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

Men's Health magazine urges us to make the most of our days. We have 365 of them each year, after all. Might as well put them to good use. Ready to get started? That's the spirit.

Crank Up The Tunes
Tune into some up-tempo music before beginning your workout. It can raise your heart rate, boost your mood, and up your muscle power by 10 percent.

Say It, Don't Write It
Go for quality social time by talking, not texting. Frequent texters are more likely to suffer from loneliness and social anxiety.

Recall Your Meal
On days when junk food calls your name, recall a healthy meal memory. Researchers say it can enhance awareness of how satisfying the food was and can help you stray from indulgences. You might find you eat less too.

Talk It Out
Women who keep tension under wraps are more likely to die of heart disease. So women: Say what's on your mind. Men: Ask what's on her mind.

Stretch It Out
Stretching improves posture, promotes blood flow, and relieves body tension.

That's just a start. There are 65 other dazzling-day ideas right here. Check them out. That's the spirit.

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How many vacation days to you get in a year? I've been at my day job for about 18 months and get 12 days a year plus 6 sick/flex days, equaling a total of about 18 paid days off. This is just about on par for North America, where the average worker receives 14 holidays a year -- a paltry amount when compared to European countries like Britain (24 days), Spain (30 days) and France (a whopping 36 days, that's 7 weeks a year!).

I don't know why North Americans are such workaholics, but I definitely think that 14 days a year is pretty pathetic and according to this piece, most people don't even use their vacation time. It's unfortunate because I think taking a break from the daily grind to relax for a week can make you generally happier at work and increase your performance.

The article even mentions a study with results that showed women who took holidays were more satisfied with their marriages and less likely to become depressed, while a separate study showed that among men who were at high risk for coronary heart disease, those who took vacations had a lower death rate. So don't feel guilty about taking a few days off. You've paid your dues so go on holiday and enjoy it.

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It's about motivation, and the fact that it's really hard to get (or stay) excited about something when you don't have tangible results for your efforts. Martha Beck,PhD seems to think that 4 days is the magic amount of time needed to start successfully on a weight loss plan. She says it's not so long (like a week) that it's too hard to stick to it, but it's just long enough to start seeing the results of your labors -- which will in turn inspire the motivation needed to continue.

I haven't read her book on this subject, The Four Day Win, but in reading what she has to say about the basic principles it makes perfect sense. Some of it is based on setting realistic and specific goals, planning out rewards, and even writing out and signing a contract. These are all things I've heard of before, and throwing in a "baby steps" idea sounds like a good plan to me.

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Losing weight with no exercise and binging on junk food one day a week seems like a plan that's too good to be true. It's a fact that regular exercise has a number of benefits, but Tim Ferriss who is an adviser to more than 30 Olympic and professional world record holders has written a post about a diet which lost him 25 lbs. in 30 days. Of course no one is saying to throw away your jogging shoes, but if you already work out on a regular basis, try supplementing your regimen with this diet.

His first bit of advice says NO to "white" carbs. We've heard this one before, and many health-conscious people have already kicked this particular food. For everyone else, he classifies white carbohydrates as bread, rice, cereal, potatoes, pasta, and fried food with breading. If you need bread, it's not hard to get hooked on the healthier wheat alternative.

Another rule he has is to avoid drinking your calories. This is sound advice, especially for someone like myself who can be a sucker for outrageous coffees. Water, unsweetened tea, and diet sodas are perfect for getting you through the day without sneaking in unneeded calories. Tim has more to offer from his diet plan, and it seems to work well for him. Remember to find out how your body vibes with these changes, or discover your own perfect diet!

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