When you’ve decided to get serious about losing weight, you’ve probably tried a lot of different things. Eventually, you’ll come to the conclusion that the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you eat.
Even with the so-called miracle drugs like Wegovy® and Ozempic®ß, the key to achieving weight loss is appetite suppression, so you aren’t consuming as many calories. That’s also why many people are finding that if they stop the drug, they gain the weight right back.
Figuring out that weight loss isn’t easy is pretty common. What is less common is realizing how much chiropractic care can help with reaching your goals.
Can a Chiropractor Help You Lose Weight?
Yes, your chiropractor can help you lose weight. Here at Total Chiropractic Care, we’re trained in exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle advice to help you reach your weight loss goals. But that’s just the beginning of how chiropractic care can help you lose weight.
The Clear Scoliosis Institute explains that while a misaligned spine does not directly cause weight gain or impede weight loss, it can be a contributing factor. Imagine, for example, that you’ve decided to increase your exercise level as a means to lose weight. That’s great. You’re monitoring your calories in and calories out. But every time you hit the treadmill, lift weights, or even do some minor stretching, your back or neck aches because of your misaligned spine.
So, guess whose motivation is going to slip right out the window?
When you come into Total Chiropractic Care for weight loss assistance, we’ll help you make certain that your body is ready for the transformation. We also design corrective chiropractic exercises tailored to weight-bearing joints to protect your spine, knees, and hips as you lose weight.
When pain from extra weight puts stress on your spine, our spinal decompression techniques reduce nerve pressure, allowing you to exercise comfortably and improve metabolism.
We’re also a great cheering section. Most people need a lot of encouragement when making a major life change, so we are here to help you along. We will celebrate every milestone with you and help you get past the plateaus.
Can Spinal Problems Cause Weight Gain?
Again, the only thing that causes weight gain is eating or drinking more calories than you burn off through exercise. To maintain our weight, each of us needs an amount of calories equal to our total daily energy expenditure. Sadly, a lot of us also way underestimate the number of calories we are consuming.
But if you have spinal problems, you may find you are gaining weight, possibly rapidly, depending on how active you were before your back issues. Going from very active to sedentary means you’ll need to reduce your calorie intake by several hundred calories a day.
In addition to reducing your ability to be active and burn calories due to pain, spinal issues can lead to miscommunication between your body and your brain. Increases in various hormone levels, especially stress hormones like cortisol, can make it easier to overeat and harder to exercise.
Reducing pain and inflammation through chiropractic care and increasing your range of motion due to proper spinal alignment can all make it easier to be more active and burn more calories.
Can Bad Posture Cause Weight Gain?
Bad posture doesn’t make you gain weight, but it can make it look like you did.
UprightPose.com explains all the ways that bad posture affects your weight and how much it looks like you weigh. When you slouch or have weak lower back muscles, you may stand with your stomach protruding, even if you are otherwise thin.
Poor posture can compress your spine, making you appear shorter and more “dumpy.”
Chiropractic care can help you find the causes of your poor posture and give you the tools and exercises to change them. Many people, for instance, have weak hip muscles from sitting at a desk all day. Weak hip muscles lead to lower back strain, which leads to a protruding belly.
Total Chiropractic Care Can Help with Your Weight Loss Journey
When you feel better, making the effort necessary to get better and lose weight is a lot easier. With my team and I supporting your weight loss journey, your chances for long-term success increase dramatically. When you’re ready to be less of who you are and more of who you want to be, book your appointment to get started.