Oh Organics, My Organics

“Organics” have arrived. They are more popular than ever, but what exactly is organic food? How does organic farming differ from conventional farming? How does the organic labeling process work? And, what does it all mean to you, the well-intentioned consumer? You might be surprised by some of the answers.

Over the past few decades, organics have moved from the “lunatic fringe” to the red carpet. Literally. This paradigm shift was most evident at the 2004 American Music Awards held in Los Angeles. Each year, celebrities, usually accustomed to receiving gaudy gift bags brimming with fancy fragrances and trendy technology, were instead presented with a more natural offering: “ecogift bags” filled with organic treats like Annie’s Homegrown Organic Macaroni and Cheese, Taylor Maid Farms organic coffee and organic cotton tote bags from Patagonia.

Organics are not only en vogue among luminaries and de rigueur among foodies, middle America is going organic, too: the 2002 Organic Consumer Trends Report found that thirty-nine percent of the U.S. population uses organic products.

Organic food production is a $16 billion-a-year industry, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA) – and it is rising precipitously. Even though organic still accounts for a mere 3% of overall food sales, it is growing at a sizzling rate of 17-20% per year as compared to glacial 2-3% for conventional foods.

“Once you have Kraft marketing an organic product, albeit through another brand, you really can't be more part of the mainstream than that,” said Don Montuori, editor of Packaged Facts, an industry publication.

More people eating healthier food produced in safe and sustainable ways is all good, right? Well, not necessarily.

Double-digit growth can be a double-edged sword. Organic food production is growing so rapidly that it is straining the system: there are not enough organic farms and organically raised animals in the United States to meet demand.

When demand outpaces supply, things can go awry. For example, in 2006, The Cornucopia Institute, an organic watchdog organization, filed a legal complaint before the USDA against Dean Foods, the largest milk bottler in the United States. The complaint alleged that Horizon Organic Milk came from cows reared in factory farms that violated organic standards, specifically that Horizon’s dairy cows did not have sufficient access to pasture and are kept in inhumane conditions. That case is still pending.

“As organics become more mainstream, the standards are at risk,” says Ronnie Cummins, a national director for the Organic Consumer Organization. “Mass market and organics aren’t always compatible,” he adds.

First, let’s get clear on the differences between organic and conventional farming -- and how and why the distinction was originally drawn.

In 1990, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill included The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA). This was created to establish uniform national standards for the production and handling of foods labeled as “organic.” The Act authorized a new USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to set national standards for the production, handling, and processing of organically grown agricultural products.

The NOP now oversees mandatory certification of organic production. The Act also established the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) which advises the Secretary of Agriculture in setting the standards upon which the NOP is based. Producers who meet standards set by the NOP may label their products as “USDA Certified Organic.”

Here is the technical definition of “organic food” according to the USDA National Organic Program website:

“Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.”

Fairly clear cut, right? Unfortunately, things aren’t so clear.

The ability to emblazon a food product with the word “organic” is a valuable marketing advantage. And, when a subtle advantage can be leveraged for financial gain, it’s a breeding ground for situational ethics -- and compromised standards.

Organic certification is intended to protect consumers from misuse of the term, and to make buying organics more straightforward. However, as the demand for organics rise, some large food manufacturers are attempting to weaken organic standards. Even the slightest downgrade in those standards can represent a financial windfall to large food companies.

Some believe that the U.S. government is also seeking to undercut organic standards. For example, Congress passed a $397 billion spending bill that contained a buried provision which could jeopardize U.S. organic standards. The provision, which was slipped into the bill at the last minute without debate, would “permit livestock producers to certify meat and dairy products as organic even if the animals had been fed non-organic or genetically engineered grain.” The provision would override the NOP’s requirement that 100% organic feed be used to produce organic meat products.

While many forces seek to soften organic standards, others go above and beyond to safeguard, and uphold, them.

“The notion that any food entity puts profits over people by whittling away at the very standards that protect those people is downright disgraceful,” says Dr. Jack J. Singh, founder of Organic Food Bar, Inc. the best-selling organic bar in the world. “We’re talking about people’s health here; health is our most precious asset. Food companies should protect that at all costs!”

