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.

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If you've had a heart attack recently but think you're feeling well enough to go back to work, you may want to think again. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Laval in Quebec, for those who have suffered a heart attack, going back to work at a stressful job can lead to another heart episode.

Results of the study showed that both men and women who returned to a high stress work environment were at twice the risk of experiencing another heard attack irregardless of age, marital status and education. Unfortunately, it's isn't realistic for most people not to return their jobs after a significant heart event.

So what should you do if you've had a heart attack and have to go back to work? According to the article, you need to find ways to lessen mental and physical strain at your job. Suggestions include eating healthier lunches, going for walks during breaks, learning how to be assertive when dealing with colleagues and more.

Have you got any tips on how to make work a healthier, more relaxing place to be?

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If there's one crummy disease that flies in the face of good health, it's cancer. Stupid Cancer is what Matthew Zachary calls it.

Cancer-surviving Zachary, founder and executive director of I'm Too Young For This -- a rockin' place for young adults with cancer -- does all he can to support those under 40 trying to reclaim their health. You name it, he does it. Advocacy? Yep. Excursions, camps, and retreats? You bet. Scholarships and financial aid? Right on the money. This guy hosts his own streaming live Stupid Cancer Show on Monday nights, serves on the Google Health Advisory Council, sports a website TIME calls one of its Top 50, and now this inspiring cancer guru is making a splash in Hollywood.

Zachary will appear in an episode of Lifetime's Side Order of Life on Sunday, September 30 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT). In this episode, Vivy Porter (Diana Maria Riva) is dealing with cancer treatment and looking for the right kind of support. She finds it, at the hippest support group in town: a Stupid Cancer Happy Hour! Enter Zachary, who is there to greet Vivy when she arrives.

Check out this ground-breaking episode, won't you? Zachary promises you'll witness an accurate and hip portrayal of young adult cancer survivors. And I promise you'll love this guy, who is doing so much for so many. Like me.

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