containing protein, fruits, and veggies, have a full lunch and dinner and then have some snacks between those meals. 90% of what I eat is healthy and so when I do indulge in the other 10%, I don’t feel guilty about it. You name it and I’ve tried it, but this is what I’ve found most successful for me.

What can help me hold my adjustments better? Some of the best things you can do for your spine are daily stretches (doesn’t have to be extensive but should be consistent), regular exercise, maintain good posture, practice good work ergonomics, maintain a healthy weight and avoid eating an abundance of inflammatory foods. Each of these will take pressure off your spine, doing the opposite of these would apply pressure to your spine.

Some quotes I love?

“I didn’t come this far to only come this far.”

“So, this is how liberty dies…with thunderous applause.” —Padme Amidala, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

“We have not journeyed all this way because we are made of sugar candy.” – Winston S. Churchill

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – July 10

July 10, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

I interact with hundreds of patients each week and get asked a lot of questions. On Fridays I like to share some of the answers I give and hope it has value for you.

How was the 4^th of July run? As I mentioned last week, every 4^th of July and Memorial Day I will go for a run and carry the American flag. This year I set out early on July 4^th for a 12-mile run wearing my Captain America Under Armour shirt and listening to a playlist I made of all patriotic/American songs. It turned into one of the best experiences of my life.

Early in the run I heard a siren and looked over and saw a police officer giving me the thumbs up. He had the sirens and lights on as I ran next to him for probably ¼ – ½ of a mile before I turned onto a new road. At another point in my run, an older gentleman in a Navy hat that happened to be out walking said to me “I love that you’re doing this” and then removed his hat and saluted the flag. Dozens and dozens of cars honked their horns, people yelled encouragement from their yards and decks and high-fived me at stoplights. It was windy all morning so throughout the entire run I got to see my shadow with the flag flying behind me which pumped me up as well. Finally, with two miles to go I was met by my wife and youngest son. From there I ran him home in the jogging stroller while Mary (at 8 months pregnant!) ran with the flag.

I posted about the run on social media and was honestly shocked at the response. I heard from dozens and dozens of people telling me how proud they were of the effort and how much they appreciated the display of patriotism. The most common sentiment I heard was that they’d been very bummed lately and needed to see something like that to boost their spirits. Ironically enough, I had felt the same and that flag run recharged me in a huge way!

What is a trait you admire in others? Something I really admire is tenacity and I think comes in many forms. I just love people that find a way to overcome regardless of circumstance. This could involve athletics, business, personal circumstances, overcoming loss(es), or any number of areas. Those people that refuse to be stopped I consider tenacious.

A colorful example of this that I shared someone recently was of a man I met while preparing for a race years ago. I was getting ready for my first 24-hour obstacle course race and was in a Facebook group with others doing the same event. There was a gentleman in his 70’s that told me his wife of many years had died and he was participating to honor her. He then ended by telling me “And you can call me Scorpion because that was my call sign in the Navy” which I thought was hilarious. That race ended up being 24 hours of Hell – 65 mph sandstorms, in and out of 50-degree water and temperatures that went from the 80’s to the teens within hours. I got hypothermia and can still get cold thinking about it. However, at probably 1am as I trudged through cold mud shivering my tail off, I encountered an older gentleman who I helped to complete an obstacle. After I did so he told me his name and it sounded instantly familiar. I said, “are you Scorpion?” and he proudly told me he was. That guy was by no means a physical marvel, but you better believe he was still in the fight honoring his wife’s memory long after far younger and more conditioned people had since quit and gone home. Anyone that displays tenacity in their life always will always have my respect…and bonus points if they have a cool “call sign!”

Something that made me smile recently? I take my youngest to the football field each night so that we can run around and play. Last week there was a man doing laps around the track as we did so. When he finished, he began stretching and was grunting as he was lying on his back stretching his legs. My little boy heard this and immediately said “Uh oh, you ok?” and began heading right over to him. I scooped him up and told him that the man wasn’t hurt. What I thought was nice was that he saw someone that he thought might be hurt and his little instincts told him to help. That inborn sense of empathy is a wonderful thing and something that we should highlight more often when we see it in my opinion.

A recent source of inspiration? Months ago, I posted about a woman I would see running the track by my house in the morning. She was older and overweight, but each morning would be out there – rain or shine. This week I saw her again for the first time in months (I’d not been to that area recently) and she was moving faster than I’d ever seen her and seemed to have lost another 20 pounds or so. What inspired me was witnessing her continued commitment to her health and fitness. The goals we seek are rarely achieved quickly and require lots of hard work so most people quit well before anything important can happen. I do not know this woman at all but it’s obvious to me that her commitment has never wavered, and her transformation has been remarkable as a result! Think of something you badly want and then think how much closer you’d be to achieving it if you took the next 8 months, a year or some chunk of time to getting there. You can make an enormous change in a relatively short amount of time when you commit to doing so.