“Would the managers of these companies put food of questionable quality or unknown origins into their children’s mouths? Of course they wouldn’t. When you run a food company, you are feeding families with children. It is incumbent on everyone in this business to do everything they can to protect people’s health -- particularly now as we face a health care crisis in this country.

We go to extraordinary lengths and allocate enormous time and expense to ensure that every ORGANIC FOOD BAR is positively 100% organic and pure. For example, we only use ingredients from trusted sources in the U.S., Canada and Europe. What the big companies don’t quite grasp is that unflinching integrity is good for customers – and good for business, too. Our customers love us, and we set a good example for the other food companies. That is why ORGANIC FOOD BAR goes above and beyond.”

According to Dr. Singh, here are some tips when shopping for organic food:

- If you want to eat purely organic food, the label should read: “100% organic” and nothing less. Only products made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods can be labeled "100% organic.”
- Products with at least 95% organic ingredients can use the word "organic" and can also include the USDA organic seal. The other 5% can be conventionally-grown ingredients.
- A third category, containing a minimum of 70% organic ingredients, can be labeled “made with organic ingredients.”
- In most cases, the word “natural” on a product label means very little because, unlike the designation “organic,” the word “natural” has no legal definition.
- Whenever possible, buy food produced closer to home. That way, you know your food is fresher -- and you know where it comes from! The recent food scare with China, while unsettling, has compelled many Americans to examine the origins of their food. This is good. The fact is that locally-produced food is better for you, it’s better for your community -- and, it’s better for the planet.

To learn more about organics, visit The Organic Trade Association at: http://www.ota.com/.

Taking Part, Taking a Stand and Taking Action in Washington

My four-year-old daughter is a lobbyist. A bonafide Washington lobbyist. And, I could not be prouder of her.

In her first visit to “the hill,” Vivienne joined over 400 people from 39 states in Washington, D.C. for the national conference of CARE -- a leading global humanitarian organization -- to discuss poverty, hunger and the climate crisis with members of Congress.

In this election year, lobbying carries a heavy stigma. The candidates are systematically purging their campaigns of anyone who even peripherally lobbied in their lifetimes. Lobbying conjures up images of unctuous tobacco, gun and insurance agents in surreptitious, back-slapping meetings over scotch-rocks with members of Congress, as they carve out more for the powerful at the expense of the marginalized.

But, when it comes to lobbying, it’s not the what that matters; it’s the who and why. As Bill Clinton said in defense of Hillary’s reception of lobbyist money: “What gives the lobbyists influence is the people who hire them to work for them. It's all the people they represent.” Lobbying is merely the act of meeting with our elected officials to ask them to support something in which we believe.

Vivienne believes in Disneyland princesses, the violin and lemon sorbet. She also believes in feeding the hungry, keeping girls safe and protecting our planet.

Vivienne is only four years old, but she does not like that 850 million people are chronically hungry in the world -- and that many of those people are children. She does not like that violence against women and girls is on the rise. And, she does not like that our planet is heating up and that that is hurting poor people the most.

So, Vivienne proudly took her place in history alongside hundreds of thousands of intrepid, compassionate souls who, over a span of six decades, have forged CARE into a global superpower for change -- defending dignity and fighting poverty.

CARE was founded in 1945 and helped rebuild an embattled Europe by rushing over 100 million “care packages” to the survivors of World War II. Today, CARE gives special focus to working alongside poor women because CARE has found that when women are equipped with the proper resources, they have special power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. CARE allocates 91% of the money it receives directly to people in need on the ground. This is one of the highest percentages in the industry.

To do my part to support CARE, I collaborated with them in creating the I am Powerful Workout, a campaign to empower Americans with better health as they empower women and girls worldwide. For every hour people exercise, and record on www.care.org/workout, I donate $5 to CARE. I believe that when we have an emotional reason to exercise, we will do it more -- and we will get more out of it. And, I believe that when we empower ourselves with better health, we have more power to change our world – and we have a greater inclination to do so.

