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FITnet is a unique, useful and inspirational wellness focused message that is being seen by close to half a million people, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year. It is the brainchild of Tim Lane in Iowa, who has devoted much of his life to making wellness and fitness accessible, rewarding and fun. FITnet is free and concise and each day you get a single story (often historical) followed by some quotations, which relate to the story's message.
I met Tim when I spoke at the Governor's Health Conference in Iowa. (Note: Iowa Governor Vilsack was given strong consideration to be John Kerry's running mate in the upcoming election.) I could not have had a better guide to Iowa, as Tim took time out to take me to Dyersville to see the Field of Dreams...
...and to Clear Lake to visit the Surf Ballroom where Buddy Holly played his final concert. 
He provided a running commentary on all things Iowan as we drove.
Tim is a marathoner, former Director of the National Ski Patrol, climber (in Iowa?) and volleyball coach, but most of all he's a cyclist. He cycled across America once and Iowa 25 times. He's a regular participant in RAGBRAI (The Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). He developed the Ride Right safety program and helped design and promote Lighten Up Iowa, clones of which are now in 15 other states. [check out www.ragbrai.org] 
In Tim's own words:
"But my greatest joy has been FITnet. It started as an in-house distribution to 18 employees of the IDPH (Iowa Department of Public Health) and now goes to over 400,000. In Armenia a local health official translates it and redistributes it to his colleagues. The redistribution process is how it goes to so many. It goes to forest rangers in the Unitas Wilderness Area and Microsoft employees in Seattle. Every morning of every weekday it is delivered to computers in Canada, the United States, Europe and other parts of the world.
In addition to serving as the Fitness Consultant for the Iowa Department of Public Health, I am also the Iowa Communication Network coordinator for our department and provide technical assistance on satellite feeds, web casts and other distance learning technologies."
If there were more Tim Lanes in this world, we would be fitter, leaner, healthier, friendlier and have a lot more fun. 
Here are 4 examples of FITnets that have shown up on my computer recently.
 Monday FITnet, May 24
I bet you knew that statues of individuals on horses have various meanings
associated with leg positions. If the horse has both front legs in the air,
the person died in battle. One front leg in the air indicates that the
person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If all four legs are
on the ground the person died of natural causes. I wish to offer some
suggestions on how this symbolism could be expanded. If the individual is on
a couch, he or she died of sedentary lifestyle. A portrayal of the
individual with both feet firmly on the ground in a walking position would
indicate that they lived to a ripe old age. We could also use a cyclist
without a helmet to indicate an accidental death or perhaps someone who was
an organ donor.
"We all learn by experience, although some of us have to go to summer school." :: Peter de Vries
"A man thinks as well through his legs and arms as this brain." :: Henry David
Thoreau
"The value of health grows exponentially, after we lose it." :: J.P. Hart
Tuesday FITnet, May 18
Last year the Pennsylvania House and Senate got into a debate over which
should be the official state cookie. The legislators weighed in on sugar
versus chocolate chip with the same insight and reason used when considering
other issues. Too bad they didn't dwell on a state habit or activity! More
and more studies are being published that demonstrate how moderate physical
activity improves job performance and improves health. One recent study,
published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine,
indicated that fit employees get along better with fellow employees and take
fewer sick days than out-of-shape colleagues. I vote we all be a bit more
active this week.
"You politicians have got to look further ahead; you always got a putter in
your hands, when you ought to have a driver." :: Will Rogers
"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that
one's work is terribly important." :: Bertrand Russell
"Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so." :: Bertrand
Russell
"You can do anything -- not everything" :: Keith H. Hammonds
Friday FITnet, June 18
Hammurabi was the ruler who chiefly established the greatness of Babylon, the world's first metropolis. Many relics of his reign, from 1795 to 1750 BCE, have been preserved, and today we recognize this King as an organized law-giver. His code, carved in stone for all to see, went like this:
Lie ... death.
Poor workmanship ... death.
Stealing ... death.
There was one loophole: an accused person was allowed to cast himself into the Euphrates. If the current bore him to the shore alive, he was declared innocent. If he drowned, he was guilty. I guess swimming was not a skill that had been introduced to the Babylonians. Speaking of swimming, might I suggest you throw yourself into a pool in the near future? I am sure you are innocent and will float to shore!
"Learning is not compulsory - neither is survival." :: W. Edwards Deming
"The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice." :: Ben Franklin
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." :: Thomas Jefferson
Wednesday FITnet, April 14
Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Evening Post, was diagnosed with what
was characterized as a fatal disease. But he refused to give in. Rather than
accept the sterile and cold atmosphere of the hospital in which he was
confined, he had favorite comedy films and humorous books brought to him.
Cousins claimed that a good laugh gave him at least two hours of pain-free
sleep. He not only survived, but he was appointed to the faculty of UCLA
medical school, where he taught medical students about the "laughing cure."
A good laugh gives your muscles a workout. This "inner jogging" increases
blood pressure rate, depth of breathing, and oxygen surges throughout the
body. After a good laugh, muscles go limp, blood pressure falls, and you
experience a mild euphoria. Researchers believe laughter releases the
brain's natural opium, endorphins. That may account for the pain relief that
accompanies laughter. It also accounts for the one liners accompanying this
message.
"Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says "I've lost my electron." The other says
"Are you sure?" The first replies "Yes, I'm positive."
"Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?"
"Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? He
wanted to transcend dental medication."
"Descartes walked into a bar. "Would you like a beer?" said the bartender. "I think not", replied Descartes, and completely disappeared."
Tim's sense of humor showed up in a recent email. NASA have produced a 'Black Box for People', which provides a variety of physiological data. [For more info go to:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/07apr_blackbox.htm?list128720] 
There's also the Body Composition Analyzer which measures body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, & hydration. 
http://www.shoplifestyleonline.com/ya124.html
Tim writes:
Using similar technology we could enhance the value of the pedometer. Down the road there may be devices like OnStar for humans. I look forward to the day when a pedometer says...
"I see you got 10,000 steps today...weigh to go."
"I notice you just drove to the McDonalds, you know you could have walked to the Subway."
"This is Dr. Collis at OnFoot...I am afraid I am going to have to shut down you car for a while...I see where you only have 245 steps so far today."
"Our weight sensors indicate you are driving with a small child on your lap or have been putting on weight...either way this is not a healthy condition...might I suggest a nice walk?"
"This is Dr. Collis...you are nearing a very nice park on your right...if you add a loop around it you will add 1,000 steps and see some very nice gardens."
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Many of the best things in life are free and FITnet is one of them. A bit of Tim's wit and wisdom at the start of each day is always welcome. Why not contact Tim and subscribe to FITnet for yourself or your staff?
Sign up a "Well" reader for FITnet
tlane@idph.state.ia.us
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