I didn't check my email today until noon, and guess what? The world didn't collapse! If you are anything like me, the temptation to check my email starts from the minute my alarm clock goes off. I have actually made it a personal rule to not check my phone until I reach my office. That way I have my morning routine with out it and my car ride with out it. And usually when I walk in to my office the first thing I open after firing up my computer is my schedule and my email. And without fail, almost every day there is something in my inbox that can raise my heart rate. So what does that do to the start of my day? Reading a stressful email or two? Do you think that affects my interactions with my patients at all? I'm sure it does. So today, for whatever reason, I forgot to check my email. I think I was too busy this morning to have time for it. And when I finally did at lunch, those little emails were still there waiting for me. They didn't go anywhere.
   So what did I notice? I noticed a change in my mood, and I noticed a change in my focus. I wasn't rushing any patients or thinking of something else that needed to be done while someone else is talking to me. Oh come on, you never do that! I felt a feeling of peace, calmness, and the feeling that all I had to do was treat my patients. 
   I had already previously set up certain systems to help me deal with the never ending disease of "being accessible". I use automated social media posting software, so when you see me post something on Facebook or Twitter I most likely scheduled that a day ago! I also changed the settings on my phone so that my email inbox doesn't automatically refresh. Meaning I have to open the inbox and hit refresh for it to update. I think this small change has been HUGE. Instead of getting emails all through out my day I can schedule or find times to go through them all. And that time is dedicated to the emails, no landmines or torpedoes coming at me throughout my day. Also If you have ever tried to get a hold of me on the weekends you probably know that is an almost impossible task. I have a habit of letting my phone die on Friday and not recharging it until Monday. And I think my most recent discovery and newest change will be moving one of my email checking times from 7:30am to 12pm. So if you need me before noon, better call my office Adjust Dallas. 

   So today, if you didn't already know, is National Margarita Day. As if people around Dallas needed an excuse to get one. Margaritas are kind of a big deal here in Texas. And with the temperature in the 70's today it looks like it is shaping up to be a perfect day to sit on a patio somewhere. Now I am not condoning or recommending you to partake in this "holiday". But if you do, let's be as healthy as possible about it. So here is a skinny margarita recipe sweetened with my favorite sugar alternative Stevia. 

Skinny Margarita

Ingredients

1 cup lime juice
1 cup water
20 drops liquid stevia
6 oz tequila
2 oz fresh-squeezed orange juice
Ice
Salt for glass rim (optional)

Sugar free, no artificial sweeteners or flavors, low carb, and even Paleo friendly. The way margaritas are suppose to be, you know, when the cavemen were drinking them.
For more info on how to eat as healthy as possible at a Mexican restaurant click here.

   Today on my way to Adjust Dallas, I don't like to call it work, the term work just gives the notion that what you do is no fun and even grueling. Which in my case, is not true. So, on my way to Adjust Dallas... I was sitting at a light, in the left turn lane, with two cars in front of me, you with me so far? The light was green, green to yield, not a green arrow. And all of a sudden the first car just decides to go and cut off all the oncoming traffic. Now sometimes I know from experience, not personal experience but from sitting in the passenger seat while my wife is driving, that sometimes when waiting at a red light to turn left you are expecting when the light changes to get the green arrow. And instinctively you start to go not noticing that you got the green yield. So I will give the first car somewhat of a pass, they had a brain fart, it was after all early in the morning. But what surprised me even more was the second car followed right behind them. They didn't even hesitate, just went right behind the other car cutting off the oncoming traffic. So did I follow too? They cant hit us all right? Of course not. Oddly enough I witnessed this same type of "herd mentality" last night at the Dallas Mavericks game when groups of people were crossing streets without getting the walk signal.
   So what's my point? My point is this type of mentality is everywhere is our society. "Everyone's doing it." I always start my corporate wellness talks with one of my favorite quotes which is from Mark Twain, "When you find yourself on the side of majority, it is time to pause and reflect." And as I go through current disease rates, I remind the audience that if you are doing everything everyone else is doing and these are our statistics what should we expect? The same thing! What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So if you are eating the same foods, have the same habits, as your sister, your coworker, whomever. You should expect the same crappy results! That is unless you are my coworker or my family member. :)
   I even see this often with patients who will come to our practice Adjust Dallas with a goal to get off certain medications. For example, statins for high cholesterol. And I will ask did your other doctor tell you to change anything or do anything different? Half of the time the answer is no, crazy right? Here's your pill, keep on eating like crap and don't bother attempting to exercise! The other half of the time, it is the same exact answer. Yea, to eat better and exercise. My follow up question is always, did they tell you how? When I get a no, which is always, I respond with did your doctor look like they were healthy? I usually get a laugh and I know it's funny, but it's only funny because it's true. We have the majority of doctors, who are suppose to be the beacons of health, who have no clue how to be healthy. They have no idea what to eat or not to eat, which type of exercise routine may be better depending on your hormones or stress levels. Absolutely no clue. So why would you try to obtain health from someone who knows nothing about it? The blind leading the blind.

   Long ago I started to use a disclaimer in my corporate wellness events that I do not work for Costco. Obviously joking, I don't think anyone thinks I did in the first place. But in all honesty they should probably put me on payroll. I love Costco, always have. And don't even try to say it is the same thing as Sam's Club, because you're wrong. It's not. But I have sent so many patients there way because they are a great resource of organic and natural products. Here are some of my favorite right now.