The people who work with CARE are precisely the role models I want my daughter to be around. They embody Mahatma Gandhi‘s idea to “be the change you want to see in the world.”

So, Vivienne joined us and CARE in Washington, as its youngest participant, to discuss three urgent issues with members of Congress:

The Global Hunger Crisis

A new hunger crisis is upon us. According to the World Food Program, food prices have increased 55 percent since June 2007. And, the situation is likely to worsen in the coming months. When food riots occur -- as they have in Haiti, Africa, Asia and parts of Europe -- it means people have reached a breaking point.

There are many reasons for the increase in food prices. Among them: rising oil prices, increased demand for food and a record number of food crops being converted for use as biofuel.

“Food crises are not isolated events that happen unexpectedly,” says Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE. “People are plunged into crisis due to a number of interrelated factors, including poverty, poor access to markets, insufficient agricultural production, and social marginalization. A disaster only makes a systematic problem worse. Unless we address the reasons why people are vulnerable to hunger in the first place, we will not succeed in overcoming widespread food insecurity over the long term.”

Most Americans can cope with fluctuations in food prices; we have adequate buffers. But, imagine for a moment that you are one of the billion people on Earth who live on one dollar a day. How would you budget for rising food prices? What would you tell your children?

We conveyed to members of Congress that traditional food aid does not work the way it should. The strategy thus far has been to ship huge amounts of food overseas to be given to needy people or sold in open markers. This is emblematic of American goodwill, but it does not prevent hunger and its underlying causes.

The key is to provide short-term emergency food aid in such places as Myanmar, as we help communities build better systems to protect themselves against food insecurity over the long-term.

So, we asked members of Congress to support provisions in the FY08-09 Supplemental Appropriations Bill to provide increased funding for emergency food programs and to bring reform to the U.S. approach to hunger by supporting a regional and local purchase program.

Violence Against Women and Girls Worldwide

Violence against women and girls is at epidemic proportions in many of the world's poorest countries. According to CARE, at least one out of three women globally will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries.

Reading that is one thing. Bringing it home is another. For me, it’s a thing of beauty to watch my wife and daughter delight in one another’s company in a safe, enriching environment full of love. I cannot imagine these two women being abused and held back from thriving. Repressing the majestic and beautiful power of a woman is a crime against humanity.

It also cripples humanity. Violence against women is inextricably linked to poverty, because a woman who has been the victim of abuse is limited in her ability to work and provide for her family. It also reduces women’s educational opportunities, and it tears at the very fabric of society -- because women play a central role in strengthening communities everywhere in the world.

Fortunately, like any societal scourge, violence against women can be prevented -- if enough people care.

There is landmark legislation in the works to do just that.

On October 31, 2007, Senator Joseph Biden (D-Delaware) and Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) introduced The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) in the U.S. Senate.

We asked members of Congress for their support on IVAWA. If passed, it would mark the first time in U.S. history that ending violence against women would be a diplomatic priority. That means the U.S. government would be required to respond to outbreaks of gender-based violence in armed conflicts -- such as the mass rapes now occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo -- within six months. (It is befuddling and ludicrous to me that we don’t already do that).

Women are the biggest catalyst for change in communities around the world. We cannot possibly move forward as a civilization until women and girls are protected. This is a non-negotiable point. And, we can’t go part of the way on it. This is an all-the-way issue.

We found solid support for IVAWA, particularly among Senators Boxer and Feinstein. At the conclusion of our meetings, Vivienne gave their staffers big, warm hugs and heartfelt “thank you’s.” It was the perfect close.

Climate Change

We have heard so much about climate change that we have grown slightly desensitized to it. But, we had better get re-sensitized to it. And, quick.

Just last week, James Hansen, a top NASA scientist – known as “the godfather of global warming science” -- told a U.S. congressional panel that the world would be “toast” if we didn’t take drastic action on global warming. Hansen said the world has long passed the "dangerous level" for greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

This is no longer an “environmental issue”; it’s a people issue. As the planet grows hotter, people in the poorest countries suffer the most, because farmers there are already operating at razor-thin margins. A little less rainfall can transform a life-sustaining harvest into loss of life.

