7 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HEALTHCARE

These days, things like trend hopping, guru shopping and fad diets are becoming increasingly popular. Especially with COVID-19 cases rising people are …… on the hunt for healthcare solutions. Today we share our functional medicine tips for getting the most out of your wellness journey.

ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY?

There’s a meme on the internet that says, “Saying acupuncture doesn’t work after one visit is like saying you don’t have a six pack after one workout” – we got a laugh out of that one! We also couldn’t agree more! From the attitude you bring to the table, to the creativity of the practitioner you are working with, there are are many reasons why a health program or tool doesn’t quite work for you.

However, fortunately, there are quite a few things you can do to get the most out of your healthcare in this modern day age. Let’s dive in to our 7 functional medicine tips for getting the most out of your healthcare journey.

WELLNESS JOURNEY TIP #1:
BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT

In our current healthcare paradigm, patients are passive bodies. We’re often handed a prescription, and beyond taking the prescribed dosage, we’re not required to do much. In functional medicine, the only way you’ll find success is if you actively implement the diet and lifestyle changes your practitioner provides. We’ll give you the roadmap, but you get to be in the driver’s seat and implement them! In our opinion this is much more empowering to getting and staying well than the waiting for follow up “see you in 6 months” game!

WELLNESS JOURNEY TIP #2:
GET CURIOUS

Ask questions! Then, ask more questions! When you know WHY you’re doing something, you’re more likely to follow through and stick to it. Knowing your “why” can give you the motivation you need to persevere and get where you need to be. One of our favourite questions we get asked a lot “what do the acupuncture needles DO?” We love showing our patients photos of their own anatomy to show them what structure is affected and why they can’t quite “touch” it themselves.

WELLNESS JOURNEY TIP #3:
STAY THE COURSE

Good things take time. Say that again louder! Wellness is a process and more times than not, it takes planning, discipline and consistency to see results/success. You’re not going to lose all the weight overnight and there’s no magic pill to optimal health, but if you stay the course, you’re more likely to feel empowered and experience true transformation! This is why in our FIIX appointments, we encourage maintenance visits to keep the body moving well and prevent injury and why our TMB FUNC MED programs can be anywhere from 30 days to 6 months. We know that real results and lasting transformation doesn’t happen in one 20 minute visit (imagine!)

WELLNESS JOURNEY TIP #1:
TRUST

If you don’t trust your practitioner, then you’re going to question their suggestions, no matter what they are, which means you might not implement any prescribed movement, diet or lifestyle advice. At that point, lack of trust is what’s truly prohibiting the transformation, not necessarily their game plan or solution. How to know whether to trust your practitioner? Well… does it seem like they’re trying to rush you out of their office with a band-aid solution, trying to sell you something (without reason) or giving you the same suggestion over and over that they give to everyone else? Do you feel like just another body? Those are a few things, but sometimes even just your GUT can tell you!

WELLNESS JOURNEY TIP #5:
REMEMBER THAT LANGUAGE MATTERS

If you start a process already thinking it’s not going to work, then you might just be setting yourself up for failure. Our mind is a very powerful tool! Let’s re-write the script – Instead of saying you’ve already tried everything (because let’s be honest, no one has actually tried everything) put a more accurate, truthful take on it. You’ve tried a lot of things and have been frustrated by lack of results and are looking forward to finding the right one! If our mind believes the sentence “I’ve tried everything”, your subconscious will stop keeping you open to people and solutions because mind will say “don’t bother, I’ve tried everything already.”

WELLNESS JOURNEY TIP #6:
HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

If you start something thinking you’re going to fail, chances are you’re not going to reap the benefits. Having a positive mindset and putting our best foot forward can make all the difference when it comes to seeing changes in our health. Remember, getting NO result is just as likely as getting the best results you’ve ever had when you step into a visit or start taking a new supplement or creating a lifestyle change. So walk in with positivity and confidence! (and if not able to, check that it’s not another one of the above on this list blocking your positivity!)

WELLNESS JOURNEY TIP #7:
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

It’s important to take ownership, which doesn’t mean taking the blame! While it’s important to admit when you’ve stepped off course (maybe you haven’t been taking all of your supplements?) so you can get back on track, it’s equally as crucial to take credit when you’ve done the things so you can celebrate your wins! That’s all you! We love reminding our patients when they see amazing transformation that THEY did this and to stop and celebrate! This is something I think we can all do a little better. Celebrate the small stuff, pump our own tires. It’s 2020 guys, we could all use it!

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This article is excerpted from our weekly TMB Magazine — an exclusive subscriber only publication that is packed with all sorts of in-depth latest study breakdowns, functional medicine insights and wisdom from Dr. Bhat and her team.