Some quotes I love?

“A champion shows who he is by what he does.” – Evander Holyfield

“Do not correct a fool, or he will hate you. Correct a wise man and he will appreciate you.” – Bruce Lee

“It’s easy to lose hope. I sure have at times. But I’m never gonna stop fighting. Never. Our kids need us more than ever.” – Dr. Brian Moriarty (he is an excellent doctor and friend and this was a personal text he sent me)

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – July 3

July 3, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

I interact with hundreds of patients each week and get asked a lot of questions. On Fridays I like to share some of the answers I give and hope it has value for you.

How are you handling social media in these negative times? Honestly, I continue to be on social media less because of how angry and divisive it can be. My consumption of social media has always been about the positive and fun stuff and never really about the negativity or preaching to others. Therefore, if I get on there now and notice that I’m starting to feel bummed out or angry, I just get right off. If I see something cool, nice, funny, or uplifting then I am more than happy to engage. When I see things that I personally don’t agree with or care for, I simply let it be. A few weeks ago, I posted a picture of my oldest son and I at the shooting range and mentioned what a nice afternoon we had. A woman attacked me over it citing our political climate and other things. I just deleted her and moved on rather than worrying about defending myself. Life is too short to spend it arguing online with people you don’t even care about in the first place.

A recent inspiration? I have a patient that read my 5 Spot a couple months ago when I discussed the importance in our current times of focusing not just on defensive measures but on being proactive with your health first and foremost. He explained to me that he’d never really considered until he read that how much control he had over his own health. Prior to that time, he saw it mostly as just genetics and luck and he explained to me all the excuses he’d make when he wasn’t feeling like he thought he should. In the past 2 months he has lost over 20 pounds and continues to transform old unhealthy habits into healthier, lifestyle changes. In just 8 weeks, he is honestly already a different dude and it makes me so proud. He took responsibility for his health, changed his mindset, and then changed his habits and it’s making such a tremendous difference.

Something I’ve been enjoying? My youngest son is almost 2 now and he has a mutant form of my energy. As a result, he rarely slows down and wants to constantly be in motion. Both of his older brothers play football, so he seems drawn to the sport himself. Each morning before work and at night after work, he and walk to the football field by my house and he runs around with his ball yelling “set hike” again and again, jumping and diving. Watching him get so excited and sharing that time with him gives me a ton of joy and has been an amazing way to start and end my days. There’s a lot going on these days but during that time with him I don ‘t worry about anything except enjoying our time together.

What will you do for the 4^th of July? Anyone that knows me or has followed me on social media knows that I am extremely patriotic. For years now, on Memorial Day and 4^th of July (and often a couple other days throughout the year) I will do a long run carrying the American flag. Part of my runswill take me through trails where there are often runners and cyclists that get excited to see the flag and then as I run next to the main roads, many cars will honk and yell encouragement. It fills me with pride when people get excited over the flag, so I always enjoy doing it!

Some quotes I love?

“Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.” – Albert Einstein

“If you don’t program yourself, life will program you.” – Les Brown

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – June 26

June 26, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

I interact with hundreds of patients each week and get asked a lot of questions. On Fridays I like to share some of the answers I give and hope it has value for you.

Any research you’ve seen about COVID that you found interesting? I read through a study led by Northwestern University on Vitamin D and COVID. The study conducted a statistical analysis of data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The data gathered from these 10 countries tried to find commonalities among age, location and a host of many factors but ended up finding Vitamin D to be the most pertinent factor. The study suggests that Vitamin D may reduce COVID-19 fatality by suppressing cytokine storm (hyper-inflammatory condition caused by an overactive immune system that damages lungs and leads to acute respiratory distress). It is a powerful vitamin with so many benefits and though it doesn’t necessarily prevent COVID, it is still a powerful defensive force against it and can decrease the severity to someone that contracts it according to the study. Vitamin D supplements can help as well but make sure you’re getting sunlight daily as this is the most effective way for your body to absorb the vitamin. The study is worth looking up if you’d like to Google it and read through it.

A great piece of advice? A year into my career I joined a chiropractic office with an excellent doctor who became my mentor. One of my favorite pieces of advice that he ever gave me was this: “You need to call up other chiropractors to see how they’re doing. If they start talking about how business is bad because insurance isn’t paying as much or it’s a tough economy or their town has too many chiropractors; hang up the phone. Then pick it back up and call until you find a person that is excited, passionate and tells you that their business is booming. Those are the type of people you want to talk to because they help make you better.” I use this advice all the time and try to fill my life with people that inspire me, drive me, and motivate me to do better in my personal life and businesses.