And, if left unchecked, global warming will affect us all -- in ways that we can hardly imagine. The parable of the frog in hot water applies: it is said that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but the frog can be boiled alive if the water is heated slowly enough. The lesson is that whether it comes to our personal health or our planet’s health, we must wake up to gradual change or we may suffer catastrophic loss.

We asked members of Congress to support initiatives to reduce poor people's vulnerability, to give them the resources and tools to adapt to a warmer climate – and to support a mandatory cap on greenhouse gas emissions, as voluntary measures do not go nearly far enough.

We pressed hard on this issue as the time for talk has long passed. The time for action is now.

Lessons Learned

Four things struck me about this illuminating foray into the world of political advocacy:

First, I went to the hill with absurdly low expectations. Over the course of the current Administration, I have become fatalistic. I presumed, like many, that these politicians would be cynical, partisan robots who would nod approvingly, but not hear a word we said.

In fact, the opposite was true. For the most part, these are good people intent on doing the right things. They merely differ on how to do it. If you are willing to take the time to meet with them, they will take the time to listen. The system may be slow and ceremonial, but the system works.

Next, the “one person/one vote/one voice can’t make a difference” excuse is not remotely valid. If a four-year-old with zero political experience can travel to Washington, D.C. and make a difference, then each of us can make a difference in our own way. Put aside your excuses, doubts and suspicions about politics and take part, take a stand and take action. One person can tip the balance and make all the difference.

Third, CARE has clout. Striding into these offices wearing CARE badges commanded respect among members of Congress. CARE is a serious organization with a serious history, led by serious people who produce serious results. And, members of Congress knew it.

Finally, I was moved that over 400 CARE volunteer advocates traveled to Washington D.C. on their own dime to push for issues that do not directly affect them. These people were not lobbying Congress to bring down the price of gasoline or to lower the cost of their health insurance. They were putting in 14-hour days on behalf of people a world away.

At the conclusion of our hill visits, a worn-out Vivienne said: “Papa, did I do a good job as a loppyist? I’m tired. Can we be done now?”

I said, “Yes, honey, you helped people who you will never meet -- and who cannot help you back. That is the best kind of help to give. I could not be prouder of you. Now, let’s get some lemon sorbet.”

Eric on CBS "Weekend Early Edition"

CARE PRESS RELEASE: Sweating a way to a better world

Work out on the Mall in solidarity with marginalized women and girls. Every hour you exercise, Eric Harr will donate $5 to CARE

Contacts: Rick Perera, 404-457-4649 / rperera@care.org or Allen Clinton, CARE, 404-457-4635 / clinton@care.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 11, 2008) – Professional triathlete and fitness author Eric Harr says getting in shape can be the easiest way to help fight global poverty.

Harr is leading a 7 a.m. workout session, to express support for marginalized women and girls worldwide, on the Mall on June 18. He’s also sponsoring the I Am Powerful Workout, through which Harr donates $5 to the poverty-fighting organization CARE for every hour each participant exercises.

All you have to do is sign up at www.care.org/workout and log your hours via e-mail. Work out five hours this week and you will have automatically raised $25, towards the goal of $1 million in support for CARE from Harr.

Members of the public are invited to join CARE supporters from across the U.S. for Thursday’s workout. All participants will be entered in a drawing for prizes -- two winners will get 12 months of personal fitness coaching by Harr. And he’s keeping his own personal pledge by training for the Ironman Triathlon World Championships, to be held October 11, 2008.

Harr was inspired to launch the I Am Powerful Workout when he traveled to Mozambique with CARE to visit health and nutrition programs, meeting women who are struggling against huge obstacles to pull themselves and their communities out of poverty.

“Here in the US, we are facing an unprecedented health crisis in the form of obesity and physical inactivity,” he says. “At the same time women in the developing world lack access to basic services to improve the health of their families. This workout addresses both of these issues in a very special and emotional way.”

The Warm Up

On June 18^th and 19^th, Harr will join other supporters from across the country at CARE’s National Conference in an effort to engage policymakers in the fight against global poverty. Harr kicks off the conference with the Thursday morning workout – encouraging participants to log their hours in support of CARE.

