2 Things to Help you Stay Healthy this Flu Season

“A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” – Tom Stoppard

Here’s something you should be spreading this season (*hint* it’s not the flu) –

A positive attitude.

As flu season is still upon us – it’s time to grab a workout buddy and catch a good ‘tude. You’ll be making #gainz beyond the gym, but in the immune department.

Two big things will happen.

Recent research has found that not only is a positive attitude contagious, but being surrounded by it while exercising is a double whammy for your health.

Working out could help ups fight off colds and other infections by placing stress on the body. This triggers an inflammatory effect to help the body heal itself as it fights invading microbes.
- A recent study observed the different effects of exposure to infection in mice who swam and those who didn’t. They found the infected swimmers had much lower levels of these pro-inflammatory cells than the non-exercisers AND the sickened swimmers were producing more antimicrobial immune cells. Two reasons this happened – 1. the reduced fatness in the swimmers lessened the excessive levels of pro-inflammatory substances and 2. the small amounts of continuous muscle damage and inflammation allowed the body to become used to this trauma and know how to best initiate healing.
Emotions are easily passed on from person to person…simply said, being around happy people makes you feel better.
- A bad attitude is contagious . . . fortunately, so is a positive attitude. The choice is yours. That ol’ excuse on how you can’t get out of bed when sick…well….listen to your body, get rest, stay healthy but most importantly stay positive and active..because the flu isn’t the only thing you can catch and spread.

There is no better time than today to get healthy…and now there’s no easier way than at COR.

What are you doing this week to get your mind and body right? What kind of attitude are you spreading – are you the germ or the dose of Vit. C?

Become the Placebo, Believe in Yourself

“Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude.” -Lou Holtz

It’s cranking out that last rep when there is nothing left. Rounding the final home stretch of a 5k. The last of 20×100 sprints off the block.

Anyone who’s exercised has experienced that surge of energy that pushes you past what you thought was possible.

In the tiring moment when you could collapse, just as you are about quit…you find that notch and crank it UP. Physiologists believe that our brain sends out these “quitting signals” as a protective mechanism before every fiber, tissue and muscle in our body has been exhausted. We reach this “limit”, when perhaps we may still have a physical reserve available to us…if we can find a way to tap it.

Research data (and anyone who has first-hand experience competing in a sport) has already made it obvious – most performance is enhanced in a competition setting. In addition, the performance improvements of a placebo have been made evident.

So what about the effects of a placebo when you are already at your max, such as during a competition?

At a time when you are already tapping into your last reserve of physical capacity, is there still more physiological wiggle room?

New research suggests that a placebo improved performance by both reducing perception of effort and increasing potential motivation – both cognitive and noncognitive processes appear to have influenced placebo response. Runners thought they were receiving a performance enhancing injection, when it was actually salt water! Their performance improved from placebo intervention more so than in response to the control…at a time when these runners were pushing the greatest of the limits [checkout this interview Dr. John had with the main investigator of the study Dr. Ross].

If we can experience these benefits for changes outside of ourself (i.e. injections, pills, treatments), we can induce the same change with out a pill or change! It’s already been concluded that there remains a physical reserve in us and the placebo (aka strong belief) proves extraordinarily powerful…and serves as that extra edge.

Engage in that and become the placebo.

Researchers have found “that placebo treatments—interventions with no active drug ingredients—can stimulate real physiological responses, from changes in heart rate and blood pressure to chemical activity in the brain, in cases involving pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and even some symptoms of Parkinson’s.”

As Lou Holtz says:

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing.” (Showing up each time and putting forth an honest effort…which we learned is more than we think is possible)

“Motivation determines what you do.” (*cough cough* some Weekly Monday Motivation…let this email fire you up!)

and

“Attitude determines how well you do it.” (BELIEVE you can do it…and have a reason why you can!)

You don’t need something outside yourself – all it takes is a belief in the possibilities with an equally strong commitment to do the work in order to create the conditions for change.

Be the placebo and create the extraordinary experience you want – you’re the best performance enhancing drug!

What are you going to believe in this week? Comment or e-mail us!