Something I’ve been eating lately? I mentioned this many months ago but something I love to make (especially now as the weather is getting hot) are either acai or dragon fruits bowls. I get frozen packets of these from Sprouts, Whole Foods or Costco and will use 2 at a time for a bowl. I put them in a blender with almond milk and get it to a smooth consistency and then pour it into a bowl. Then I’ll usually top it with banana slices, granola, slivered almonds, peanut or almond butter and a drizzle of honey. At times I may also use strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, walnuts, chia seeds or any number of other items on top. This is a refreshing and nutrient rich meal that I often have for dinner or after workouts.

Do you adjust dogs? For whatever reason I have gotten this question many times this week. I do adjust dogs and have for many years. When I was in chiropractic school, I got my first dog as a puppy. During his first couple of visits I noticed on a chart that the canine spine was very similar to a human spine. As I learned how to adjust and how the spine functioned, I began to adjust my own dog. I don’t have any formal training with dogs, but I’ve gotten very good at it and have adjusted hundreds of dogs over the years with some amazing results. Patients often ask for my help with their dogs and I usually offer to help their furry friends out – usually for spinal issues, arthritis, joint issues (shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, etc.), vertigo and more.

Some quotes I love?

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” – Steve Maraboli, Life, the

Truth, and Being Free

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – June 19

June 19, 2020 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

I interact with hundreds of patients each week and get asked a lot of questions. On Fridays I like to share some of the answers I give and hope it has value for you.

On social media I see you exercising with your boys, any advice for getting your kids to workout with you? I’ve been asked this many times and I believe there are a couple things that have worked so far for my boys and I. First, I try to make it fun. This can be accomplished through variety of exercise, types of workouts, where we do the workouts and so much more. I’ve had them outside on a football field at 5am, flipping tires, running, hiking 14ers and anything else you can imagine. Keeping it fresh and less formal makes it fun for them to participate without feeling like we HAVE to do it. Second, I am a fan of setting up challenges. I name our workouts or set some type of goal and reward for our workouts. This gives the kids something to shoot for but accomplishing the goal gives them another notch of success on their belt. The more of these they accomplish the more their confidence grows, and I think that is a huge part of what we’re trying to accomplish. Finally, I think participating in the workouts with my boys creates a team dynamic that we all enjoy. Keep it fun, set up challenges and participate with your kids as they do it!

Are most spinal issues just due to genetics? I’m asked this every day and you may be surprised to find out that most are not. Things such as rheumatoid arthritis that have an autoimmune component definitely are, and there are other exceptions as well. However, osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint or disc disease) is not genetic. If you have parents that have suffered from severe arthritis in their spines (knees, hips, etc. as well) but you do a good job of stretching, exercising, getting adjusted, etc. then there is no reason that you would have to suffer as well. When it comes to your spine, most of what you experience will be a reflection of your habits rather than your genetics.

What does your cryotherapy machine do? As most of you know I own another business within my building that specializes in whole body cryotherapy. As a result, I’m asked about it constantly. Quite simply, it involves a brief but comfortable exposure to extreme cold (-260 F) for 3 minutes. This amount of time is long enough to stimulate a specific physiological reaction but not long enough so that you’d freeze or feel super cold. Exposing your body to this cold stimulates the release of anti-inflammatory proteins, endorphins, immunity boosters, hormones and more. As a result, people use it for pain relief, reducing inflammation (often in lieu of anti-inflammatory medications), improving athletic recovery, recovery from injuries, sleep issues and much more. Anything that uses cold to help the body is technically cryotherapy but our unit uses liquid nitrogen to cool the air around you so that you can get far more benefit throughout your entire body (not just 1 area) in just 3 minutes. It may sound extreme, but it really is not and don’t worry, 99% of the people that love it don’t even like cold to begin with.

A book I love? One of my all-time favorites is “The Boys in the Boat: An Epic Journey to the Heart of Hitler’s Berlin” by Daniel James Brown. This is the true story of a man with a tough upbringing joining 8 other men in their quest to get to the Berlin Olympics and hopefully win gold. To me, it is an epic story of overcoming odds and finding trust and strength in those around us. This book motivates and inspires me, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Some quotes I love? (I went with a Father’s Day theme this week – these quotes reflect lessons and beliefs I follow as a father myself)

“The best way of training the young is to train yourself at the same time; not to admonish them, but to be seen never doing that of which you would admonish them.” –Plato

“One of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” –Howard W. Hunter

“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.” –Charles Kettering

Want more?

Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – June 19

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