About CARE

CARE fights global poverty by empowering marginalized women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. Visit www.care.org for more information.

What It Means to Care

I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS a compassionate and charitable person. I was raised in a sheltered, upper-class environment in Marin County, California, but my parents instilled an unshakable sense of social justice in me. From an early age, I felt compelled to give a voice to those without one: whether it was a stray animal or a homeless person.

Recently, I discovered a deeper, more authentic meaning of the word “care.”

I spent eight days touring remote communities in Mozambique with CARE, to observe their work and to meet the people who benefit from it.

Now, it’s one thing to hear about the state of affairs in places like Africa and to care about what’s going on. It’s another thing altogether to sit with these people and to look into their eyes when they talk about their dreams of a better life for themselves and their children. I can never again ignore this problem or be glib about how profoundly and viscerally poverty affects people. I now know what it truly means to care.

With that, CARE and I created the I Am Powerful Workout, which couples the issues of personal health and worldwide poverty in a most unique and uplifting way.

This campaign helps each of us elevate our own health (in a time when we really need it!) as we elevate marginalized women and girls around the world (in a time when they really need it!). What makes the I am Powerful Workout so powerful is the unique nature and win-win dynamic of the gift. In “gifting” yourself with better health, you are gifting others with a better life. Literally, every step you take to get into better shape is a step on behalf of marginalized women and girls worldwide. When you finish a workout, you feel stronger literally. And, knowing you did something for people a world away is empowering, too. Look good, feel good … do good!

Those women I met in Africa have awe-inspiring strength, power and courage to endure every day against impossible odds. I am hoping to empower them by competing in professional triathlons to support CARE; I know they are empowering me. Whenever I am unmotivated to work out or exhausted by the pain of an Ironman, I think of what these women endure each day. I gather myself up, I take a deep breath, I shake off the doubt and I forge on in their honor.

Please log on to www.care.org/workout and join me today.

And, feel deep in your heart what it really means to care – for yourself and for others.

Super motivation from superstar athletes

THERE ARE PLENTY OF FACTORS motivating athletes to be fit, from the glitz and glamour of victory to the cold, hard cash. But what keeps them on track is surprisingly simple – and it can work for you, too.
Dazzling athletic feats—from a quadruple toe loop in ice skating to a world-record marathon—inspire awe on two levels: first, by what top-echelon athletes can do with their bodies, and second by how they stay motivated to stick with a glitch-free diet and training regimen for years on end. Champion athletes indeed have the time, money and support they need to achieve their goals, but beneath it all, they are regular people who often face the same motivational ebbs and flows that we all do. “Top athletes may seem like a distinct species from the rest of us, but they also represent what’s possible in each of us,” says Jay Kimiecik, Ph.D., author of The Intrinsic Exerciser (Houghton-Mifflin, 2002). “They set lofty goals, then they push themselves, trying and testing every tool, technique and method to stay motivated.” While you may not aspire to “land a quad” or run a 5-minute mile, you can apply the hard-earned lessons of seasoned athletes to boost your own diet and exercise programs. Here, our panel of top trainers, psychologists and the athletes themselves offer stick-with-it tips to which all real women can relate.

TIP: Invest in yourself first each day
We are a product of our daily habits. The choices we make each day determine how we look, feel and live. Unfortunately, as work, family and social engagements fill our schedules, our diet and exercise can be pushed to the periphery. That’s why it’s important to tend to your body and mind first thing each day, no matter how small the investment. “My health comes first every morning,” says Marla Streb, world-championship medallist mountain biker. “It’s the little things. For example, I’ll never check email before I go for my ‘power-hike’ with my dog.”

EXERCISE: Over the next 30 days, put your health at, or near, the top of your daily to-do list. On the worksheet below, write down five things you can do first thing each morning to boost your body, whether it’s taking a 45-minute run, doing deep breathing exercises or drinking a glass of warm herbal tea. Develop the habit of “treating yourself first” each day and you’ll look better, feel better and live better.

