That's Fit

FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

Ever watch the FOX television hit Ally McBeal, that quirky little uplifting show about a young female lawyer working in a firm fraught with melodrama? I did.

What I remember most about Ally McBeal, which ran from 1997 to 2002, is an episode called "Theme of Life," in which Ally's therapist, played by Tracy Ullman, tells her client she needs a theme song -- a song she can play in her head to make her feel better when life goes awry. Dr. Clark (Ullman) has a song -- "Tracy" (like her name) by the Cufflinks -- and Ally, played by Calista Flockhart, soon chooses her own song. She picks "Tell Him," by The Exciters. Before long, she starts hearing the song in her head and when it happens, her shoulders begin to move, her body starts to sway, her whole sense of being becomes lighter, and happier.

Do you have a theme song? One you play in your head, on your car stereo, on your iPod? If not, you might want to choose one to accompany you on your journey toward health and fitness. The right song can jolt you into the perfect exercise state of mind. It can motivate you to achieve your diet goals. The right song can be motivating, energizing, downright inspiring. You should have one. I should too.