“If we all did things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves." ~ Thomas Edison

Have you had the experience of achieving a significant goal or major accomplishment, and thinking, “I can’t believe I did that?”  If so, then you have a glimpse into what I think Thomas Edison meant when he made this statement.  Is this something that we can each tap into at any moment, the ability to literally astound ourselves with our potential? 

My first instinct (not to mention the books, CDs, and videos that support this thought – for example, the Law of Attraction) is that yes, we can.  Pondering further, I believe we can tap into it, but to do it at every moment – constantly operating at our absolute best – is that realistic?  It depends on our expectation.  I trust that individuals have innate talent and abilities and if we remain awake to them and willing to operate using them, we can achieve remarkable feats.  Does that mean we never fail, never have a bad day, or never miss a workout?  Of course not.  The risk here is all-or-nothing: of expecting constant achievement and perfection or else throwing in the towel.

Reflecting on what Mr. Edison achieved in his life after many deemed “failures,” we can turn around from the expectancy of perfection and focus on the end result, not temporary set backs.

Why the long preamble?  Because whether or not you set traditional New Year resolutions, most of us feel compelled this month to set goals, turn over a new leaf… somehow improve our lives, and fitness frequently takes a top spot.  I want you to achieve your goals – to astound yourself with your potential and the outcome it produces.   

What goal, if achieved, would produce pure, joyous astonishment for you?  A client of mine several months ago began training for a half marathon.  He started with 5k races some time ago, and most recently ran a 10k.  Today it may not seem as astonishing to him that he is preparing for a half marathon as it would have to consider the prospect two years ago, but it is no less astounding.   I get the idea that Mr. Edison was not necessarily astounded by his invention of the first practical light bulb, simply because it was his expectation – he had tested over 3,000 filaments.  I figure that by number 500, he was in it for the long haul!

Hold firmly to your vision of what is possible (fitness and otherwise) and keep going until you are astonished!

Message From The President:

I recently read a quote from Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine” born in the 5th century BC: “The function of protecting and developing health must rank even above that of restoring it when it is impaired.”  The center of most modern health care systems is traditionally one of physician-patient interaction and is typically driven by the appearance of illness.  While necessary, we tend to have few of these interactions and when we do, they often last far less than an hour. 

Hippocrates believed in the natural ability of the body to heal itself, promoting rest, a good diet, fresh air, and cleanliness.  I imagine exercise would be on the list had lifestyles at that time been as sedentary as ours. I would also add massage – it certainly can’t hurt!

When next you set personal goals, consider looking at how you could protect or develop your health.  One more veggie a day, a little extra shut-eye, or adding five minutes of yoga to your evening routine could make a big difference in the time you spend sick versus the time you spend well.  Be well! 

To your health,

            Amy Lundberg
            Aim For It, President

Just a Few Food Facts

Fat Free/Calorie Free depends on serving size:

If a product contains fewer than five calories per serving, the FDA allows it to be labeled “calorie free.”  And if a serving size contains one-half gram of fat or less, the product can be labeled “non-fat.”  This can be confusing when looking at a can of any cooking spray oil.  Have you ever noticed the label on spray oils reads zero calories and zero fat?  How can that be when the entire can contains oil, a nutrient that is 100% fat and, therefore, very calorie dense? Because the serving size is 1/3 second spray – that’s one third of one second.  My finger doesn’t work quite that fast!  While you will likely continue to use spray oil as I do – it’s easy and convenient to use – be aware of how long you hold that spray button.

This fat-free labeling also pertains to trans fats (the unhealthy fats experts warn us to stay away from or limit our consumption of).  You will notice certain foods labeled as free of trans fats, but when you look at the ingredient list you see them.  Again, it is dependent on serving size and if there is one-half gram or less of trans fats, the label can read “trans fat free.”  If you want to avoid trans fats, look beyond the label to the ingredient list, searching for foods without  “partially hydrogenated oils.”

Hidden Persuaders Can Drive Us to Over-eat:

Trigger foods are talked of often – a particular food (or foods) that trigger someone to over-eat (think of the Lay’s commercial, “Betcha can’t eat just one!”).  The one thing about trigger foods that I’ve always considered “a must” is that the person must enjoy the taste of it, actually like the food.  Imagine my surprise…

The November/December 2006 issue of ACE Fitness matters revealed the appalling results of an experiment conducted by Dr. Wansink at Cornell University.  Movie audiences were offered free five-day-old popcorn (yuck!), some served in medium-sized buckets and some in large buckets.  The people with large buckets ate 53% more than those with the medium buckets! 

Dr. Wansink notes that “…people didn’t eat the popcorn because they liked it.  They were driven by hidden persuaders: the distraction of the movie, the sound of other people eating popcorn, and the Pavlovian popcorn trigger that is activated when we step into a movie theater. 

What hidden triggers exist in your daily routine?