TIP: Get your zzz’s
My mom’s advice is the guiding maxim of every successful athlete: to be your best, you need your sleep. Research shows that when you aren’t well-rested, you cannot perform at your peak in daily life—and you’ll feel too weary to work out. World-record pole-vaulter, Stacy Dragila never compromises on sleep, no matter how busy she is. “Even if I’m traveling to a race halfway around the world, I’ll get in my 8 hours,” she says. “It’s a key to my competitive success.” Julie Moss, the Ironwoman triathlete who crawled to the finish line on ABC in 1982, agrees that sleep is non-negotiable. “I don’t care what kind of day I have, when 10pm rolls around, I’m out. That has helped me retain my edge for over 20 years.”

EXERCISE: Use the worksheet below to map out a better sleep schedule for yourself. Also, jot a few ideas on how you can increase the quality of your sleep environment (Do you need a more comfortable mattress? More soothing lighting?). Finally, take refreshing daily pauses as often as possible. Half-hour naps are sublime on weekends. During the work-week, aim for 10-minute breaks in which you go outside, close your eyes, breathe deeply and clear your mind. These midday pauses provide powerful rejuvenation by taking your foot off the accelerator, so to speak.

TIP: Think long-term
When we watch an athlete achieve an amazing feat, we tend to think it occurred out of the blue. But, those achievements represent thousands of hours of work. Britain’s Paula Radcliffe is the current marathon world-record holder. Andy Jones, M.D., a physiologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, has monitored every aspect of Paula’s physical condition for over a decade. “She has been at this for years. The interesting thing is that to the outside world it looks like there's been this dramatic breakthrough, but really it's been an incremental progression over the last 13 years,” he says.

EXERCISE: View eating well and exercising as a lifelong pursuit. You needn’t accomplish all of your goals right here, right now. Accept the highs and the lows as part of the total journey and keep moving forward. Strive to improve your diet and fitness day-to-day but track your progress month-to-month; that takes the pressure off. Write down your monthly goals on the worksheet below.

TIP: Get (a little) competitive
Every champion athlete is fueled by a fierce competitive fire. While you needn’t “conquer” others in a sports arena to get motivated, you can benefit greatly from healthy competition. “Spurring yourself to greater heights by being moderately competitive can be a powerful way to keep your motivation up,” says Jim Taylor, Ph.D, a sports psychologist from San Francisco, Calif.Prime Sports (Writers Club, 2000).

EXERCISE: and author of Using the worksheet, write down a few ideas on how you can push yourself to greater heights. If you prefer to test yourself, then enter an organized athletic event or challenge yourself to create healthier, more delicious meals. If you thrive on competing with others, then challenge someone to a friendly weight-loss competition.

TIP: Follow your heart
It’s motivating to know that you’re getting the most bang for your workout buck. One of the ways top athletes maximize the benefits of physical activity is by monitoring their heart rates. “Regardless of your fitness level or goals, to reap the greatest results, you must exercise at the right intensity,” says Sally Edwards, author of several heart rate books including the best-selling The Heart Rate Monitor Book. “The best way to measure exercise intensity is to monitor your heart rate continuously by using a heart monitor. In fact, this little device may be the most important investment you’ll ever make in your fitness.”

EXERCISE: Use the worksheet on page TK to calculate your ideal exercise zones and then log onto www.polarusa.com and learn more about how to use a heart rate monitor to achieve your goals.

[WORKSHEET]

HED: SUPERSTAR SUCCESS SECRET WORKSHEET

Make a copy of this worksheet, fill it out and post it in a highly-visible place that will keep your fitness and diet commitments front-and-center over the next few months.

Pay Yourself First

What five things can you do first thing in the morning to boost your health and nutrition?

Get Plenty of Rest

Map out a sleep schedule (and stick to it) over the next 30 days.

Think Long-Term

Write down your diet and fitness goals for the next six months.

Get Competitive

Write down three ideas to put some healthy competition into your diet and exercise lives

Get More from Your Workouts

In order to train “in the zone,” and get the most benefit from your workouts, you need to know your maximum heart rate, which can be approximated by subtracting your age from 220. Write that number here:

Maximum Heart Rate _________

You will use this number as the basis for your workouts. If you are striving to burn fat, boost your health and get “fit without fatigue,” then you should exercise at 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate (MHR). So if your MHR is, say, 180 beats per minute, your heart rate during a fat-burning workout should be between 108 and 144 beats per minute (180 x 0.6 = 108 and 180 x 0.8 = 144.)

Fat-burning/Health-Promoting Zone:

When your fitness begins to plateau (see September issue), it may be time to insert some intervals of 30-seconds to two minutes—at 80 to 90 percent of your MHR—into your workouts.

Fitness Boosting (“Plateau Busting”) Zone:

Kiss Boomeritis Goodbye

On October 15, 2007, with a few unremarkable keystrokes, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling took one small step for a woman and one giant leap for a generation.

Ms. Casey-Kirschling, who is widely considered to be the nation’s first Baby Boomer, became the first Boomer to file for Social Security retirement benefits.

What does this have to do with fitness, you ask? A lot, actually. It means that the Boomers are getting older. And, that means that in order to make the next phase of their lives as healthy and fulfilling as possible, they must do things a little differently when it comes to physical activity.

Does this mean that I’m going to recommend that you pick up a copy of Richard Simmons’s - Sit Tight: A “Sittin' Down” Workout?” “Now as you sit there, lift your can of lima beans up to the sky. Good. Good for yooou!”

No. I’m not going to do that, because the Boomers are marching into older age in far better physical shape than their parents.

First, let’s get clear on what “older” is and is not.

“Older” is a fact of life. Time passes, we age, and our bodies change. However, “older” is also an arbitrary designation based on an arbitrary number. Granted, sixty years ago, “older” meant “old,” because old people looked and acted…well…old. In 2007, that word has been rendered all but meaningless. Eighty-year olds are surfing and playing tennis and bungee jumping and running (not jogging) marathons. And, they’re completing the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in 16 hours.

Here’s what “older” is not: It’s not a valid reason to avoid getting into stellar shape. It’s not an excuse to slow down, make concessions, do less -- and go gently into that good night.

Baby Boomers comprise the largest segment of the American population at roughly 80 million strong. But a recent study indicates that while Boomers may be strong in numbers, they’re not so strong in body. Injuries among Boomers -- torn ligaments, stress fractures and knee problems – are at an all time high. “Boomeritis,” as health professionals call it, cost an estimated $22.8 billion in 2003. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good: It’s easier than you think to get into great shape, and the scientifically-verified benefits of physical activity include: a better heart, a better mind, a better body and a better life.

We often forget how good it feels to have a fit and radiant body. We learn to accept less. If that sounds like you, stop that. Start demanding more, and you will experience the joy and passion of what it feels like to be fully alive. It all starts with moving your body.

Motivation Follows Movement

This may sound like more self-help ballyhooing, but it’s true: the motivation to exercise does not spontaneously occur. In fact, the less you exercise, the less you’ll want to exercise. You simply must start moving to get motivated to move. If you are out of shape, as little as three 20-minute workouts a week can have huge, positive effects on your physical and mental health.

Sometimes the notion of getting into shape after a long layoff can be so daunting that it discourages people from even starting out. Those people operate under the false assumption that it takes a series of one-hour leg-pumpin’, heart-thumpin’ spin classes to get back into shape. Here’s the trick: First, consult your physician and make sure your body is ready for a new exercise program. Then, when you start back to exercising, don’t focus on any numbers: no “workout time,” no “calories burned,” no “repetitions,” no “heart rate zones.” Just be smart, listen to your body and have fun with it. If, on your first day out there, you complete a five-minute walk, that is a terrific start. Once you generate a little momentum, it’s a difficult force to stop.

Bear the Burden

As Boomers age, it is estimated that half of women over age 50 will suffer a bone fracture caused by weakened bones, while one in eight men will suffer the same fate. While it’s important to take care of your joints and never overdo it, avoiding weight-bearing exercise, such as brisk walking, climbing stairs, resistance training, etc., can actually increase the risk of osteoporosis. Light jogging, if your knees can handle it, is a terrific activity for Boomers. Strength training is a must as well, since you can lose up to a half-pound of muscle tissue every year after age 35. Strive to incorporate some form of strength training and weight-bearing activity into your routine at least twice a week.

Your Body is Keeping Score

“You are more likely to be killed by your couch than by a stroke or an accident,” says Jim Taylor, Ph.D, author of The Prime Sport book series.

“There are 35 diseases, collectively known as Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS), associated with a sedentary lifestyle,” says Dr. Taylor. “Each year, about 250,000 Americans die from them. Since only 28 percent of Americans exercise regularly, an estimated 60 percent of the population is thought to be at risk for SeDS.”

It’s important to understand that your body is keeping score, right this moment, and every moment. Ignore your exercise, and somewhere down the road your body will demand payment…with interest.

Most of us require some form of tragedy to make a positive change. We’re comfortable with the status quo. We wait until something goes wrong until we decide fix it. The U.S. medical model works this way; it depends on the appearance of symptoms to prompt action. This is no way to live. Take action now and pursue a simple exercise program, and you can be healthy and strong all the way to the finish line. Investing in your body is arguably the best investment you’ll ever make.

Mix it Up

Who says you have to run on a treadmill to get into shape? Not me, that’s for sure. Set me loose on the trails, and I can scamper happily over hill and dale for three hours. Put me on a treadmill, and I start weeping after 11 minutes. Find your “fitness bliss,” and the calories burned will be a natural consequence of the fun, rather than the focus of the activity. That’s when it becomes easier, and more rewarding, to get into shape.

Boomers, some say you have the best years ahead of you. If you commit to staying in shape, and taking care of your body, I believe the years ahead of you can be your best ones.

Go for it.

Motivated by Forces Larger Than Myself

Hey, everyone! Well, after several months of lazily "blogging" my newspaper columns, I've decided to break out and blog in a proper way: raw, real and uncut! (Sounds like a Paris Hilton video sequel!)

Anyway, I am here at home in Fairfax putting in a big training block for the Big Kahuna Half Ironman Triathlon on September 9th. I'm looking forward to competing in this event, and based on recent benchmarks and a strong win in Sacramento in June, I ought to have a good outing at the "Big K." It's also a course that suits my strengths, indeed!

It's been a quite some time since I've had a fire in the belly when I train. I think a lot of it has to do with the new campaign I've launched with CARE, to fight global poverty, called "The I am Powerful Workout with Eric Harr." In essence, this is an opportunity for anyone to help eradicate poverty, simply by setting fitness goals for themselves. As you train and log your hours on the CARE website, I donate more money to CARE. I've committed $1 million over the next five years. I'm literally bribing America to get into shape! Hey, when pleading by health officials doesn't work to motivate people to exercise, maybe unmitigated bribery will!

This has given me a heavy dose of intrinsic motivation to work out and race, because I know I'm doing it on behalf of marginalized women and girls worldwide. I am literally swimming, biking and running for them -- and they are in my heart in every session. I spent a week in Mozambique this spring, with the very people I'm now setting out to help. This passion-driven mission is leading to some huge training breakthroughs for sure, mentally and physically. It's also been a lot easier to stay motivated day in and day out when I know that I'm doing this literally to save lives and empower women and girls in desperate circumstances. Fifteen thousand people die every single day on the continent of Africa -- of entirely preventable diseases. This is unconscionable, given our resources and our ability to help. That is why I've put my body, my heart, my soul (and my pocketbook) on the line to make a difference. I hope to lead others by example.

Please visit the CARE website and get involved: http://www.care.org/workout. You stand to get healthier as you help others in need. It's a win-win for everyone. At the very least, please pass along the link to those you know and love.

Never before in history has a generation been empowered with the very real ability to wipe out extreme poverty in our lifetime. It's possible. We must seize the opportunity!

And with that, I've got a 90-minute run to do along the beautiful trails of Mount Tamalpais -- and I will do so with those women and girls in my heart. It's a beautiful life, isn't it? It's all how you look at it.

Until next time: Stay healthy, have fun -- and let's beat global poverty together!